leathers or textile? honest opinion appreciated.

[dwellernet]

I know it has probably been asked a hundred times before and I agree that it is down to preference but I cant afford to fork out shed loads for good kit or different winter and summer kits.

I am a all year round biker, sun, rain and frost and need to get myself new kit for £200 - £300 (ish) and would appreciate any personal opinions.

I currently have two piece leathers which I have used but are now dated, they were cheap and its the zips that have gone, but asking in a shop for a new set I was laughed at as all year bikers wear textile (I didnt really like these when I previously had them)

So what are the pro's and cons of each, will leather last through the winter and rain without the stitching rotting or have I just been lucky? What would you go for on a street bike? and finally would you go for one piece or two piece?

Thanks in advance for any opinions, I do have an oversuit I can use but never worn it before because of lugging it around and sorry if this is a newbie question I just want the best suited for my money from people who actually will be in the same position.

Cheers!

[pinkyfloyd]

Cant vote because there isnt an option for both.

Leathers for spring and summer dry days and textile for the wet and wintery times of the year.
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[iooi]

As you say very much personal choice.

So do you do things like track days where you need to wear leathers?
That may help sway your decision.

While I do have a leather jacket for summer. I tend to wear textile pretty much all the time.
Jacket coming up for 5 years old and used pretty much 5 days a week over that period. Still not leaking Not bad for £99 (Richa)
Trousers not faired as well. Despite not being worn as often as dry days will see than in the box.
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[dwellernet]

Thanks for the replies, there is no option for both as I cant afford / want to buy both, however another option could be leather now and then textiles when winter comes around again.

No for trackdays just a 20 mile each way commute daily all year round (no car alternative)

[Moo.]

For all year round, i'd for for textile, gives the best compromise between protection, different seasons used and weather.

Leather is superior for protection but unless its goretex lined, it isnt going to stand up to well to rain, leather is naturally quite warm, good for winter, but a goretex lined leather isnt going to be very comfy in the baking heat that i hope we eventually get.

At the moment i use a textile all seasons jacket. Inside it has 3 different layers and is as toastie as my bed. The jacket itself has waterproof air vents all over, 10 in total, that open full length into huge scoops that allow air to ventilate it, just what you need for summer. In the colder weather like this they can all be zipped up, it has a fully waterproof jacket liner that keeps me bone dry, and inside that it has a fleece lined windstopper and anti-freeze jacket that is nice and warm.
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[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

If i had to choose 1 set of all year riding gear for this Country i'd choose leather 2 piece.

Leather may not be the coolest in summer or the warmest in winter....or waterproof....until you either put something under or over them that is.

At the mo i'm using my leather trousers and textile jacket, with a pair of overtrousers under the seat.
I wipe the salt off the leathers with baby wipes and use some saddle oil stuff..name escapes me.

Ideally...you need double of everything...like me
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[doggone]

I quite like the textile jackets but the bulk of textile trousers is too much for walking about in.
So 50/50 works best for me.

[Paxovasa]

I have both, late Autumn, early spring and winter textiles. Late Spring, early Autumn and summer leathers.
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[Skudd]

Leather pants and textile jacket all year round.
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[Dazbo666]

Textile jacket(s) all year round. Textile trousers for commuting, or leather trousers when going for a "hoon"
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[clancy]

leather 2 piece for rides etc, but for practicality and all year biking i would say textiles to be honest
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KLX 300r

[dwellernet]

Thanks for replies, I got overexcited thinking about it and thought as the main bit of the cold snap is now over I have gone for two piece leathers and then find some winter gear in the sales (sounds simple now I thought about it)

cheers again for the replies though, did help me make up my mind with more leather answers then I thought I would get

[tvchimp]

Textile jacket, kevlar jeans when its dry and sunny.
Textile jacket and textile bottoms when its raining/winter.

My textile jacket has a removable liner and isn't bulky at all depending on the type you get (I find the short style jackets a lot more comfortable than the 'touring' style ones).

I'd like a plain leather jacket for summer, but can't afford one at the moment..
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[HD]

I take it you havent bought them yet so I thought I would say my peace

My jacket is great. Its RST so mainstream(ish) and only £110. Has a removable thermal liner when it gets a bit warmer and a removable waterproof liner so when it is hot and its not going to rain you have a cool jacket. So really you have 3 options. Also it looks casual and is quite comfy with good storage options and I think it has a joiner zip onto textile bottoms.

On my legs I wear kevlar jeans which look good and are highly rated and when it rains I wear overtrousers. I never got the chance to commute with them this year when it was cold but just riding around in the snow/ice I was never freezing (urban speeds though).

Oh and the jacket is the RST ventilator, I believe they released the Ventilator II in January?

HTH
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[dwellernet]

ok now what I thought was a sign I had a leather jacket from ebay ordered for half price, now bids in for the Ventilator 2. staying cheap has started to go wrong.

Thanks for the advice but no more recommendations, I cant afford it lol

[HD]

Haha, your welcome
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[bootsbiker]

[HD]

[bootsbiker]

I like it.. warm.. more textile then leather.. It is on this site some where. It is very new so time will tell
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[warped one]

Always used textiles, the few times I have used leathers they have been to stiff and unfortable for my liking.

Akita Leggings,
Spada Jacket,

I wear them all year round, in the summer I just wear shorts underneath and in the winter jeans, t-shirt, hoody are worn. They adapt well to all weathers. And are very comfy.

I used to get in after a ride and just ditch my jacket and stay wearing my leggings al day because they are so comfy.

Each to their own I suppose..
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[hmmmnz]

you couldn't pay me enough to strut my stuff in leather pants,
thats up there with tucking your trousers into your boots,

i have a leather jacket, but i feel like a try hard knob end wearing it,
textiles for me all the way,

to be fair i'll only wear textile trousers when its really really cold and wet,
if its just wet i'll wear water proof over trousers over my jeans,
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[outlaw]

[SirEdward]

Gore-tex textiles for 365 & 2-piece leathers for summer.
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[DrDonnyBrago]

When I started out I bought a leather 2 piece. It was all well and good for a while but you realise the limits of it's practicality pretty quickly. They are VERY VERY hot in the summer at anything below 30mph, traffic is a literal sweatbox. They are VERYVERY cold in winter, most leathers are perforated and contain airvent panels so any hop of keeping warm in winter is gone, they also let water in at every seam. However they last longer than textiles, crash better, usually are tighter so can act as a splint if you break anything and some would argue they look better and they normally come with knee sliders if you like that sort of thing.

Textiles on the otherhand sacrifice a lot of abrasion resistance in the name of practicality and comfort. They can be warmer or cooler depending on underlayers (that wont fit under a good fitting leather jacket), they are waterproof, easy to get on and off (go over jeans etc), have loads of pockets, they are usually looser fitting, they are generally a LOT less expensive but they can look a tad crap and wont generally allow for knee dragging. I love my textiles, I wore a hole in the arse cheek in my last off but the jacket held up brilliantly and the hip and elbow armour took a lot of the brunt of the crash.

If I were to start over, if my bike was a commuter/form of transport then I would buy a set of textiles first and leathers as and when funds allowed. If I was a weekender only, I'd get a leather 2 piece.

[hmmmnz]

ive been riding on the road now for 17 years, average a crash every year and a half, and always in textiles, my textiles have always made it through the crashes, some make it through 2 or 3 before they get hung up,
i dont think any set of leathers could take the continous beating day in day out that my textiles do,

from a practicle point of veiw, i don't think there is a choice
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