Textile suit review: T.ur’s J-Zero jacket and P-Zero trousers tried and tested

The T.ur J-Zero jacket and P-Zero trousers promise long-distance comfort in hostile climates, with a cut and style more suited to spoked wheels and crash bars than plainer touring textiles.

Adventure bikes combine the best of an enduro and a tourer – for big days in the saddle, no matter what the road surface. But if you prefer the off-road style of a BMW R1250GS to a Honda Gold Wing, then you’re more likely to pick an RST Adventure-X jacket over a Rukka Kallavesi.

The feature a tough, laminated waterproof outer layer and a removable thermal liner. It’s a flexible and versatile system that makes this suit a strong all-year, all-weather, all-rounder.

T.ur J-Zero and P-Zero abrasion and impact protection

The jacket is rated to CE Level AA and the trousers CE Level A for abrasion, which is reasonable (AAA is the maximum) while the D30 armour in the elbows, shoulders and knees adds up to a CE Level 2 rating, which is the highest.

You also get pockets for additional D30 elements in the chest, hips and back, but none of these come with the jacket or trousers as standard.

What’s it like to wear?

T.ur’s been really clever with the placement of tough fabrics where they’re needed and lighter ones where they’re not, and as a result, the J-Zero and P-Zero move with you supremely well while still offering good protection.

That makes sense given the off-road nature of this suit (where you’re unlikely to sit still for long, so it needs to be flexible) but you’ll get the benefit even if you never leave the tarmac. It feels very lightweight indeed, almost like t-shirt material in places, which makes for a very comfortable ride.

I’ve had winter gear in the past that did a great job of keeping me warm, but was bulky and stiff, with all the flexibility of a plaster cast. The J-Zero and P-Zero suit does all of that but feels as light as your summer kit.

I normally wear a size L but T.ur’s XL fits me well, with a bit of extra space for an extra layer in really cold weather. There are Velcro adjustment straps on the sleeves and under the arms so you can cinch in it tight or leave it looser if you want.

The trousers don’t have bibs but you can zip them into the jacket – it’s only a short zip mind, but this helps keep them from slipping down. They have two Velcro adjusters on the waist and the lower legs can be unzipped and expanded, so you can fit them over or under boots.

What are the T.ur J-Zero and P-Zero made from?

A mix of Oxford 600 and 300 Cordura, plus a tough material called Superfabric on the elbows and knees. This is a composite of sorts, using a material reinforced with epoxy resin resulting in a bobbly texture. T.ur says it offers fifteen times the abrasion resistance of a heavyweight aramid, which is nice.

You get a thicker material on the shoulders and sleeves, while the trousers feature an even tougher 1,000 Cordura on the inner legs and seat, plus leather inserts on the inside knees for gripping the tank.

Leather is also used on the tops of the arms, along with a metal protective shoulder cap, while the inside of the neck has a soft neoprene lining. Big, chunky YKK zips feature in all the high-stress zones, although the zip that expands the button of the trouser leg has got caught up a few times.

What about weatherproofing?

The first line of defence against rain is an external water repellent and then an inner membrane – it’s rated 20,000/20,000 for waterproofing and breathability, which is about as good as it gets. The jacket and trousers are laminated, which means they’re waterproof without needing an additional layer to be zipped in.

I can certainly vouch for the effectiveness of this from several very rainy rides where I stayed absolutely dry. At one point I looked down to see an actual puddle had formed between my legs and somehow none of it got in. it is genuinely impressive how the fabrics T.ur uses manage this, while still feeling as soft as they do.

That said, laminating the liner on the inside does mean the water doesn’t bead off the outside of the material as well as it does on an externally laminated jacket like the Richa Atlantic. It doesn’t get bogged down with water like an old drop-liner jacket, but I noticed a bit of cold transfer in the really soaked areas.

This was really minimal though – I’m properly nit-picking here – and that’s largely down to how effective the thermal linings are. These zip into the jacket and trousers (the former can be worn separately, which I’ve done several times) and have a light, sleeping-bag-like feel.

Both feature T.ur’s Thermore tech, essentially thermal padding that warms you up more as the temperatures drop. Don’t ask me how that works, but it does – I’ve been out on the motorway at an indicated 5 degrees C wearing nothing but a base layer underneath and this suit kept me warm for several hours. Add some heated clothing and I imagine you could go out in temperatures way colder than what you’d rationally want to ride in. Impressive.

The final piece of the puzzle is a detachable storm collar, such a simple idea but one that stops heat from escaping and water from getting it. Zipped on and held in place by a magnet, it’s complemented by Lycra cuffs on the sleeves which work in a similar way to stop cold blasts from going up your arms. They’re little things but they make all the difference.

What storage features does it come with?

Pockets galore including some really clever ones on the trousers – they’re set diagonally to the leg and low down so when you’re sat down the openings are horizontal. They’re so much easier to access than those normally set higher up, which bunch up and are uncomfortable if you put a big phone in them.

One of these has a waterproof zip, and there’s another waterproof external pocket on the outside of the jacket, plus two more inside. You also get a normal front pocket and large pillion one, plus a looped material band on the shoulder for attaching an action camera too.

We’ve talked a lot about cold weather protection but if you wanted to wear this jacket as the temperatures rise there are two vertical-zipped vents on the front and a large on one the rear. All three have waterproof zips too.

What colours are there?

The jacket comes in black and red or grey and red, while the trousers are black only. Choice is a personal thing, but I think the all-black suit looks the best, although the lighter jacket does look quite rally-ready.

What about matching kit?

This Zero suit has a matching pair of gloves (called, you guessed it, G-Zero) and they are absolutely epic – I’ve covered these at length in this T.ur G-Zero gloves review.

Verdict

Without firing off a massive cliché cannon this Italian adventure touring suit is a stylish option if you want to look good and feel protected, from the ground or the elements. The trousers could feature better abrasion resistance and it’d be nice to get a back protector thrown in, but otherwise, this offers good value for money.

It looks great, from the slim cut of the trousers to the red flashes on the shoulder, but backs this up with strong and flexible D30 armour and supreme weatherproofing. I honestly think my riding ability in cold weather is the limiting factor here, the J-Zero and P-Zero jacket and trousers will continue working in conditions where I’d rather take the car.

But it’s the clever elements that set this suit apart – the mix of materials that give you comfort and protection, or the neck and wrist storm collars that defend from icy blasts, this is a suit that makes winter feel like spring.

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