Rev’It Sand 5 H2O review | The best motorcycle adventure suit

Date reviewed: September 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £469.99 & £369.99 (RRP) | revitsport.com

‘Adventure suit’ is a bit of a catch-all term. Rev’It refers to the Sand 5 H2O on review here as ‘multi-purpose textiles for the adventure-hungry traveller’, and while this isn’t necessarily the best motorcycle kit for an all-year-round commuter, after several months of use on my 2019 BMW R1250GS and 2001 Honda VFR800, I have to say that it’s the best adventure textile suit I’ve ever tested. While not perfect for everyone, if you understand the limitations of gear like this, it could be exactly what you’ve been looking for. And this is the best implementation I’ve come across yet…

Pros & Cons

Construction and fit

The Rev’It Sand 5 – like many other adventure-focussed textiles – is made up of three separate parts – the CE certified ‘outer’ that also carries the armour, a waterproof jacket and trousers, and thermal liners for both too.

The point of this mix-and-match design is that you can take the waterproof membrane – which while breathable will always restrict airflow in the heat – out of the main kit for the best comfort in hot climates. If it’s dry, you can wear the outer with just the thermal liners, or you can wear it with just the waterproof ones, or all three together.

Where the Sand 5 adds additional versatility is in the fact that the waterproof layers can be worn under or over the outer jacket and trousers. While not a unique feature, it’s the first time I’ve worn anything that manages to have enough room in the waterproofs to do this, while not being uncomfortable when worn underneath.

Another very real bonus is that the down-style (it’s all polyester) removable thermal jacket is a ‘destination’ one, which means it can be worn and zipped-up on its own without looking like… well, a liner pulled out of a motorbike jacket. There are some tell-tale poppers on the chest and sleeves, but I’ve no problems wandering off the bike with this.

Like the excellent and more urban-focussed Rev’It Tectonic I recently reviewed, the build quality and attention to detail of the Sand 5 is superb, with accurate stitching throughout, neat reflective details (including under the vent panels) and nice touches like the soft collar, drawstring hem, large carry / hanging handle on the back of the jacket and the leather panels on the insides of the legs for grip and wear resistance.

The map pocket on the rear is also designed to take a 1.5 litre lumbar-style hydration pack. The HydraPak Edge Lumbar 1.5L is said to be a great fit, and two other options I found are the Osprey 1.5 litre Lumbar Reservoir and the Camelbak Crux, though I haven’t been able to test any of them in it yet; I’ll update this review if I can confirm they fit. Loops run up the back, over the shoulders and to the chest to route and secure the drinking pipe.

The Sand 5 is lightweight to wear and very comfortable, with a good length to the arms. Of course, fit is always subjective and while I’d say that Rev’It is true to its sizing, I’m on the borderline of sizes at the moment, so went for a L jacket and XL trousers. In some gear I can get away with L trousers, but my 34” waist (nudging 36”) was too much of a squeeze in this case. As always, try any kit for yourself before buying, especially as removable linings can affect the fit.

The Rev’It Sand 5 H2O is available in men’s sizes S-4XL (trousers go down to XS) and women’s sizes 34 to 46.

Protection & Certification

The Rev’It Sand 5 is certified to Level AA under EN17092, which means that the outer layer has met the requirements of the abrasion resistance, seam strength and tear resistance of this this mid-tier lab performance (A is the minimum, AAA is the highest currently).

This testing covers the whole garment, not just parts of the material, and the armour is certified separately as it’d be no use if the jacket or trousers fell apart and the protectors bounced off down the road.

So, a good protection level under EN17092 for what is a very wearable piece of kit in even very hot weather, but the armour Rev’It uses is also noteworthy, being the highest Level 2 at the shoulders, elbows and knees AND the larger Type B template AND certified to both T+ and T-, to ensure full performance from -10°C to +40°C. This level of quality is rarely seen in any gear from any brand, but the Seeflex protectors designed for Rev’It are also left and right handed, to give the best balance of coverage and comfort. Combined with the curved design, the protectors sit in the right place and they stay there. Oh, and the knee and elbow armour is adjustable for position through two stages on the elbows and three at the knees.

The hip protectors are certified to the lower Level 1, Type B, T- only – I’d like to have seen Level 2 here, but it would have added bulk to the sides.

No back protector is supplied, but there’s a pocket for the very long Rev’It Seesoft Air Type RV, which retails at £49.99. This is also available in four different sizes to suit the jacket it’s going in so make sure you get the right one. Despite being large and doing a very good job of protecting the spine from direct impact, it’s worth noting that it’s only certified as a ‘Central Back’ (CB) protector, rather than the wider ‘Full Back’ (FB), due to the tapered edges limiting the impact protection around the perimeter.

