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Yup, It's about that time. I feel a happy bike day is around the corner and now I'm looking for some gear. I was looking at textile jackets, but I've read around that they aren't tough enough? Mesh jackets seem like they are for more ease of mind than ease of pain and leather is the clear winner but suffers from high heat?

Would it be a mistake to take a textile jacket over leather? I will be mainly a summer rider and it was really warm here last summer. Can I expect to find a quality jacket for around $140?

I was looking on newenough and there are so many jackets I don't know where to start.

Please, any recommendations would be nice, and although I did search the product section, I probably missed some good posts so links are fine too. Thanks much.

I've ridden in my leathers in 120 degrees.

Given a choice of various options of discomfort, I'll pick "sweating" over "skin-grafts" anyday.

My jacket is a textile made by Fieldsheer. I bought it for around $100 IIRC. It seems plenty durable, and includes additional armor for the elbows, shoulders, and back. It also has a zip-out liner and vents. I'm not trying to sell it, just saying I like it alright. It seems crash-worthy to me.

I have a jacket similar to the above. The lining is removeable in case you want a bit more breathing room in leisurely strolls. It's made by JOE ROCKET though - forget the name of the jacket.

Leather offers the BEST abrasion resistance.

Textile (non mesh) is second

Mesh (textile) is third.

Only in very rare cases would I wear only a mesh jacket (very very hot out), but I ride in a textile every day. It's all up to you basically.

ughhhh this is making me hurt just thinking about it lol, Ive got a mesh jacket because It came with the bike, its got the armored sections, but are you guys tellin me its not really worth all that much?


I figured itd be at least decent protection..... my friend recently went down in a textile and got nothing but a scraped knee where he didnt have any riding gear. Really opened my eyes to the use of gear.

I have a joe rocket textile jacket...the atomic 2.0 I believe. I rode around the other day when it was about 90 degrees out...and you stay cool as long as you are moving and air is working through the vents. The only time you start to feel the heat is when you get stuck at a long red light or in traffic or something.

I have textile pants also, but they are thick and waay too hot for the warm weather. I got some kevlar-lined jeans instead, not as much protection as textile pants but comfortable and better than just wearing regular jeans.

Leather is of course the best but it is also most expensive. They make perforated leather jackets (lots of tiny holes in the leather for airflow) which would probably work well in the summer. I have perforated leather gloves and my hands are always nice and cool.

Mesh definatley flows the most air...but doesnt seem like it would hold up very well in a spill. I guess mesh is still better than nothing, however.

-regr3t- wrote:I figured itd be at least decent protection..... my friend recently went down in a textile and got nothing but a scraped knee where he didnt have any riding gear. Really opened my eyes to the use of gear.

Don't overthink it. Mesh does offer decent protection and is fine.

As a person who actually has had the experience of sliding across pavement, I wear leather. Yes, it can be warm. Yes, it is more expensive. But, I want the best protection I can get. For some people, they want to save money and get something less expensive. That's fine. To each his own.

I wear Frank Thomas leathers. $500 for a full 2-piece, armored, preforated suit and, most important - it works ... Trust me on that one.

Just out of curiousity, given that you should replace helmets after every crash, or every 3 years (polycarbonate) or 5 years (kevlar weave)

Are there also recomendations for jackets and trousers and the like? Only reason I ask is that time, weather, and abrasion in a crash must stress the seams, and you really should replace at some point. the question is when?

I had a textile Fieldsheer jacket that I started out with ... took a real low speed tumble in it ... work great... stopped my from getting hurt ... but the jacket was toast afterwords. Pretty lame that a 100 dollar jacket can take a low speed fall.

Spend the money and get leather ... wont tear or melt like textiles.

Thomas