Before purchasing any product, a company’s reputation and customer service should be evaluated. For most of us, we will never need to call customer service, request a return or need warranty service. For the small portion that do though, the company’s customer service policies will make a huge difference.

Luckily, Joe Rocket is one company that has amazing customer service and a great warranty policy. As stated on their website, “Joe Rocket Gear is covered for a one year period from the date of purchase.” This means that any factory defects including seams, snaps and zippers will be covered. You can simply send the item and your receipt back to Joe Rocket for Warranty Consideration. Items that cannot be repaired will be replaced! Of course if you damage the item through negligent care, accidents or other unfortunate circumstance, Joe Rocket cannot assume liability and therefore will not repair or replace.

One of Joe Rocket’s best policies is their attentiveness to customers. Calling or e-mailing their customer service department will get you a quick response to any question or concern you may have. A friend of mine recently e-mailed Joe Rocket with wash and care questions about a new jacket. He received a reply from them the same day with instructions! Receiving a prompt response from any company nowadays isn’t easy.

As some of you may already know, Joe Rocket has a reputation for producing good, safe products that riders love. That in addition to a company that stands behind their products and offers good service and warranty options is definitely a company I want to buy from.

-Julie

When purchasing protective gear you will come across many different types of protecting armor. Knowing the pros and cons of each type will help you to decide which gear is right for you.

Foam armor
This is the most inexpensive, and therefore least protective of the armor available to riders. This foam is something similar to what you might find in a mattress. This armor is pretty versatile and will help to protect you in various circumstances.

Memory foam
Memory foam is good armor, and achieves high absorption to thickness levels. On sudden impact this foam stays rigid, helping to protect the rider. This type of foam is similar to what you would find in helmets. The only downfall is that once this armor has been involved in an impact it has to be replaced.

Hard armor
Hard armor is basically a piece of plastic with some foam stuck to the inside. Though this type of armor can be more comfortable, unfortunately it is not thought to disperse force quite as well as the foam armor, making it harmful to the rider if involved in an impact. Hard armor is also more likely to wear through leather gear in an accident, exposing the armor to hard surfaces.

CE Rated
A CE approval means that the armor in the gear has been lab tested and meets European standards for impact absorption. The armor is designed to provide padding and extra protection in the event of an accident. Though the approval process can be expensive, all European protective gear must be CE-approved in order to be placed on the market.

There are two different standards of CE protection, EN 1621-1:1997 and EN 1621-2:2003. EN1621-1:1997 tests devices designed for shoulders, elbows, forearms, hips, knees and lower legs. EN 1621-2:2003 tests back protectors.

The Airborne Jacket from Joe Rocket "qualifies as a Personal Reflective Device and meets US Military on base riding requirement." If something of this line is safe enough in the military, it should be good enough for you right?

Similar to the Phoenix Jacket, the Airborne comes with CE rated pads in the shoulders and elbows. Again, the back pad is sub-standard, and should be replaced with the optional CE spine protector.

The Rock Tex 600 outer textile shell is sure to keep you safe and warm on cooler days. When riding in hot weather, just open up some vent zippers and you’ll get some great airflow. The optional Dry Tech liner can also be used either in cold or wet weather. The liner will help to keep you dry and warm.

The Military ratings come in to play with visibility. The Airborne jacket has tons reflective pieces on it, which aren’t so obvious during the day, but definitely shine at night! This jacket is sure to wake up any half-asleep driver.

The Airborne jacket, complete with adjustable sleeves and waistband, will give you a good fit no matter your size.

This super safe, military-like jacket retails on rockheadbikes for $161.99. A great deal for a great jacket!

-Julie

This is one of the most popular Joe Rocket jackets on the market. The free-air shell allows for lots of airflow, keeping you extremely cool when riding in warm weather, even if you're in the desert! This jacket is one of the few jackets that is actually made for riding in hot weather.

The Phoenix 5.0 comes complete with a removable waterproof liner, which really does keep you dry, even in monsoons! Unfortunately, if it's a warm day wearing the liner can get pretty hot and sweaty. On the other hand, the liner works well at keeping you warm when the weather turns cooler.

This jacket is a great fit for most body types. The adjustable sleeves and waistband ensure that you will get a proper fit, even if the jacket is a little big.

One of the best things about the Phoenix 5.0 is the CE rated armor in the shoulders and elbows. This is sure to keep you safe in most any situation. Sadly, the spine pad that comes standard on this jacket is less than superior. I would definitely recommend investing in the optional CE spine protector for this jacket.

In addition to all of the storage pockets and key clip, the absolute best thing about the Phoenix 5.0 has got to be the price. On www.rockheadbikes.com, this jacket retails for $143.99. Certainly a great value! Better yet, this jacket is durable enough to last you quite a few seasons!