Which textile jacket

[m3psm]

I'm after a new textile jacket for everyday London commuting. The criteria is:
- 100% waterproof
- well armoured
- removable thermal liner so it can be worn all year round
- breathable
- machine washable
- high quality so it lasts at least two years
- proven/tested good abrasion resistance

I'm fairly confident I'll be down the tarmac at some point within the next two years simply because of where I ride, so it has to be a quality jacket. I don't mind paying out for quality if it truly does last.

Rukka seem to look good on paper but are very expensive. If that's the only option though (which I doubt), so be it.

So, what do you guys recommend and what big names are worth steering clear of?

Cheers

Paul

Edited by m3psm on Monday 11th June 14:39

[dern]

Can recommend my Hein Gerricke textile jacket. Totally waterproof in grim conditions.

[m3psm]

dern said:

Can recommend my Hein Gerricke textile jacket. Totally waterproof in grim conditions.

I do like HG gear and have their gloves and leather jeans, both of which have bounced well twice so far. Once on track and once on road. The guy that hit me on Friday was wearing an HG textile jacket though and tore the stitching on the arm without coming of the bike which is a tad worrying.

[RemaL]

dern said:

Can recommend my Hein Gerricke textile jacket. Totally waterproof in grim conditions.

seconded , bought mine last Nov used all through the winter. the dogs

[sjtscott]

RemaL said:

dern said:

Can recommend my Hein Gerricke textile jacket. Totally waterproof in grim conditions.

seconded , bought mine last Nov used all through the winter. the dogs

thirded.. def recommend one of their more expensive goretex jackets (still half rukka prices), I have one currently. I tested one of their sheltex (goretex copy) jackets along the road twice in London and it survived both with only minor marks leaving me with nothing more than a few aches and pains in both cases. Only ditched when the front closing part of the jacket stopped being water proof after 4 years.

[gareth h]

Whatever you buy make sure the cuffs unzip far enough to get gloves underneath, my dainese doesn't and it's really frustrating trying to get the second glove tucked in with a gloved hand, if you get what I mean!

[sjtscott]

gareth h said:

Whatever you buy make sure the cuffs unzip far enough to get gloves underneath, my dainese doesn't and it's really frustrating trying to get the second glove tucked in with a gloved hand, if you get what I mean!

My HG gortex jacket has zips which allow this and these work perfectly allowing even winter gloves to fit under the cuffs.

[m3psm]

Cheers Guys.

Just been on the HG site and the Master IV and PSX XCR look pretty tasty at half the cost of the Rukka stuff.

Which HG jackets do you all use?

[dern]

m3psm said:

Which HG jackets do you all use?

Dunno, they seem to change them every year so even if I did it probably wouldn't help. It cost about £200 I think. Got some matching trousers a while later and they're great too.

[Twit]

BMW...

My jacket has been worn all over the world done thousands of miles and is covered in grime and shite, Its been slept in hedges and deserts and it has been washed in rivers and the sea a few times. It is still in great nick, the colour has faded but all the stitching as fine, is well armoured, completely waterproof and I'd be confident in it whatever. Not the cheapest but the best jacket I've got!

[hiccy]

My Clover jacket has been great, although a bit heavy to wear at the moment. Well armoured with a very robust back protector, and 100% waterproof.

[Silver993tt]

Had my Dainese 2-piece Gore-tex outfit for 5 years, it's been great and is fully armoured. Doesn't get used everyday but has been for loads of European tours and is still totally waterproof. It's got removable lining both in jacket and trousers - quality is first class.

[m3psm]

Cheers guys That gives me a few pointers. I like the BMW ones and if they're that robust they tick all the boxes and are cheaper than Rukka

[wassy]

Had a low speed tumble whilst wearing my Rukka jacket and was disappointed with the way the cordura ripped. The built in armour did it's job but the jacket was a write off.

[m3psm]

wassy said:

Had a low speed tumble whilst wearing my Rukka jacket and was disappointed with the way the cordura ripped. The built in armour did it's job but the jacket was a write off.

