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which is warmest... leathers or textiles?

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mic
Brolly Dolly



Joined: 09 Sep 2010
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PostPosted: 14:48 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: which is warmest... leathers or textiles? Reply with quote

Hi

Not sure if my current trousers/jacket will be that warm when it starts to get really cold, which is warmest clothing?! im gonna get waterproofs anyway (convience for hanging at work) so which would you reccomend??

cheers
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supZ
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PostPosted: 14:50 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

comparing my 2 piece and 1 piece to my textiles.. my textiles win hands down everytime on toastiness!

even with my inner liner in the 2 piece it just cant compare.

so err yeh.. textiles definitely if you want to keep warm. i only need a t-shirt and comfy on with my textiles and im cosy Smile
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Rogue_Shadow
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PostPosted: 15:27 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Textile definitely
waterproof too.

Don't think I'll be wearing my leather jacket much over the next few months Mad
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cimbian
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PostPosted: 16:41 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Keeping warm is generally easier when dry so I would go with textiles. Thumbs Up
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TomGT
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PostPosted: 16:50 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wear a hoody under my leathers, no problems yet Thumbs Up

I can't really think of a disadvantage of the leathers, hoody & rainsuit combo I'd go for, in this country anyway Very Happy
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Im-a-Ridah
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PostPosted: 18:21 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Leather without a doubt if only because it is such an excellent barrier to wind. Textiles tend to include some "padding" which helps keep you warm though, but leather is only a couple mm's thick, so you can put a hoodie on underneath and be even warmer! The main advantage of textile is that it will dry out very quickly (assuming its not waterproofed), whereas leather will take a very long time.
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Turkish
Crazy Courier



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PostPosted: 18:31 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got some decent textiles recently, and I've just had to put the thermal liner in. I'm toasty with just a t shirt on underneath. Textile trousers over normal jeans seems to be enough on it's own so far.

Leathers and an oversuit could be a good combo for when summer comes (drop the rainsuit), and you can always wear layers over or under your leathers.

It's possible to get by on either approach and obviously with higher investment comes better return. It's down to personal preference really.
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barrkel
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PostPosted: 18:58 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Textiles are both warmer and cooler than leather, depending on liners, venting and zips. Leather tends to have a designed-in optimum temperature, depending on how perforated it is and what kind of stretch panels it has, and very few options to make it work better in warmer weather. To make leather cover colder temperatures, you can add layers easily enough - I have thermal and windproof tops that go underneath - but you can also use layers with textiles. When touring, I use highly vented textiles, together with waterproof liner for windproofing, and waterproof rainsuit for when it actually rains.

Waterproof liners don't work well in my experience - the shell gets soaking wet, and the inner liner can guide water into gloves and boots, and when the rain stops, it's like wearing wet clothes on top of a plastic bag. For proper rainproofing, the outermost layer needs to be waterproof.

However, good fitting leathers will be fairly tight, limiting the space for layers. Loose-fitting leathers are only a good compromise if you don't intend to take them to the track.

I have three complete outfits at this point: highly vented textiles for summer and touring; goretex proshell for winter and wet; and fairly tight fitting leather for performance riding. If I had to stick with one, I'd go for the goretex proshell, but it's also the most expensive one.
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doggone
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PostPosted: 19:19 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a leather jacket I got new about 1990 with thinsulate lining which is far warmer than any others i have, it seems to have shrunk slightly now which is a shame. Rolling Eyes
But with a sweatshirt under it you were OK even near freezing up to about 20 miles anyway.
So they vary.

The current vogue for perforated areas is not going to help much.
I find textiles soon get sweaty and tend to be looser fitting and a bit draughty - but you can add more layers easier.
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Clanger
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PostPosted: 19:25 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wear leather jeans (with long johns underneath when cold) and a textile jacket.

It's actually my feet and hands that suffer the most cold when the temperature outside has dropped, so heated grips are a godsend, as are thermal socks. Thumbs Up
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Llama-Farmer
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PostPosted: 19:28 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

My textiles are cooler in summer and warmer in winter than my leathers.

