Klim 2026 Gore-Tex jackets and pants: the ultimate guide
Four suits, all designed for world travel. But which one is for you?
First: understand the categories
Klim splits its Gore-Tex range into two families. The big thing is that each suit has its own fit, so although you might relate to a particular model, it's important to understand how that fit relates to your body.
Adventure suits: built to go off the blacktop. Active fit, armoured for impact and abrasion on gnarly terrain. This is the Badlands Pro, Pro A3, and the Carlsbad.
Touring suits: built for big days in the saddle, primarily on tarmac. Tailored fit and creature comforts like down liners and storm collars. This is the Kodiak and the Latitude.
Two things that apply to the whole range
Gore-Tex Pro vs Performance Shell. The Badlands Pro/A3 and Kodiak use a 3-layer Gore-Tex Pro membrane, which provides faster moisture transfer and is more durable long-term. The Carlsbad and Latitude use a 2-layer Performance Shell: lighter, softer, but slightly less breathable under hard exertion.
Rogue armour. All 2026 suits run Klim's proprietary Rogue armour, thinner than D3O, CE Level 2, and tested at -10C and 40C. Most armour is only tested at ambient temperature. In Australia, where you can go from alpine cold to outback heat on the same trip, that distinction matters. The Badlands Pro/A3 feature Rogue EXP, which offers more coverage than standard inserts.
Badlands Pro / Pro A3: the benchmark
CE AA / AAA · Gore-Tex Pro · Rogue EXP L2 · 12 vents
Two jackets, one chassis. Both run the same Gore-Tex Pro shell, Rogue EXP Level 2 armour, and 12-vent layout. Built for riders who go remote, ride in harsh conditions, and want the most protection a waterproof textile jacket can offer.
The Badlands Pro A3 earns CE AAA through Vectran reinforcement and Superfabric overlays in the high-abrasion zones, making it the most protective Gore-Tex motorcycle garment on the planet. The Badlands Pro is CE AA, still bombproof, at a lower price. Either way, you're getting a boxy, active fit built for riders who are standing up and down on the bike, moving around and layering underneath.
The pants: Rogue EXP L2 hip and knee armour, goat leather inner knee overlays, and 6 total vents for a comfortable and technical fit.
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Carlsbad: fast and capable
CE AA · Gore-Tex Performance Shell · Rogue L2 · Best-in-class ventilation
Same Gore-Tex Pro chassis as the Badlands. Same Rogue armour system, standard rather than EXP. What it gives up in Vectran reinforcement (and the AAA rating), it gets back in a more mobile fit and better ventilation: double-headed forearm vents, direct chest intakes, offset rear exhaust. On a warm Queensland day, the difference is real.
The pants match: Rogue L2 hips and knees, goat leather inner knee overlays, thigh vents.
CE AA is not a consolation prize; it's where most premium ADV jackets sit. The Carlsbad is lighter, faster, and less fatiguing on a big day. For most ADV riders, it's the better all-round experience.
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Kodiak: the serious tourer
CE AA · Gore-Tex Pro · Rogue EXP L2 · Down liner included
The 2026 Kodiak is a meaningful upgrade: CE AA, Rogue EXP L2 throughout, and a 14-port ventilation system across jacket and pants. What sets it apart is the touring package; included down jacket liner, removable storm collar, and a Euro-cut fit that's noticeably more tailored than Klim's ADV jackets.
Built for riders who eat distance. Big highway days, mountain passes, occasional unpaved detours. Not an adventure suit; the fit isn't made for standing on the pegs. But if your version of a big trip is Broome to Brisbane on the bitumen, the Kodiak is your jacket.
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Latitude: the comfortable tourer
CE A · Gore-Tex Performance Shell · D3O L1 · Stretch panels
The outlier. Performance Shell, CE A, D3O Level 1. On paper it looks like the bottom of the pile. In practice it's often the jacket people are happiest riding in.
Stretch Gore-Tex panels through the knees, thighs, and back yoke make it the most comfortable suit in the range by a clear margin. The pants come in Short, Regular, and Tall; the only suit here to offer that.
The trade-off is protection. CE A is legitimate, but it's a real step below AA or AAA. For road touring, it's a reasonable swap for comfort. Venture off the blacktop regularly and upgrade the armour to Rogue Level 2 as a minimum.
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Women's suits
Klim builds two Gore-Tex suits specifically for women; not scaled-down versions of the men's range, but jackets designed from the ground up for female-specific fit and riding. The Artemis is the ADV option; the Altitude is the road touring option. Both are available in women's sizing with female-specific features throughout.
Artemis: the women's ADV suit
CE AA · Gore-Tex Performance Shell · Rogue L2 · Female-specific fit
The most complete women's ADV jacket available, now in its third generation with Rogue L2 armour, Superfabric at the elbows and shoulders, and a feature set built specifically for how women ride. Gore-Tex Performance Shell keeps it light and mobile without sacrificing waterproofing.
The fit is the point. Cross-core vents, a springless collar adjuster, and a women's-specific cut throughout the torso and shoulders mean this jacket actually fits; not just in size, but in how it moves on the bike. The pants match with the same Rogue L2 armour and an active ADV cut.
For women who ride hard and want gear that's been designed for them, not as an afterthought, this is the one.
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Altitude: the women's touring suit
CE A · Gore-Tex Performance Shell · D3O L1 · Road touring
Klim's women's Gore-Tex touring jacket, built for serious distance on the road. Gore-Tex Performance Shell keeps the weight down and the comfort up across a full day in the saddle. Comfort-forward construction designed for riders who cover real ground without compromising on protection.
The trade-off, like the Latitude, is protection rating. CE A is legitimate but a step below AA. For road touring, it's a reasonable trade. Venture off the blacktop regularly and upgrade the armour to Rogue Level 2 as a minimum.
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Klim gear is expensive. But this is the range where you can legitimately buy once and not think about it again. We've ridden this gear ourselves. We'll tell you straight.
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