An expensive tumble then

Maybe it's too much to expect for a jacket to last more than one off. Maybe they're like lids and need replacing after each off?

My £50 Weise jacket has had two minor offs, one of which involved a 30 metre tarmac slide and it did a great job of protecting me but has some small tears now and would fall apart if I had another. The dilema is do I spend another £50 on a Weise or similar or £400 on a top BMW, Hein Gerricke or Rukka one which may last no longer?

In reality I need to add money to my £50 for 100% waterproofness and better comfort, but is that worth the £350 difference if they all react the same to tarmac?

I do have a tendency to overspend on such items generally in the belief that you always get what you pay for, but have discovered that you can get quality for less sometimes, especially from new companies trying to make a name.

[Talksteer]

m3psm said:

I'm after a new textile jacket for everyday London commuting. The criteria is:

I have a Frank Thomas Full Force Aqua
- 100% waterproof Yep
- well armoured CE pads in shoulders and elbows, a bit of padding on the back, the elbow pad aren;t as secure as I would like but that just might be my odd shape
- removable thermal liner so it can be worn all year round Yep, though in fairness its still abit toasty for summer
- breathable Yep
- machine washable Yep
- high quality so it lasts at least two years Only had mine 6 months see no reason why it wouldn't last 2 years
- proven/tested good abrasion resistance No idea, never seen any tests of textile jackets in any of mags either. I did try it as snowboarding jackets and managed to graze my arm after a fall, suit was undamaged.

[m3psm]

Talksteer said:

m3psm said:

I'm after a new textile jacket for everyday London commuting. The criteria is:

I have a Frank Thomas Full Force Aqua
- 100% waterproof Yep
- well armoured CE pads in shoulders and elbows, a bit of padding on the back, the elbow pad aren;t as secure as I would like but that just might be my odd shape
- removable thermal liner so it can be worn all year round Yep, though in fairness its still abit toasty for summer
- breathable Yep
- machine washable Yep
- high quality so it lasts at least two years Only had mine 6 months see no reason why it wouldn't last 2 years
- proven/tested good abrasion resistance No idea, never seen any tests of textile jackets in any of mags either. I did try it as snowboarding jackets and managed to graze my arm after a fall, suit was undamaged.

Alas my last Frank Thomas textile jacket ticked all of the above boxes at a budget price, but, after one year it was knackered without a single scrape. Zips failed, poppers fell of, material frayed and it leaked. They may have come along since then (2001) but They won't be getting my money twice

Cheers for the input though

[wassy]

m3psm said:

wassy said:

Had a low speed tumble whilst wearing my Rukka jacket and was disappointed with the way the cordura ripped. The built in armour did it's job but the jacket was a write off.

An expensive tumble then

Maybe it's too much to expect for a jacket to last more than one off. Maybe they're like lids and need replacing after each off?

My £50 Weise jacket has had two minor offs, one of which involved a 30 metre tarmac slide and it did a great job of protecting me but has some small tears now and would fall apart if I had another. The dilema is do I spend another £50 on a Weise or similar or £400 on a top BMW, Hein Gerricke or Rukka one which may last no longer?

In reality I need to add money to my £50 for 100% waterproofness and better comfort, but is that worth the £350 difference if they all react the same to tarmac?

I do have a tendency to overspend on such items generally in the belief that you always get what you pay for, but have discovered that you can get quality for less sometimes, especially from new companies trying to make a name.

I replaced the Rukka with an Alpinestars but only because I bought it in the sale and it was half price.
I won't be spending £400 on a fabric jacket again.
Try Ride magazine, their comparison tests seem to be the best.

[m3psm]

Cheers wassy, I'll pick up a copy of Ride

If textile don't withstand tarmac they're not worth spending hundreds on to replace after each off, so I may have to re-think. I'm off to Hein Gericke at the weekend to see what they have but will also scour Ebay too

[Leadfoot]

The Hein Gericke PXR (top of the range jobbie) that you like the look of has leaher at likely impact points.
I had a look at one recently - v. nice bit of kit.