Leather or Textile
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
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Leather or Textile
Need to buy a new jacket and am playing between another leather or a very good textile (textile would be better for rain etc) - What do you guys think (practical reasons not fashion)
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,052
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From: North London, UK
I've had both. For sheer practicality, textile is the way to go.
They're usually water and windproof, often have reflective bits sewn into them and are blessed with many, many pockets.
Leather is physically tougher, looks better over time (textile jackets look worse as they get older), looks cooler, aren't completely waterproof over longer periods of exposure and are often way more expensive.
Provided they fit you correctly, both will offer similar levels of protection - unless you get a summer-style mesh jacket in which case all bets are off. They do say that Leather will survive more than one crash, whereas textiles probably won't. Not sure that ought to be a buying criteria though.
Also, if you wear a textile jacket, people will assume you ride a BMW.
They're usually water and windproof, often have reflective bits sewn into them and are blessed with many, many pockets.
Leather is physically tougher, looks better over time (textile jackets look worse as they get older), looks cooler, aren't completely waterproof over longer periods of exposure and are often way more expensive.
Provided they fit you correctly, both will offer similar levels of protection - unless you get a summer-style mesh jacket in which case all bets are off. They do say that Leather will survive more than one crash, whereas textiles probably won't. Not sure that ought to be a buying criteria though.
Also, if you wear a textile jacket, people will assume you ride a BMW.
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
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This could be the best of both worlds - just read great reviews on same
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Macna-Chamele...item2570ede5a3
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Macna-Chamele...item2570ede5a3
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
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From: Badlands of ND
I have had a couple of Textile jackets. I do not wear them any more. They seem to want to use Velcro for every closure on the jacket. I do not know why, but I just dislike velcro and have moved to leather jackets that use zippers and snaps.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 369
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From: Katy, TX
I have an Icon Motorhead Leather Jacket that is great in the winter and looks pretty bad ***. It is perforated in the entire sleeves, but when you put the liner in it keeps it pretty warm. I usually will wear the jacket until the average temp gets above 75 degrees and then switch over to a mesh jacket for the hotter months. I usually carry a frogg togg with me so having rainproof jackets isn't really an issue for me. I don't mind getting a little wet as it usually will dry out before I get there. If I plan on riding thru some torrential downpour I just slap on the rain gear and go.