Leather vs Textile jackets
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 843
Likes: 43
From: Louisiana
Check out 4 season, adventure tour style jackets. They have venting for warm weather but work exceptionally well in cold weather and are water proof. Any decent jacket is going to have some bulk though as a good textile jacket is made of heavy Cordura for abrasion resistance and will contain armor in the fore arm, shoulder and back. It's the only jacket you need to bring when you are touring.
Something like this should be good down to ~40F (an hour to two at continuous highway speeds) with liner installed but cool up to ~85F-90F with liner removed and vents opened. I use mine below freezing but much below 40F I like to use my heated liner under it. That's with no windshield. With a windshield or on shorter city rides, you might find you can get by without the heated liner in freezing temps.
As a general rule textile jackets are more practical and comfortable and have a wider temp range. Just avoid the cheap polyester jackets as they have minimal abrasion protection. Cordura is 5-10 x more abrasion resistant for the same denier (fabric weight) but you pay more for it. Rev'It, Danese, Klim and Olympia all make high quality jackets.
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/o...FUMLMgod_C8AiQ
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/revit-sand-2-jacket
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/k...-misano-jacket
Something like this should be good down to ~40F (an hour to two at continuous highway speeds) with liner installed but cool up to ~85F-90F with liner removed and vents opened. I use mine below freezing but much below 40F I like to use my heated liner under it. That's with no windshield. With a windshield or on shorter city rides, you might find you can get by without the heated liner in freezing temps.
As a general rule textile jackets are more practical and comfortable and have a wider temp range. Just avoid the cheap polyester jackets as they have minimal abrasion protection. Cordura is 5-10 x more abrasion resistant for the same denier (fabric weight) but you pay more for it. Rev'It, Danese, Klim and Olympia all make high quality jackets.
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/o...FUMLMgod_C8AiQ
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/revit-sand-2-jacket
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/k...-misano-jacket
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 832
Likes: 6
From: Vermont
I wore leather jackets, pants and chaps for years until switching to textile about ten years ago. I still wear the leathers occasionally for around town and day trips but almost always wear textile jacket and pants.
There are some advantages for leather. In the event of a get off, leather is more abrasion resistant and slides better. I have read that as textile slides, the fabric deteriorates and can snag on the pavement causing the wearer to tumble. Also, leather looks cleaner longer and ages well.
Textile jackets are much more versatile than leather. I have a mesh jacket and pants and use them for three seasons - down to the low 40's. The jacket has a waterproof and windproof liner and a quilted zip-in. All three layers can be worn together for warmth. The pants have waterproof and windproof liners and can be worn as over-pants with jeans. The liners take up very little space and with them stored in the tour-pak, I'm set for most any weather. Also, the jacket and pants have armor so I feel I'm pretty well protected.
The only disadvantages for the textile jackets is that they show the dirt a lot quicker than leather and the wind will tend to fray the sleeve fabric over time although I haven't seen that yet with the Olympia Motosports gear.
http://olympiamotosports.com/categor...log/mesh-tech/
There are some advantages for leather. In the event of a get off, leather is more abrasion resistant and slides better. I have read that as textile slides, the fabric deteriorates and can snag on the pavement causing the wearer to tumble. Also, leather looks cleaner longer and ages well.
Textile jackets are much more versatile than leather. I have a mesh jacket and pants and use them for three seasons - down to the low 40's. The jacket has a waterproof and windproof liner and a quilted zip-in. All three layers can be worn together for warmth. The pants have waterproof and windproof liners and can be worn as over-pants with jeans. The liners take up very little space and with them stored in the tour-pak, I'm set for most any weather. Also, the jacket and pants have armor so I feel I'm pretty well protected.
