Review: Dainese Racing 3 D-Dry Jacket and Drake 2 Super Air Pant

My Dainese gear arrived the day before I departed for Italy to ride the MotoGiro d’Italia 2025. The week saw six full days of riding in varying types of weather. 

Although the skies were mostly summery with hot temperatures, there were some cool mornings and splashes of rain, from drizzle to downpour. It presented a decent array of conditions to test Dainese’s Racing 3 D-Dry textile jacket and Drake 2 Super Air textile pants.

The D-Dry jacket is constructed of tough Cordura fabric that is highly resilient yet comfortable, with a waterproof D-Dry inner membrane. Exposed aluminum plates augment concealed armor at the shoulders and elbows (always consider adding the accessory Dainese back protector, which fits into a zippered slot).

Although the D-Dry jacket is intended for cooler temps and rain, the venting intakes at the shoulders, sleeves, and back provided adequate airflow. They kept me cool even when the mercury climbed above 80. At the same time, the jacket provided exceptional protection when the rains hit. 

I opted for this jacket over a full mesh one specifically because of the unpredictability of rain in Italy, and it paid off. That said, if your travels take you through hotter and more humid destinations, you may want to go with a full mesh jacket. 

The Drake 2 Super Air pants are aptly named. They’re intended specifically for high summer temperatures, with large panels of vented mesh on the thighs that breathe remarkably well, allowing for a soothing coolness to wrap the lower body. 

At times, when riding in particularly harsh heat, I could stand up on the pegs and receive a refreshing blast through the mesh panels.

The Drakes are made from a soft, lightweight fabric that feels as comfortable as your favorite jeans, offering generous freedom of movement. They’re fitted with removable composite protectors at the knees and shins, as well as padding at the hips for protection (EN 17092 class A certification).

For additional safety, the D-Dry jacket and Drake pants are conveniently mated together via Dainese’s universal heavy-duty zippered mid-section, which keeps them from separating if you fall. The zippers are glove friendly, which allows for easy access to retrieving rally timing cards at checkpoints. 

The only criticism I have is with the D-Dry jacket’s collar. It’s super stiff, and when snapped up to the top, it impedes side-to-side neck motion and can result in uncomfortable friction against the skin.

Dainese Racing D-Dry Jacket
$519
Sizes: 34-54
Colors: Black/white, black/red, black/white/fluorescent red

Dainese Drake 2 Super Air Pant
$319
Sizes: 44-64
Colors: Black, black/red