AkatomboRR
"the first of his name"
what are the pros and cons of both? I'm thinking about getting a textile one.. they're cheaper and seems like it would be more breathable?
I already got a leather one.
I already got a leather one.
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Leather VS Textile Jackets
- Thread starter AkatomboRR
- Start date
Spec-ECU
required protocol
- Joined
- May 30, 2006
- Location
- San Lorenzo
- Moto(s)
- 09 Yamaha R1
- Name
- Dennis
- BARF perks
- SBK Slut / AMA #3287659
I have all kinds of both, and to be honest, there are just days when I want to wear the leather, and others when I want the textile. For sure when I hit up the twisties I am ALWAYS in my leathers, and really the only time I wear my textile is during one of my daily commutes when for some odd reason, I didn't want to wear leather.
Leather = protection you can't go wrong.
Textile = at least SOME form of protection when you're feeling odd and don't want to wear leather.
Leather = protection you can't go wrong.
Textile = at least SOME form of protection when you're feeling odd and don't want to wear leather.
Akatombo
New member
Difference of material comes to play
Leather is many more times durable than textile materials in testing. However, it is far more susceptible to water and weather. Like any other leather, if you let a jacket get wet, it will degrade from that point. Moisture like sweat will also damage leather. In the worst case, it might mold, both making the jacket stinky and compromised as a protective layer.
Textiles, being synthetic fibers for the large part - are immune to moisture. Sweat will make the jacket stinky all the same, but won't make it mold and fall apart. It also handles weather well, and can be made to be water proof. However, the ability for the jacket to protect you is lower than leather. The other thing is the vulnerability of synthetic fibers to UV radiation degradation. Nylon, and especially Kevlar breaks down in sunlight. it is said that a bulletproof Kevlar vest retains only 20% of its initial protective capability after 3 years of wear by police officers. Leather, if kept oiled and cared will not suffer from this same degradation.
When placed into the context of a every day-rider. Textiles tend to be more comfortable over a range of temperatures. They also require very little special care, such as special leather soaps or oils. They protect well, but not as well as full leather.
Full leather offers the ultimate in rider protection, but require a significant investment in maintenance work. But the payoff of a leather jacket is significant. Unlike textiles, leather will stretch and form itself to its wearer after some time. After this break in, well aged and cared for leather looks undeniably cool, and something that can't be imitated.
also: nice nick
Leather is many more times durable than textile materials in testing. However, it is far more susceptible to water and weather. Like any other leather, if you let a jacket get wet, it will degrade from that point. Moisture like sweat will also damage leather. In the worst case, it might mold, both making the jacket stinky and compromised as a protective layer.
Textiles, being synthetic fibers for the large part - are immune to moisture. Sweat will make the jacket stinky all the same, but won't make it mold and fall apart. It also handles weather well, and can be made to be water proof. However, the ability for the jacket to protect you is lower than leather. The other thing is the vulnerability of synthetic fibers to UV radiation degradation. Nylon, and especially Kevlar breaks down in sunlight. it is said that a bulletproof Kevlar vest retains only 20% of its initial protective capability after 3 years of wear by police officers. Leather, if kept oiled and cared will not suffer from this same degradation.
When placed into the context of a every day-rider. Textiles tend to be more comfortable over a range of temperatures. They also require very little special care, such as special leather soaps or oils. They protect well, but not as well as full leather.
Full leather offers the ultimate in rider protection, but require a significant investment in maintenance work. But the payoff of a leather jacket is significant. Unlike textiles, leather will stretch and form itself to its wearer after some time. After this break in, well aged and cared for leather looks undeniably cool, and something that can't be imitated.
also: nice nick
Sidewalk
My bikes have pedals now
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2003
- Location
- Somewhere in SoCal
- Moto(s)
- Lots of bicycles. Sometimes a K3 GSXR1k or NSR50.
- Name
- Joshua
Textile is more user friendly, leather is safer.
I wear textile for my daily riding, leather for the track (pretty much given up on twisties). The textile does a better job in the rain and is more comfortable.
I wear textile for my daily riding, leather for the track (pretty much given up on twisties). The textile does a better job in the rain and is more comfortable.
pussycatzrule
pussy burrito!
Two things to remember:
1)Not all textile is the same. Vanson makes the thickest throughout--1000 denier cordura. Tourmaster/Cortech makes light textile reinforced with 1680 denier cordura at impact spots. Most companies make 600 and the worst is Joe Rocket's Hitena (sp?) stuff which is absurdly thin.
2)Not all leather jackets are excellent protection. Cheaper leather jackets have poor stitching that falls apart way too easily in a fall.
Basically you get what you pay for. Keep that in mind.
1)Not all textile is the same. Vanson makes the thickest throughout--1000 denier cordura. Tourmaster/Cortech makes light textile reinforced with 1680 denier cordura at impact spots. Most companies make 600 and the worst is Joe Rocket's Hitena (sp?) stuff which is absurdly thin.
2)Not all leather jackets are excellent protection. Cheaper leather jackets have poor stitching that falls apart way too easily in a fall.
Basically you get what you pay for. Keep that in mind.
Last edited:
Check out this thread
ChipCastle
New member
textile can only handle 1 fall mostly...
leather can handle a couple of good spills depending on quality and how gnarly the getoff was...
leather can handle a couple of good spills depending on quality and how gnarly the getoff was...
I used to live in LA, and it was way too hot for leather. I bought a Cortech textile jacket and it has great vents, better pockets, better collar - all the features are far superior. It may not hold up as well if I crash at high speed and slide down the road for a long distance. But I figure if that happens, I'll hit a mailbox, a curb, or a tree and stop sliding. My gear has a lot of armor and looks like the impact protection is pretty good, even if abrasion protection isn't as good as leather.
I ride a KLR 650, so looking fashionable is obviously not an option. Riding in a light color jacket covered with reflective panels makes me far more visible than riding in my black leather jacket.
Of course there are times when I'd like to look less dorky, so I wear the leather.
I commute to work, and usually ride on the weekends as well, and I wear leather once or twice a month. If I'm riding any sort of distance, I wear the textiles - it's just SO much more versatile.
Tackett
I ride a KLR 650, so looking fashionable is obviously not an option. Riding in a light color jacket covered with reflective panels makes me far more visible than riding in my black leather jacket.
Of course there are times when I'd like to look less dorky, so I wear the leather.
I commute to work, and usually ride on the weekends as well, and I wear leather once or twice a month. If I'm riding any sort of distance, I wear the textiles - it's just SO much more versatile.
Tackett