Which is hotter to wear: leather or textile?

[KiwiNinja]

At the moment I wear a Teknic textile jacket and pants (which are great) but as I do more and more highway riding I'm considering getting 2 piece leathers. But which is hotter to wear...leather or textile as I feel the heat real bad?

I have absolutly no experience in wearing leather but I'm thinking becuase leathers sit much closer to the skin and therefore reducing the amount of air flow then leathers are hotter.

[Owl]

Normal winter textiles are terribly hot in summer and I find leather much cooler. In saying that, mesh textiles are much cooler than leather.

I have all the above:D

[Malcolm]

I have both a Qmoto leather jacket and a reasonably light Revit textile jacket, and find that the leather is much better in terms of allowing breathing - when you start getting a little sweaty and such, the liner in the textile jacket starts getting sticky and a bit stuffy, where the leather doesn't. It probably helps that the leather jacket has perforations in some spots for breathing. I also feel way more protected when I have the weight of a leather jacket on than I do with my textile jacket

[george formby]

I generally feel cool in my leather while riding but cook when I get off the bike. My textile with the liner removed is warm on the bike & cooler off it. Gas mark 8 with the liner in.

[KiwiNinja]

First thing I did when I got my textile jacket was take the lining out. It's never been put back in, even during winter.

[FJRider]

First thing I did when I got my textile jacket was take the lining out. It's never been put back in, even during winter.

and Auckland winters are really cold ... right ... Come down for a "slightly" cooler Otago winter !!! :innocent: :killingme:

[Quasievil]

Leather gets my vote, wait for the new EDGE to come out with its Ventilation system, be a few more weeks.

[A_Mans_Ruin]

mmmmmm biker boys in leather mmmmmm :love:
hehehe ooops mind is wandering. I find that leather is way better for maintaining body temp...
and you can always alter what you wear under it :msn-wink:

[hellokitty]

I wore my leather jacket (with the winter liner in it) all summer - warm when sitting at the lights but fine once you get moving - textlie seems sweatier to me.
My husband wears textile and he cooks in summer and freezes in winter - whereas I am comfortable all year round in leather

[Gremlin]

Chicks always look hot in leather!

For summer, mesh textile would be the coolest, then leather, then winter grade textile. Leather is normally perforated as it's worn in summer for the most part. Sort of like comparing apples with oranges, as its all different. Textile, you could wear liner or not, which will make a massive difference.

For winter, I find leather is too cold, and much prefer textile.

[steve_t]

+1 for leathers with some merino underneath. Temperature regulation without bad smells.
But yeah, as others have mentioned, when you stop at lights or get off the bike, you can heat up quite quickly. I don't think it matters whether it's leather or textile, you'll still get hot when you stop moving

[hellokitty]

+1 for leathers with some merino underneath. Temperature regulation without bad smells.
But yeah, as others have mentioned, when you stop at lights or get off the bike, you can heat up quite quickly. I don't think it matters whether it's leather or textile, you'll still get hot when you stop moving

Thermals in winter for sure!! It is annoying getting hot but I would rather be hot than cold - my brain switches off in the extreme cold.......

[Quasievil]

The Basis reason why Textiles are hotter is you are essentially wearing a plastic bag, weather its Hipora or Ressia or something else, its a plastic bag, you will find this between the layer of the outter Textile and the inner linings.
Plastic bags are hot to wear in Summer.

Some makers ad ventilation zips to the textiles this is good however unless its top quality (I mean TOP quality) they will probably leak, rule is , where air goes water goes if you dont have waterproof zips it will likely leak.

food for thought

[MaxCannon]

Depends a lot on the build of the jacket.

My non-perforated leather suit is heaps warmer than my perforated one.
Likewise my textile jacket that has no venting is much stuffier than the one that has vents.

One thing I have found very useful over summer is dri-fit tops. Helps wick the moisture away from you and keeps you feeling cool.

[KiwiNinja]

I don't know what I would do without my dryfit. Amazing stuff.

To reduce the inside temperature I usually open all the vents in the jacket and let the wind flow through. It def cools things down but at high speeds the wind also lifts the jacket (and armour) further away from my body, which obviously not a good thing.

I think a leather 2 piece is next on the shopping list. Will be interested to see the new ventilated Edge quasi has mentioned.

[Reckless]

Never owned a textile jacket I like the thought of leather protection if you have an off.
But to the point
I have two leather jackets one thick old one with the lining half torn I use as my winter jacket. Thick leather, the neck fits tight and is damn near water proof except in a storm.
My other jacket (and pants) two piece like your thinking of is an Ixon set up with all the armour, fancy stretch panels, reflective seams etc etc. Looks good only trouble is the old dunger is twice as warm!!! So the flash gear is my summer gear and the old one with Spool textile pants is my winter gear.

So it depends on the jacket and the thickness of the leather. There's leather and there's leather I reckon, choose wisely.

[BMWST?]

So it depends on the jacket and the thickness of the leather. There's leather and there's leather I reckon, choose wisely.

there be truth to this.I took my old leda leathers jacket back to dusty to alter.He couldnt stop "handling" the leather...then he said,we cant get leather like this anymore.

