Jackets: Leather vs Mesh vs Textile

[hzk6rz]

Question for ya all.  i searched through and did some reading on jackets.  Right now i am planning on getting the Cortech GX Air.  I've read that leather is best but my question is what do you guys recommend for a jacket, i know that many say mesh are good for one wreck which is fine, but i'm more conerned about that one wreck, does leather protect any better vs mesh for that one wreck?  What about textile?  I'm in PA where the temp ranges and am just looking for some extra protection, i like the hard plastic that this jacket has.  Also didn't know with all the improvements if there is something better out now (since some of the threads that i read were a couple years old).  thanks

[Dr. Love]

Where do you rider primarily?  Your riding environment has a lot to do with the gear you choose...

[hzk6rz]

So far, only in PA.  Right now we've just ended the heat warnings (up to 110 degrees) w/ heat index.  I just got my bike registered so haven't really been out much but main concern is some extra protection for the spring/summer w/o roasting my azz.  Like i said i dont mind wrecking and having to get something new, i just dont want to wreck and be injured more than if i would have just bought a different jacket.

[Unnamed]

I bought a GX Air recently and I've been pretty happy with it. It is a mesh jacket, but I think it will provide excellent crash protection. The hard armor feels very strong, and the back protector feels good too. What I like most is the leather inserts over the back, shoulders, and arms. You will sweat under the armored parts while wearing this jacket, but its not too bad and I think its very worthwhile for the protection it offers. I can't say for sure that it'll hold up for more than one crash, but the leather makes me think it'll hold up a lot better than, say, a Phoenix 4.0.

[Alphamazing]

I have 2 jackets. One for hot weather and one for cold.

My hot weather jacket is a mesh jacket by Fieldsheer and has CE armor (the hard plastic stuff) all around. Mesh jackets make warm and hot weather much more bearable to ride in; however, textile or perforrated leather (both provide about the same amount of venting) would be far too hot in the summer and far too cold in the winter. I have no questions about its ability to hold up in a crash, as I have accidentally crash test the previous model and it held up fine. I wouldn't trust Joe Rocket mesh at all though.

For cold weather I have a solid leather Teknic jacket. It is too hot for the summer, which is why I have the mesh jacket.

Leather provides the best protection, but there are mesh jackets out there that can withstand a lot of damage. They'll be toast afterwards as they are one-crash-jackets, but they do their job well. Leather is just more abrasion resistant and slides over pavement without much thought. It might scrape up a little bit, but most leather will hold up fine. Again, I wouldn't trust Joe Rocket leather because of stitching issues that could cause the jacket to bust open while sliding. That is not good.

If you do riding in all sorts of weather you need to have differnt gear to accomodate the different scenarios. Hot weather requires a hot weather jacket. Cold weather requires a different jacket. Get the idea?

[Unnamed]

The GX Air has a good temperature range because it has not only a windbreaker that you can zip in but also a thermal liner. Its not leather, but it'll extend the temp range a bit.

[dgyver]

Leather is your best option for protection. The hard plastic cups are only good if they stay in place. I have never seen an off-the-shelf jacket or suit that provided that kind of fit. Typically there will be a slide involved in a crash where mesh and textiles will provide little to no protection against abrasion. I have abrasions on both the forearms of my leathers from slides which show this. I have been down enough times to trust my skin to leather.

There are some leather jackets that have removeable panels for better ventilation. These also have liners for colder weather. JR Blaster 3.0 is one of them.

[RVertigo]

Get a perforated leather jacket and wear a wet T-Shirt under it...  You'll stay cool for 30+ min...  Even better than a mesh jacket.



I don't like mesh jackets 'cause I've never found one that fits right...  The armor moves out of place with my hand pulling on it...  So, a 30 MPH crash would move it a LOT easier.

With ALL types of jackets, you want to find one where the armor stays in place.

[stephan]

All I can speak to is the jacket I have which is a Joe Rocket Phoenix textile mesh jacket.  I love it for the summer because it keeps me cool and protected.  However the early spring and fall rides can get chilly because the wind just cuts right into you.  I actually have worn my Columbia jacket OVER my textile jacke to keep warm.  That works pretty good.

Anyway, I really like my jacket and it has held up really well . . . even though my wife calls me a Power Ranger when I put it on.   

