Need some gear advice...

[KerrA]

Ok so, I ride to work 5 days out of 7, Rain or shine and on my days off I love to joy ride.

So I currently have at the moment a textile jacket and pants, gloves and boots. Then I start reading on here about leather and how much safer it is etc, and im wondering is this really true? is it that much safer? Possibly worth the upgrade?

If so, How does it fit? Does it have room for work clothes underneath? is it hard to get on? will I look like a douche with my neck warmer sock thing? If I get rained on will I get wet?

For anyone who has had both gear, please advise me.

Cheers.

[CookMySock]

I don't have both, but cordura is widely regarded as much warmer. I ride in cordura, and in the winter its great, and in the summer it's damn hot. I'd like some lighter leather gear for the summer.

Steve

[Katman]

Leather is no safer.

Good quality cordura has all the protection (and possibly more) of leather.

I switched to a cordura jacket a while ago and was amazed at how much warmer it was.

(You'll never get me out of my leather pants though - sometimes image is everything.)

[Taz]

The cordura is what I prefer for the commuting duties. It's warm, waterproof, easy to fit work clothes under and offers a good degree of protection. Your ride to work should not resemble a motogp anyhow. Leather does offer greater abrasion resistance but you then need wets to go over the top and for it to be truly effective it should be a tight (ish) fit making it a chore to get clothes underneath. Quality cordura is the most versatile IMO.
Andy.

[Bend-it]

I have both and have retired the cordura primarily because leather is more awesome... reportedly, it has better abrasion resistance as well.

Mine is weather resistant for light showers, and in heavy downpours, I have a waterproof layer overthe top.

Do a search. This topic's been discussed many times over in the past.

[BMWST?]

i dont think my cordura jacket is any warmer than my leather one.It is with the liner in and that has nothing to do with the jacket.Save some pennies and go and see dusty at leda leathers.He made my jacket and i had it made with two zip positions one for summer and one for winter!

[Quasievil]

Leather is no safer.

Katman ???? is this you or a imposer??

of course leather is safer, it is far less likely to rip and pull apart in a crash situation.

As proof can you point me to a racer who wears textile ?? no is the answer and the reason is it doesnt offer the protection that leather offers, also you aint allowed to race in Textile by rules layed out.

Leather with good thermal liners is as every bit as warm as Textile.

the only advantage Textile has is it is "relatively" waterproof, but nothing a over suit wont fix with a set of leathers.

[kasper]

Ok the reason leather is worn for racing is that over 160mph (need to verify that part) cordura will melt.

Cordura is more versatile for daily riding.

--kasper

[howdamnhard]

I've had both cordura and leather. I agree with Bend-it and Quasievil. Wasn't very impressed with corduras performance when I had a low speed bin in the wet.

[CookMySock]

I forgot to add, I crashed my cordura at 120k's and managed to slightly pull one seam on the arm. Other than that they were unmarked.

There is the other issue, that at any speed over 130-140k's cordura flaps like a bastard, so it is unsuitable for racing.

I would dispute quasis' claim that modern high-denier cordura was weak in comparison to leather, and I would also dispute his logic, but I can't be effed.

Steve

[Quasievil]

I would dispute quasis' claim that modern high-denier cordura was weak in comparison to leather, and I would also dispute his logic, but I can't be effed.

Steve

You can dispute it all you like fact is I wont be racing in textile and neither will anyone else, Race crashes dont always happen over 160kmph and I have seen Textile melt and rip apart at much lower speeds, cordura is a risk, it is hit n miss , leather (assuming a good brand and not cheap crap) is reliable

[sinfull]

Stick my beak in on this one !
I, like Quasi is now, used to be involved in the leather industry, manufacturing bike gear ! What he says is correct 100% with regard to textile possibly melting and or tearing apart at speed (particularly the low quality brands) whereas leather "should" hang in there during a slide !
But it will soak up water unless you keep drowning it in a waterproof wax and the like yeah ikky stikky shit lol or wear good waterproof gear over the top !
But you have to take it in context !
Cordura works, i call it a one hit protective cover, more armour the better !
It is warm, can be worn over your work clothes, where leather should be a snug fit because it will stretch (thank god) and predominantly waterproof !
Depends on how where what your planning on doing !
I (Accidentally) lost the Mrs off the back of my bike at prolly 20/30 kph and the corduras' armour did its job, with her only getting a couple of bruises on back and shoulder, but the seams are half gone and wont hold up to another one, so it's a throw away (that and her helmet)
Soooo it's personal choice really ! 5-6 hundy for corura and be prepared to replace it if shit happens or 6-10 hundy or more, for a leather that will prolly hold up to a couple of hits or more !
My 10c worth

[Highlander]

I have never crash tested my gear, so can't speak from that perspective (long may that trend continue).

However I have two leather jackets, one is a custom jacket done by Leada Leathers about 20 years ago - I have used it most days for the last four years, but prior to that it hung in the wardrobe while I had 12 years off bikes. The other is a Quasi "Rapid Blue" that I aquired over the last summer. I now use it mostly when I'm out for more than a couple of hours.

I have in the last 4 years had 2 pairs of Reasonable quality Cordura pants (read not the cheapest nor most expensive I could find), the warmth factor of both has been great, other than commuting (when I wear my work clothes underneath) it is rare that I wear anything more than running shorts under them.

Weatherproofing of the cordura has been great initially but both pairs have failed miserably in this department after a year or so of daily use. The result is that I admit if I'm riding in the rain for more than about 1/2 an hour, I will get wet and focus on staying warm.

For my jackets I treat them regularly with Snoseal (for showerproofing) and carry a rain jacket if going much further than work - the combination works well.

So if you have to carry waterproof oversuit anyway, ignore the claimed waterproofing function and get what you think will give you the best combination of warmth (for winter), venting (for summer), crash protection (should it become a requirement).

[jono035]

Wonder how difficult it would be to actually test all of this? Get hold of a crash test dummy that is the right weight distribution and doesn't have exposed joints, dress it up in a few different ones of each and make something to launch him at different speeds into a road...

Hell, mount the launcher to a trailer and you wouldn't even need your own piece of road...

Obviously there is a ton of variation in all of this, but this is what I've figured out (through endless amounts of thread trolling on the subject and an impartial view)

Cordura has a major edge in the convenience factor for commuting and good quality cordura would seem equal in protection (anecdotally) at lower speeds to leather, but is also nowhere near as durable and will likely need replacing if you have a decent off. Waterproof and easy to wear over other clothes.

Leather apparently has the edge in durability and higher speed/impact protection and has a definite 'cool factor' going for it too, but is a bit less convenient (underlayers + waterproofing).

I bought cordura for commuting but if I end up doing a lot of open road riding for fun/travel I will buy leather.

Seems like there are a lot of people on either side of the aisle who absolutely swear by one or the other for everything (vested interest or not)...

[sinfull]

Leather apparently has the edge in durability and higher speed/impact protection ...

Impact ? Mehhhhh nah !
If ya look at both leather and cordura it is easier to stuff lots of armour in to cordura and well hey, if it's an impact i know i'd like as much as possible !
But still i wear a basic jacket with no armour on the road !!! Why ? Well i guess my road leather is my road leather, shit i go out for dinner in it !!!