Mosko Moto Rak Pullover and Overpant

By: Chad de Alva

Mosko Moto’s version 1.0 Rak Pullover and Rak Overpants have been some of my most frequently used riding gear. The Rak Pullover and Overpants strike an ideal balance between functionality, packability, and durability that makes for a great option any time you need a functional waterproof shell that can take a hit, and that folds up small enough to stow in a pack or on a dirt bike when not needed. My original Rak Pullover has kept me comfortable on countless cold, wet, or snowy rides – and the Rak Overpants have proven to work equally well when there’s enough moisture in the forecast to warrant packing a set of waterproof pants. So when Mosko Moto launched version 2.0 of the Rak Pullover and Overpants for Spring 2023, I had to get my hands on them to see what Mosko had done to revise a set of gear that I’ve come to count on to keep me comfortable for so many different types of riding.

The Rak Pullover is based off an anorak style jacket, so instead of full front zip, the Rak Pullover has a top quarter front zip and a bottom quarter side zip. The idea here is that even if both zippers on the garment fail, the jacket is still a useable pullover, whereas a jacket with a single full front zip is much less functional when its front zipper is out of commission. Version 2.0 of the Rak Pullover keeps this anorak style design and adds some welcome quality of life improvements. A kangaroo pocket has been added to the outside of the hand pockets for additional storage, and it’s a great place to stash all sorts of stuff you need to quickly access. The addition of a removable hood makes the Rak Pullover work just like a waterproof hiking / skiing jacket, so you only need to bring one waterproof jacket on a riding trip. Collar hold-open snaps and a second zipper on the side zip have been added to enable better venting when wearing the Rak. Anti-flap Velcro tabs have been added to help keep the jacket from flapping all over the place when riding at high speed. These additions do add to the jacket’s weight and packed volume, but it’s a small price to pay for the additional features.

The Rak Overpants are as the name suggests, designed to go on over your other moto pants when things are about to get wet. With separate shell pants, riders can enjoy the comfort benefits of riding in their favorite not-waterproof pants when it’s not raining, and quickly layer up for wet and/or cold weather protection when needed. Version 2.0 of the Rak Overpants retains the right thigh pocket from V 1.0, and receive an extra zipper to both of the full-length side zips, so that the pants can be completely split in half for easier donning and doffing.

My first outing with the new Rak Pullover was during the Grindingstone Hard Enduro race in Page, AZ. With plenty of wind, the occasional rain shower, and highs in the 40’s the new Rak quickly proved that it has great wet and cold weather performance. The new kangaroo pocket is great for protecting a camera (mirrorless body with a 24-70mm lens) from the elements, and the hood proved its worth by keeping my head warm while standing around watching the races and getting blasted by rain, wind, and sand.

Over the last few months, the new Rak Pullover has been my go-to jacket for almost all of my riding. The Rak has seen single track use, dual sport use, and multi-day adventure use. It’s done everything from serving as a windbreaker on cold mornings, to keeping me dry when riding through hours of rain and hail with a few guys from the Mosko Moto Crew. The few times I’ve needed a set of rain pants, the Rak Overpants have been the clutch solution I can quickly deploy before pressing on into a wall of water. As soon as the storm breaks, you can quickly doff the pants and get back to enjoying the comfort of your regular riding pants – and that’s a hard thing to beat.

No piece of gear is perfect, but the Rak Pullover comes pretty close. My only critique of the Pullover is that the Anti-flap Velcro Tabs seem superfluous. Even when riding Ducati’s new Multistrada V4 Rally (as featured in this issue) at triple digit speeds, I didn’t find myself wishing for a way to mitigate jacket flapping – but I need to point out that I always have on some sort of backpack when riding. Personally, I’d rather have a smaller packed volume a la Rak version 1.0 and no anti-flap tabs. As for the Overpants, I would gladly take a little extra room in the crotch and in the thighs – Mosko has been refining their fit with each iteration of their apparel, but putting Rak Overpants on over Mosko Moto Woodsman pants when you’ve got even a few items in the Woodsman’s thigh pockets makes for a tight fit, and that can restrict your legs’ range of motion making it hard to perform the otherwise easy high kick a leg over a bike.

Several months into using Mosko Moto’s Rak Pullover and Overpants V 2.0, I can confirm that Mosko Moto has done a great job updating an already outstanding gear system that was the Rak V 1.0 without breaking the formula. Thanks to its new features, the Rak Pullover V 2.0 is even more functional while still being the durable, packable, only jacket you need on any kind of ride. When you need a pair of top shelf rain pants, the Rak Overpants have proven to be a great option, and if you haven’t embraced the two pant layering system – you need to. Regular riding pants and a second pair of quick on and off waterproof pants offer greater comfort across a broader range of riding conditions when compared to a single pair of vented waterproof pants. If you want more abrasion resistance than what the Rak offers, you can have your Super Fabric cake and the Rak’s waterproof performance in Mosko’s Basilisk system. Yet for a shell system that gives you everything you need, and nothing that you don’t – the Mosko Moto Rak Pullover and Overpants are hard to beat. For more information head to moskomoto.com.

For our review of the Mosko Moto Wildcat Backpack:  CLICK HERE