| May 24, 2022
The Alpinestars Hyper Drystar sport-touring jacket’s shell has smooth 450-denier material on the torso; rougher, tougher 600D on elbows and shoulders, all with CE Level 1-rated armor below. Alpinestars’ waterproof, breathable Drystar membrane is built in. A zip-in liner has 100-gram stuffing around the torso and 80g in the sleeves, making this a three-season jacket. It also has pocketed back and chest protectors, but they’re merely placeholders for serious options. Available in small to 5XL sizes, the Hyper comes in basic black, as well as black with camo, green, gray or yellow accenting.
By Eric Putter
From spec sheets to open roads to mean streets, this duo performs.
Fewer bells and whistles can be stuffed in the five pockets of Alpinestars’ armored Copper 2 Denim Riding Pants. These jeans are 98 percent cotton, with some stretchy stuff woven in. Triple-stitched down each leg–and dual-stitched everywhere else–the 13 oz. denim is backed by Kevlar panels sewn into the primary impact zones. There’s a 17 x 12 in. butt protector; knees are shielded by 13 in. long swaths of Kevlar, topped by mesh pockets that hold thin, flexible, CE Level 1 Bioflex armor. Hip protection is optional. C2s come in black and blue, with 30- to 38-inch waists, in short and long lengths.
Lowdown
Standout Feature: Absolutely, positively waterproof jacket and stealthy pant protection
Alpinestars Hyper Drystar Jacket MSRP: $249.95
Alpinestars Copper 2 Denim Pants MSRP: $219.95
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Jacket: Secure, unflappable fit with eight adjustment points |
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Pants: No unsightly external seams to reveal the protection below |
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Jacket: Waterproof Drystar membrane wicks moisture, but prevents direct airflow to torso |
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Pants: Relatively low-cut rides down in back but not enough to invite plumber jokes |
Rider Analysis
Sliding into the liner-equipped Hyper was easy, even with a finicky main zipper. The “volume control” system’s eight adjustment points snugged things up nicely. The pants simply fit like new jeans—a bit stiff at first but more jovial as we got acquainted. Of the jacket shell’s five pockets, only the “Waterproof Compartment,” a Napoleon-style internal breast pocket, is guaranteed to keep moisture at bay.
The AStar gear performs and is stylish at the same time.
With a maze of stretch panels, high-tech fabrics and pre-curved arms, the jacket’s on-bike mobility proved excellent. At triple-digit speeds, in 40-degree temperatures and through Category 15 wind gusts—not simultaneously, of course—the Hyper’s sealed internal seams, tallish collar and extended rear length kept cold air from penetrating. In contrast, with less to prove, the relatively low-tech Copper 2s just did their thing, and continued doing it better as the miles wore on.
