Shift MX Blue Label LE Pant And Jersey

I probably could start a Keefer Inc. Gear Testing website only. That’s how much I love testing and nitpicking all different types of motocross gear. I get a lot of gear through my doors here, but only a handful of those sets of gear I would actually purchase myself. When I received a set of Shift’s new Blue label LE gear I was excited to try it since I have never worn the Blue label stuff. Immediately when I went to pick it up I was shocked on how light the stuff was. It literally felt lighter than any other pant or jersey I have worn to date.

The Blue Label Limited Edition pant combines premium fabrics, advanced technology and a fresh new graphic. Shift designed the 3LUE (that’s how Shift spells it, but we are going with “Blue” in this test, ok?) Label pant specifically for their factory dudes, but wanted to pass down what they built for them on to us mere mortals. Built on a Cordura Stretch Nylon chassis, the pant is designed for mobility, an ultra-lightweight feel and durability. Not easy to do! Its main purpose is to create a streamlined fit for less drag and improved movement on the bike. The lower leg consists of an extremely lightweight and breathable Nylon/Elastane for comfort and breathability inside the boot. Taped interior seams reduce restriction and overall weight.

The Blue Label Limited Edition jersey retains a streamlined fit and minimalistic wrist openings for reduced drag and restriction. It has a 4-way stretch upper torso and sleeves, so it virtually disappears while you’re on the bike. For sweat management, the jersey features TruDri fibers and perforated sleeves, deigned so the rider can stay cool, dry and comfortable on the bike during long motos.

Now that you got the gist of what is going on with this stuff, let’s get to the nuts and bolts of this test….I am not going to sit here and tell you how great this stuff was right off the bat. Honestly, it took me a few times to appreciate what Shift has done with the Blue label pant and jersey. When I first put the Blue label pant and jersey on it literally felt like I was wearing almost nothing! It was a completely different feeling and weird sensation to me. I have worn Fox’s FlexAir gear, Thor’s PrimeFit, FXR’s Revo and Alpinestars Techstar stuff and nothing comes close to how light the Blue label pant and jersey feels on the body! It was also awkward how the Blue label pant’s zipper is set off to one side. There was nothing wrong with the way it was designed, it’s just an awkward way to zip up your pants when you have been zipping your pants up one way for 30 plus years. The Blue label pant has a snug, but very stretchy fit that allows you to really be mobile on the machine. The sizing is true to size and the waist is so stretchy that if you’re a size 33 you’re good to go with a size 32 pant. The seams on the yolk of the pant are slightly annoying at first and take some time to get used to, but once you have put a few rides in, it becomes a natural feeling. You will feel the seams when you’re sitting on the seat and that is what feels foreign to me. Usually the seams on other sets of pants aren’t there or not noticeable while riding, but the Shift Blue label seams are noticeable right away. The yolk (or butt area) of the pant can pull down with pleated/gripper seats when accelerating out of corners so make sure to tighten the ratchet style belt snugly to combat this. The leather on the knee area of the Blue label pant is not only tough, but provides excellent grip against the machine. For how lightweight the Blue label pant is, it can take some abuse. For an athletic fit pant, it’s not so tight where you will have trouble with knee braces fitting inside. This pant stretches remarkably well and is very breathable on the track (more on all this in a moment).

The Blue label jersey is thin and stretchier than any other jersey on the market today (minus the FlexAir jersey). The perforated sleeves are genius and I fell in love with the way the jersey fit on my body. The amount of air flow and breathability this jersey has is unreal. It’s tough to get a perforated sleeve that doesn’t feel harsh or course on your body. I have worn plenty of perforated jerseys before and they chafe the crap out of my skin! The Blue label jersey’s sleeves are soft, pliable and fits sungly against your arms. I can’t begin to describe to you in this test how comfortable the sleeves are. The neck area has plenty of room and doesn’t ride high up on your neck, yet doesn’t let dirt inside the jersey very easily. As stretchy as the pants are I was shocked on how well the jersey stayed tucked in. I am not a big “No Tucks Given” kind of guy, so keeping ‘er’ all inside the pant is more my style and the Blue label jersey’s tail is long enough to stay “Tucks Given”. I also like the fact that the jersey accommodates underprotectors well and is stretchy enough to still feel comfortable.

One thing I have never noticed before, until recently, is how much better I feel on the bike when I have an athletic, streamlined fit pant and jersey. The Shift Blue label gear is the most streamlined fit I have put on to date. Riding back to back on the same day (with other sets of gear) you are able to really feel less drag when hauling ass around the track. When scrubbing jumps or accelerating down the straights I am able to feel more aerodynamic with the Shift Blue label gear. I honestly thought the word “streamlined” when talking about motocross gear wasn’t a big deal and kind of “gimmicky” until I actually rode several days back to back (with the Shift Blue label gear against other sets of gear). Now does that mean you’re willing to pay $229.95 for the pant and $89.95 for the jersey? If you’re a weekend warrior probably not! However, if you’re a serious racer type and want the most out of each race, I personally would pay money for this set of gear. Shift makes a White label line that is much more affordable for the weekend warrior that isn’t looking to spend over $300.00 on a set of gear.

“Hey Keefer what about durability for that price”? I am fairly abusive with gear and after several long test days wearing the Blue label stuff I can sit here and tell you it’s pretty damn impressive for how lightweight it is. Now you can’t go and hit trees and shit and expect the stuff not to rip. It will! If you’re sticking to the motocross track and you’re the guy getting roosted in the middle of the pack, don’t stress, it will hold up! The hinges on my knee braces have yet to wear the leather down after several hours of riding and the colorway is black so it stays looking decent for a longer duration of time. I am usually not a huge fan of a black colorway, but if you tie it in with some colorful boots and gloves it could make it pop some!

Overall, it took me a while to get used to how lightweight and thin the Blue label pant and jersey were, but once I went back to back against other sets of gear on a hot day, there was no way I was taking this stuff off. It was like an air conditioner on my body. Even if you’re a bigger dude and not all “weiner and ribs” you can still look good in this set of gear! Don’t be scared, try it, but be ready to spend some coin!

If you have any questions about this set of gear please feel free to email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com.