A lesser-known label here in the UK, Vanucci are a massively successful motorcycle clothing brand across Europe, blending Italian style with practicality, comfort, and safety. Brought into the world by German distributors Louis Moto, Vanucci is a trusted staple in two-wheeled attire across the channel.

I had the pleasure of trying out a few numbers on the Vanucci product line, the VAJ-4 jacket, VAT-2 trousers, VTB-20 SympaTex touring boots, and the VAG-4 gloves. I covered around 1500 miles in these, so here are my thoughts...

The VAJ-4 (I know, rather yonic and this will be my only comment on the matter) comes as a part of 3 separate layers that unite together to create a Megazord-like waterproof, chill-proof adventure jacket. A thermal base layer (the VXU-3 Thermo Jacket £112.71 RRP), a waterproof membrane (VXR-1 £112.71 RRP) and finally the water repellent, polyester mesh lined VAJ-4 equipped with CE level 2 shoulder and elbow protection. I only had the VAJ-4, so here are my standalone opinions on this bit of kit.

With its straps, zips, and external pockets the VAJ-4 certainly looks the part. It comes in two colour combos, grey and olive (the unit sent to me) and grey and red. The grey and olive colour combination is stylish but doesn’t stand out from the monochrome textile crowd (which could be a plus for some!). If it were me, I’d bag the grey/red piece.

Besides vanity the jacket looks sturdy, and it feels sturdy too. Once worn in the jacket has a good amount of stretch to it, catering for functional adjustments using the straps on the waist and arms to get that perfect fit. In the warmer months the ventilation system works great, directing cool air directly where you need it through the two front chest vents, whilst pushing hot air out of the two rear vents with ease. As soon as it got colder, I found myself really missing an interior thermal layer so the VXU-3 would be necessary below 10 degrees Celsius.

As stated by Vannuci this jacket is water repellent, in this muggy and moody recent summer, I found the jacket to be water repellent for approximately 25 minutes in heavy rain. Once past that mark, the VAJ became saturated. Whilst I stayed relatively dry inside, it did bring in the cold very quickly. I’m sure in combination with the VXR-1, you could remedy this, but feels lacklustre when comparing it to jackets of a similar price point. In lighter showers, it held up well, but with the UK’s unpredictable (at best) weather, I would want the security of knowing I can face it all, light shower, or biblical storm.

One major plus here is the two external waterproof pockets which never let me down. Lovely and roomy, enough for your phone, wallet, and other bits, all with strong faith they’ll stay dry. Inside the jacket you’ll find two more mesh pockets (but when the jacket is saturated, I wouldn’t trust these).

On its own, I can see this jacket being a great addition to a picturesque, dry, never-to-ride in rain adventure bike owners summer wardrobe, but for most of us here in the UK you’d be looking at buying the waterproof VXR-1 and thermal VXU-1 layers alongside the VAJ-4 for a total price of £442.19. At this price point, you start to find a lot of all-in-one articles that may be more appealing to

some. Overall I enjoyed my experience with the VAJ-4 and would recommend it to those who aren’t keen on braving all weathers, yes, those riders exist.

• Great style
• Superb build quality
• Trustworthy pockets!

• Standalone isn’t up to all elements
• No internal hooks for your own thermal layer

Twinned with the VAJ-4 is the VAT-2, a stylish pair of textile trousers offering the same water repellent, well-ventilated, stretch fit as its torso sibling. Like the VAJ-4, the VAT-2 can be paired with a pair of waterproof over trousers (The VXR-3, £104.04 RRP), to combat heavy rain. However, it doesn’t seem to have a compatible thermal layer, so you may have to improvise there.

Coming in two colourways to match the VAJ-4, grey/olive and grey/red, I personally really like the look of these trousers, especially my grey/red ones. They have the adventurous look, but don’t go amiss when riding my FireBlade. Smart and sporty.

These trousers feel solid, durable, and up to the challenge. All the zips and Velcro fastens seem to be very well made, with nothing getting caught, popping off or coming undone, an absolute gripe when travelling at 60 MPH with thick motorcycle gloves on. One of my favourite things about these pants is the brilliantly wide range of sizes. As a lanky rider, I rarely see the option for a 29” waist, with a long leg. Like the jacket, the trousers have a great amount of stretch leaving no nasty crumple areas cutting off blood flow below the knees. Ventilation is provided by two vents on each thigh, they’re not the best but very welcome on warmer days. Again, like the jacket, when temperatures start to fall you very quickly see the need for a thermal layer. The cold starts to creep in, especially around the thigh tops.

The water-repellent membrane holds up in the lighter showers, but when it starts to pour, it is quickly compromised. Vanucci have their VXR-3 waterproof over trousers (£104.04 on Louis Moto), which I think would be a must for those looking to do some touring in less predictable weather. Like the jacket, the two external waterproof pockets stood out again as a great feature, confidently keeping my gubbins dry. These were just as large as the VAJ-4 pockets so again, a phone, wallet, keys will all fit in here nicely.

Stylish and comfortable, the VAT-2 trousers would be a great addition for a spring/summer rider, or someone braving the odd dry day in the less-favourable months. Similar to the VAJ-4 however, most of us here in the UK need the backup of a thermal lining, and a waterproof layer. Stacking the base price and the waterproof VXR-3, you’ll look at a grand total of £338.15 which is getting on the more expensive side, and that’s not considering a thermal garment.

