LS2 Apollo review | AAA-rated ventilated waterproof motorcycle kit

Date reviewed: September 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £499.99 & 299.99 (RRP) | ls2helmets.com/

The LS2 Apollo jacket and trousers on review here are very important for motorcycle kit, being among the very few textiles to be rated at the highest AAA level for EN17092’s abrasion resistance, seam strength AND tear resistance. There’s not much kit that manages this, with some brands claiming it can’t be done while remaining comfortable, or it costing significantly more.

Of the off-the-peg AAA-rated waterproof textiles I’ve tried in the past, they have in some cases been stiff and poorly fitted, but that’s certainly not the case here. LS2 has created a relatively affordable laminated waterproof textile suit with good ventilation that makes for an almost perfect combination of protection, comfort and performance. After testing it for several months in all conditions on my 2019 BMW R1250SG and 2001 Honda VFR800, this is my unbiased opinion…

Pros & Cons

LS2 Apollo - Construction and fit

First impressions of the LS2 Apollo jacket and trousers are of kit that’s extremely well made. Despite being a three-layer laminate (more on that later) it doesn’t feel stiff, and some of the details are very impressive with hi-viz patches and reflective panels adding to the safety without looking too worthy.

Look closer and the Apollo still impresses with very even and well-applied seam-taping inside… while not cheap at £800 in total, given the build quality and attention to detail this LS2 kit does represent very good value for money if you’re a demanding rider out in all conditions.

Sizing is pretty much as you’d expect – I’m usually a large in most kit, though I am nudging towards an XL at the moment (I need to lay off the cakes), and while the jacket fits very well in L, the trousers are a little tight at the waist for me.

A large Velcro-fastened waist strap is included with the jacket to ensure a secure fit (you can take it out), and the detachable braces are a very welcome addition that I wish more brands would include.

I can happily wear the LS2 Apollo all day both on and off the bike: granted it’s not as soft and easy to get on with as a pair of decent AAA-rated riding jeans for instance, but this is laminated waterproof kit designed for all-weather riding.

The LS2 Apollo is currently only available in men’s sizes small to 5XL, though the fact that the labels inside refer specifically to ‘Apollo Man’ makes me hopeful that a women’s version might be available in future…

LS2 Apollo - Protection & Certification

First, a very brief explanation of the safety certification standards that help YOU choose what riding kit to buy, because some shop assistants like to confuse you or just make things up to suit their profit margins and distribution deals…

All motorcycle kit sold in the UK must be tested and certified to a recognised standard. For jackets and trousers that’s EN17902, which has three key levels: A, AA and AAA. The more As, the better the kit is at resisting abrasion AND tearing AND pulling apart at the seams. The standard demands that ALL of these requirements (and others like chemical innocuousness and wearability) are met when tested at an independent lab. You can find out more about all the safest riding kit here.

EN17092 also insists that properly certified armour is installed at the elbows, shoulders and knees, as well as the hips in AA- and AAA-rated trousers.

The LS2 Apollo is certified to the highest Level AAA, but do keep in mind that this simply means it’s met the minimum requirements of lab testing. Contrary to what some disingenuous brands will try to tell you, it does NOT mean that the kit’s as protective as decent leather kit. It’s also not as demanding a set of tests as the old EN13595 Level 1 or Level 2 tests that, currently, only BKS Made-to-Measure and Hideout achieve with their bespoke textile and leather riding kit, and the test method used for EN17092 has some flaws in its methodology that can mean that some materials achieve higher results on the spinning concrete slab than others due to melting on there and reducing the abrasion caused during the repeated passes (you don’t slide on the same patch of road in the real world).

EN17092 has its toughest tests at the key impact areas of the shoulders, elbows, knees and hips, with only Level AAA adding the bum to that list (in AA and A the requirements are much lower here, bizarrely). The LS2 Apollo has a large leather patch on the bum to reduce potential abrasion injuries, while the knees, elbows and hips have a strange soft, grippy pattern bonded to the outer material, with a second layer of fabric underneath as part of the armour pockets. This interior layer is thinner than the outer material, but more dense than the mesh lining that’s often used to hold the armour.

