Leather or Textile Motorcycle Jacket, Which is Better? | Sportbike Track Gear 

This is one of the best motorcycling channels I swear!!

This is the only place and Owner Dude you can get this straight talk from. Thanks brother.

Love STG's video guides. Great example of real experience being passed on to anyone willing to listen. Thanks so much for putting in the work.

I gotta say Brian your channel and your advice is just top notch! Even here all the way from NZ I’ve used your videos to order a kick ass alpinestars gp v3 all because of your guides, sizing and pros cons vids!! Keep up the great work mate 👍🏻

Good on ya Van, thanks for the informative videos, hope you have a good 2021!

Hey man thanks for sharing this priceless knowledge! I've been riding both on and off road for around 20 years now and I swear I pickup something new every time I watch one of your vids! I can say hands down I've put to use EVERY single piece of gear I've owned from head to toe. More times than not my gear was the only thing that kept me out of the hospital and the only real injury was my bruised ego! Lol

Love all your videos, man ! Keep up the great work !

Concise and clear as day - helped me get a clear picture of what I need 👌🏼

Great personality :D i like to listen to your materials, even if I'm not looking for anything. Tones of knowleage! Thanks Sir! :)

Thank you for spending the time to share this.

First comment from Australia woooooohh! Absolutely love how genuine you are. You're "real people".🙂

The tech air demo was funny !!! Looked like you turned into the hulk.. LOL Vey informative video. Thanks

12:26 You had me there! Another great vid brother!

thanks for another informative video. i'm glad you mentioned that STG is your company. makes me appreciate your videos and want to purchase from you.

Great video, thanks for all you do!

Say STG, Really appreciate all the information. Great job !!

Thorough overview. I have a made-to-measure Crowtree Lancer leather jacket [18 years old now], a Furygan Titan fabric jacket, a Rukka R-Tech winter jcket [19 years old now] and an Icon Contra for the really hot weather. Another great video.

This guy kicks ass! Thanks for these awesome videos.

7:13 that Alpinestars Missile leather jacket is the one I got. upgraded the back protector with a Nucleon KR2. Awesome jacket. Great fit and excelent ventilation.

Another great informative video Brian! With so much gear available for riders these days compared to when we started riding, it is easy to see how new riders can be overwhelmed and confused with so many different options.

great video guys that was really informative and really helpful for New riders you guys have a happy holidays thanks for all you do from a long time subscriber

Sir, you and your channel are awesome 👌👍keep up the good work

Great informational video Van. Personally I'm textile for commute, and full perforated leather for the fun rides. And upgraded back protector on both. #RideSafe folks! #ATGATT

Best video reviews on the internet!

Great video STG guys! My wife kept asking why I was ordering more jackets over the last three years, then she started riding with me and has 3 of her own. Yes styling is part of it, but weather protection and environmental factors are the main reason we both own several. We live in SoCal, but ride all year round and in any condition, including snow, rain, heat, etc. Our last investment was heated gloves when we took a trip across Pine Mountain and it was 31 degrees. The fingers told us it was time to upgrade from regular GoreTex touring gloves. People now think we are crazy riding in all weather, but we love being out together, the scenery is breathtaking and we have connected with some other couples who love to tour as well and its been good mental relief from useless Newsom lockdowns. We also bought the TechAir5 airbag vests from you over the summer when they first came out. Best new gear ever.

This is an awesome breakdown for newer riders such as myself! Thanks Van!!

Awesome channel - keep it up !

Thank you for the information!!

I'll take a used quality leather jacket over a new textile jacket any day of the week. Great informative stuff as always Brian. Hope everyone at STG is having a good Christmas.

Love your videos

Now, i personally know quite a bit about protective gear, been riding for a while, but this is STILL entertaining, and more importantly those out there new to riding will come away from this video knowing all they need to know in order to purchase their riding gear. As always, another great vid from STG.

Great video man! I’m a long time rider & obsessed with gear. What I love the most about these videos is learning about the gear I don’t use or have.

Like your videos, keep em coming 🙌

Lovely video and content.

Thanks for the information

Great vid.

Another good video!

Wow, didn't know that and thanks for the information. I think I'll be looking for a leather jacket .

Hey Van you should do a video on different types of riding boots or shoes and riding pants 👖, good video on the jackets.

