Our team reviews understated jackets from Icon 1000 and Malle London. Plus a glove that blends retro style with Mad Max sensibilities.

Icon 1000 Upstate riding flannel I can geek out about gear for hours, but I’ve got hardly anything to say about Icon 1000’s Upstate riding flannel. Which is precisely what’s so great about it. On paper, it’s a no-nonsense riding shirt that blends style and safety?and in the real world, it does exactly what it says on the tin.
From the outside, the only things that give away the Upstate’s riding-specific nature are Cordura reinforcement panels on the elbows, and a subtle reflective stripe across the back. For the rest, it’s a piece that will blend seamlessly with your casual wardrobe.
Available in either blue or orange, the exterior not only looks spectacular, but has a fantastic hand to it too. It’s heavyweight in its construction, but soft to the touch, just like a proper heritage flannel. Inside you’ll find a mesh liner and a full set of D30 armor?including a generous back protector and two placement options for the elbow pads.
The Upstate is warm enough for mild to slightly chilly weather?and when it gets colder, the long and roomy cut leaves plenty of space for layering with a hoody or sweatshirt. (Plus it’s a godsend for dad bods like mine.) Size-wise, Icon’s chart is spot-on, so go with that.

A heavy duty YKK zipper does duty up front, covered by a wind flap that’...