The external pattern design might help reduce the most damaging initial impact abrasion that tears at fabrics in a crash, but testing by MotoCAP would be helpful to see. Still, it’s great to see brands pushing for higher performance levels… It's just a shame that the Apollo’s let down a bit by the armour.

The Safe Tech-branded protectors fitted at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees are rated to the higher Level 2 for impact protection, which is great, and they’re extremely well ventilated but unfortunately they conform only to the smaller Type A template (Type B armour is larger, so protects more of your body). The LS2’s protectors are also rated ‘T-’, which means they maintain their protective performance down to -10°C.

They’re shaped to better hold their position and provide better coverage, but the design relies on long, deformable tubes, which are very short around the edges so able to offer much less impact attenuation there.

Brands like Rukka, Klim and Belstaff use specially-designed armour that’s much larger than the minimum requirements of even the Type B template, but it does add to the production cost.

The armour used in the LS2 Apollo isn’t useless by any stretch, but it is disappointingly small compared to some others out there. While the company is definitely to be applauded for creating such a technically brilliant suit at the price, I’d argue that adding, say, £50 to the cost would be worth it to have even better protection against not just impact injury, but to also better absorb that critical initial impact abrasion energy. A quick poll on the Bennetts BikeSocial group seemed to suggest that other riders agree.

Fortunately the knee armour is adjustable between three positions, and the elbow armour between two, so getting it set in just the right place isn’t too hard and adjustable straps at the tops of the calves and just above the elbows help keep it in the right place. Needless to say, do always check the fit and retention of any amour for yourself before buying any kit.

The dense foam Safe Tech Level 2 Full Back protector isn’t included, so expect to pay an additional £29.99. Pockets for Level 1 dense foam chest protection are also built in, with those costing £14.99 for the pair.

From April 21 2018, all new motorcycle clothing was deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). To meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. For more information on the CE standard law and how it applies to motorcycle kit, click here.

LS2 Apollo - Pockets

You get two waterproof fold-over horizontal pockets at the jacket’s waist on the LS2 Apollo, as well as a large waterproof map pocket on the rear (which I use to store the neck gaiter). There’s also a small stash pocket that’s not waterproof on the left hem, which is a good size for a credit card or pass.

Inside there’s a small Velcro-fastened pocket on the right, and another on the left intended for your phone.

The trousers have a pair of hip pockets with waterproof zips (these have proper tough waterproof tape over the teeth – rather than just water-resistant – though the slider must be pulled right up to the very end to seal) and two smaller, triangular pockets on the upper thighs that will also keep small items dry.

There’s plenty of storage for keys, wallet etc, but unfortunately none of the pockets are big enough to comfortably take my Google Pixel 7 Pro phone. I usually keep it in a waist pocket, but it’ll only go in vertically and then jams against my leg. If I angle it just right it’ll just about go in the main trouser pockets, but it still jams against my leg on some bikes. Bizarrely, the internal phone pocket is also too shallow, so I can’t get the top fastened with my phone in. It’d probably be okay in there, but I’d rather not risk my phone getting pushed or bounced out and lost.

LS2 Apollo - Fastening

The Apollo’s main zip is a chunky, smooth-running YKK with a guttered storm flap covering it, which also runs in both directions so can be opened at the base for more legroom when sat on the bike if you want.

The neck fastens with Velcro, and a large gaiter zips around the top to more fully seal you in the worst weather. This also fastens with Velcro and works well, though I can just feel the flap inside against my throat. That’s in no way a deal breaker, but a nice tweak for LS2 to make in future.

The cuffs cinch up flat if you wear your gloves over the sleeves, or they’ve got enough room to go over gauntlet gloves for the best weather protection in the rain. They’re not the biggest openings, so they’ll struggle with bulkier gloves, but strap your mitts down tight and you should be fine.

The cuffs also have elasticated straps to ensure the sleeves stay down in a slide – if you want extra airflow, you could leave the cuffs undone and pop the strap over your gloves.

The cuff cinch straps have plenty of Velcro to bite onto, and there’s even an extra patch at the base to keep the strap from flapping about – another great little detail.

