I think the ideal gear is entirely a matter of what size you are. Personally I'm 6'6" and 155 lb (I know, it's ridiculous), and it took me half a year of pain and return shipping to find a jacket that actually fits me anywhere close to reasonably. American brands were waaaay too big around in the torso and arms; European brands varied a lot, but still tended to get too large around by the time I found a size that was long enough for me.
I finally tried on some RS Taichi mesh, and it fit perfectly. Snug around the belly and through the arms. Best of all, it came with back AND chest armor (not the worthless foam pads most manufacturers include), and the mesh was a much more durable fabric than most other mesh jackets I've seen. Solid textile was used in high risk areas like the shoulder and forearm.
I ended up going with an RS Taichi Motion perforated leather jacket because it was slightly longer, but if you're slim like me I'd strongly recommend the brand.
Apart from fit though, a lot of brands *coughjoerocket* make me very nervous from a quality standpoint. Make sure you are confident about a jacket before you cut the tags off...