[Codger]

I have to wear mesh 90% of the year.
It works for me.  Technic and Tour Master.  Love the Tour Master.
The major recommendation is that if you get mesh, get it with CE hard capped shaped armour.
Do not get "padded" shoulders and elbows.
Mesh is a lot more flexible than leather and armour tends to move more.  If you have good armour it tends to hug the corners and stay in place.

[TragicImage]

well, for the past few weeks where it was 100+ here in SoCal, I was wearing an all black, leather one piece, and it didn't get overly hot.

If you keep moving, you're fine.

Mesh, I never feel safe wearing mesh. 

I have a leather one peice, a leather perf. jacket, and a Joe Rocket Phoenix Jacket.

Of all of them, leather makes me feel the safest, without every really over-heating.

[banner]

i also go with leather all the time. I have an alpinestar ice jacket that is partially perforated (on the sides) so it keeps me really cool but in the winter its not too cold.

Personally i would never wear mesh, even textile is iffy.

[Its Just Me]

I just bought myself a Joe Rocket Pheonix jacket a couple days ago.  Previous to this I was only ever in leather, I took a bit of a ride in the mesh to get used to the different feel but considering the size (as in area covered) by the padding on the Pheonix I think it would protect "ok" in typical riding type accident, the jacket definatly wouldn't survive but the pads would do thier job.  I don't, and probably never will trust it to protect me at highway type speeds...   I read alot of people complaining about the pads moving around too much on a different forum, they dont move on me (they have a little strap about mid-arm to keep them in place) but they do have to be positioned when you first put the jacket on, something I've never had to do with my leather... big deal!

+1 for the Joe Rocket Pheonix (I think mine is a 3)

[Libido]

Sweat wipes off.  Road rash doesn't.  Sliding on your belly or back with only mesh as protection risks you looking like Johnny the Skinless Boy (or girl).

~ JP

[aaronstj]

I've never heard of anyone crashing in a decent mesh jacket and not having it hold up.  Most people who've crash tested mesh have been impressed, at least that I've read or heard of.  Take your mesh to tthe MotoGP? No.  Ride it around town, and on the local twisites?  Sure!

[pantablo]

all leather, all the time. but ultimately a leather jacket that doesnt fit right isnt going to protect you as well as a textile or mesh one that does. make sure it fits snugly so the armor doesnt move around in the event of a crash.

[Alphamazing]

~50mph lowside:

A few busted seams around the shoulder and some scrapes on the padding:


Wore the padding through a bit, but didn't scrape the armor at all. Melted the straps a little bit:


Mesh holds up fine. At the track? Leather, no questions asked.

[ukchickenlover]

I have had a few low speed crashes in textile clothing and it held up fine. I use my bike for commuting and textile is just more practicle. I have a 2 piece leather suit which I use if I do a track day don't use it on the road I just prefer textile clothing. I feel more comfortable in it and don't feel so much like a power ranger.

[mike_mike]

I usually always wear leather, but i recently bought a mesh jacket. Leather is obviously a better choice, but here is my reasoning...

- Once the temp hits about 85-90F w/ humidity i find it hard to sit in stopped traffic with leather, its fine when you're moving if you have a good leather jacket.
- When it is really hot i end up unzipping my jacket 1/2 way or 3/4 because it becomes too hard to concentrate on riding with the heat... so i become a big magnet for bees and such to fly into my jacket

I wear my textile jacket around the city on my commute when it is really hot... If i'm moving at a good speed, leather is good all the time for me, my alpinestars leather jacket has vents and is perfectly comfortable if you're moving faster than 50km/h... even with very high humidex rating (i think they call it a humidity factor in the usa) bringing the temps over 100F

[Yankee Punker]

all leather, all the time. but ultimately a leather jacket that doesnt fit right isnt going to protect you as well as a textile or mesh one that does. make sure it fits snugly so the armor doesnt move around in the event of a crash.

Its got to fit right, you really need to try on different kinds of jackets and find one that fits snug, and that you are somewhat comfortable in at a riding position. I've got a Joe Rocket Phoenix 4.0, because it fits me good, and its always HOT in FL, I"d seen how it worked for a friend on a 65mph slide, and it was on sale $99.99. But my best suggestion to all is NEVER CRASH.

And don't forget about some good gloves and a good helmet and tie those shoe's good too.