Enduro21 reviews the Acerbis X-Duro waterproof jacket and over-the-boot ‘Baggy’ pants after 18 months of testing on enduro, trail and adventure bikes in Moroccan deserts and Welsh forests.

As part of Acerbis’ extensive enduro range, the X-Duro Jacket and Baggy Pants arrived at Enduro21’s doorstep with a bit of a question mark: are they intended for enduro, or for trail and adventure bikes?

Acerbis says the X-Duro is for enduro, but the truth is we’d been searching for a fully waterproof yet versatile set of gear for a while now. We wanted a jacket and pants combo that could accommodate various types of riding, whether enduro, trail, or adventure, while accepting different types of armour underneath depending on the activity. Essentially, we had high hopes this would be do-it-all gear that could handle whatever we threw at it with the exception of racing.

They say: “Totally waterproof”

• The X-Duro (enduro) jacket and pants are built to be totally waterproof and resistant to tearing and abrasion.
• The internal membrane is waterproof, breathable, and windproof, with fully taped seams.
• Both the jacket and pants are designed to accommodate different types of armour and knee braces.
• The pants feature AX suede synthetic leather knee reinforcement and 500D Nylon Cordura at the back.
• There is a large rear stowage pocket on the jacket, plus waterproof zip pockets inside the chest area and on the thigh of the pants.
• Cuffs are also Velcro adjustable plus theres an elastic pull cord adjuster at the bottom edge of the jacket.
• The pants waist adjustment comes with Velcro straps, a snap and hook closure, and a zip fly, plus reflective Acerbis logos and strips on the legs.
• Weight: 820g (jacket), 800g (pants).

We say: “Tough outer shell”

Our testing of the X-Duro Jacket and Baggy Pants has spanned approximately 18 months and included two days in the Moroccan desert on the Ducati Desert-X Enduro, a week of riding across the UK on various roads and trails for the 2024 EnduroGP of Wales (where we acted as camera taxi rider), plus two adventure bike tests in the winter months, including some heavy forest riding. The jacket has also been used for wet and/or cold riding between enduro tests in timecard enduros.

In truth, we’ve used this X-Duro gear set more often for adventure and trail riding and less for enduro, but it’s been a very comprehensive test. After all this time, we’ve learned that the X-Duro Jacket and Baggy Pants are naturally suited to sportier riding – not racing – and certainly the fit and design make them a healthy step away from the bulky, armour-infused, multi-layered adventure gear on the market.

In essence that makes them really useful as a light, waterproof but super-tough outer shell, under which you can choose the armour or base and thermal layers you want to wear.

Is it waterproof or not?

Perhaps the biggest claim from Acerbis, and maybe the one you most want to know about, is whether this gear is truly waterproof. Having ridden in some terrible conditions – endless, all-day rain – we can definitely say this jacket and pants are waterproof.

The quality of the stitching, plus taped liner seams and a double flap inside the main jacket zip (which concludes with a small ‘cap’ at the neck) have all successfully kept the water out.

A lot of physical riding tends to make you hot and sweaty inside this gear, which can make you feel damp, but this is always due to heat rather than rain getting in.

Over-the-boot design

The over-the-boot design of the pants is excellent if you’re not a fan of wet feet. We don’t typically use this style for enduro riding (Acerbis also offers an under-boot option, FYI), but for everything else mentioned above, combined with waterproof boots, the outer boot leg helps massively to keep you dry when riding or even wading into deep water.

Mostly, that’s because the rain just runs down and cannot fill up your boot. Large flaps around the back of the lower leg mean they accommodate a range of boot designs and sizes, with Velcro strips to secure them, and there’s enough room to accommodate knee braces or pads.

Built of tough stuff

Ranking this gear set highly is easy if you value waterproofing, but it gets double marks if toughness is important too. Our testing has involved a lot of hours, with long days of riding, one after another, in what we’d describe as a pretty hard life with some really abrasive wet dirt riding conditions, a few crashes with rocks, and loads of brushing through trees and harsh vegetation. Aside from a couple of places where rocks or hard hits against trees have left a mark, the X-Duro gear has stood up well to all the abuse.