Battling at this price point with competition from RST, Oxford, and even entry-level Alpine Stars, I’d love to see these trousers get laminated!  They are unique in their style, and the build quality is superb, so for those vanity shopping for next summer’s attire they would be a great choice and I would highly recommend them. For myself though, traversing rain, shine, and more, I’d be leaning towards all-in-one pairs of textiles that offer waterproofing, warmth, and flexibility at a very similar price point.

• Fashionable style
• Trustworthy pockets
• Great build quality

• Will need the extra layer for rain
• Cold thighs without a thermal layer

The VTB 20 SympaTex are a pair of full-grain cowhide, SympaTex climate membrane equipped boots from Vanucci. They look great, and I can’t help but feel the tiny Italian flag makes you go faster…

Stylistically these are super versatile boots, looking the part alongside the full VAJ touring kit, or a full set of leathers. Simple black, with subtleties like the Italian flag, SympaTex gold plate, and red sole come together to create a stylish and sharp boot.

A rock-hard structure gives you confidence these would hold up in the worst scenario, but I couldn’t help but feel it would be a foot-ache wearing them, I was mistaken. The VTB break in was a painless experience, with the anatomically shaped insole moulding around my trotters. After that period, the boots still felt solid externally, confidence inspiring. The two side zippers are great and don’t catch anywhere, and the Velcro calf adjustments helps me with my skinny legs.

These boots are waterproof, in hard and heavy rain not once were they compromised, it was only after they were totally submerged in a two-foot ground flood that they took on water, and in that moment, they held the water in! Even past that both inside and outside showed no signs of wear and tear. Vanucci state they are breathable (thanks to the SympaTex membrane) but only in conjunction with technical socks. In winter use they were warm enough; summer use will see the breathability come to fruition. Surprisingly, being so solid, they have a good feel through the gear and brake levers. The rubber sole doesn’t slip around on the pegs, always a plus for touring boots standing up and down on an adventure bike.

Solid, versatile, and impermeable the VTB 20 has been a great addition to my boot pile. At £217.00 it feels like a fair trade off, not compromising on style, comfort, longevity, or sturdiness. They’re a great fit for a Sunday blast on the twisties, or a long-haul tour through mountain passes. If the style or price point doesn’t match up for you, have a browse of the VTB range, there are plenty of variants to choose from! All in I would recommend these boots to friends and readers alike.

• Rock solid
• Super comfy
• Didn’t take long to break in

• Hard structure gives you a comical gait, that’s it!

The VAG-4 gloves are breathable, wind and waterproof goatskin mitts to suit fairer weather conditions here in the UK and across Europe.

Like the VTB 20 boots, the VAG-4 gloves are black and simple in design, with Vanucci quietly printed on the knuckle protectors. They don’t jump out from the surrounding crowd, but they are a nice looking pair of gloves.

Comfortable and flexible with stretch inserts on the fingers, thumb and backhand, it didn’t take long at all to settle into these gloves. They offer a lot of feel through the fingers, almost sportily, giving unhindered sensations on the switchgear, brakes, and throttle. The hard-shell knuckle protector gives you confidence, as does the build quality. A width adjustment at the wrist and cuff offers great adjustability, over or under a jacket. The index fingers and thumbs utilize a conductive material to allow you to use your smartphone, satnav, or even pressure based dash display if you’re riding that side of the market, which is a nice touch nowadays.

They held up well and fine in lighter showers, but in greater downpours over longer periods they did let in moisture. Damp leads to cold, and cold leads to a bad time, though, thanks to the McTex breathable membrane, it doesn’t take long to dry them out! The visor wiper on the left hand is welcome, and over time hasn’t lost its rigidity. When it comes to chill resistance, these gloves do struggle below 10 degrees Celsius. Heated grips help the palms, but don’t mitigate the cold lashing your knuckles and fingertips. On warmer days the breathability comes into play and doesn’t create a sweaty mess.

A solid pair of fair-weather gloves, the VAG-4 would make a great addition for those who ride throughout spring, summer, and early autumn, with the breathability, lighter-waterproofing and smartphone operating ability. Thanks to the quick dry-ability I do think these would be tour-able, if you can accept damp as and when the weather turns biblical. At £104.16, competition is stiff with Gore-Tex equipped heavy hitters, but this is a competitive glove with big brand features and big brand build quality.

• Breathable
• Light water resistance
• Smartphone operable

• Heavy rain will bleed through
• Price feels a little steep

Overall, I did really enjoy my time with these products. The fit was spot on, I really like the style, nothing broke (I have a habit of ripping off flimsy zippers), the waterproof (keyword ‘proof’) elements did their job brilliantly, and the build quality oozed confidence if I were to have had an off. For those who enjoy their Sunday rides, midweek moseys and light adventure riders, all of these pieces could make a brilliant set for less than £700.

For hardcore, timeless tourers, winter hacking commuters or anyone up north, you’d want to add in the extra layers taking you up to a total over £1100… If the style is right, and that price point isn’t daunting, it would make for a fantastic, incredibly versatile, water and chill proof suit, and you’ll also get a rain shell and thermal layer for casual use!