The Mud Club

Belstaff's iconic Trialmaster jacket blends form and function even in the worst of the worst conditions

- NICK SULLIVAN

AS ONE OF THE FIRST JACKETS BUILT FOR MOTORCYCLE riding, the Belstaff Trialmaster is tough and tactical-proof that when form follows function, good things happen. That's why the design has persisted for three-quarters of a century. Of course, with such a long history, the Trialmaster has evolved, slimming down in recent years to match contemporary tastes. That's nice and all, but for purists and us-it's difficult to top the original. Which makes the arrival of a 75th-anniversary edition, dubbed the Tribute, especially welcome. Gently weathered, and complete with period-accurate details like a pop-out wool liner, it's like scoring a vintage gem without all the hassle or the mud stains.