leather vs textile

[Guest]

which do you prefer and why?

I passed my theory test

and start lessons in 2 weeks, but might look into kit beforehand.

[Guest philgale]

i prefer leather, best think if you come off

textile much more waterproof so depends where you live and how much rain your gonna get

[Korben]

Depends what you riding is going to be like.... If you are going to be a fair weather summer rider then leathers are probably the way to go and maybe have a waterproof oversuit for those days you get caught in the rain.

If you are a all year rider then I would go down the textiles route...

[Guest]

[Ingah]

Depends what you riding is going to be like.... If you are going to be a fair weather summer rider then leathers are probably the way to go and maybe have a waterproof oversuit for those days you get caught in the rain.

If you are a all year rider then I would go down the textiles route...

 

I'd second that - as a bike commuter i'm in all textiles.

I tried on various one-piece leathers, and wasn't impressed with how long they took to get on and/or off.

[Korben]

Depends what you riding is going to be like.... If you are going to be a fair weather summer rider then leathers are probably the way to go and maybe have a waterproof oversuit for those days you get caught in the rain.

If you are a all year rider then I would go down the textiles route...

 

I'd second that - as a bike commuter i'm in all textiles.

I tried on various one-piece leathers, and wasn't impressed with how long they took to get on and/or off.

 

Especially when you need a pee!!!

[Guest]

Crikey, hadn't thought of that. This is certainly something to consider

[collier32]

I ride in all weathers so ive got both a set of textiles for when the weathers not so good and a set of two piece leathers for when the weather is good so theyve not had much use

[Guest]

Textiles for me. I find them easier to stay warm in.. You can chop and change whats under them. Find there is less scope for this with my leathers. There is definately a place for both types, I'd choose the one that suits you best to start with and invest in the other at a later date.

[martynmcg]

I agree with Korben on this. Rule of thumb as it was explained to me is 'Leather for summer, textile for winter'. But it does depend on when you're going to be riding and how much your wallet can handle.

If you can afford a set of each then great. If not then textile is your most economical answer. Get a decent set of textiles and you could get some with removable thermal lining, vents for riding and armour built in. I've been using my textiles since March, don't have leathers yet and I've only had to put my thermal inners in once.

It can get a bit warm in the summer but open the vents and wear under clothing such as polypropolene (or other wicking) materials and you should be good to go. I swear by my polyprop t-shirt, gucci bit of kit.

Anyway I deviate, textiles if you ride all year, leathers if you are a summer club showboater generally speaking of course.

[nman1]

I asked the same question when I started up biking and the general concensus that I got was, leather for protection and textile for weatherproof. As I`m alergic to pain, I went down the protection route and I have a rain suit for the wet days. Plus the secreatry where I used to work, liked me in me leathers

[Korben]

I asked the same question when I started up biking and the general concensus that I got was, leather for protection and textile for weatherproof. As I`m alergic to pain, I went down the protection route and I have a rain suit for the wet days. Plus the secreatry where I used to work, liked me in me leathers

 

Thankfully techonoly in textiles has moved forward so much in the last few years that unless you come off doing about 80MPH or above it's a good chance that top quality textiles will hold up just as well.... Only downside is they will more than likely be ruined where as leathers can survive that sort of thing.

Yep, the ladies like it!!

[nman1]

I`m sure korbens right on the textile bit. Ask yourselfe this question bellgica.... Have you ever seen a cow sliding down the road in textiles?????? then again have you ever seen a biker sliding down the road in a cow

[nigelwood1]

Its probably on the web somewhere.....

Textiles can be more practicle all year round gear and are quite safe...

I wear both but prefer textiles as you never know if it is going to rain when you are out......

Ok it because it IS likely to rain....

[Guest akey]

I have both, and over the years owned a variety of stuff.

I have a leather one piece for the summer, and you really cant beat it for protection, I am confident that the armour just wont move in a crash, its also alot cooler than textiles in the heat. On the cooler days I just put a fleece over the top and have some cheap plastic waterproofs for when its wet. If you go down this route try loads on, and try to get a set where the zip goes all the way down to make the inevitable toilet trip no hassle!

I then use textiles in the winter months as they are warmer and waterproof, however I get the feeling that the armour is not quite as snug as in the leathers. Even with the vents fully open on a warmer day the textiles can still be to warm.

[bigup]

sun, summer = leathers

winter, rain, cold = waterproof textiles.

simple as!

[Guest]

Depends what you riding is going to be like.... If you are going to be a fair weather summer rider then leathers are probably the way to go and maybe have a waterproof oversuit for those days you get caught in the rain.

If you are a all year rider then I would go down the textiles route...

 

yeh i agree with Korben.

if you want leathers i will sell you some