The Best Jacket for Safety & Heat

[storysunfolding]

It depends on the armor. Foam isn't as good as others. Ce ratings are considered better but it's hard to say which type is the best. In my mind a softer armor with a hard shell will despense the force of impact across a wider area which I believe is nicer. Of course that's just anopinion

[kellnron]

Depends a little on what you ride. If you ride a cruiser and like the cruzer style PowerTrip makes a nice mesh jacket with a removable water proof liner. If you ride a sport bike, Joe Rocket makes some armored nice mesh jackets.

In either case, I would probably steer away from the vented textile jackets in your case. In 80-90+ degree weather you won't have enough airflow from vents. I have two jackets in VA, a Power Trip mesh and a Fieldsheer textile vented with a quilted liner. I ride from 34 degrees up and switch to the mesh once the morning temps are about 60 and the day temps are over 75.

[debtman7]

I've tried some mesh gear and I don't have a lot of faith in it's ability to protect me. The motoport kevlar looks great and I'd say if you have the coin, go that route. For me I ride in a Tourmaster Magnum Air year round. It's big, heavy and black, but on the plus side it's heavily perforated and I feel confident that it'll save my skin someday. For me I'm cozy in it up into the 90's as long as I'm moving. I won't lie though, sitting in traffic at 90+ is extremely unpleasant in it... But I suspect that will be true of any jacket.

[Mokushi]

I don't see anything wrong with Gore-Tex jackets with vents. My Frank Thomas is brilliant. Of course, it doesn't really work off the bike... But on the bike with the vents open, it's not even like you're wearing a jacket at all.

[JC Viper]

I still have and use my Joe Rocket Phoenix 2.0 mesh jacket. I've had it for 3 years now and a few accidents in it. The fabric held up well and didn't really rip anywhere. Plus the padding is reinforced in the forearm, shoulder and back. With yesterday being 90º F I didn't get very hot in them since the jacket allowed a lot of air to pass through. The only thing I was concerned with was the chest area and how thin it felt compared to regular (non-mesh) jackets. I bought an Icon chest/ back armor vest and that took care of the concern and gave me more padding for my spine.

I would like to try out the new Joe Rocket mesh jackets even though the current one is doing its job. I have a nice leather jacket that has good venting to make riding in 80º F weather bearable but it still gets pretty toasty.

Joe Rocket Phoenix 5.0 and I'm guessing you can buy CE back protectors to replace the regular spine protector. It's also got visibility in mind. Still not as padded as my Phoenix 2.0 (but that thing makes me look like I belong in Halo or something).

http://www.bing.com/jsp/product_c ... Id=&mmyId=

[storysunfolding]

One of the issues with mesh is that on really hot days (over 90) and on hot surfaces (traffic on asphalt) the air is no longer cooling you. It becomes convection heating and will dehydrate you much faster than a vented jacket. If that applies in your area, invest in a camelback while riding

[Lion_Lady]

If you're considering mesh/textile gear, then keep in mind that you do get what you pay for. Try on/buy the best you can afford. Go with a "name brand" such as Joe Rocket, First Gear, Olympia, Technik(SP?), Motoport, etc. Those companies have a reputation to uphold and aren't as likely to skimp on materials to make a few bucks.
Armored textile gear will protect as well as leather in a typical street speed crash - but consider such gear to be "one crash only" and replace it afterward. Another key is to make sure the gear fits you and when seated on your motorcycle that the padding remains where it was meant to be.
>>Regarding Baltimore/DC summer weather. I didn't say it was nasty muggy all summmer, only that it could be as bad as SC:

. . . The difference is that Bawlamer will have periods of nasty muggy but there will be interludes of decent. In South Carolina, you can count on nonstop nasty muggy from June to September.

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