The trousers have a zip fly in front of a waterproof gaiter, which keeps rain out but as is often the case makes a panicked cold-weather emergency wee-stop a little more tricky if you’re trying to avoid dropping your trousers.

Above this is an unusually-designed YKK-branded V-shaped clasp that snaps into place to keep the top of the trousers securely closed. This is a bit stiff at first but soon loosens up, though if you’re pushing it for the sizing it can take a deep breath before being able to fasten it. Within the normal size range though it’s a good, solid design and there’s plenty of adjustment in the integral Velcro belt on both sides. And the excellent removable braces make the trousers even easier to wear.

The legs have zips down the sides with a Velcro cinch at the bottom similar to the jacket cuffs, including a retainer patch for if you want to ride with them open to take advantage of the mesh built into the web between the water-resistant zip – another clever detail that adds to the production cost and is hard to notice, but that really does make for even better kit.

The Apollo is thoughtfully supplied with a spare set of poppers and two spare zip pullers.

LS2 Apollo - Adjustment

The LS2 Apollo has a good range of adjustment built in, with the trouser ‘belt’ carrying strong Velcro that allows for tidy cinching at the sides and pulls evenly all around the waist. The removable braces are also fully adjustable for a comfortable fit.

Just below each knee is a Velcro strap to ensure the armour stays in the right place and the bottoms of the legs can be tightened securely around your boots.

The jacket has a Velcro strap above each elbow to retain the armour, and the adjustable waist strap forms a ‘V’ shape to comfortably draw the sides in, with the front buckle sliding up and down within a 4cm range. This waist strap also runs to elasticated sections neatly tucked away on the back to draw from the rear, rather than just pinch in at the sides. Again, it’s these details that help elevate the LS2 Apollo to a premium level.

LS2 Apollo - Ventilation

For an all-season laminated waterproof motorcycle suit, the LS2 Apollo has very good ventilation thanks to all these openings…

• Two chest vent panels

• Two belly vents

• Two forearm vents

• Sleeves that can be left open

• A collar that can be pinned back

• Two back exhaust vents

• Two thigh vent panels

• Two exhaust vents at the backs of the thighs

• Trouser leg bottoms that can be left open

How much air gets into these will of course depend on the bike and its fairing / screen, but obviously you can’t expect the same level of cooling as you’d get with a mesh suit.

In my testing on the VFR800 and the R1250GS, I found the ventilation to be very good, with the legs working particularly well and the forearms gathering decent air, but the chest and waist required me to stand up to feel the biggest benefits on the GS. This isn’t unusual at all of course, though I would say that the chest and leg ventilation panels, while appearing big don’t expose as much mesh as you might expect due to folding over as a triangle. Having said that, the air can still get under the flap and to your body. The belly and rear exhaust vents could also do with some form of strap to pull them open, allowing more air in

Many of us have been spoiled by mesh kit in the hottest weather, but that can be an expensive and sometimes inconvenient option thanks to the need for separate waterproof gear. The LS2 Apollo also doesn’t have the same level of ventilation of some of the best Adventure suits (like the Rev’It Sand 5), but those have separate, fully removable waterproof membranes.

As laminated bike kit goes, the Apollo is excellent in hot weather.

LS2 Apollo - Warmth

Further reflecting the good value (for the spec and build quality), the LS2 Apollo is supplied with a removable thermal jacket and trousers. The jacket has a very nice soft feel to it, so it’s a shame that it’s not designed to double-up as a ‘destination’ jacket that can be worn on its own.

Removing and refitting the liners is made easier by colour-coded tabs in the sleeves and legs (thanks LS2), and these do a good job of keeping you more snug as the temperature drops.

However, I prefer to wear the Zerofit Heat Rub base layers in the cold, and a Keis heated vest or even a budget down-style jacket from Mountain Warehouse.

A thermal liner in the trousers tends to be of more value to me as you can easily take it off when you arrive with the rest of the kit, but with jackets I prefer to have something I can use while off the bike too.

For many people the inclusion of a thermal liner will be very a welcome one, but I’d have preferred to see the cost here invested in larger armour, leaving me to sort myself out for winter riding.

