Vanucci Art XIX Womens Combi Jacket Review
We’ve been putting the Vanucci Art XIX Women's Combi Jacket through its paces - here’s what we have learned.
* Excellent ventilation
* Premium look and feel
* Very small interior pockets
Summer riding jackets are always a compromise between ventilation and comfort and safety should the worst happen. One jacket that falls into a sweet spot between the two of those requirements is the Vanucci Art XIX ‘Combi’ jacket I’ve been testing for the last few months.
The ‘Combi’ in the garment's name comes courtesy of the mix of fabrics at play, with leather and textile both playing their parts. The leather elements take the lead at the high impact areas like the shoulders, arms and back, while more breathable textile panels feature elsewhere.
I’ve been using the jacket for the last few months riding in one of the hottest summers on record. Here’s how I’ve got on.
Price and first impressions
The Art XIX comes in with an RRP of £235 and as with the rest of the Vanucci range, it can only be bought direct from Louis Moto. Included in the price you get Super Shield HTP shoulder and elbow protectors and a pocket for a back protector which is sold separately.
The construction of the jacket is, as mentioned, part leather and part textile. The leather is cowhide, at least 1.2mm thick and with a double layer of leather on the shoulders and elbows. The textile panels, which are primarily on the front and the inside of the arms, are reinforced polyester with additional stretch panels also a feature.
First impressions of the jacket are very good, surprising, in fact. I didn’t expect such a premium feeling piece of kit if I’m completely honest. The stitching, branding and plastic shoulder armour are all extremely well finished, and the whole jacket gives the impression that you are about to put on a very premium item of clothing. It’s also reassuringly weighted. It’s not heavy, but feels chunky and robust.
Fit and comfort
My jacket is an EU40 / UK size 14 (I'm usually a size 12), and the fit is spot on. I’m not a fan of overly baggy bike clothing, and in that respect, the XIX is spot on. It’s also nicely cut, and unlike some bike jackets that I’ve worn, which claim to be for women but don’t hug my figure, the Vanucci jacket has a nice, feminine cut to the cloth.
Once its one the XIX is nicely comfortable, the armour is placed neatly and doesn’t irritate, and I have a decent amount of movement in my arms even when fully zipped up. The real bonus of this jacket, though, is that thanks to its combination of leather and textile, it feels much more airy than a traditional full leather jacket. It’s not as cool on a hot day as a full mesh item, but I can feel a bit of airflow through the front section. For even hotter days on the bike, the vents will be needed, and you have four to play with. Two, located on the front just below the shoulder, are joined by another two on the rear. Unzip all four and you’ll be rewarded with a noticeable flow of air - depending on the type of bike being ridden!
Any bad bits?
One slight niggle is a lack of pockets. You get zero exterior pockets but two (very) small inner pockets. The issue with those is that my iPhone 12 Pro MAX is much too big to fit in them, meaning I have to take my bumbag out on every ride - or worse, my rucksack!
That is an issue that I think has now been rectified, with the new Vanucci VSJ-6 (which seems to have superseded the Art XIX) boasting two exterior pockets and inner pockets that seem to be larger than before.
It’s also worth noting that in anything other than the lightest of rain, you are going to get wet, so make sure you have a waterproof overcoat handy!
Other than that, no issues. It’s comfortable in even the hottest and most humid weather, all the zips work perfectly, and the cut of it is more flattering than most other ‘women’s’ riding jackets.
Verdict
The Vanucci Art XIX has quickly become my go-to jacket for summer riding. I’ve even paired it with a thermal base layer on colder mornings with no issues whatsoever. The quality of the product and the fact that it's cut favourably for women are the two standout features. If you’re fed up of wearing frumpy-looking jackets out on the bike, check out the Louis Moto women's section for a multitude of more flattering offerings!
You can check out the full range of women's Vanucci jackets over on the official website.
Find the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