Thanks for the video.

Great video! Very detailed and eloquent. It's hard to believe you are not a paid actor! lol I like the mesh jacket for everyday riding and something that has airflow and can be used most of the time. Any thoughts? Alpinestar looks good but I don not recall any of the names of the jackets.

Nice video! The easiest way to extend a mesh jacket is to put your rain suit on over it.

great reviews! Ridesafe

I wonder how I missed this video before. Better late than never, I suppose. Absolutely spot on with your assessment of textiles vs leathers. I'm really bothered by channels telling folks that textile is x times stronger than cowhide but you nailed it with no outrageous claims. These other channels are totally irresponsible, in my opinion, and basically just parrot the claims of the manufacturer which are generally based on unsuitable lab tests. I crash test materials for motorcycle use as a researcher. Most textiles are only slightly better than regular denim which is in a word "awful". Even double layers aren't that great, maybe adding 2-3x the awful performance. The only difference I could say about textiles is they won't rip quite as badly denim. So they hole quickly but don't rip / tear beyond the impact zone. The problem with CE testing is they don't use any impact in their "impact abrasion" test. They only drop from 1/2" or 2" depending on the CE test, whereas motorcyclists impact from riding height. Good cowhide can withstand multiple impacts, as you stated. The difference between the best cowhide and textiles is incredible when you introduce an impact from ride height. Typically I was seeing 1-4 metres of impact abrasion performance with textiles and then the pad was abrading. With no pad, you'd be losing skin before you stop sliding or tumbling. With the best cowhide I tested in 2 layers, I was able to "crash" the sample 11 times and with an accumulated slide distance of 200 metres. The inner layer was still just scuffed (about 90% of the thickness remained) and I gave up. I estimate it would've handled 15 impacts and 250-300 metres of total accumulated slide. Now, if you add TPU (or similar) sliders to the impact zones you could easily crash more times than you could reasonably ever do in a lifetime. With textiles, your armour is actually the real impact abrasion layer, as you correctly said. I tested some pads to destruction too (D3O and SAS-TEC, both CE level 2). The D30 lasted 110 metres before folding at the molded crease and falling out. The SAS-TEC lasted 200 metres before wearing through. That was one continuous crash with Dyneema denim as the material layer. The denim layer only lasted 6-9 metres but the pad went on considerably further. The test used a 6kg drop weight and a drop height of 1 metre on an actual road of medium abrasive asphalt in good, dry condition. I will publish a study soon and a video/article.

great info thanks from arizona riders

Thank you sir. From the philippines

I got the Joe Rocket 5.0 from you. Super jacket for the price. The spine protector must be replaced and I did. Very good value.

I wear my leather when the temp is appropriate (about 50-75F). When it's cold I have a warm textile jacket and in summer I wear mesh. All armored of course

Is the rst leather jacket still available? I bought the textile version and am well pleased with it It had the thermoform back shoulder and elbow Armour in it from the factory. The back protector is almost 2.5" thick, really impressive. I couldn't believe the amount of details in the jacket. It honestly made the Astar jackets same price range look like flea market or Amazon knock offs it's so well put together. Would really like to get the leather version too. The hump foam is removable on a lot of rst stuff so you can use backpacks or cell in them. Looking forward to your new spring rst gear when it becomes available.

Highly informative video as always. For what it's worth to anyone reading, I've crashed in both leather and textile. Alpinestars textiles: 40mph lowside on the street (tires do not like painted lane lines). Pants ripped through to the waterproof liner, but not my skin. Jacket's arm tore through to my skin and left a small road rash on my forearm. Would not have wanted to be wearing those in a faster crash. RST leather suit (thanks STG): two 40mph lowsides at the track, both on the right side. Suit has nothing more than a few surface scuffs on the shoulder, hip, and elbow. Ready to take on another track day, no repair needed. Obviously, the choice is clear - ride on the street in shorts and a t-shirt and don't crash. Easy! Kidding, of course. Every crash is different, but it's leather all the way for me, street or track.

I was a bit bummed out when Alpinstars discontinued the Missile Leather jacket. 1 badass piece of gear. I did recently source that Missile jacket and patiently waiting for it to be delivered. However I do have a question about it. Is the elbow and forearm protection removable from the jacket in case I wanted to upgrade or change it out?

