![Joe Rocket Hot Lether Rocket Nation Jacket](images/DailyArticles/January2010/RocketNationJacket/Joe Rocket Hot Leather Rocket Nation LeadT.jpg)
Joe Rocket’s Hot Leather: Rocket Nation Soars with Style, Fit
Story and Photos by J. Joshua Placa
Joe Rocket is better known for more for its slick, Euro-style moto apparel, but the company does offer at least one leather jacket that seems to have slipped away from the sporty line and crossed over into our wild, wicked world.
In the past few years, cruiser-wear has somewhat gotten away from the old-fashioned standards of yesteryear and those grumpy, serious styles. And since I am old and was around to see the birth of the original police jacket back around 10,000 B.C., I can say with fashionable certainty that new colors and cuts are worthy of being worn by a genuine cruiser chick or dude.
The Rocket Nation jacket is a little bit gangsta, a little bit hardcore rider, and looks cool in the biker flag colors of black and red. It has a slim, manly cut that means business, but a sleek, updated profile that can’t be bothered with a collar and a bunch of shiny, pretty snaps. Body-armor padding in the shoulders, spine, forearms and elbows adds some cushion if you start bouncing down the superslab, while the 1.2- to 1.4mm cowhide does what hide was born to do.
The Rocket Nation is adorned with small patches that can only be described as celebrating the biker, original gangster, power sport lifestyle. Some hip-hop undertones there, just enough to add some funk, but this is definitely a serious piece of leather. The jacket is well built, combining fit, style and motorcycle purpose.
The jacket features an adjustable waistband, which comes in handy for growing Baby Boomers, a removable insulated vest liner, ventilation “shafts” and a reflective stripe for those afraid of the dark.
After some vigorous testing in some of the worst neighborhoods, wearing the jacket while I rolled around on various bikes, including a chopper, I can confidently say that the state of the Rocket Nation look good, rides right, works well. The only mishap was a blown zipper pull.
The Rocket Nation jacket comes in Black, Gunmetal or Red in sizes 40 to 52, including tall sizes from 44 to 50. Unlike some sport-wear makers, the Rocket Nation runs true to fat American size. It retails for $325 to $345. Matching Rocket Nation gloves are available for $40 in small to 2X.
For more information and a list of retail outlets, visit www.joerocket.com.