The Lane Split jacket is the 5th Alpinestars casual jacket I have bought over the years, and is by far the most solidly constructed (and expensive). Like the previous one I bought (the Journey jacket), it does not match up to Alpinestars' size chart, which indicates that I should wear a medium (my first 3 Alpinestars jackets are all medium and all still fit me). A large fits perfectly, maybe just slightly too large, but not enough to be a problem. It seems that their sizing guide is no longer valid and you should buy a size up from what it indicates. On that note, it's also not particularly worth it to buy directly from Alpinestars, because, although they do accept returns for unused items that don't fit, you have to pay for the shipping...not the case with Amazon. Anyway, onto the actual jacket. I became interested in this particular one after rewatching the Bourne Legacy and seeing the jacket worn by the protagonist, the dramatically more expensive Belstaff H Racer Cardigan. Just like the Belstaff, this Alpinestars jacket has a leather-like appearance to it, but is actually cotton with a surface treatment (described by Belstaff as "rubberized jersey" and by Alpinestars as...well, nothing.) The jacket is fairly stiff when new, but I have been wearing it daily and it is starting to break in. In my review for the Journey jacket, I mentioned my dislike for the pocket arrangement, especially compared to my previous Merc jacket. I like to keep a set of earbuds in my pocket in their pouch, and the only zip pocket in the Journey was right on the breast, which caused the headphone pouch to press uncomfortably against my chest when the slim jacket was zipped. This Lane Split jacket has a more agreeable arrangement. There are actually no zip pockets at all, but there are two inside pockets, one at the waist and one closer to the breast, with a partially-sewn fold-over flap that is plenty secure for keeping things from falling out. There are also two snap closure pockets along the waist which make a good place to tuck your hands. The jacket appears to have adjustable cuffs and waist with two sets of snaps, but after noting that the waist could be tightened up some, I discovered that these don't really work very well because they just fold the material over, creating an awkward lump. I just ended up leaving them in their natural position. The jacket is pretty heavy with a nice lining and fleece along the collar. It is more than adequate for average cold weather use (winter in the Pacific Northwest for me). In comparison, my previous Journey jacket is more like a windbreaker, good for spring/fall or summer nights. The main highlight of this jacket is its style. It has a very distinct moto styling to it, without the price, weight, and thickness of an actual motorcycle jacket. The ribbed elbow area, shoulder pads, snap closure throat latch, and high collar all contribute to this look without seeming over-the-top. I really like how this jacket looks and although it's not quite the same as the Belstaff one in the film, it has a very similar appearance for a lot less money. It also appears to be well-made and not prone to wearing out, an issue I have had with some of my older Alpinestars jackets (which were, in fact, quite a bit less expensive). My only minor complaint about construction is some loose threads that I have had to trim off, but that's not a huge problem. Overall, this is a great jacket which is stylish, warm, and well-made. Be sure to buy a size larger than Alpinestar's outdated chart indicates...which means it will probably be a size larger than most things you wear, because I am a medium in most things but again, the medium version of this wouldn't even let me lift my arms.
