This Intuitively Designed New Moto Jacket Offers Much More Than Meets the Eye

Aether’s surprisingly feature-packed Mulholland blends form and function like no other motorcycle jacket we’ve tested.

rider wearing aether mulholland moto jacket on moto guzzi motorcycle

Published April 4, 2024

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Out of all the major protective motorcycle riding essentials — helmet, jacket, gloves, pants and boots — one could argue the jacket is the item with the highest bar to clear. Just think: Is there any other piece of kit people continue to wear when they’re nowhere near their bikes — and indeed, tons of folks who don’t even ride choose to make part of their wardrobes? No one’s heading out for the night in a fully charged Sena Outrush R, last time we checked.

That’s what makes selecting the right moto jacket such a critical choice. When I got my M endorsement and my bike, I did plenty of research before investing north of $700 in a striking black Roland Sands Design Ronin Leather Jacket, which has served me valiantly for nearly a decade. Much as I adore that garment, I recently had the chance to test a newcomer on the scene, Aether Apparel’s Mulholland Moto Jacket ($650), which launches today.

As a bit of a traditionalist, I must admit I had my doubts about this non-leather alternative. But after a number of early spring rides, I have to say I am pretty damn impressed with the total package. Here are four big reasons why.

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1. Understated Aesthetics

I know, I know: Style is notoriously subjective. But I still feel pretty comfortable saying that when it comes to everyday moto apparel — i.e. stuff you aren’t taking out on the track or deep into the Himalayas — most of us prefer looks that fly a bit under the radar. Even if a leather option like my go-to RSD is obviously a motorcycle jacket, it doesn’t have to be all up in everyone’s face about it.

With that in mind, I have to give the Mulholland a ton of credit. Crafted from a three-layered heavy nylon fabric, cut close to the body and subtly appointed with well-crafted zipper and button pockets, it’s a great-looking garment both on and off the bike. (In addition to the Total Eclipse shade shown here, it’s also available in Reserve Brown and Command Green colorways.)

Aether itself describes the jacket as “quietly technical,” and I must concur. You’ll read more about its functional features in the three sections to follow, but rest assured, the Mulholland betrays none of them at a glance.

2. Discreet Protection

D3O Ghost pads slip into Velcro-sealed elbow, shoulder and back slots.

aether mulholland moto jacket — The optional pads do not significantly affect the jacket’s sleek silhouette.

As streamlined as the Mulholland looks, it’s designed to shield you from common threats, both natural and manmade. On a surface level, it’s constructed from a waterproof, three-layered heavy nylon fabric and seam-taped to boot. While I have yet to motorcycle with the jacket in a storm, I did wear it on a 20-minute bike ride across town in the midst of heavy NYC rainfall this past week. When I got to my destination, I was perfectly dry — and the jacket was in much better shape than my RSD Ronin would be after such a jaunt.

One trait I am quite glad to have not tested first-hand is the optional impact protection. The jacket comes with five D3O Ghost pads you can insert into Velcro-sealed slots at the elbows, shoulders and back. I’ve been rocking the jacket with all the pads in, and it’s pretty easy to forget all about them once you’re rolling. That’s kind of the idea with D3O, which is essentially a lightweight, flexible polymer that hardens when struck, absorbing the brunt of the impact during a crash.

While the Ghost pads are slim enough to not noticeably change the appearance of the jacket, they do add some heft. According to my handy digital scale, the Mulholland weighs roughly 2 pounds, 10 ounces without pads and 3 pounds, 15 ounces with them. (Interestingly enough, that latter figure is a few ounces less than the RSD Ronin weighs sans pads. Leather is heavy.)

3. Smart Ventilation

To keep you cool when temps rise, this jacket offers sneaky zippered, webbed vents that are virtually invisible until you need them. As part of an extensive modeling process, Aether’s design team used a 3D avatar to see how the jacket would respond in the wild. Findings dictated the placement of the vents — two near the front of the armpits and two on either side of the spine — for maximum airflow.

Large pull tabs make it possible to unzip them without removing gloves, and additional straps on the front ones enable you to zip and unzip without removing the jacket. (Even this very inflexible writer was able to do it, so others should have no problem. ) It has been cool enough here lately that it’s not a feature I’ve really needed to deploy, but I look forward to testing more thoroughly once July rolls around.

The Mulholland also has a two-way main zipper, articulated sleeves and little zippers at the wrists, which add up to support a comfortable fit and ideal riding position. Semi-related, I’ve noticed two important things — one pro and one con.

Pro: This jacket’s composition and construction make it much easier to pack than my RSD Ronin. Whereas the latter takes up close to 30 percent of my beloved DB Roamer 50L Split Duffel, the former occupies roughly half that amount of space. I’m flying west for a first ride of some brand-new bikes next week, and I’m looking forward to not even debating whether to wear my jacket onto the plane to make room.

Con: If you, like me, suffer from SAS (short arm syndrome), you may find the sleeves on this jacket a bit long. When I’m riding with arms extended out to the bars, they provide full protection (which is nice), but when I’m standing with arms at my sides, my hands completely disappear in the sleeves. For what it’s worth, I dig the jacket enough that I’m considering taking it to a tailor.

4. Surprising Storage

Last but not least, the Mulholland is no slouch when it comes to cargo carry, thanks to no less than seven pockets. The three buttoned ones on the chest and torso are hard to miss. There’s also a zippered external pocket on the right chest, a zippered internal left chest pocket and two small zippered slots underneath the lower buttoned pockets.

While the buttoned pockets can fit larger items, such as a travel journal, a beanie or your gloves when you’re not wearing them, the zippered pockets can accommodate smaller essentials such as wallet, keys, smartphone and sunglasses. The two lower slots have notably soft linings, ideal for more delicate objects you don’t want to scratch.

Of course, the real question is: Can you realistically get to them while kitted out? “Everything on this jacket has to be accessible while using your riding gloves,” says Aether co-founder Palmer West. “Otherwise it’s not a riding jacket.”

In my experience, the pockets take a bit of concentration and coordination to open and close, but you can feel the quality with every touch of a button or zipper, and you absolutely can access all of them. I imagine doing so gets easier with time. It’s a pretty nifty amount of storage, certainly more than you’d reckon from a cursory glance at the Mulholland. Then again, delivering more than you initially expect kinda seems like this jacket’s modus operandi, no?

Aether Mulholland Jacket

The Mulholland delivers a bevy of rider benefits without screaming “motorcycle jacket.” Numerous pockets make storing essentials easy, while waterproofing and zippered vents enhance climate control and optional elbow, shoulder and back pads provide optimal protection.