Textile or leather jacket??
Discussion
Morning all, I have a set of one piece air bag leathers and also an all season set of textiles but would quite like to get a lighter summer jacket. I have bought some AAA rated jeans and boots but am torn between a leather or a textile jacket. I like the fact that a textile jacket has more pockets for bits and bobs and has the waterproof element to it but do wonder if a leather jacket may be better? It will be used during the summer only. I have been looking online for a week and tying myself in knots with ideas and am no further forward sadly. Budget wise, I would be looking at around the £450 mark. Any tips or feedback would be great. Thank you.
Through the summer months I mostly wear a mesh/leather jacket. The Spidi Intersection jacket , is mesh with leather reinforcement on arms/shoulder/back Is AA rated with L2 D30 armour. I wear a Klim Zephyr windproof liner for cooler mornings and take it off when it gets warm, packs real small in one of the side pockets.
I guess the downside for you, this is a summer jacket, 2 side pockets and inner pocket for phone etc, but not so many big outer pockets like you get on some longer textile jackets.
I have 3 leather jackets too, one lined with goretex is great for autumn/winter but its too warm for summer.
On a recent 2500 mile Euro holiday I just wore the Spidi jacket, use the liner for cold mornings and 1 piece Held waterproof suit on top of everything when it rained.
I guess the downside for you, this is a summer jacket, 2 side pockets and inner pocket for phone etc, but not so many big outer pockets like you get on some longer textile jackets.
I have 3 leather jackets too, one lined with goretex is great for autumn/winter but its too warm for summer.
On a recent 2500 mile Euro holiday I just wore the Spidi jacket, use the liner for cold mornings and 1 piece Held waterproof suit on top of everything when it rained.
Like so many of these types of question, there is no right or wrong answer and what works/is acceptable to one person is gross overkill or complete stupidity to another.
In general, leather is better at offering protection than textile and no textile, however expensive gets anywhere near offering the protection of good quality leather.
I don't buy me motorcycle clothing for fashion reasons, I buy them for the protection they offer and, as I've spent a lot of money on high quality leathers, I wear them in most situations. Likewise my airbag vest.
In general, leather is better at offering protection than textile and no textile, however expensive gets anywhere near offering the protection of good quality leather.
I don't buy me motorcycle clothing for fashion reasons, I buy them for the protection they offer and, as I've spent a lot of money on high quality leathers, I wear them in most situations. Likewise my airbag vest.
Cheers for the replies. My textile suit has a longer jacket with pockets aplenty and would be great for touring, so I am looking for a shorter jacket for summer use. Bike wise I have a KTM Superduke and a BMW R1100S. It does sound as though textile is the way forward, very versatile and whilst it doesn't offer quite the same level of protection as leather I feel good quality textiles are still going to offer decent protection, especially if they are AA or AAA rated.
this season i am mainly wearing
Knox urban pro with Knox urban pro trousers and hideout salopettes as the base
today on the way to work i had base layer, Klim down jacket, Knox, Klim gossamer thingy as it was cold with hideout salopettes
on the way home i just wore the base layer and Knox jacket as the temp had increased to a nice 20+
Wore the same combination to Norway and back in June and it worked well
I’ll carry on like that I have moved away from one big jacket and trousers set, can be a pain stopping to put waterproofs on and faffing with layers but I’m a lot more comfortable
How I’ll fare in the depths of winter
Knox urban pro with Knox urban pro trousers and hideout salopettes as the base
today on the way to work i had base layer, Klim down jacket, Knox, Klim gossamer thingy as it was cold with hideout salopettes
on the way home i just wore the base layer and Knox jacket as the temp had increased to a nice 20+
Wore the same combination to Norway and back in June and it worked well
I’ll carry on like that I have moved away from one big jacket and trousers set, can be a pain stopping to put waterproofs on and faffing with layers but I’m a lot more comfortable
How I’ll fare in the depths of winter
Definitely wouldn't go for leather. I have a few lether jackets but I haven't worn them in years. They're too cold for winter, too hot for summer and not waterproof.
Laminated textile are no good for summer either - there just isn't the airflow.
Mesh is about as close as you can get to a cooler jacket. I have an A rated revit one but did look at at the (Knox?) stuff in SBS albeit it still didn't seem very cool and seemed fitted rather than lose which seems like it would defeat the point of cooling?
Laminated textile are no good for summer either - there just isn't the airflow.
Mesh is about as close as you can get to a cooler jacket. I have an A rated revit one but did look at at the (Knox?) stuff in SBS albeit it still didn't seem very cool and seemed fitted rather than lose which seems like it would defeat the point of cooling?
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