Reinforced areas in the backside seat area and inside the knee, where the leg rubs the frame, have lasted well so far, with only the inside bottom of the leg seam beginning to pull away in a couple of places, likely from rubbing on lower side frame rails. There are a couple of nicks in the lower outside legs where we’ve caught rocks or brambles, but other than that, the largely polyester construction has withstood a really tough off-road riding test in a wide range of conditions.

No venting by design

The flipside of this “totally waterproof” and tough exterior is that not a lot of hot air can escape. The inner material is breathable, and depending on your fitness level, you’ll find yourself more or less affected, but it’s still on the warm side if you get physical while riding and on baking sunny days, we occasionally wished for a vent to unzip.

You can tell it is breathable, but we reckon the trade-off with no venting versus being completely waterproof is part of what makes this kit what it is. We’ve tested it in conditions ranging from the Moroccan deserts (baking in the day, freezing at night), plus wet Welsh forests, and overall have been more than happy with the trade-off. On a cold and wet morning on an enduro bike, this jacket has been a godsend.

Only three pockets?

A waterproof inside pocket on the jacket chest, a large rear jacket pocket, and a waterproof thigh pocket on the pants are the concessions to practicality in terms of carrying stuff with you. We’ve used the inside chest pocket for stowing a phone and found no water ingress. The thigh pocket on the pants was handy for stowing van keys and a credit card. We’ve only used the large rear pocket to carry a spare set of gloves, though it could easily hold much more.

You might think the lack of pockets is a negative, but keeping it simple works better in some ways because it reduces the bulk and weight. Tools, spares, or food and water are better kept on the bike or in a backpack.

This kit is lightweight and designed to be a protective and waterproof external shell. The only negative we found was a minor one: we missed having some hand pockets, either in the trousers or the jacket, for when you're standing around off the bike.

Designed for riding

The cut and shape of the X-Duro jacket and pants are really good for off-road riding, allowing plenty of movement without restriction or excess material flapping. Achieving a balance between giving a rider enough room to move versus making it too baggy can be a challenge for manufacturers, but for our body shape, at least, Acerbis has got it spot on.

We’ve also used knee pads and knee braces, although found braces a little tight to fit underneath. Inside the jacket, however, we’ve used compression-style upper body protection and a back protector with enough room to move around and stay active on the bike.

Practicality

The waist adjustment is via elasticated straps outside the hips. Cuffs are also Velcro-adjustable and will allow you to tuck them under large gloves or over off-road gloves. Reflective strips and Acerbis logos are a good addition to both the jacket and trousers and really do shine bright at night under direct light.

The price is good too, we think, for a set of clothing this tough and waterproof. Just under €150 for the jacket and €160 for the pants. Compare that to adventure bike gear and you’ll see a huge difference.

Verdict

Overall, to answer the question at the top: is this gear good enough for all we threw at it? The answer is yes. Lightweight but super-durable, the Acerbis X-Duro jacket and pants are a practical option for a wide range of off-road riding.

If you’re fed up with bulky adventure clothing and want something that’s closer fitting and more like regular off-road riding gear, this is it.

Their promise of being 100% waterproof rang true across different conditions and weather over 18 months. No, there’s no venting, and yes, it did get hot inside at times when removing the gear wasn’t an option. But as a waterproof outer shell meant we expected that, and we happily trade those aspects, while welcoming how tough this kit has proved itself.

Sizes: 30 to 40 pants, S to XXXL jacket

Colours: black or blue pants, black, blue, or green jacket

NB: At the time of writing, we think the X-Duro range is not available worldwide, including in North America. Please check with your dealer.

Acerbis offers a wide range of riding clothing options, including a slightly higher-spec Enduro-One jacket, or you can opt for lightweight, packable rain jackets of various types.

More information: www.acerbis.com

Photo Credit: Enduro21 + Future7Media + TooFastMedia + Vision Off Road Media