| The textiles vs leathers debate is all about tradeoffs. | | | | in a commercial washer, while leathers will need to be |
| Choosing which material to use to cover your hide with | | | | sent to the cleaners. |
| and spend your pennies on depends on how much | | | | Comfort - Textiles |
| you value individual tradeoffs and ultimately, your | | | | Motorcycle textiles have an all weather capability: |
| intended use and riding conditions. Sounds easy | | | | vents for when it is warm, liners for when it is cold and |
| enough, but deciding between textiles vs leathers has | | | | water resistence for rain. It breathes more easily than |
| had great rider minds in a muddle and increasingly so | | | | leather, and water slides off it like a ducks back. |
| over the last couple of years as the quality and | | | | Leather is also much heavier than textile. |
| versatility of both materials has improved so much! | | | | Protection - Leather |
| Just type in "textiles vs leathers " into google and you | | | | Tests are conducted all the time to compare the |
| will find that 90% of the results are from forums with | | | | abrasion resistence of motorcycle riding gear materials |
| the answer ultimately resulting in the fact that it | | | | and leather always comes out on top as the most |
| depends on your personal preferences. The problem is | | | | durable material. Furthermore, leather does not melt |
| that this does not help those new to the biking world | | | | from friction, it will cushion your fall more than |
| who have not had the time or experience to develop | | | | motorcycle textiles would and it offers the best |
| their own, well-guided prefences… and so the | | | | protection against a road rash. The fact that leather |
| argument goes on. | | | | also lasts through multiple crashes whilst textiles will |
| But, it's really quite simple if you use the BMI (Best | | | | probably only last through one, says a lot about the |
| Motorcycle Information) textiles vs leathers test. This | | | | difference in protection and impact between the two |
| test takes the four most differentiating attributes of the | | | | materials. |
| two materials into consideration - price, maintenance, | | | | The textiles vs leathers debate basically comes down |
| comfort and protection. Each attribute is also assigned | | | | to protection vs everything else. It must be said |
| to either leathers or textiles, depending on which | | | | however, that even though leathers offer more |
| material has the greater advantage in terms of the | | | | protection, all motorcycle textiles have to abide by EU |
| attribute. After reading the brief summary on each, | | | | standards and so its not like they don't offer you |
| assign a score out of a hundred to each attribute, | | | | protection at all. Motorcycle leathers just offers better |
| giving those attributes that are most important to you | | | | protection - that's all. |
| higher scores, so that in the end the total score of | | | | If you are a commuter, then motorcycle textiles are |
| your four attributes adds to 100. Then add up the | | | | probably the best bet. They are more comfortable and |
| score that you gave to the leather attributes and | | | | have more pockets for storage. Motorcycle leathers |
| textile attributes, and the material with the highest | | | | are designed for performace riding so you are not |
| score is your answer - and best of all it will be unique | | | | able to wear many layers underneath, and if its hot, |
| to your personal preferences. | | | | you're going to arrive sweating - not good for your |
| Price - Textiles | | | | next promotion or that honey that you are trying to |
| Motorcycle textiles are cheaper to buy than leathers. It | | | | impress! |
| is also much harder to judge the quality of leathers and | | | | If you are into extreme riding, then it is unquestionable |
| so you take the risk of paying a lot of money for a | | | | that leathers are what you need! |
| suit that does not have quality stitching and | | | | My personal opinion when it comes to textiles vs |
| construction. (Just beware however that it is widely | | | | leathers is that skin takes a lot longer to heal than |
| accepted that your textile suit will probably only survive | | | | discomfort - but then again I don't commute to work |
| one crash before you have to fork out for a new pair.) | | | | everyday, I am no longer on a budget and I have seen |
| Maintenance - Textiles | | | | enough to put my safety first - always! |
| This one is simple - motorcycle textiles can be thrown | | | | |