Rev'it Brera Jacket Review

When I started riding I wanted the flashiest gear I could find. Bright colors, exposed armor — anything that told the world I was a motorcyclist. A funny thing happened along the way: I attracted the attention of cops, too. Once, fairly recently, on a MO group ride to Laguna Seca, a member of the local constabulary singled me out from the pack because, my red riding jacket “was easiest to identify,” he said. “All your buddies blended together.” Turns out he was a rider too and let me off easy.

But the lesson was learned. It was time for a wardrobe change. Since then I’ve tried my best to keep the flashy gear for the racetrack, while keeping my street gear a little more subdued. With the colder climes upon us this winter, the $219.99 Brera jacket from Rev’it fits the bill perfectly.

Designed to mimic the classic bomber jacket style, the Brera is an ideal cool-weather jacket for the urban dweller on a scooter, standard, or even cafe racer. But the best part is that it can simply pass as a stylish jacket regardless of whether or not you ride. Constructed from Nylon Oxford, the Brera is also waterproof and breathable thanks to a Hydratex inner liner weaved into the base of the nylon Oxford material.

Cold weather features include a non-removable thermal inner liner, knitted waistband and cuffs, capped off with a fake fur collar. The collar is removable, but really, it’s what completes the look of the jacket. Not to mention it’s a great conversation starter. Protection comes in the form of soft armor placed at the shoulders and elbows. There’s also a built-in pocket for an approved back protector, but our sample didn’t come so equipped.

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Speaking of pockets, there’s a total of three inner pockets and two on the outside. The former are ideal for stashing small items, but caution is required when storing items in the latter — the snaps keeping them shut come undone easier than we’d prefer.

Normally riding jackets feel like motorcycle jackets the moment I put them on. You know the feeling: arms are usually pre-curved, the fit is relatively tight, and you can feel the hard armor whenever you move. The Brera is different – it feels like your average, everyday jacket for a night on the town. Arms aren’t pre-curved, and the fit is relaxed thanks to the pliable material. The knitted cuffs seal off my wrists from potential incoming cold drafts, though sometimes the waistband rides up my back and allows the occasional cool breeze. I hardly feel the armor on or off the bike as well.

Riding with the Brera is strange. As advertised, it does a fine job keeping me warm while still being breathable, and though it may sound silly, I credit much of that to the fur collar retaining heat from escaping from my neck. But the reason why riding with the Brera is strange is because, on appearance alone, my riding friends think I’ve skimped on protection by wearing a normal jacket while my non-riding friends never realize I came in on a motorcycle.

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The Brera is meant to be a city jacket, not a sporty jacket, and as such its abrasion resistance clearly won’t match that of leather or other textiles. Its soft armor obviously won’t provide as much protection as hard armor, either. Thankfully, I haven’t (yet) had the opportunity to test either quality. Considering the oddly-warm SoCal weather lately, Mother Nature hasn’t provided many opportunities for wet weather testing. However, I “accidentally” spilled several glasses of water on myself only to see the liquid bead away without a trace.

All things considered, I’m really impressed with the Rev’it Brera. If cruising around the town is the goal and it’s chilly outside, it’s the one I’m grabbing from now on. It’s available in the Dark Green seen here, Marine Blue, and Black, ranging in size from Small to XXL.

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