How does a company from Illinois get away with selling So-Cal gear? Does So-Cal have a meaning other than Southern California (the undisputed epicenter of the motocross universe, or MX T-shirts, depending on where you live)? Whatever it means, the gear looked cool on a friend of mine, so I got a set for photos.
First, I was surprised by the build of the pant. It feels sturdy, and the material is a bit thicker than most stuff out there today while still offering a lighter weight. Second, when I put it on, it was plenty roomy. I wear a 34 MX pant and a 33 street size. The waist fit perfectly and cinched up nicely, with a quick-release ratcheting belt and elastic keeping it snug. Now, the good part for all you tall guys out there: I have never seen a pant with this much length in the crotch or in the legs. The lower cuff was down at my ankle even when I wore a knee brace. I was swimming in the pant, mostly from length, and there was no binding whatsoever in the knee. But once tucked into a good-fitting boot, the pant was just fine. I had some slim-waisted 6-foot-4-inch (or so) guys try the pant, and they were in heaven. I thought the loose-fitting crotch would be a problem, but it didn't slide around or bunch up at all, way less than some tighter-cut pants that don't fit around the waist as well as the So-Cal pant did. And the elastic strip across the back of the butt and the U-shaped strip attaching the front panels are well-thought-out to keep things free yet flow cooling air. Same goes for the entire elastic sidepanel. Internally, there is a netted mesh that didn't tangle and kept the seams away from your skin. The knee is protected by a Kevlar strip and didn't wear through in spite of my knee braces. Most mud washed right out instead of staining, even with large panels in white, but I haven't worn them when riding in red clay, so the white color might worry some mud fleas.
The jersey is a standard polyester affair with sublimated colors. It is light and slightly vented, making it an all-season (at least in Southern California) wear. After a fair amount of use, it still held its color and looked good.
The MSRP is $99.95 for the pant and $34.95 for the jersey. They are a darn good value and durable and look great. -Jimmy Lewis
| DECAL WORKS: |
| 800/843-8244, 815/784-4000; www.decalmx.com |
| Gear | Max. | Rated |
| Style | 20 | 18 |
| Comfort | 10 | 10 |
| Function | 50 | 48 |
| Wash/care | 10 | 9 |
| Price | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 100 | 95 |
FOX2005 Forma Pro BootWhen we first received our new Fox Forma Pro boots, we assumed they were the same as the 2004 boot but with a new look. Then the boot broke in more easily and was more comfortable than our previous pair. A call confirmed that the design had been changed to help break-in and comfort. In the interest of comfort, it got seam-minimized internal construction, customized internal padding, buckle-strap-pressure-dissipating pads and a calfskin heel strip for comfort and to stop heel slippage. The combination works well. The boots look great, with pearl white leather, chrome and aluminum accents. The boots kept their looks as long as we stayed on moto tracks; an off-road ride in Nevada left them colored from brushes with creosote bushes and surface-rashed from rock grazes, but our feet remained in fine condition.