REV’IT! Tornado 4 H20 Motorcycle Jacket Review

While riding in the spring and summer, I learned how innovative and versatile a single jacket could be with the REV’IT! Tornado 4 H20. The brand combined mesh with CE Level 2 armor in the shoulder and elbow — boosting a AA rating for slide protection — so bombing down the highway at 60mph on a 90-degree July afternoon felt like standing in front of an industrial fan.

Bonus: REV’IT! provides a removable Hydratex shell that somebody can wear inside or outside the Tornado 4. This waterproof-breathable material is also windproof. There’s also a snap-in insulating polyfill liner, which stretches the versatility of the Tornado 4 to be super-cozy if you stack the layers.

In short: The REV’IT! Tornado 4 H20 ($379) offers a unique option in the motorcycle jacket space. REV’IT! builds the core jacket with mesh for the torso, pits, and undersides of the arms but includes a removable waterproof-breathable layer that one can wear outside or inside the primary jacket.

Another removable insulated liner adds the warmth of a touring jacket without sacrificing the versatility of a jacket made for summer rides that can fend off rain and wind. While the Tornado isn’t as beefy as other touring jackets, it’s a more economical price point.

Read the full review or see how the jacket compares to our broader selection in the Best Motorcycle Jackets buyer’s guide.

REV’IT! Tornado 4 H20 Motorcycle Jacket Review

The REV’IT! Tornado 4 H2O is a 3-in-1 motorcycle jacket, and I found this layer comfortable across various conditions. I wore it on blazing hot summer rides, and I could stay dry and warm in rain or wind, too — simply by adding the two optional layers that integrate with the core mesh jacket and are included in the package.

Dialed: Pockets, Zips, and a Collar Adjuster

In addition to the forearm sliders to keep the elbow armor snug, REV’IT! includes a snap tightener at the bicep. The extra-long, beefy zipper pulls on the wrist cuffs can help snug the jacket over gloves, too.

The Tornado 4 H20 has two diagonal hand pockets, plus a pair of interior stash pockets. REV’IT! included a large interior pocket on the insulated liner, as well as inside the Hydratex shell.

The collar was easily adjustable with a tab, which was great for layering options like wearing a buff.

Armor: Motorcycle Jacket

One reason this jacket is such a good deal is that it includes CE Level 2 armor in the shoulders and elbows. Typically, you’re not going to get that for under $400.

REV’IT! doesn’t include a spine protector. However, the safety-minded Dutch company includes a sleeve for one. If you don’t already have one, I think spending the extra dough for that armor is worth it.

The Tornado 4 H20 also gets a AA rating for slides, which isn’t universal in a mesh jacket because it’s more challenging to engineer into a porous material. But this jacket has high-level denier material incorporated into key slide zones.

One small demerit is that the Tornado 4 H20 felt a bit bulkier than alternative mesh options, and the fabric didn’t have that much give. I didn’t think that was a deal breaker because, given how REV’IT! has ticked all the other boxes I want from a 3-in-1 jacket, I’ll endure some burliness to save my hide.

Weatherproofing: Excellent Layering System

I was pleased the additional Hydratex layer could fit in a tiny bag on my bike’s tank. The only downside is that the rain layer showed wrinkles if it had been stuffed away for a few days. But those shook out after a short ride, and the layer looked good enough to wear on its own when not on the motorcycle.

Also, I was surprised that although it added a bit of warmth — especially when worn as a wind layer beneath the Tornado 4 — it didn’t seem to get clammy. 

If you’ve worn other moto waterproof layers, you know that they either don’t breathe at all or not well enough, soaking you from the inside and eventually freezing you.

Here, the huge upside was wearing the Hydratex on the exterior of this coat when it rained — where it belongs! You might be scratching your head about this, but if you’re new to moto, most brands want you to add a curtain-like rain layer beneath the outer jacket. Yes, that’s bogus. 

If you do that, your exterior layers will be saturated, especially if you’re pushing through a storm at 60 mph. Sure, inside that outer jacket, your skin might be dry, but you’re now riding in a giant sponge, which acts like an ice cube, slowly chilling you.

Critiques

While I loved the system overall, I didn’t love how the three-layer system assembles. There are snaps that enable you to either connect the Hydratex layer to the interior of the Tornado 4 or snap the insulating layer inside. But zippers would make all of these elements stay put better.

Some of the snaps tended to unsnap at times when I pulled the coat on or off, and some of the fabric would shift. I learned how to gently put on or take off the jacket, but I think zip-ins would fix the issue. And I wouldn’t mind if the cost and weight changed to have zippers instead of snaps.

Conclusion: Tornado 4 Review

I doubt there’s any real single-quiver product. If the temps get below 50 degrees, I think the Tornado 4 would lack the warmth I’d want for early spring or late fall rides. 

But this jacket came very close to offering most riders a perfect jacket for most conditions. Some might quibble that they should include the spine armor or that the front zip should be two-way, so you can splay the jacket at the pant line for more comfort while seated.

However, at under $400, it’s very difficult to find any option that rivals what REV’IT! created with the Tornado 4: a 3-in-1 jacket that can adapt to the conditions where you ride and across several seasons and environments. I’ll add that the colors — white, black, or brown — are relatively muted, which makes them more timeless. I dig it when my motorcycle apparel not only performs great but looks sharp, too.