You can also choose to fit Rev’Its £33.99 Level 1 Seesoft chest protectors into slots accessed via the upper edges of the internal pockets. To reach Level 2, chest armour also requires a specific penetration test, so it’s rare to find in bike kit.

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

Pockets

The Rev’It Sand 5 doesn’t have loads of pockets, but what it does have are well considered and swallow everything I need. The two main jacket pockets on the waist have an unusual just-off-vertical fastening and fold over for a water-proof seal regardless of whether you have the waterproof liner on or not (brilliant). These take a little getting used to, and fully stowing the zipper at the top is a bit fiddly, but they work well and have more than enough space for keys, wallet, and my larger Google Pixel 7 Pro phone to sit inside horizontally, which means it doesn’t get in the way of my legs when riding (somewhere far too many jackets fail). When opened, you can also tuck your hands in the pockets easily.

On the rear is the large mesh-covered map / hydration pocket, though if you do pop a paper map in there, make sure you wear the waterproof liner over the top in the rain!

Inside are two smaller Velcro-closed pockets, and that’s it.

The waterproof jacket does have a pocket on its inside too, which is just large enough for my phone – handy if you’re wearing the liner on the outside, though of course this does mean you don’t have any quick-access pockets in the rain.

The thermal jacket has a pair of unsecured pockets at the waist to slip your hands in when walking around off the bike, and a fairly large popper-secured pocket inside.

The waterproof thermal trouser liners don’t have any pockets, and the outers just have a popper-secured pocket at the front left of the thigh, and a zipper-closed (not waterproof) one of the same size on the right. These are lined with mesh, so also act as vents.

Under the left thigh vent is one more tall, slim popper-secured pocket that I can get my phone in, but not close the popper (you could with a smaller phone).

Fastening

The Sand 5 jacket is secured with a chunky, easy to use YKK zip with a large metal toggle.

The trousers have a zipped fly and popper main closure, with a built-in plastic-clasped belt that runs all around the waist. I’d have liked to have seen a little more stretch built into the Sand 5 trousers’ waist, but I am on the borderline of sizing at the moment, so have these XLs cinched fairly tight. The spare strap at the end of the belt also tends to flap about a bit. Maybe it’s my size / age, but a set of braces would have been great.

There are two connecting zips to join the jacket and trousers – a short one at the back or an almost full length one around the waist.

The bottoms of the main trousers have a large opening that easily goes over my enduro-style TCX Drifter boots, with plenty of Velcro for securing them. The waterproof trousers have their own zip and Velcro closure.

The main jacket cuffs have a zip closure and a Velcro flap to cinch them tight. This cinch strap is to the side of the zip, not over it, so it doesn’t bunch up uncomfortably (a mistake a surprising number of brands seem to make).

The waterproof jacket only has a Velcro cinch strap at the cuffs, but there’s enough room to get them over waterproof gloves with a slim gauntlet, like Rev’It’s own Sand 5 H2O gloves (review coming soon), or the superb Level 2KP Gore-Tex Five TFX-1s reviewed here.

Adjustment

The Sand 5 jacket has two adjustable waist straps at either side, a sliding collar fastener, two-position popper straps at the biceps and fully-adjustable straps at the forearms that help keep the armour in the right place with or without the liners.

This armour retention is repeated with straps just below the knees, which with the belt complete the trouser adjustment.

Ventilation

While you can’t beat a quality mesh jacket for ventilation in hot weather, with the waterproof liner removed the Rev’It Sand 5 does an excellent job of keeping you cool thanks to being covered in vents that catch the air extremely well when riding…

• Two very large panels at the chest

• Two zipped vents running from shoulders to elbows, with a poppered flap inside to hold them open (remember what I said about attention to detail?)

• A collar that can be pinned back

• Massive exhaust panel on back

• Two large thigh vents

The panel vents have poppers in the middle to set them at a half-open position if you want, and when fully-open the covers tuck neatly out of the way inside.

This venting really is very effective, and while it’ll of course depend on the bike you’re riding, on the GS it was very good when sat down and exceptional when stood up.

It’s probably no surprise to learn that wearing a cotton tee-shirt on the bike in hot weather is a bad idea as it soaks up the sweat. Go instead for a ‘technical’ top, from a fairly budget tee from Mountain Warehouse or Regatta, to the excellent ZeroFit Cold Skin or mesh-backed Ice Skin.

Warmth

Layered up with the waterproof membrane and thermal layers, the Rev’It Sand 5 H2O jacket and trousers do a good job of keeping you warm – beyond this you’ll need to be looking at heated kit.

I often remove the thermal liners from bike kit and don’t bother with them, preferring to use a lightweight padded jacket inside that I can also wear off the bike. But that’s exactly what’s supplied here, though I don’t bother clipping it in, preferring to just pop it on before the jacket.

