Leather Jackets vs Textile Jackets | Versus

[@RevZilla]

Need a new riding jacket? Find the right one for you! rvz.la/3y9XAF5

[@artlewellan2294]

I done paid $12 dollars for my leather jacket at a Good Will Store daily special half/off what was other days $25, plus it fit good. Had to replace the zipper.

[@RevZilla]

@@artlewellan2294 Stitching, armor, and the quality of the leather are often the biggest differences between a motorcycle leather jacket and a fashion jacket. Not to say that a fashion leather jacket can't be good in an accident but with certifications, a motorcycle specific jacket doesn't have to leave you guessing. $12 is an absolute steal even if you don't use it on a bike though, cheers!

[@StarRiderMoto]

I've had all my gear for quite a while now, but I ALWAYS watch those RevZilla FAQ/beginner rider videos. They're just gold. Thanks RevZilla :D PS. I miss Lemmy

[@exparrot9074]

For practicality on the road - textile all the way. I've got an Alpinestars 4 season set with thermal liner that's comfortable from 15F to 72F, a Klim Marrakesh Mesh set that is comfortable from 60 to 88, and an armored top with motocross jersey for when I'm riding dirt in hot weather (80-95). Still got a leather jacket, but it's way more of a style piece than one for protection. If I were headed to the track though, hands down, would run a leather onesie.

[@mt09madness]

As a daily commuter I have 3 jackets. Leather for winter, warm but I find it uncomfortable. Textile mesh jacket for summer, light and alot more comfortable. Riding hoodie for everything in between, extremely comfortable but no protection from the wet and I imagine not great in a crash.

[@Juuul89]

Once a company succesfully creates a textile jacket that doesn't make me look like a GS riding retired dentist i'll consider one!

[@jodx7256]

Ixon Slimmy, CE AA rated

[@marcusgeorge1825]

Leather for the track, textiles for the roads.

[@MaaZeus]

My riding gear of choice is riding jeans and a "canadian lumberjack" style armored riding shirt. They are light and breathe well and if I need more protection from the enviroments then add jacket on top. ANY jacket. My jacket of choice is an oldschool-style riding leather jacket. It is fashion leather (very thick one) but that does not matter as it is only for looks and warmth, the main protection is still the lumberjack armored riding shirt underneath. I think it is a waste of money to buy dozen different riding jackets when you can get just one to wear underneath and layer up when you need more protection that are not directly related to motorcycle accidents.

[@zero11010]

2:34 what you’re saying here is that leather is better. Designers are putting leather in the most critical spots of textile jackets because it performs better. That’s the root of what you said. You wouldn’t put “leather in key areas for max crash performance” if the leather didn’t have better performance. Did you mispeak? And they put leather on a jacket in key areas just for aesthetics … because textiles would perform just as well ….

[@SirSpinalColumn]

My jacket is textile with super breathable front and back panels and thick leather on shoulders, elbows and forearms. Best of both worlds

[@lovelessissimo]

Cortech?

[@SirSpinalColumn]

@@lovelessissimo nah man Australian brand, Dririder.

[@yeahitskimmel]

Almost like carbs vs EFI. Your fathers leather jacket is the simpler tradition that just works but being willing to work with a bit of tech can improve almost every aspect

[@xzouix]

you said it yourself - "almost". - Not this one tho. This here is a longevity contest and the textiles are not there yet.... maybe someday, but not yet. (take it from a designer who worked with both)

[@The-Splat]

I was sad this video conveyed opinion as fact. Textiles have benefits when hot, cold or wet but aren't as protective as leather. MotoCAP test results make this clear. Leathers have three protection advantages: 1. With decent-fitting leathers, your armour will stay where needed in a crash. With textiles, the armour could slip out of place - nearly anywhere - when you need it. 2. Well-fitting leathers also function as a splint, preventing complete circulatory collapse in riders with open fractures, a common injury in motorcycling. This function saves lives. 3. Leathers have much better “impact abrasion” resistance than even the most high-tech textiles today. In short, motorcycle leathers offer unmatched protective qualities.

