TESTED: Mosko Moto Boundary IR Kit

By Chad de Alva

When Mosko Moto entered the world of motorcycle apparel, they championed the concept of separate armor. With this approach, the rider wears standalone armor pads next to skin or over a base layer, and then layers up as needed for environmental conditions and/or abrasion resistance. Compared to the all-in-one solution offered by integrated armor riding apparel, separate armor systems offer a number of advantages for many types of riding and in many environmental conditions. Yet there are scores of riders out there who prefer integrated armor apparel as it’s easier to don and doff, and there are certainly cases where it’s all a rider needs to be relatively comfortable and protected. In 2022, Mosko discovered there was an armor partner out there who could make armor pads that would enable Mosko to produce integrated armor apparel in their own unique way – something that would bring innovation to the segment and deliver the quality-of-life features Mosko Moto apparel is known for. Mosko’s first integrated armor CE-rated apparel is called the Boundary IR jacket and pants; over the last few months we’ve been putting it to the test to see how Mosko Moto does integrated armor apparel.

The first time you peek inside the Boundary jacket and pants (or any other Mosko IR series apparel) you’ll notice that things are different. Most other integrated armor apparel utilizes a hanging liner to hold the pads that provide impact protection, but Mosko has laminated armor pockets into the garment, so there is no hanging liner. And yes, elbow and knee position can still be adjusted within their respective armor pockets. Deleting the hanging liner from the equation saves weight and bulk, and more importantly improves comfort from both a thermal and fit/feel standpoint. Hanging liners can bunch up, cling to sweaty skin, or otherwise feel uncomfortable. They also do a great job restricting airflow, which is already limited by the number of vents in a given garment. Spoiler alert: once you ride in integrated armor apparel without a hanging liner, going back to a garment with a hanging liner feels like a step backwards, but more on that in a minute.

Inside these laminated armor pockets, you’ll find a blue pad, which is made by Rheon Labs. Technically, these pads are an energy absorbing super polymer called Rheon, but I like to think of them as the most comfortable CE Level 2 pads out there. What’s cool about Rheon pads is how flexible they are in their natural state. Think of a pad that you can roll up like a thick tortilla and you'll get the idea. Yet just like other fancy pads, Rheon pads stiffen when subjected to force, which is how they provide impact protection. Rheon pads also have the benefit of being able to conform to the wearer’s body, which can lead to a fit that is much more comfortable than the rigid pre-shaped foam pads that you find in some other brands of integrated armor riding apparel. The bottom line is that Rheon pads provide all the impact protection needed to exceed a CE level two standard, while being quite comfortable to wear. In a textbook nod to Mosko Moto gear versatility, if you want to remove the pads to say, run separate armor, that’s totally a supported move as well. Afterall, the IR in Boundary IR stands for Integrated / Removable, so riders can customize their setup as they see fit.

The first time you put on the Boundary IR jacket and pants, things feel simultaneously new and just like other Mosko apparel. The jacket has a beefy YKK Aqua Guard Vislon DOUBLE main zipper (which is awesome!), and borrows the collar hold open snaps and storm flap from Mosko’s Basilik jacket. The green textile on the jacket you see in the photos is a 500D stretch fabric, inspired by how awesome stretch is – as anyone who has worn Woodsman pants knows. The Boundary kit also has several features specifically designed to help this kit work well for its intended use: long-distance ADV touring.

A total of six pockets on the jacket and two on the pants provide ample storage options. Six vents, the previously mentioned double main zipper and collar hold open snaps on the jacket, and four vents on the pants let the rider move some serious airflow when needed. Reflective hits and logos help with rider visibility when riding at night. The use of SuperFabric panels over the regular laminate stack provides additional abrasion protection and helps ensure that the garment has a chance of remaining waterproof even if you take a slide and compromise the SuperFabric. Adjusters on the arms and below the knee help keep things in place, and the whole kit delivers the easy to get on and off benefit adored by fans of integrated armor apparel.

When it comes to hopping on a bike, know that range of motion is barely limited in my experience. Kicking a leg over a loaded ADV bike is no factor, but I have to point out that the Boundary IR kit does feel a bit stiff – I’m hoping that with more ride time it will continue to soften up. It’s also worth noting that CE defines AA rated riding garments as medium duty protective garments with ergonomic and weight penalties, meaning that you’re trading some comfort in the form of some stiffness for AA-rated protection. To be clear, I notice the kit’s stiffness mostly when I’m off the bike and moving around. When I’m riding while seated or standing, the Boundary IR is all-day comfortable.

When it comes to riding in the triple digit heat of summer, the Boundary IR performs well for a fully waterproof kit. In back-to-back testing against other top shelf AA-rated waterproof integrated armor kit from another manufacturer, the Boundary IR kit feels more comfortable even though it has fewer vents than the kit from another brand. The lack of a hanging liner and the double front zipper certainly contribute to this performance, but waterproof gear is always going to be hot on a hot sunny day. Black pants also don’t do the Boundary pants any favors in the sun. Here’s hoping Mosko brings some of their lighter colorways to the Boundary kit in the future to help with thermal comfort in the heat.

When the world gets wet, the Boundary IR kit is more than up for the task of punching through the darkest summer storms. Mosko has built some clever features into the Boundary kit that really help protect against water ingression, but let’s be real for a moment – if you ride all day long in hurricane strength rainstorms, water is going to get AROUND your waterproof kit. It’s going to run down your neck after sneaking through a vent in your helmet or find some other way in. That being said, we ran the Boundary through multiple summer monsoon storms, and with the collar and cuffs all the way zipped up and snugged tight, the Boundary IR kit did not let any water through. The lack of a hanging liner also means that if you do get water inside the Boundary kit, there is going to be less material that needs to dry out.

Mosko Moto has brought something new to the world of integrated armor riding apparel with the Boundary IR jacket and pants. Deleting the hanging liner, using Rheon armor, and mixing in Mosko’s general design approach is a win, and the benefits and expanded versatility couldn’t be more obvious than when you ride the Boundary IR kit back to back against another brand’s AA rated integrated armor kit. It’s important to remember that any integrated armor “all-in-one” system is trying to work across the entire spectrum of riding conditions, so it’s never going to work as well as a standalone kit specifically tailored to certain riding conditions. That being said, the Boundary Kit is a very impressive first offering, delivering the easy on, easy off integrated armor performance riders love combined with a feature set and top shelf textiles that make this kit perform well for its intended use. Mosko has successfully entered the world of integrated armor with their IR line, and it’s going to be neat to see how they refine their offerings in the years to come. If you’re shopping for top shelf ADV touring gear, make sure the Boundary IR kit is on your list. For more information, visit moskomoto.com

Boundary Jacket

Boundary Pants