Spada Hartbury ladies wax motorcycle jacket review

Spada Hartbury ladies wax motorcycle jacket | £149.95 | www.spadaclothing.co.uk / 01384 413841 | Tested by Carli Ann Smith

For years and years motorcycle riders have been wearing wax jackets – but often, they don’t have any protection – recently there has been a resurgence and a number of wax jackets have been launched – and many come with inbuilt CE approved armour so that riders can feel safer when riding and fashionable on and off the bike.

For me, I like motorcycle kit that you can wear off the bike and it not look out of place in your average social setting too – something the brand new jacket from Spada offers.

I really like the Spada Hartbury ladies wax motorcycle jacket. To look at, I think it looks gorgeous – it’s exactly the kind of thing that I would wear when I wasn’t riding the bike and I like that the styling goes with so many different types of two-wheeled machines. The fixed tartan lining is a nice touch too.

It’s made from dry waxed cotton but doesn’t feel slimy in your hand like some waxed products can. I really like the removable faux fur collar too – it gives it an added feeling of luxury and can easily be removed by unhooking the elastic loops from around the buttons.

I was slightly dubious about how this jacket would hold up in bad weather. The answer? Brilliantly. One particularly cold and wet 100-mile ride, I returned home dry and warm, thanks to the removable thermal liner. There’s a storm flap over the front zip and no vents to worry about the water trickling in.

There’s removable CE approved armour at the shoulders and elbows so you’re well protected – there is foam padding on the back in a pocket which could be replaced with a back protector – I wear a separate back protector to my jacket anyway.

The belt at the waist not only adds to the styling, it holds the jacket in place and prevents any chilly draughts getting up while riding. All the buckles have an antique brass effect which help give the jacket an aged feel.

Branding on the jacket is very subtle – just a small brown leather badge on the bottom left panel.

I love the fit of the Hartbury – it was super comfortable from the first time I put it on and once on the bike the bottom flared out nicely so there was no bunching up around the tummy area.

The cuffs are adjustable too thanks to two press studs – I wear them on the loosest setting if I’m putting my gloves on underneath, if I want them tucked into my gloves then I fasten them on the tightest. There are four pockets on the front – two on the chest and the others on the hips – and two inside pockets.

Spada has two wax jackets for men too – the Staffy wax jacket, priced at £159.95 and the Union wax jacket, which doesn’t have a waist belt, which costs £149.95. Both are available in brown and black.