[@Jagknorr]

A Versys on Versus. I love this. I also love textiles since i don’t have to do all that leather treatment to keep them looking/feeling good.

[@ericiglesias4313]

I own 4 jackets, 1 for style. 1 leather for the track, a perf leather, and my mesh jacket for really hot days

[@megaderk]

This is a poor marketing video skewed towards textiles and comfort over protection instead of being informational. A jacket is first and foremost about protection. Comfort, while important, follows. Most of the comments seem to support their textile purchase being comfort based. To add the factor of value, a leather will offer more longevity and more likely to allow more slides where a textile is one and done. Any repair is the same cost of a new jacket. I bought a Alpinestar textile for my first jacket based on Revzilla info, comfort, and implied protection. I inevitably had my first lowside spill at only 20mph on asphalt. While i was ok, the sleeves shredded instantly and ground into the armor and didn't do much better than my dickies jeans i had on. Ihate to see a longer slide at say 45-55mph. My next jacket was a leather. Yes it did its job but id prefer the opportunity of more than a 1 and done item. Ive noticed the gear industry pushing textiles more lately and question if its just to push sales. They can be trendy, new, with more design options but also from a manufacturing standpoint, significantly cheaper to produce, as well as requiring a new purchase after any incident. All bolstering profit margins.

[@xzouix]

"...requiring a new purchase after any incident". ---that's a great point! There are some high end companies that will take back the gear you crashed in, in exchange for a fresh piece. By doing this, they can analyze the garment to learn what improvements can be done in the future development of the product. ...I personally wouldn't choose textile over leather. I work with both kinds of materials, and I actually prefer leather, and I work with recycled leather.... yes, that's how good it is, it can be manually recycled and the jacket still does what it's supposed to do. Quality leather is an everlasting material if it's taken care of. That's why many people still have jackets handed down to them by their fathers. Choosing the "winning" (as in "performing") gear is a longevity contest, and that's the bottom line.

[@russellcrane7871]

Thank you Brandon. Informative and well presented as always. Keep up the good work.

[@PapaDougsAdventures01]

As always the mission determines the jacket. I wear leather on my HD Deluxe. Textile riding suit on my BMW GS Adventure. If its hot I wear textile mesh on my sport bike. I wear leather or textile on my Goldwing depending on weather.

[@byever1]

I see you invested in moderna.

[@Cheezmonka]

@@byever1 EDIT: Oh I get it haha

[@Ikkiir]

I also have 2 perforated leather jacket and several textile jackets. I never realize the mesh jacket is so good in summer until I got my 1st mesh jacket. I was always using the perforated leather jacket prior. Good airflow but definitely falls short on the weight category. The mesh jacket flows tons of air and it is incredibly light. Definitely a better thing considering it is more exhausting riding in the summer. The problem with the textile jacket is my dislike for their designs and protection. I only found a mesh jacket to my liking recently. Basically, it ticks all the boxes: Aluminum shoulder guard, lv 2 protection for shoulder and arm, slots for back and chest protector, no hump. And it doesn't scream with a bunch of pockets front and back... So yeah, I like it simple.

[@ZildjianMan30]

What jacket did you find? Because I need that same jacket, and I need one for 95° humid summers.

[@Ikkiir]

@@ZildjianMan30 I'm using the new Energyca air tex jacket. Can recommend it.

[@theprodigalstranger5259]

I have a summer mesh jacket, a 3 season jacket, and a non-motorcycle oversized leather jacket. If it's a cold but otherwise nice day and I want to go out for a ride I'll put on the summer mesh jacket for protection and the leather over it for warmth. Between Revzillas' closeout section and ebay I've have a good variety of protection and it didn't break the bank.

[@LulzingBoy]

For me leather is more of a piece of art, worn only on weekends out with the boys. Other days, textile all the way. they're cool and breezy in summer, the waterproof liner saves you on those rainy days, and you can always put a thermal and jumper underneath on winter.

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

None of them do everything perfectly. I was wearing my International-style, belted leather jacket today as it’s cool here right now. Leather jeans too. Perfect comfort with a bit of weight. Summer I have a mesh jacket and Kevlar reinforced pants. If it looks like rain, a waterproof, one-piece suit. A bit of a mission to get into, but dry in torrential rain. But always a decent pair of leather gauntlets.