Good thing is both the trousers and jacket have zip-in thermal lining, and I got thin and thick baselayers, so got a combination of this or that for virtually every temperature we get in the UK. (Although below a few degrees C I'd probably consider taking the car instead, or walking short trips, because don't wanna get caught out on ice on a bike)
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C1REX
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PostPosted: 22:44 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had inexpensive leather and textile. Both came new at very similar price.

Really hated textile as it was always wrong. Constantly too hot or too cold. It was boiling hot indoors and really cold at higher speed.
It was also less waterproof than leather Shocked. Just dry faster.

The leather gives way more comfort overall and looks so much better. Just weights half of a bike. Rolling Eyes
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TheSmiler
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PostPosted: 22:50 - 17 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wear leathers all year round with only a t-shirt underneath I haven't done many long commutes really most are under 90 miles but I find them waterproof comfy and warm. Guess it depends on the person.
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Rogerborg
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PostPosted: 13:58 - 18 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cheap = thin.

Cheap textiles > cheap leathers.

I've no idea how expensive ones stack up, I'm Scotch.
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mic
Brolly Dolly



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PostPosted: 15:40 - 19 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Went for a hardly used Wolf 2 peice leathers
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Amnesty
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PostPosted: 21:48 - 19 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I ride in winter with leather then textile with inner layer zipped in, and then waterproofs on top if needs be, does me fine. im still in the need of trousers though. XD
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Llama-Farmer
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PostPosted: 23:21 - 19 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

barrkel wrote:
Loose-fitting leathers are only a good compromise if you don't intend to take them to the track.


I'd say loose fitting leathers are never a good compromise.

With leathers the aim is to slide if you come off the bike, and having them fitted snug means you're more likely to do that. If they're loose, then you'll get folds in the leather that will catch and send you tumbling, much more likely to injure yourself, and will also not slow you down very quickly
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PiercedMrsP
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PostPosted: 10:30 - 20 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm a cruiser rider. I have to wear a leather Brando jacket. It's the law Laughing

Seriously, I find my leather jacket keeps the wind out better but my textile trousers are more forgiving and comfy. Both have zippy linings but its not cold enough for those yet.
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posidon666
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PostPosted: 18:12 - 23 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

not tried it yet but you can get electrically heated motorcycle clothing and then just worry about the waterproof bit
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Turkish
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PostPosted: 19:10 - 23 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rogerborg wrote:
Cheap textiles > cheap leathers.


Really? Not that I don't believe you, it's just that cheap textiles tend to be made out of polyester, rather than ballistic nylon, so [I've read] the abrasion resistance is pretty pants.
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ocatoro
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PostPosted: 20:04 - 23 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

i just went with what my mate told me, he's a textile man.

i'll get leathers eventually, but tbh it's worked out good at the moment as i have nice waterproof textile gear with thermal liners that'll see me through the winter.

£ for £ textile definitely gets you more for your money from what i've seen
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doggone
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PostPosted: 20:38 - 23 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

ocatoro wrote:

£ for £ textile definitely gets you more for your money from what i've seen

Leathers last longer though, i just bought a used jacket and trousers from ebay (separately) well under £10 each delivered.
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mic
Brolly Dolly



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PostPosted: 20:45 - 23 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wore my leathers for the first time today, I won't wear textiles again now. Feel so much more comfortable on the bike and just as warm.
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Wafer_Thin_Ham
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PostPosted: 21:07 - 23 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

mic wrote:
Wore my leathers for the first time today, I won't wear textiles again now. Feel so much more comfortable on the bike and just as warm.


It's just not cold enough yet.

Textiles are far warmer than leathers when the mercury plummets.
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ocatoro
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PostPosted: 22:00 - 23 Oct 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

doggone wrote:
ocatoro wrote:

£ for £ textile definitely gets you more for your money from what i've seen

Leathers last longer though, i just bought a used jacket and trousers from ebay (separately) well under £10 each delivered.



fair point, but i'm sure there are people who would find climbing into second hand leathers quite repulsive.
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