LS2 Apollo - Liner

The LS2 Apollo jacket and trousers are both mainly lined with a lightweight, comfortable mesh that doesn’t get too sticky in the hot weather. The inside back of the jacket has a smoother material, but this is still comfortable in use.

LS2 Apollo - Waterproofing

There are two construction methods for waterproof motorcycle kit:

• A separate membrane that’s either fixed into the inside of the garment (called a drop-liner) or one that’s designed to be removable, like in adventure suits. The problem with these is that you can’t have vents on the jacket that feed air direct to the body as the membrane will block them, and the outer material can get more easily soaked right through causing reduced breathability and a much slower drying-out time after riding in heavy rain. Drop-liners are a cheaper construction method, and they can make for warmer kit as air gets trapped between the layers. The fabrics can also tend to be more flexible.

• Laminated motorcycle kit sees the waterproof membrane bonded to the inside of the outer material. This is called a ‘two-layer laminate’. A ‘three-layer laminate’ has an additional ‘scrim’ layer bonded to the inside of the membrane to protect it from wear and tear, making for a potentially longer-lasting garment. Laminated kit allows the manufacturer to build in vents that let air pass direct to the body, but this can make waterproofing a challenge, so check they haven’t just stuck a membrane behind this area. It can also make for kit that doesn’t ‘wet-out’ as easily, and dries a lot more quickly after riding. However, laminated fabrics tend to be stiffer, and the seam taping inside is critical – if it’s not accurate and well bonded, water will find its way through.

Here you can see the fine mesh ‘scrim’ layer that provides protection to the membrane in a three-layer laminate and the excellent seam-taping.

Decent laminated kit has got a lot more accessible over the last few years, so it’s no longer the reserve of the most expensive brands. The LS2 Apollo has superb quality seam taping that’s very accurate and well-applied.

The vent zips are all tough and waterproof, rather than water-resistant, though you do need to make sure that the slider is pulled firmly closed for a proper seal. Only the cuff zips have the more usual water-resistant tape covering the teeth as they need to be easier to slide, but they’re positioned on the inside upper edge of the fabric so out of the water.

The removable neck gaiter is essential to keeping the rain out, but it’s easy to zip into place and there’s even a magnet in the bottom to keep the front down and in the right location.

The vent panels at the chest and thighs might look like a point for water ingress, but beneath the flaps and behind the waterproof zips are gutters built in that can catch rain and channel it away before it reaches the mesh.

And it works.

Mostly.

In my testing, it can depend on your bike and the Honda VFR800 sees my thighs sitting horizontally. That body position, and the shape of the fairing seems to help direct water right at the corner of the thigh panel’s zips, and after a full hour’s riding in very heavy rain at motorway speeds I did find some damp patches in these two areas.

On the GS my thighs are angled slightly downwards, and the clever design of the vent flapos seems much more effective.

Depending how I’m sitting on the bike a small amount of wetness can find my belly, but this is also affected by the gap caused by my belly overhanging the trousers. With some weight lost again (or a size up) this shouldn’t be a problem due to the good length of the jacket, but I’d perhaps have liked to have seen an elasticated drawstring at the hem of the jacket for even more weather protection and the bottom of the zip set a little lower.

Overall, the LS2 Apollo can offer excellent waterproofing in most circumstances, but when the weather is really bad and you’re riding for long periods, it’s kit that’s much more suited to a bike with a little more legroom than the VFR.

Cleaning the LS2 Apollo

With the armour removed, zips closed and Velcro fastened, the LS2 Apollo can be handwashed at 30°C. It should be dried while hung in the shade, and mustn’t be tumbled or ironed.

Three alternatives to the LS2 Apollo

This is the mid to high price bracket for a complete motorcycle suit, but the spec and details – not to mention the AAA rating – puts the LS2 in a very strong position. Here are some others that you might be considering…

• Rukka Hybrid R (£1,499.99 & £1,099.99) | To be putting the £800 LS2 Apollo in with a suit costing 325% that is very telling of its quality and design features. The Rukka is also only certified to Level AA, but it does have absolutely outstanding D3O armour in it. I’ve still unfortunately not been able to review it, so can’t give you any more detail about its overall value and performance.