[@SenorGato237]

I'm a big fan of textile chassis with leather abrasion zones.

[@angryuser0]

This is a pretty irresponsible explanation of protection comparison. You didn't even mention a darmstadt machine in this video and why it's relevant and why most textiles under $400-500 are only A rated which is fairly poor if the speeds involved are greater than 25mph. And garments that are not sold in europe won't be CE tested. We just have to rely that the various denier fabrics you decided to spec in your REAX jackets for example will actually protect you and not disintegrate and that the seams will hold up (the seams being the bigger concern). I know yall are in the business of selling gear, but there is a better and more educational way to talk about this and you missed the mark here.

[@pedro99396]

This!! People interested in their own safety can look up the video made Bennett Bike Social. This is just poor sales pitch... at least if safety is a concern.

[@sereneturmoil]

I'm a new rider - three years in - and quickly building a collection of jackets. None of which are leather. I have an all-season touring style option for long(er) rides or cold(er) months, a mesh jacket for 30+ C days, a hoodie for commuting in casual attire and a hooded soft shell option for general rides/cooler weather commuting. When/if track days become an option, a leather one piece will certainly be purchased. Until then, the versatility, style choices and breadth of options offered by textiles has won me over.

[@mwolsk2146]

This video is a little too vague to really do the job. For example, there's a discussion on relative protection, but no tips on how to understand the different protection certifications. Same with how waterproof materials are rated. This does a bit of disservice to the new riders that are likely to come here to learn. Could definitely take some tips from how the FortNine channel presents this kind of content.

[@JBinFL]

As I was reading your comment I was about to reply with a reference to FortNine but you nailed it.

[@TheJasinator]

Here I use both. Leather in the winter and a mesh jacket in the summer. Unless you're going in stop and go traffic then even the mesh jacket will cause a heatstroke!

[@RiderKStory]

I found your analysis helpful in choosing riding gear.

[@SuprScout]

Why choose? I own multiples of both. Usually textiles for hot weather, leather for cooler.

[@leandroflaherty]

$$$

[@SSS-mp8th]

I have too many jackets, thanks Revzilla.....I prefer leather but it's more an aesthetic thing. I have a perforated leather and it flows air well but as you said its not nearly as good as a mesh jacket. Also I use textile in the colder months as it offers more coverage and thermal liners. So I just wear what is the best for the temperature and layer it with a mid layer as needed. One thing unrelated that I'd like help on is a layer for under a mesh jacket. Yes you sell all kinds of base layers but I'm not looking for a compression shirt. I want a tech fabric perforated shirt. Normally when I ride to work I wear a long sleeve button down for work and just take it off and have my undershirt for the ride home in 90 degrees. Even a tech fabric still blocks air. Also stop with USPS I have a package coming and it actually went past me to a further distribution center when it was at a closer one. UPS on the same order I had two days ago.

[@mikemerrill175]

I have some motoport gear that is mesh Kevlar & supposedly track legal in Europe. The local motor cops all use it here, SoCal. Luckily I haven’t tested it other than to find out that a drop of rain goes through it instantly

[@robpeters2296]

I have a mesh/textile jacket from dainese and the ventilation is off the charts

[@StrawDragon]

Failed review. How can you not have a Question for longevity. If you go down on leather gear compared to textile. Leather will likely be reusable. Textile is easier damaged and typically needs replacement after a slide.

[@ramonwongyau3114]

But the leather after a slide. No look good for use it again. It’s the same way.

[@HoratioIsHere]

Best piece of gear I have is a dainese leather jacket designed for sports bike riding.

[@cpuuk]

Textiles have one downside that leather beats every time (and why racers use leather)- textiles are destroyed very quickly in a single slide.

[@Hansengineering]

I got a leather jacket after watching a demonstrative example of this. Not saying textiles can't protect you, they just need a LOT more engineering to do so! Plus, leather has a higher default level of protection, and it is still possible to engineer in *more* protection in targeted areas.

[@aluisious]

Perf leather is fantastic. Breathes, lasts forever, looks great.