It'd be nice if you mention all the product names in the description. Great detailed video as usual 👍

Taichi armed high protection here, warm weather all year round.Full ece lv 2 all over and they are light.

Nice video. I've got textile, mesh and leather. They're all good for different seasons. But when it's a performance oriented ride, I wear the leather jacket. I'm a leather working hobbyist - would putting a proper size piece of leather in one of my jackets (vs CE approved protection) work? I'm sure it's better than nothing. But better than CE?

Great video, too bad this was not around before when I bought my three jackets :D What are your thoughts on D30 impact protectors?

I used to ride in an Icon jacket, Bull-It motorcycle jeans, Fly Racing motorcycle shoes, and Alpinestars short-cuff motorcycle gloves. Then my father told me of a buddy of his who went down on his way to work, wearing very similar gear, who was in the hospital being treated for road rash, and was going to have to have skin grafts done. His right ankle was also broken and was going to need hardware installed in it to function again. After that, I began doing research on leather gear. Not only did I not want to have the same thing happen to me if I ever go down, but I also had an interest in starting to go to the track, which obviously requires leather gear. Fast forward to now, where I've owned and been riding in a full set of RST leather for over a year now. I wear it on the street, and I wear it on the track. It doesn't matter if I'm just going ten minutes down the road somewhere; I wear my full leather. That said, I'm also losing all interest in the street... It's boring, and it's downright dangerous. Several riders I personally know are out for the season due to crashes on the street in very recent weeks, and I just drove past a fatal motorcycle crash yesterday about two miles down the road from my house... I'd rather ride the Kart Track on my KX125 Supermoto or my Ninja 300, or the actual track on my Ninja 300 (or my KX125 Supermoto if it's a small enough track), and the dirt with the dirt setup for my KX125.

Good video

Loving the shirt. Are they available? Thanks

Usually the two injuries that result in the most damage are head and spine. When looking at a jacket the most significant factor for safety is a good spine protector. Odds are good that with mundane riding an elbow or shoulder protector will leave you feeling better after a crash, but not have really “saved” you. I ride a fair amount (over a decade). I commute on the bike into a major city. When I ride I will do so in rain or fog or cold or whatever may be going on. Any time I ride I wear a helmet, gloves, jacket with quality CE protection, pants, and boots. Just because a crushed foot won’t kill me that doesn’t mean I want to deal with it if I can avoid it. For most of my jackets I end up throwing away the liner and I prefer to wear a hoodie or whatever if I need an additional layer. It’s more versatile than a liner that cannot be worn without the jacket. Any item (pants or jacket) that is only waterproof with a liner is garbage. That’s usually a sign of a layer that breathes poorly. For rain, pay extra and get a decent wet weather item. You can wear a light weight rain jacket or over pant over your other gear while you save. I use leather for hot weather and textile for rain. I’m very content with either. If I was doing a track day I would likely want leathers, but I do not doubt that a textile suit would work just fine on the track for a single significant crash. Either textile does work or it doesn’t. And if it doesn’t it should be taken off the market.

Cordura vs Leather? Looking for a good hi vis winter jacket as I already have a good alpinestars mesh jacket for summer.

You guys have 2 tires my ride has 1 but I crash. I want a light weight mesh jacket with elbow , shoulder and back protector. Just don’t see them like I used to. Thanks for the video.

This was such a great video man, and because of you, i ordered Alpinestars tech 5 air vest to wear under my textile Ixon jacket, yeah 750$ isnt cheap but man i think it is so worth it, if it, god forbid, prevents one bone from breaking, it served its purpose..for your channel, i Only have superlatives, so professional, simple layman terms, just continue doing what you do and you are a great help for the community and all the new /beginner/intermediate riders. Bravo sir

I wear an armored leather jacket (with reflective stripes) Sept to April. May to August/Sept I wear a Tourmaster armored high viz jacket. That jacket can support any warm weather and rain situation. The "warm" liner is on to 50F at 60mph. Ride on folks. Ride logically.