[rachprice]

leather is not only sexy but safer too, also if you come off with cordura its not gonna hold up well

[Pussy]

leather is not only sexy but safer too, also if you come off with cordura its not gonna hold up well

You look HOT in leathers, Rach! :)

[Malcolm]

You look HOT in leathers, Rach! :)

pics or it didn't happen :)

There is certainly something very appealing about a woman on a bike in leathers...saw a few on Tamaki drive today when I was out for a run :Punk:

[FJRider]

Considering the range of both leather and Cordua / Textile gear available on the market ... it does supprise me that anybody tries to simplify the choice of riding gear down to a choice of simply leather or textile. ALL ARE NOT MADE EQUAL ..... a road race one piece suit will not (cannot) compare to a two piece winter touring set. As for the cordua gear available ... money DOES talk.

The gear that is fine for a sunny weekend ride in Auckland, will not be suitable for long distance touring in winter in the south of the South Island.

I've come off in leather ... and had an off in Cordua. Both at speed. Insurance funded the new of both .... neither will last forever ... or withstand everything you do to it ... forever ...

[Gremlin]

leather is not only sexy but safer too, also if you come off with cordura its not gonna hold up well
As fjrider says tho, all are not made equal. You can get bad leather that will blow apart at the seams, and then you have textile with impact areas covered with special fabric that has the abrasion resistance close to your average leather suit.

[Spuds1234]

leather is not only sexy but safer too, also if you come off with cordura its not gonna hold up well

Ive come off twice wearing cordura and both times I've walked away without a scratch or any major bruising or pain. One off was quite a major accident involving a car to.

It doesnt matter whether you wear leather or cordura, what matters is the quality and the fit and whether you have it on at the time of an accident.

[Quasievil]

It doesnt matter whether you wear leather or cordura, what matters is the quality and the fit and whether you have it on at the time of an accident.

Cant say Ive ever seen a racer wearing anything textile.

But this thread is about hotter to wear not whats best eh

[rachprice]

Yeah fuck knows how many times of come off racing and I havent made any new holes in it haha, guess Im not going overly fast though

[yungatart]

It's simple.
Leather, being a natural product, breathes.
Cordura, being synthetic, does not.

Ergo, leather will ultimately be cooler in summer.

You're welcome!

[Swoop]

Which is hotter to wear: leather or textile?

Simple: textile.

If you have heat problems, have a look in Kathmandu outdoor stores. They have a range of heat "dissipation" clothing that keeps the torso slightly cooler than normal.
Very good under leather in the heat of summer.

[Urano]

winter textile, as others said, get really, really hot in summer.
open worked leather remains much cooler as soon as you move on.
anyway i can't but suggest you to always wear a cotton undersuit.

the coolest is obviously a mesh jacket, but stay away from polyester: it burns away in half a second if you're sliding on the tarmac.

i'll never stop to repeat: get only certified gear.

[grbaker]

Textile jackets/coats make better winter jackets.

Leathers, whilst now come with all sorts of liners aren't normally as warm as textiles but are better in hot weather (you can open them up without them flapping around so much). A mate of mine brought a textile with vented zips, good for Welly summer but in winter the zips let in cold ait even when closed.

Really Hot weather (Northern Oz) is hard - ventilated gear is best. (Leather or Textile - I would favour leather but there are leather/textile vented mutants as well) and only stop for beer, gas and sleep. :angry:

[KiwiNinja]

General consensus is leather (is cooler) then.

Main reason I was considering leather was for safety but now I have the added bonus of not sweating my arse off (as much).

[SPman]

Over about 38 degrees, it makes fuck all difference. From 0 to around 25-26, I prefer leather, 25 - 38, normally a vented textile jacket and draggins. Over 37-38, if I do ride, I just throw on the leathers (unvented - air at 38+ coming in through holes is not cooling and I find solid leathers better), or better still, just stay in the pool.

[slofox]

General consensus is leather (is cooler) then.

Main reason I was considering leather was for safety but now I have the added bonus of not sweating my arse off (as much).

I wear only leather.

In summer I wear a thin merino thermal underneath. Sounds crazy, yes, but it does keep you cooler I reckon...(oh and it doesn't stink if you do sweat up in it...)

[saltydog]

Leather is kewl.

[sinned]

When it warms up by another couple of degrees I will be back into the leather.

[jack_hamma]

Leather is kewl.

Yep on the bike.... and in the bedroom :)

[Banditbandit]

I have both leaher and cordura - complete mix and match for the conditions.

My cordura jacket and pants will go over my leathers (with the liners removed) and serve as excellent wet weather riding gear ... and also for extra warmth ...

I find leather warmer - better in the winter but not so good on a hot sunny day when I stop ... I also like the slightly heavier and snugger feeling of leather - just seems like more protection. My current leathers have bitten tarmac twice and are still usable (both times 10+ years ago) - I doubt I will keep my cordura gear if it ever bites the road ...