[@AkaBull]

I have both, leather in colder weather and textile in summer. Good job guys, be safe out there 🙏.

[@whiskeyshots]

Leather for winter and mesh the rest of the time.

[@mattrobnett58]

I'm all about textile helmets

[@petervisi5369]

It might be hard to come by in the US but if you have a chance certainly try a Held Safer SRX textile jacket. Based on the leather (Safer 2), they are using the same design. It is a high quality piece. Also apart from regular fitment they have slim-fit version. Some other Held gear has "tummy" fitment too for those who packs a little extra.

[@TrippinBusa]

love leather but fl is just too hot for that, so textile is is.

[@shawnclarke7]

Regarding protection, what about repeated falls/crashes? Short of a parking lot tipover, I have heard that generally a textile jacket is one and done but leather typically can keep going. Is this generally true? Are there certain textiles that would be in the same class as leather? Is leather truly multi-slude worthy?

[@RevZilla]

Leather *can* take multiple slides which is why a lot of racers still use full suits (among other reasons), but leather cannot ALWAYS take another slide. Sometimes leather is just as one&done as textile usually is. That's why even brands like Dainese / Alpinestars will require leather airbag-suits be sent back to evaluate the leather before they even talk about replacing the airbag. We've seen leather last 3-4 slides and we've crashed in them where it failed on the first slide.

[@futureporscheowner8337]

PETA punching the air @ 5:16

[@martinivanov1319]

what about pants? are textile safe? how are they compared to jeans and leather pants?

[@lukastomasch]

Nice video, mates! I switched from leather to fabrics like 15 years ago and nowadays the versatility of fabrics is such that, I think, most of us are riding in textiles. But! I keep that Indiana Jones style riding jacket because leather is still cool 😎 like not temperature cool but you know what I mean 😏

[@futureporscheowner8337]

This is a great video and exactly what I was looking for!

[@71spazz]

I run a mesh jacket with shoulder, elbow and back on my cruiser during the summer and a scorpion textile with all shoulder, back and elbow for California winter. I have not seen any test on the mesh , do they do anything?

[@RevZilla]

CE requires abrasion testing on all textiles used in jackets now, including Mesh. If you were looking for some reading material on different fabrics, the new A / AA / AAA rating system would be a great place to start.

[@gunarslodzins]

I'm missing info on what to look for in terms of labels. Like 600D or 450D to actually understand and compare different jackets.

[@byever1]

Leather just makes you feel like a badass. Smells great too!

[@yeahitskimmel]

You won't feel like a badass or smell great if it's 90 and sunny out

[@byever1]

@@yeahitskimmel never had a problem with my perforated leather jacket.

[@Havoc_750]

@@yeahitskimmel exactly. Here in Atlanta with this heat you’ll pass out from wearing leathers lol and you are sooo correct with the smell 🤢plus they are harder to clean

[@DannigBB6]

@@byever1 humidity plays a big part too (also your own body, I just naturally sweat a lot). There are many days even the meshiest jacket won't do so I choose not to ride, sadly.

[@CptSlow89]

@@yeahitskimmel Dont matter, on 30c+ you will feel like shit anyway no matter your wearing...

[@drxvms]

What production year would you begin to consider a textile jacket "modern"?

[@MrSebfrench76]

Efficient and professional video.Amazing.

[@chorseundgrd]

My Dainese leather jacket is my favorite out of all my gear. The leather breaks in and customizes to the shape of my body and is really comfortable. It's like a weighted blanket. Plus it looks bad ass. But it can't do summer, so I have textiles for that. And the winter textiles with synthetic liners are warmer than winter leathers in my experience. But leather jackets are my favorite by a long mile, they look better, feel better, and smell better. Worth the money imo.

[@aluisious]

White perf leather is good over 100 degrees in a dry climate.

[@chorseundgrd]

@@aluisious Bro, my Dainese is white perf leather. Over 80 degrees I'm sweating like a spotted pig. Props to you for being able to ride like that but if I wore perf leather in 100 degrees I'd be a dead man. Maybe on the track but on the street in traffic, its not happening for me lol

[@Ikkiir]

@@chorseundgrd Are you wearing proper base layers inside? I've ridden under 110F so I know what riding under the heat is like. Definitely recommend a summer base layer top and bottom, plus a pack of Gatorade.

