Leather, Textile or Mesh Which is best?

[Cherry Bomber]

Hi
Just got back on a bike after 23 years off and a lot has changed in the mean time. When I last rode back in the late 80's leather was the only choice for protective gear, now we have all these choices. Which is best or what are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of gear?
Thanks
Peace
Spike

[noahnsteph]

I have a nice leather armored jacket that I got first. After wearing it during a 90+ degree ride I decided to get a mesh jacket, also with armor.  I'm afraid I don't have any experience with textile jackets.

[Burgi]

Everything I have read says leather is the best protection.
That said I sold my leather since I found it to be far less comfortable than mesh or textile.
In Houston I don't see how you could survive the heat and humidity in anything but mesh...but that is me.
I think the best gear is the stuff you will wear.

[happycommuter]

For impact (aka bruising and broken bones) similar armor should be available in either option.  Leather is best for abrasion resistance, racers wear leather.  Leather gear is usually usable through several crashes, whereas textile gear is considered consumable- good for one good crash then replace.  Don't worry, it's usually cheaper.  However on the street, most crashes will not have us sliding at very high speeds for very long distances and this is why textile is usually adequate.

Supposedly textile, specifically kevlar, 'slides' a slightly better on pavement.  Sliding is considered better than tumbling, which breaks bones.  Synthetic textiles can melt -the shins  of my mesh overpants are scorched through the top layer from exhaust contact while righting a bike.  

For weather, leather bites.  It's hot and doesn't ventilate in the summer, cold and drafty in the winter. It soaks up water and bleeds dye.  Also, the easier manufacture of textile usually means more features like pockets, vents, adjustment tabs, reflective accents etc.  Leather is black or other dark colors that are essentially invisible to motorists.  

[hppants]

Make sure you get CE Armour in the jacket.  Mine is a mesh jacket - I've ridden in the S. Louisiana heat in the upper 90's.  It's hotter than no jacket, but once you get going, it's really not that bad.  I low sided my bike at around 20 mph and the jacket did it's job.  Not a scratch on me.  The 2 points that my upper body touched the pavement are exactly where the armour is located - guess the gear designers know what they are doing.

Like you, 20 years ago during my earlier riding days, I would not have dreamed of wearing protective gear beyond a helmet.  Now, I will not leave the house without it.  ATGATT

[LOKi]

Leather gear is usually usable through several crashes, whereas textile gear is considered consumable- good for one good crash then replace.

Unless you crash hard and an ambulance is called. They will just cut off anything your wearing. Why chance prying you out of leather when scissors remove it so easy?

In the south I would recommend mesh for the summer and textile for the winter. Just get armored gear.

edit: light colors if you can find them. One thing about even mesh. It's nice and cool when moving but once stopped the dark colored ones heat up way faster than light color. Light color just shows dirt so they look dirty. But I would rather look dirty than be hot.

[drdubb]

I returned to riding in December, started with textile and it earned its keep when I hit the gravel face first on our May get together. I only received one cut, on my elbow where the sleeve slid up moving the armor above my elbow. (keep the straps tight) The pants were shredded, but no cuts on my legs. My feet ended up under the bike, the boots protected them.
Now that summer has arrived, I bought some mesh. Got the same jacket as hppants. It was inexpensive and good. Comes with a liner for cooler weather.
Went to a local meet-up for the first time last night. Only one other guy with armor (he was a noobie too), (or a full face for that matter). Scull caps, leather vests and jeans. I'm not sure I want to ride with those guys.

I think newenough.com has some mesh pants on sale right now. They are a good source. The jackets we got are there too.
http://www.newenough.com/street/closeouts/mesh_jackets_and_pants/first_gear/mesh_tex_2_mesh_motorcycle_pants.html

[Cherry Bomber]

Thanks for the info! After having a bike knocked out from under me at freeway speeds and kissing pavement at 60+mph I know exactly how bad and how long the pain can be. Losing 70% of your hide will really mess up your month and the burn debridement tank is not fun even when pumped full of morphine and being scrubbed by 2 fine looking nurses. Can someone recomend a good brand of reasonably priced gear?
Thanks
Spike
p.s. what does ATGATT stand for?

[geemann]

atgatt= all the gear all the time

I think the best gear is the stuff you will wear.

make sure it fits!

check out:
http://www.newenough.com/
pretty good deals!  
(this is not a plug, just a place we all tend to gravitate towards)

~G

[hppants]

I've got 4000 miles on these pants:

http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Gear/Mens-Textile-Motorcycle-Pants/LP2832Black

They have held up very well.  But they are black, and as Loki pointed out, fairly warm in stop and go traffic.  I have a coupon for this vendor - PM me if you are interested.

[Burgi]

They have held up very well.  But they are black, and as Loki pointed out, fairly warm in stop and go traffic.  I have a coupon for this vendor - PM me if you are interested.

Yeah, but silver pants make your butt look big. 

[natehawk750]

I don't have any gear yet but I'm going to go with a textile or mesh whenever I get the $$$. I really want something that is all seson all weather any suggestions for that?