The thermal trousers can’t be worn on their own, so I tend to leave these out until winter then zip them in and wear them as part of the main pants.

The only point worth noting is that with the waterproof liner fitted inside the jacket and trousers, the outers will get soaked through in the rain, which will likely make you feel colder. Fortunately though, you can wear them on the outside too…

Liner

The lining fitted to the Sand 5’s main jacket and trousers is a lightweight mesh that’s comfortable and not sticky or grabby in the heat. The shoulder and elbow armour pockets can feel a little more clammy in extremes of heat, but it remains comfortable kit.

Waterproofing

The Rev’It Sand 5 jacket and trousers are totally waterproof even in longs rides of extremely heavy rain. But despite this, I still wouldn’t say that they’re perfect for all-year-round everyday commuters as the hassle of putting on the extra layers will get irritating after a couple of months in the UK winters.

Of course, you could attach the waterproofs inside the jacket and trousers, but the outers will wet-out very quickly and can take a long time to dry after a ride in heavy rain.

The other issue with removable waterproof liners is that you need to stop before hitting the rain, take off your kit and pop the liners in, but the fact that the Sand 5’s waterproofs also fit over the outers means it’s a lot less hassle to quickly get yourself protected.

Of course, you’ll still need to do it before you get wet.

The waterproof jacket and trousers both have small reflective details on, as well as tough ripstop Cordura areas on the forearms and bum. All I’d have liked to have seen is this at the knees too, but the waterproofs are very toughly made.

This scrim is the third layer in a three-layer laminate, and protects the membrane from wear and tear

These are three-layer laminate waterproofs, which means the membrane is bonded to the inside of the liner’s material, then there’s a scrim layer bonded to that, which protects the membrane from wear and tear – especially important in bike kit (two-layer laminates omit this protective scrim).

The seams inside the waterproof liners are accurately and consistently taped, so it’s no surprise that this kit keeps you totally dry. The only place any water got in was a little at the neck, so perhaps the Sand 6 could incorporate the ability to cinch the jacket liner’s neck a little tighter if necessary.

Just keep in mind that, while the waterproof jacket or trousers can (just) be squashed into the main jacket’s map pocket on the rear, they won’t both fit. You’ll need somewhere to stow these liners when not in use, though for the typical adventure rider this of course won’t be a problem.

Cleaning

Once the armour’s been removed, the Rev’It Sand 5’s outer, waterproof and thermal liners can all be machine washed on a mild cycle at 30°C, then left to dry naturally in a shaded, well-ventilated space. Wash the outers separately, and don’t iron or tumble any of it.

Three alternatives to the Rev’It Sand 5 H2O

While adventure textile kit does suit a fairly specific purpose, good gear like the Sand 5 can be incredibly versatile for a large proportion of riders. Here are some others you might be considering…

• LS2 Apollo, £799.98 | Great ventilation (though not quite as breezy as the Sand 5), superb three-layer laminate waterproofing (though not quite as waterproof as the Sand 5) and excellent attention to detail make this a superb piece of kit. The fact that the outer layer is laminated with the membrane means you don’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain or lug around separate liners, but on the other hand the breathability just can’t match the Rev’It’s performance. These are the compromises you need to consider, but the armour in the LS2 is the only real disappointment – it’s Level 2, but really rather small. Read the full review of the LS2 Apollo here.

• Rev’It Tectonic, £889.98 | More of an urban option than the Sand 5, the Tectonic is a mesh-based textile with superb Level 2 armour that's rated to AA for abrasion resistance, seam strength and tear resistance. It also comes with a very well-designed three-layer laminate over-jacket and trousers, making it a versatile piece of kit whether on or off the bike. Read the full review of the Rev’It Tectonic here.

• RST Pro Series Adventure-Xtreme, £449.98 | This adventure kit is only certified to Level B under EN17902 as it doesn’t include any armour – you’ll need to add your own armoured base layer to be protected. It’s only shower-proof, so while this can seem a great value option, for all-weather use you do need to budget more. Read the full review of the RST Pro Series Adventure-Xtreme here.

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.

Rev’It Sand 5 H2O: Verdict

The Rev’It Sand 5 can keep you dry in the heaviest rain, yet cool in the hottest weather. It’s superbly constructed with outstanding attention to detail, and it’s equipped with excellent armour carried in jacket and trousers with a Level AA rating for abrasion resistance, seam and tear strength.

An adventure suit won’t work for every rider – there are compromises in everything – but the Sand 5 is a superb piece of kit for those looking to tackle all kinds of weather. Honestly, it’s the best set of adventure textiles I’ve tested and comes very highly recommended.

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