Spidi Track Wind Pro Leathers Review

Italy is a beacon of motorsports, and that also holds true in terms of motorcycle race apparel. Alpinestars and Dainese are the two most prominent Italian apparel companies, but Spidi is another compelling player in the market. World-championship riders wearing Spidi leathers include Marco Melandri, Scott Redding, Leon Camier and Ayrton Badovini. (Not to be confused with Sidi, which is a different Italian company that makes footwear for motorcyclists.)

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The Track Wind Pro suit tested here resides about midway up Spidi’s lineup of track-worthy leathers, retailing for $1,399. It’s constructed mainly from old-fashioned Italian cowhide, 1.2-1.3mm thick, mixed with a combination of much techier materials. Stretchy Schoeller Keprotec is used in key areas of the arms, legs and crotch to allow for fitting around bodies of different shapes. Leather-like Clarino is used on the neck area, while neoprene inserts are used on the collar and wrist cuffs for stretchable comfort. A stretch panel is also used in the ankle area to accommodate various calf sizes. Accordion panels in the shoulders, waist and knees allow a body to move without much restriction.

Impact absorption is provided by three different types of CE-approved armor. Thick Force-Tech protectors are used for elbows and knees. Spidi’s Biomechanic padding is used to protect shoulders, while softer Multitech protectors are employed to protect hips. Knee and hip armor can be adjusted to fit various bodies. The Track Wind leathers are delivered with pockets for a back protector and a chest protector, but both pads are optional (and extra-cost) equipment I didn’t test.

The Track Wind Pro is quick to impress, emitting a fine fragrance of premium leather and feeling both supple and tough. Spidi says it weighs 10.1 lbs. Inside is a comfortable removable liner made from two types of mesh: a thicker grid pattern on the back area that keeps it away from a rider’s skin for consistent airflow, plus typical perforated mesh everywhere else.

Wearing a set of leathers on a hot day can be torturous if not for decent ventilation. The Track Wind Pro uses perforated panels on both sides of the main zipper, the fronts of the thighs and a small panel at the top of the biceps – areas not typically suffering long periods of sliding in the event of a crash. Air circulation is augmented by four vents at the forward section of each collarbone area, which appear unobtrusive but flow a considerable amount of air thanks to the six exhaust vents on the back and the interior’s raised-mesh liner.

The Track Wind Pro is available in six colorways and in European sizes 48 to 58. If your body is shaped such that off-the-rack sizes rarely fit, consider using Spidi’s On Fit Program to get a suit made to your measurements for an extra $200.

The Track Wind has been covering my hide on racetracks in 2015, and that’s not just because I needed to test them. They fit my body snugly but comfortably, seem to offer good protection from impacts and abrasion, and – critically – they look terrific. Check out the links below to see the Track Wind leathers on different bikes. More information can be found at Spidi.com.

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