[LOKi]

Not living in South Louisiana Nate. Mesh in the summer textile in the winter. You could go with mesh and a heated jacket. That will get you trough all but the coldest days here. We have a long time until it gets cold though. Just get mesh. They have liners that will block wind that "claim" to be water proof. I don't believe that for a second but it does block the wind. Get a rain shell to put over it.

Textile is great once the temperature is below 75. They have vents to allow air to pass though that can be closed and are water proof so you don't have to stop and put on rain gear. But once the temperature gets out of the comfort area and into the 80's and 90's they are hot and muggy. So the all weather textile in Louisiana will be used 3 months out of the year while the mesh gets 9.

[Burgi]

Nate, I am not sure how cold it gets where you are but my husband has a Tour Master Intake Air Series 2 Jacket that he wears year round. That means high 30's to over 100 F. It has two liners one is just wind proof and the other quilted. If he layers up a heavy shirt underneath and puts on a scarf when it is cold and he does just fine.
It isn't the cheapest jacket but since it is his only jacket it might be cheaper than buying two.
http://www.newenough.com/street/protective_apparel/mesh_jackets_and_pants/tour_master/intake_air_series_2_motorcycle_jacket.html

[Cherry Bomber]

Thanks again for all the info, it has done a lot to help me decide on what type gear I need to get. I have ordered a mesh jacket and textile pants from leatherup dot com.
Peace
Spike

[natehawk750]

Thanks burgi I'm going to look into that jacket but I'm affraid LOKI is right. It's not somuch the heat but the humidity that gets you in Louisiana. I'll prolly just end up getting two jackets. Use the mesh for my everyday riding and the textile for longer trips.

[Burgi]

Thanks burgi I'm going to look into that jacket but I'm affraid LOKI is right. It's not somuch the heat but the humidity that gets you in Louisiana. I'll prolly just end up getting two jackets. Use the mesh for my everyday riding and the textile for longer trips.

but....that is a mesh jacket 

[LOKi]

Looks pretty meshy to me. That will breathe. Just get a light colored one.

[Burgi]

Looks pretty meshy to me. That will breathe. Just get a light colored one.

Yep, husband has the white one. It washes up great so not a problem keeping it looking good.

[Wahrsuul]

I have the Cortech (made by Tour Master) GX Sport Air, made pretty much the same way - a "waterproof" liner with a quilted thermal liner.  I use it during the "transitional" season around here, when it's high 40's-low 50's in the morning, and mid 80's in the afternoon.  I have the Cortech GX Sport textile for winter riding.  it's got some nice vents and works in 70-80 degree weather too.  One of the things I like about the GX's is the plastic over foam armor.  I feel it's better than the triple density stuff, but that's my opinion.

[LOKi]

My jacket washing instructions say:

Do not wash
Do not dry clean
Do not submerge in water!
 

AND it's white. So how are you supposed to clean it? They suggest with a damp sponge. 
Like a damp sponge can possibly clean the fibers between mesh.

Well I just wash it anyway. I hang it up to dry but wash it with everything else. Just remove the pads before you do. After a few thousand miles the jacket was starting to look really dirty. So I started using large amounts of shout and other oil removing products on it. Burns the sinuses that crap is so strong. Came out a lot whiter than without though and the jacket is still holding together.

[Burgi]

My jacket washing instructions say:

Do not wash
Do not dry clean
Do not submerge in water!
 

AND it's white. So how are you supposed to clean it? They suggest with a damp sponge. 
Like a damp sponge can possibly clean the fibers between mesh.

Well I just wash it anyway. I hang it up to dry but wash it with everything else. Just remove the pads before you do. After a few thousand miles the jacket was starting to look really dirty. So I started using large amounts of shout and other oil removing products on it. Burns the sinuses that crap is so strong. Came out a lot whiter than without though and the jacket is still holding together.

Yea, a lot of my gear says that also, right....I mean it is polyester, why wouldn't I wash it?? I even messed up and left my armor in and it turned out fine. No drying though, the seam threads can shrink really quick! Found that out when my daughter threw my jacket in the dryer. I caught it after only a few minutes and was able to stretch them back but any longer and I fear they would have been done for.
As to grease try using shampoo as a "pre-spotter"and wash in cold water. It is made to take the oil out of hair and it is surprising how much it will lift out of gear, much better on grease than normal laundry pre-spotting stuff. Just be careful of blue tinted shampoo on whites, not a good mix. 

[LOKi]

Just be careful of blue tinted shampoo on whites, not a good mix.

You speak from experience? Blue doesn't look so bad. 

[Burgi]

Just be careful of blue tinted shampoo on whites, not a good mix.

You speak from experience? Blue doesn't look so bad. 

Probably not if I had coated the whole thing but pale blue explosions in strategic places...not so much. 

[Wahrsuul]

I've washed my Cortech's a couple times (yellow shows dirt well).  Burgi is right, drip dry only, and if you're concerned, use Woolite and the gentle cycle.