Published August 3, 2026 11:35AM
Nine motorcycle riders were traversing Mongolia’s remote Orkhon Valley when they were unexpectedly engulfed in a sandstorm. Reduced visibility left the riders barely able to see their front fender. The group was running out of fuel, daylight, and options—trapped in a race against an intensifying sandstorm that threatened to wipe them off the map.
Mongolia has been generating buzz among adventurous travelers for a few years now. It’s a raw, beautiful place where rich history and culture come with a dose of Type 2 fun. One of the best ways to experience a big slice of it all? On a motorcycle expedition that removes all the filters between you and the action.
That’s exactly what the AETHER Apparel team was seeking on an ambitious six-day, 1,000-kilometer journey through the wilds of Mongolia to field-test their newest adventure motorcycle gear. Guided by Nomadic Off-Road, Mongolia’s leading off-road adventure outfitter and official Husqvarna partner, AETHER assembled its crew: cofounders Jonah Smith and Palmer West, photographer David “Shadi” Perez, vehicle designer and racer Alex Earle of Earle Motors, and actors and avid riders Norman Reedus, Bryan Greenberg, and Justin Chatwin. Documenting their rugged experience demanded a durable camera with pro-level stabilization. GoPro helped them capture the whole ride with several of its MISSION 1 PROs.
Day 1: Headfirst into the Wild
The first day was surprisingly ambitious, requiring the group to traverse around 300 kilometers, a section that included frequent deep, rutted sand troughs. The sand took its toll early: While cruising through a section at 60 kph, Palmer West caught a hard edge.
“My bike went into a high-speed, tank-slapping death wobble while riding through the sand,” West said. “I clipped the hard dirt and launched into the rough terrain…My momentum took me over the handlebars, landing on my head.”
The impact resulted in a minor concussion, but West walked away without a broken bone or even a single bruise. The cutting-edge D3O® armor in his AETHER jacket and pants worked exactly as intended, as did his Leatt helmet. After a short ride in the support truck to recover, West was back in the saddle and riding into camp by sunset.
The group was prepared for any conditions with Aether Apparel’s new motorcycle collection.Jonah Smith
Day 2: Selfies and Hail
The riders started day two in a picturesque valley, passing by local herders, their animals, and various wildlife. “Watching Mongolian herders chase camels across the landscape on small motorcycles was one of those moments that perfectly captures the country,” Smith said.
While the crew filled up at a remote gas station and stretched their legs, a passing driver stopped, recognizing Norman Reedus. It became a recurring theme: Locals frequently approached the actor for photos. Smith thought it was hilarious to routinely insert himself into the selfies.
The tarmac transitioned into dirt as the group made its way through a mountain pass. The riders didn’t know it yet, but they were about to experience some of the worst weather Central Asia could offer. Light rain turned to a heavy downpour. The downpour evolved into a painful hailstorm. Riding through the ice was cold and painful yet surprisingly euphoric.
Day 3: Khorkhog to Hillclimbs
The team woke up on day three at the Genghis Khan Retreat, an equestrian wilderness lodge nestled deep within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Waking up in the heart of the valley felt magical—an ancient landscape frozen in time, where wild horse pastures stretched to the horizon—and a bit surreal.
After navigating technical river crossings and muddy singletrack, the group stopped to eat. That day’s lunch was khorkhog: traditional Mongolian barbecue consisting of lamb that had been slaughtered only hours earlier and cooked with hot stones and wild root vegetables. The rest of the afternoon involved miles and miles of highly technical riding, traversing steep, rocky ledges and ascending hills.
Day 4: Sandstorm
The scale of Mongolia’s unpredictable weather systems became terrifyingly apparent on day four as the riders watched a towering, apocalyptic wall of dust swallow the horizon like something out of Dune. Realizing they were directly in its path, the group pinned their throttles, attempting to outrun the massive sandstorm.
Day 5: The Bermuda Triangle of Mongolia
The real test came on day five when the group entered a treacherous grassland section called “the Bermuda Triangle of Mongolia.” It was easy to understand why the area is considered cursed. High-sides, low-sides, and bent bodywork plagued the group. Multiple riders went down, but their gear remained intact.
The Husky LodgeJonah Smith
Day 6: Forged Bonds
By the time the team returned to the neon-lit streets of Ulaanbaatar on day six, the scuffs and scratches on their AETHER Mojave 2.0 moto gear felt like badges of honor. Unsurprisingly, Reedus was repeatedly stopped by fans requesting photos. The final night’s farewell dinner was clearly elevated by the bond forged over grueling time behind the bars.
“Trips like this are never really about motorcycles,” Smith said. “They’re about the people you share them with. The crashes, the storms, the breakdowns: These are the things we’ll laugh about years from now. It’s the hard days that become the best stories.”
AETHER delivers uncompromising, built-to-last garments that blend timeless style with modern performance and functionality, enabling them to seamlessly go from city to summit. From our rain jackets to our ski apparel to our moto gear, our garments are also characterized by their immense versatility and the robust protection and coverage they afford—whether that’s protection from the elements while out on the trails, or slides and impacts when on the road.