• RST Pro Series Commander (£299.99 & £249.99) | Tested by a motorcycle instructor through all weathers, all day and every day, the excellent waterproof performance, pocket space and choice of leg lengths mean this comes highly recommended. The main thing to consider that our tester pointed out is that it can be too warm in the summer for slow-speed urban riding. Read the full review of the RST Pro Series Commander textiles here.

• Klim Badlands Pro A3 (£1,540 & £899.99) | Another extremely expensive alternative, but the Klim is certified to AAA and has excellent, large armour. Unfortunately when I tried it on it was very a surprisingly poor fit for me, and I haven’t reviewed any Klim gear in a while.

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the textiles we’ve tested here  and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.

LS2 Apollo - Verdict

The LS2 Apollo is a superb piece of kit that can easily hold its own in this price bracket and a fair way beyond. The pockets could be improved a little, but it’s the slightly disappointing armour that lets it down most for me. That’s not to say that this is a bad piece of kit by any stretch, and I’ll be continuing to wear it a lot thanks to its combination of very good ventilation and waterproofing making it a versatile and comfortable piece jacket and trousers combo.

The LS2 Apollo is not cheap, but it does represent very good value for money and definitely earns itself a recommendation. In fact, I’d say it’s one of the best-designed pieces of motorcycle kit I’ve tested in a very long time.

Second Opinion: Gary Mitchem

BikeSocial Facebook Group member Gary Mitchem bought a set of LS2 Apollo textiles to use on his BMW R1250GS Adventure. Here’s what he thought… “When I saw the LS2 Apollo jacket and pants advertised in the motorcycle press at the start of this year, I felt that they seemed amazing value for such a high-spec textile suit, and something I wanted to try. I had been looking to replace my RST Pro Series Paragon with a laminated alternative, and the only other AAA option was more than double the price.

“I’m 95kg and 1.75m (5’9”), and normally a large/x-large shirt size, with 36” x 31” jeans in casual clothes, so I ordered the pants and jacket in XL and 2XL sizes to try on at Sportsbikeshop in Milton Keynes. For reference, my exiting RST textiles are 46 jacket and 36 regular for the pants.

The initial impression of the LS2 Apollo in the flesh is that of great quality and attention to detail. There are numerous pockets inside and out, great ventilation and many other detail items.

“The XL size was a great fit for me: it feels a bit snug with the lining zipped in, but without it, very comfortable indeed. The leg length is perfect, and the trousers fit nicely over my Forma adventure boots. The braces are a nice touch, and the fact they can be easily unclipped is another great design feature.

“I was somewhat surprised that a jacket at this level doesn’t come as standard with a back protector, so ordered the LS2 Level 2 insert to complement the supplied level 2 shoulder and elbow protectors.

“Despite the first orders being delayed, luckily everything was ready in time for my 2-week trip to Ireland at the beginning of June, so I set off to Holyhead in my new LS2 Apollo attire.

“After weeks of sunshine our 250-mile ride to Holyhead was wet. VERY wet.

“Although the weather was horrendous for most of the journey to North Wales, I remained very dry and snug. Everything good so far, and a vast improvement over my old RST textiles.

“Once in Dublin we set off for Kilkenny and then on to Killarney, where we based ourselves for our day rides around the Southwest Coast. The weather for our two-week trip was typically Irish, with plenty of rain and sun. This was a great opportunity to try out the ventilation as well as the waterproofing on the LS2 Apollo. I must say it performed very well; the waterproof zips were a bit stiff to start with, but they freed up with use. The ventilation was exceptional – not as good as a full mesh suit, but great for temperatures in the mid to high 20s. The sleeve vents work particularly well when riding my BMW GS as they act like air scoops and direct cool air into the jacket.

“Downsides if any, are: The sleeves are bit long for me, the level 2 armour seems a bit thin and small, the missing back protector, and the pockets on the pants could be a bit bigger.

“If you are in the market for a AAA textile jacket and pants, then there aren’t many options. The LS2 Apollo should be on your short list, and worth a visit to Sports Bike Shop to try it on.”

I deliberately avoided reading Gary’s review until I’d completed mine, so it’s great to see we had very similar views. John

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