The Battalion Review Part 2: ONE Industries

Part two of the Vurboffroad.com / One Industries Battalion Review took place just recently on the trails surrounding South Fork, Colorado. I was able to schedule out three days of trail riding that offered up some of the toughest conditions an off road rider could experience. When all was said and done I managed to log roughly 140-miles of pure pleasure; mixed with some of that good pain. 

Rain clouds were present on the first day of the ride so I opted to include the Battalion jacket as part of my gear. I was little concerned about the heat as the temperature was closing in at 90 degrees, with about 40% humidity. The Battalion jacket is lightweight, yet has a heavy/thick fabric construction for durability, so in effort to keep cool I removed the sleeves, threw on a Camelbak and set my sights on the Alder Creek Trail.

Alder Creek can best be described as a 60-mile endurocross track in what I consider the most beautiful country one can explore. The trail runs between South Fork and Creed and is littered with jagged rock, hill climbs, creek crossings, downed timber, loose rock, off camber descents and a big ass brown bear. My first true test of the Battalion gear came by way of a get off that had me scrambling to regroup  in a rock field with some bruised up ribs and a tattered elbow. If I had worn the sleeves that include inserted padding, I would have been feeling a little better. One of the first things that came to mind after yard sailing, was the fact the jacket was just thick enough to actually protect my ribs from further damage. If I had been wearing only a jersey, there is no doubt that I would have been cleaning a chest wound. So there I was, 20 minutes into my ride already grateful that I was wearing the ONE Industries Battalion gear. I normally ride without a jacket and to be honest, I won't be hitting the trails without it again.

Another thing that immediately caught my attention was the ease of zipping and unzipping while riding. The Battalion pant has vent zips above the knees that truly allowed my legs to breath and kept the sweat to a minimum, a huge advantage when spending that much time on the trail. On the second day of the ride I opted to ride with only a jersey, the sky was free of clouds and although we were tromping around at roughly 12K feet, the heat was a factor. I spent a lot of time that afternoon in the water crossings and this was the first time I had worn an over the boot pant. I had concern that water would make it into my boots and that the over the leg fit-feel would be foreign with the possibility of tangling in my front sprocket. I had no problem with the pant, the feel was normal and my feet stayed dry even after picking my bike out of the water on more than one occasion.

The last thing that I will point out in this review was the comfortable fit of the ONE Industries Atom helmet. Breathing is super important at this altitude and while resting with my riding buddies, I pointed out the good fit of my 100% Racecraft goggles and the breathability of the Atom. Not to forget that the Atom is lightweight and the fact that the bright red accents of the Atom Chroma allowed for my riding peers to see me when stranded beneath my bike or lagging behind on the trail. 

Trail riding is all about preparation and gear plays a big role when venturing far from civilization. The Battalion gear is very adaptive allowing riders to purchase a set of gear that can be used in both winter and summer conditions. The design is clean, useful, and comfortable with plenty of storage pockets and front and rear ventilation offerings on both pant and jacket. 

It's clear that the ONE Industries Battalion gear was designed for off road and I would recommend it to any of my peers, readers, or enthusiast of the sport.

For more information visit www.oneindustries.com