I am a bit larger in the belly area and I just can't find myself a leather jacket that I can comfortably wear for which the sleeves and its torso part aren't too long for me. For that reason on my R3 I have 2 textile jackets. Black one with waterproof and windproof liners that I use in winter and light gray well ventilated one for summers which can get really hot here in Croatia. One day I may be able to afford custom made leather jacket, but it is definitely out of my budget now. Or maybe I'll be able to fit into those standard sizes. Whatever comes first. Both of them didn't come with back protectors as standard (only that foam insert) so I bought those separately for both jackets.

yo wtf was that intro.. i just paused my doom eternal music! f yeah love it

Awesome video. I am just getting into riding and bought a Triumph Thruxton. I purchased a Bell Star DLX mips Helmet and Alpinestar gloves/shorty boots. My wife bought me a jacket from Amazon but I’m not sure it will protect me in the event of an accident. It’s a “WD” brand with CE level 2 armor in back, shoulder and elbows and is made from 6000 Cordura fabric. The jacket was only $70 - with the safety items I listed do you think it’s worth keeping and is cheaper than other brands because it’s not a huge name or is it garbage? Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks🙏

I was hoping you would wear a backpack with hump vs no hump. I know when when was looking for Dianese or Alpinestars jacket I had a hard time finding a top teir model that didn't have a race hump. I was worried that the race hump would mean no wearing a backpack.

Great advice man. Definitely start out with textile and get leather later on if you're on a budget. You're my go to guy for reviews/ advice. A airbag vest is definitely next on my list.

My 10 year old Joe Rocket Sonic leather is 100% perforated. Every square inch is perforated. Good to low 90s, while moving. Gets hot when standing still. Tourmaster rain suit over this jacket and you can ride through a carwash and stay dry.

Not sure if replying to comments this old but could use your help! New to riding, going down the jacket rabbit hole with safety being my most important factor. I live in st.louis and only so many local stores to try on jackets, I’ve been to all of them and have tried on every single jacket haha. My problem is I’m a big dude (powerlifter/bodybuilder guy) so not a lot of clothes fit me to begin with. I seem to get away with Mesh style jackets in X-large in order to fit over my shoulders/arms. Have not found a single leather jacket that I could squeeze into without going to 2-3xl’s and it being too loose in other spots. Most leather jackets look like a little kids jacket I put on, and that’s if I can even get my arms in them. They just aren’t made for a bigger guy. Currently have my eyes set on the Klim induction (or induction pro) as they should fit me with their looser mesh, but the jacket is also AA rated for abrasion and comes with CE armour included (granted it’s CE1 and not 2, unless buying the pro). The jackets is $380 and the pro version is $500. It’s an insane price for a jacket but looks to be the only mesh style with that high of safety, and I’m not finding anything leather with big enough arms/shoulders to fit me. Any experience fitting a leather jacket for a “buff guy”? Or am I stuck with the high priced but solid safe Klim jacket? Can also email y’all if that’s preferred! Thanks!

Nice Information..... Brother..... Bro Give A RsT Maverick Jacket Review

My question is some leather jackets have the same abrasion rating (the rating the EU uses) as textile jackets for example AA rating. So in this case would you still say leather is ‘more protective’ than the textile jacket and if so why?

I prefer to wear leather, but I'm in the swamps of south Louisiana, so I mostly wear high breathable textile as it is usually hot as hell and always potential for rain when on the street. I save the leather for track.

I come expecting a simple comparison of one tex and one leather jacket and he gives an entire rundown of everything ill want to know on jackets, airbags, CE armor, humps.

I live in Singapore where is either rain or shine. Daily heat from sun is about 32 to 35 degrees. I am fairly a new rider. My upmost concern about riding gears would be protection. I am all ready to brace the heat from the sun. Should I still purchase leather jackets or possibly sacrifice a little protection and go for a textile jacket? Is it worth the sacrifice? Singapore is a small city. Ya city riding point A to point B. I hate bleeding from injuries):

This may sound dumb but would the motocross chest and back protectors work for road riding? You would think that hard plastic would give you a nice barrier to slide in and provide some extra impact protection that could keep you from being impaled? Idk, I’ve never rode a (real)motorcycle and I’m thinking of getting the Honda 2022-300L dual sport bike to use for short zip around errand’s and what not. The only problem is I’m 6’3 200/lbs so is that bike too small or should I go Yamaha?