The only disadvantages for the textile jackets is that they show the dirt a lot quicker than leather and the wind will tend to fray the sleeve fabric over time although I haven't seen that yet with the Olympia Motosports gear.
http://olympiamotosports.com/categor...log/mesh-tech/
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,913
Likes: 87
From:
I have both and almost never wear the textile. When going on a trip I always take the leather. One point most have not addressed is packing. A textile jacket with armor takes up a lot more room than a leather jacket without armor. And there is no reason to have a textile jacket without armor unless it is just a rain jacket.
Leather is much more protective than textile when you eliminate the armor and leather is certainly as warm if you know how to layer.
Leather is much more protective than textile when you eliminate the armor and leather is certainly as warm if you know how to layer.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
I have both, and the textile stuff just works better. Adventure-style jackets work great, as long as you have enough torso to keep them from bunching up on you.
I wore my textile stuff through a tropical storm for 4 hours and stayed mostly dry.
I wore my textile stuff through a tropical storm for 4 hours and stayed mostly dry.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,059
Likes: 4
From: Florida
Are they as warm and has anyone tried or have both? I am wanting a jacket that is warm and will keep the wind out. I just recently bought two leather jackets with removable Thinsulate liners for me and her. They are kind of heavy and very bulky to pack. I don't mind the weight at all while I am wearing it but biggest issue is just the bulk of them. Just wanting something that is warm and easier to pack and was looking at the textile jackets but I don't want to give up much warmth. In the spring and fall, we will ride in temps down into the 30's and have rode in the 20's. Thanks.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 39
From: Everywhere
we have one closet in our house that is just riding jackets - leather and textile. Haven't worn any of the leathers in years.
1) HD "functional" textile jackets, are for the most part, crap. (excluding the fxrg but you get what you pay for). Most of the HD jackets I've tested had enough failures/issues to make it not suitable for its intended purpose. If I had to recommend one, it would be the illumination functional jacket - but not the pants - i've tested both - Jacket is acceptable but pants failed miserably
2) As a result of #1, I've moved away from Harley branded. My daily is an Olympia Motosport Airglide 3 (the 4 is out now). the Airglide 3 is a mesh jacket that comes with a 2 stage liner. Liner #1 is a windproof/waterproof liner. Liner #2 is a full sleeve quilted liner. Jacket can be worn without liners, or with one liner or both liners. and Surprisingly, with both liners it is not that bulky. Jacket also comes with full elbow, shoulder and back armor (love how HD jackets come with pockets for armor but you have to purchase separately in most cases.).
so, to answer you question about wind, the olympia air glide, with the wind/waterproof liner will keep the wind out. however, in mid-summer, i prefer not to keep it out so remove the liner and it is a mesh jacket with armor.
1) HD "functional" textile jackets, are for the most part, crap. (excluding the fxrg but you get what you pay for). Most of the HD jackets I've tested had enough failures/issues to make it not suitable for its intended purpose. If I had to recommend one, it would be the illumination functional jacket - but not the pants - i've tested both - Jacket is acceptable but pants failed miserably
2) As a result of #1, I've moved away from Harley branded. My daily is an Olympia Motosport Airglide 3 (the 4 is out now). the Airglide 3 is a mesh jacket that comes with a 2 stage liner. Liner #1 is a windproof/waterproof liner. Liner #2 is a full sleeve quilted liner. Jacket can be worn without liners, or with one liner or both liners. and Surprisingly, with both liners it is not that bulky. Jacket also comes with full elbow, shoulder and back armor (love how HD jackets come with pockets for armor but you have to purchase separately in most cases.).
so, to answer you question about wind, the olympia air glide, with the wind/waterproof liner will keep the wind out. however, in mid-summer, i prefer not to keep it out so remove the liner and it is a mesh jacket with armor.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 268
Likes: 1
From: Cleveland
I have both and both are armored. The leather is a fieldsheer perforated with zip out full liner. The textile is an icon with a zip out vest only. The leather rarely if ever gets worn.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
I do most of my riding in the South and it is just to hot for a leather jacket, for me anyway. I own one but have only worn it once or twice. I have a light weight HD jacket that I wear most of the time when I wear a jacket. I'm extremely hot natured also.