Let’s start with the facts: ICON 1000’s Akorp Jacket is fitted with an adjustable waist and constructed with a Highland coated canvas chassis. You stay safe with the CE level 2 certified D30 removable back protector, and CE certified shoulder and elbow impact protectors. The armor has a little room to travel so they tend to slide around. This is an easy fix with a stitch to prevent the elbows pads from moving outside of the desired location. Initially they’re a little stiff in cold weather, but mold to you with the warmth of your body. Oh! A word of advice: always hang your Akorp on the wide shouldered hanger they provide, if not one similar in width. I learned the hard way that stiff, cold D30 can only bend around a thin hanger under its weight for so long… then snaps in half. Ever stylish, ICON 1000 uses 1.33mm Brazilian cowhide overlays that give the garment a more patchwork apocalyptic feel – which I believe was the intention. And I’m a sucker for “apocalyptic” anything!
Since receiving my shiny red Akorp in August, it has literally become my uniform. I recently had to obtain a another ICON jacket just so I could mix it up a bit! This signature costume of mine has accompanied me through every obstacle that I’ve breezed, buzzed and trudged through. My Akorp has seen the tall mountain ridges and muddy roads of the Pacific Northwest – not to mention, torrential downpours. It fared well for what it is: a dry-weather, light drizzle, all-over town type of riding jacket. When it traveled with me through California, Baja, Nevada and Arizona, its condition and function were excellent! It even accompanied me on the infamous Barstow-to-Vegas dual sport ride this past year, saving my skin again and again as I’d land on my face, or my back or my shoulders… The Akorp did as it should: protect me.
On the more comfortable side of things: the detachable liner is sufficiently thermal on brisk rides and can be made more so with the addition of warm layers. In hot sticky weather, the Akorp has zippers to allow air into your sleeves at the wrists. I often unzip the jacket just below my collarbone, and that’s usually enough to get airflow to my torso. Other features I love are the many, many pockets – some zipped, others with buttons and magnets. The color is brilliant and as it wears the jacket becomes even more handsome (I wear my scars with pride! – so to speak). What I’ve discovered over time were small charms, secret compartments and interesting sayings hidden throughout the jacket. ICON 1000’s attention to detail is endearing and unique, and finding these accents and accoutrements is like finding little gifts left behind by your loved ones. It alters the purpose of buying a garment for protection, trend or practicality.
The Akorp may not be American-made, but the quality is American-standard. There are few motorcycle jacket manufacturers of similar production value at the same cost. We had a beer with the Marketing Director recently and he passionately divulged ICON 1000’s motives. They’re not making gear to suit just one kind of group, or be the most expensive, or flashy, or even the most popular. They’re here to make quality gear for those who would otherwise overlook it for the sake of fashion or skimp on caliber because of price. From the invincible, speed-crazed street riders to the Adventure Riding ATGATT’s, ICON 1000 wants people to find whatever sort of protective wear they need in one place. The intention is to assure each motorcyclist receives the craftsmanship they paid for in a style that’s distinctly theirs. Whether your focus is on the look, the quality, the function or the value, ICON 1000’s Akorp Jacket has you covered.