[@chorseundgrd]

@@Ikkiir You've ridden 110F with a leather jacket on?

[@Ikkiir]

@@chorseundgrd Yes. For a 1000km round trip. 500km 1st day then a resting day then 500km going back.

[@artlewellan2294]

In 1977 my Honda 90 took me 200 miles a day away from Willamette River in 2 weeks to Sand Point Idaho and Canada, there to selfie photo me and the 90. I vaguely remember the total miles from 1100 Portland and back. My 90 and years later 125 single cylinder rides took me places.

[@CptSlow89]

But leather is so sexy.

[@thechosenkiwi7871]

i think the leather jackets look so much better but textile would be the smarter choice in this florida weather

[@nothingtoseehere93]

Hi revzilla

[@padrescout]

I just wear leather for everything. Works good.

[@xzouix]

The simple question y'all should ask yourself is "If you were to go down, what would you choose to wear?" Yes. Simple as that.

[@dfleon75]

👍

[@5280Roadrunner]

Can you share what model was that Klim jacket?

[@michaelskinner896]

Yeah, that's the Baja S4. I don't have the jacket, but I have the pants. They're extremely well built, comfortable, and I feel pretty safe in them.

[@5280Roadrunner]

@@michaelskinner896 would you use it as a four season jacket? Thinking 40-100 degree range

[@michaelskinner896]

@@5280Roadrunner I believe you could, but it doesn't come with any liners for cold or wet weather. For cooler weather, you can always add base and mid-layers but for rain, you'd need to add some sort of shell. Klim does make their Enduro S4 overshell, but that's like $350.00. You can find WP shells a lot cheaper than that.

[@BarnettSpeedSuzukiThou]

Baggy is bad. Always leather.

[@magnusshawn4698]

I’ve been told that leather slides (when a bike goes down at speed) and textiles slide-melt and then immediately the friction goes way up flipping the rider repeatedly as this process continues until you stop. That sounds worse than sliding. Is there any truth to that?

[@yeahitskimmel]

The are textile jackets with hard slide plates built into them kind of like a pair of knee/wrist guards for skating or soccer shin guards just much sturdier material

[@byever1]

Maybe 20 years ago. Fabric and stitching techniques have come along way. Rip stop will prevent major tearing. There's a reason why they wear leathers on the track because it's thicker skin allows for longer distance of traveling. Where you are probably expected to slide in a crash instead of tumble like on the road.

[@forresthsu582]

This is true with some plastics and not true with others. For example, kevlar does not melt, but undergoes thermal decomposition. This is analogous to cotton, where it breaks down into ash rather than melts like polyester. However, the temperature needed to do this is 850F for kevlar vs 451F for cotton, so it doesn't keep burning once you stop sliding.

[@lovelessissimo]

There is something amiss here.

[@laryangel4082]

Tt

[@OG_Mereles]

I know you didn't want to off put the viewers or politice the comment section, but not acknowledging that a (genuine) leather jacket comes from a person killing an animal is a disrespect to both the animal and all the people working in those professions.Always respect the animal life that supports your own and give credit to the skill and effort put in those items by the workers.

[@IanMacLeansnv]

Bad video. It's not about 'abrasion resistance.' It's about slipperyness. Leather slides. Plastic slides. Sliding is what you want in a crash. What you don't want is for the material to grab the road and tumble you.

[@patrickmchugh8039]

FWIW: the term abrasion resistant is referring the the materials ability to hold-up during the slide. So the ability to withstand your normal crash slide distance and stay in take. So the leather's ability to withstand the abrasion, or the textiles ability to withstand the abrasion. You do want to come to a stop eventually in a slide, you just don't want any to grab or snag or make your tumble during it. If "slipperyness" was the goal they would be best off coating all gear in the spray compound from Christmas Vacation that he sprays on the sled: motorcycle crashes solved.

[@IanMacLeansnv]

@@patrickmchugh8039 That is actually a great idea! Thanks!