Mesh vs. Textile vs. Leather?

[Nalian]

I have a leather jacket and I have a mesh jacket. While the mesh is a compromise in safety - you have to weigh all risks when you ride. When it is 80 degrees here and high humidity, I have a much higher risk of overheating and making dumb decisions due to being tired/worn out from the heat, etc, in my leather vs falling in my mesh.

I also know a fair number of folks who have falling in mesh gear (low and high speed) and it did its job and protected them from major injury. For some the jacket was useable afterwards - not so for others. All circumstances are variable in any crash, no two will ever be the same.

As always, its risk assessment.

[Bored]

I have a perforated leather by ICON that is nice fit wise but hot in the summertime, cold in the winter time even with the liner, only good in the fall. I have had full mesh joe rockets with padding that was great and now I recently got a new one from ridenow on ebay, great deal and the jacket is the best of both worlds. Joe Rocket Reactor jacket, Mesh and perforated leather, I will do a bad thing and link to the picture, so don't hate me! For cold weather though, I like my Nitro textile jacket, it was inexpensive and durable and hella warm. fit is good also. I would recomend trying on a jacket in person prior to buying one online, shop around, there is not much worse than riding with uncomfortable gear!

[Drunner611]

Hey everyone again. Just wanted to tack this on. I've been looking at a perforated leather jacket. A bit beyond my budget, $200 is the cheapest I've seen, since my bike only cost me $800, but I figure I can wear the jacket for 10 years as long as I don't gain a ton of weight, and I don't plan on it.

Anyway, 2 jackets here

Tour Master Cortech Coaster Air Jacket or
Tour Master Magnum Air Perforated Leather Jacket

Both leather, but the coaster is $30 cheaper. Anyone had experience with these jackets or owns a perforated leather jacket that costs less than these?

[Bored]

Hey everyone again. Just wanted to tack this on. I've been looking at a perforated leather jacket. A bit beyond my budget, $200 is the cheapest I've seen, since my bike only cost me $800, but I figure I can wear the jacket for 10 years as long as I don't gain a ton of weight, and I don't plan on it.

Anyway, 2 jackets here

Tour Master Cortech Coaster Air Jacket or
Tour Master Magnum Air Perforated Leather Jacket

Both leather, but the coaster is $30 cheaper. Anyone had experience with these jackets or owns a perforated leather jacket that costs less than these?

I am not familiar with those jackets, but then again they may be great. I would definetly do some research for one thing as it is a good bit of money.
BUT consider this, the bike may have only been $800.00 BUT your safety is priceless!
A cheaper perforated leather jacket may not offer as good protection as a higher end mesh or textile jacket.

You are in the right place though to get opinions, I am sure someone here knows the brand. As I stated before, I have had several Joe Rocket Mesh and now Mesh/Leather jackets and they have all fit well and were comfortable and all held up great, I personally haven't had to test one in a crash luckily but do know people that have and they came out fine (both the jacket and the rider)
If money is that big an issue, you may want to look into JC Whitney or a similar outfit but I can't stress enough how important this item is! And fit is also a big factor, so try to get to a shop that sells the brand you are looking for just to try it on even if you have no intentions of purchasing it there.
I don't want to sound like I am preaching to you or pushing any speciffic type of jacket to you, but I would rather you be safe and have a comfortable jacket rather than buy one that you like the looks of or the style. You might also check the for sale section of the forums you may get lucky and get one in there.

[JCS]

New Enough sometimes has killer deals on jackets. Good people to deal with.

http://www.newenough.com/