What would you recommend for a high humidity, tropical weather with some occasional rain ?

What was the name of the orange black and white alpinestars leather jacket on the lefts side of the left side

How to choose a jacket if im leaving in asia where the climate is unpredictable?

Hi Brian, on leather jackets is the collar meant to rise when sat down either on a bike or a chair, it kind of hits under the chin area. Does this means the jacket is the incorrect size? It's brand new and hasn't been worn in at this point.

Hey Van, I'm a short stocky guy and its hard to find good fitting jackets. I want to ride safe and armor being in the wrong spots can't be very good, are there any companies out there that have like short inseam or short jacket sizes??

Kevlar and other high-performance motorcycle textiles are designed to provide excellent abrasion resistance and are often preferred over leather by many motorcyclists. While leather is a durable and popular material for motorcycle protective gear, it may not always provide the same level of protection against abrasion as kevlar or other modern materials. Kevlar and other high-performance textiles are made using advanced synthetic fibers that are designed to resist tearing, punctures, and abrasion. These materials are often used in the construction of motorcycle jackets, pants, and gloves, and are particularly effective at protecting the rider in the event of a slide or impact. Leather, on the other hand, is a natural material that can be prone to wear and tear over time. While leather is often treated with various chemicals and coatings to improve its durability, it may not always provide the same level of abrasion resistance as kevlar or other high-performance textiles. The safest textiles to wear while motorcycling are those that are designed specifically for protective gear and have been tested and certified to meet industry safety standards. Some examples of these textiles include: Kevlar: Kevlar is a high-performance synthetic fiber that is commonly used in the construction of motorcycle jackets, pants, and gloves. It is known for its exceptional strength, abrasion resistance, and heat resistance. Cordura: Cordura is a durable and abrasion-resistant fabric that is often used in motorcycle gear. It is known for its ability to withstand tearing and punctures, as well as its resistance to abrasion. Gore-Tex: Gore-Tex is a breathable and waterproof membrane that is often used in the construction of motorcycle jackets and pants. It helps to keep the rider dry and comfortable while also providing protection against abrasion and impact. Leather: Leather is a traditional material for motorcycle gear and is known for its durability and abrasion resistance. However, it is important to choose high-quality leather that has been specifically designed for motorcycle use and has been tested to meet safety standards. But leather is cool?

yes

I’m a newb at getting on the track. Will the textile jackets be approved for track use? I get hot and sweaty really easy and I hate the heat.

How about leather & textile jackets? Icon contra 2 leather/textile bad ass!!💯💯💯💯

New rider from Michigan - just passed MSF this fall with a Shoe helmet purchased in person from your MI location! I am starting on a Suzuki TU250X (very small start bike). Looking for a leather summer jacket with CE armor (knowing it may need to be bought separately). What would you recommend? Thanks again to your team in the shop! Scott B (also 2019 kidney transplant recipient)

I been looking online for a jacket and I've measured at least 10 times. I usually wear size large in regular jackets so is it normal that in most motorcycle jackets my measurements say I need size small?

If anyone knows where that rst textile jacket with the hump is please lmk I can’t find it

loved hearing you finally say textile right hahah 1:46

Do you know of any good textile pants that are not specifically geared towards the ADV crowd?

Is the Motocross body armour sufficient/safe enough compared to textile? Hot climate use. Long distance travel.

Great video brother... A lot of great info here. BTW, where is your panty mask? I think I may have gotten Corona from watching this video 😂

So if I order one of the jackets on the table, I'll get the other ones included in the box, right? Sorry couldn't help myself. Seriously, great video and great job summarizing the main differences between different types of jackets.

Can you do a comparison on a 2 piece vs a once piece leather

Overall great content 💪 However what I would like to also cover is abrasion resistance and CE certyfication behind that. All what has been said is true that leather jacket will provide more protection. Most of the time if I look at the spec sheet of a textile mesh jacket it will be CE A certified. Any recommendations on jackets that have at least CE AA (not necessarily mesh but would be nice (One example I am aware of is Klim Marrakesh))

You guys don't stock Dainese anymore?

Would like to talk to yo about new full protection gear for me 🦅🇺🇸🦅🏍

Difference is you fecking bake alive in leather in the summer! lol

Do you have a walk in shop?