Cordura Vs Leather

**Dodgyiti** · 23rd February 2005, 11:10

Been done before I know, so it's just my little selfish rant..

Cordura Vs Leathers

When Cordura first came out it was a revelation, alleged road rash proof, waterproof and quick drying, not to mention lighter than leather.
To start with it was more expensive than leather, then the prices came down to the point that now it is under half the price of comparable leather.
I like the fact it is washable, cheap and has the same level of padding and warmth of my leathers but...
After one low speed slide on the road, less than 10 metres at under 15kmh, just check the photo on how well they did.
I have slid 20 metres on my arse in leathers [no bull, my mate paced it out] and all that happened was it scuffed them and wore through the stitching. I still have those pants 12 years later, no worries.
So hopefully this is a prime example of the shortcomings of Cordura, the only thing stopping me from road rash was the hip padding, so if I was skating on my arse it would have required some skin repair for sure.

OK, some might say Cordura is the answer for them because of price, my advice is if you can't afford new leathers- then get some second hand.
And as far as the waterproofing qualities of Cordura Vs Leather, that's what oversuits are for.

Just my opinion folks, but a lesson learned, I don't trust the stuff anymore..
Cordura = Crapdura

**R1** · 23rd February 2005, 11:15

yeah i have seen that stuff at the track b4 it was banned, all bad

....it duznt last long in a slide at all......on the positive side tho i think it was designed for street use, ie: more impact resistant than slide resistant.....but on my skin i would have nuthin but leather

**Monsterbishi** · 23rd February 2005, 11:17

Cordura is only intended to last for a single skid, and to be used with other measures such as hard padding, etc - sounds like it did it's job to me.

**jrandom** · 23rd February 2005, 11:21

Hmm, well, I dunno.

My Orina gear has been down the road four times, with nothing but the leather knee padding getting a noticeable scuff on it. The fastest I hit the ground was at about 60kph.

I certainly wouldn't be comfortable wearing it around a racetrack, but it's too baggy for that, anyway.

That stuff your jacket is made from looks different to mine, though. Mine looks less like real fabric.

I don't think one can categorically state that all non-leather gear sucks.

**Dodgyiti** · 23rd February 2005, 11:25

Originally Posted by Monsterbishi

Cordura is only intended to last for a single skid, and to be used with other measures such as hard padding, etc - sounds like it did it's job to me.

Yes it did it's job I will grant you, but only because I landed on the padded hip { broke my goshdarned pelvis but}.
The point I made was that if I had not landed on my hip or another area with padding - I would have had road rash because the Cordura itself wore through so quickly

And I know that some Cordura riding gear has leather on high risk areas, so perhaps that would be the best choice if you were going to go that way.

As stated, a personal rant, but I am still open to others opinions.
And the pants were Dririder if anyones interested $299 on special at Motomail.

**vifferman** · 23rd February 2005, 11:31

I'd had my Teknic jacket less than three weeks when I lowsided - slid about 3 metres and wore a 20c-sized hole in it.

My boots and leather pants needed only an application of shoe polish.
I've since been on the road a few more times, same sort of thing, so now my jacket has leather overlays on the arms and shoulders.
The kevlar-covered armour on the elbows and shoulders stood up to abrasion OK - they're just scuffed. However, even kevlar isn't as abrasion-resistant as decent leather.
Still, it's all compromise, I guess. I had a leather jacket before the Teknic (never crash-tested it in all the years I wore it though), and it was crap: too hot in summer, too cold in winter, barely shower-proof, and it lacked proper armour.

**StoneChucker** · 23rd February 2005, 11:37

I say Cordura all the way. It is inhumane and cruel to use leather. Think of all the cows that had to be killed for the pants and jacket you're wearing! Activists finally got through to people on the fur issue, now lets do the same for leather.

Now if you will excuse me, I will not associate with leather users, I'm off to get a hamburger

Oh, for street riding, I'd rather be wearing good cordura with armor as apposed to a leather suit (1 or 2 piece). Cordura offers much superior impact protection. I know this first hand.

On the track, there is ofcourse no alternative. Leather is a must!

**Motu** · 23rd February 2005, 11:55

I'm always in for this argument

I slid on my arse at 50kph for 100 mtrs (had a bit of help with speed as there was a Transit bumper at my back) and only had a bit of gravel rash on my bum - but I was wearing Wranglers,not cheap Levi shit.I nearly wore through the leather belt at my hip once,but there was not a mark on my Levi cords (flares) even though the rivets left burn marks.Slid for at least 30 mts on my back wearing an oilskin parka - not a mark on it.I could go on,but you get the idea.

I always wore leather,the whole kit,25 yrs ago when a leather jacket was all that was worn.I wear cordura and hard armour these days because I'm after impact protection,I hope my sliding for metres days are over.

**bungbung** · 23rd February 2005, 12:01

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

Cordura offers much superior impact protection.

Cordura offers no impact protection by itself.

The armour (if provided) under the cordura provides the impact protection, as does the armour under the leather.

There is soft armour and there is hard armour, its a function of the design and intended purpose of the clothing rather than the type of outer layer material.

**John** · 23rd February 2005, 12:10

Originally Posted by Motu

I'm always in for this argument

I slid on my arse at 50kph for 100 mtrs (had a bit of help with speed as there was a Transit bumper at my back) and only had a bit of gravel rash on my bum - but I was wearing Wranglers,not cheap Levi shit.I nearly wore through the leather belt at my hip once,but there was not a mark on my Levi cords (flares) even though the rivets left burn marks.Slid for at least 30 mts on my back wearing an oilskin parka - not a mark on it.I could go on,but you get the idea.

I always wore leather,the whole kit,25 yrs ago when a leather jacket was all that was worn.I wear cordura and hard armour these days because I'm after impact protection,I hope my sliding for metres days are over.

With impact protection isnt that just a generalisation. I mean IN all of my crashes Landed flat (love being a skinny white boy) and anyways my slowest was at 30kph I think and that was the writeoff one over gravel so it wasnt that bad, others like my wheelie incident high side action and a few other *not going to mention*.

OK, in the wheelie one I managed to land Directly on my shoulder, Now my gear isnt that good (Nazran 2piece only wore my top though DOH!) but has IMO better armour than most of that crazy fabric stuff (the armour makes me look like Tua or sumthing after someone slapped his muma), And guess what I suffered NO broken colar bone or any thing, and after landing on my shoulder I bounced onto my arm and NO broken bones for me. Cant say much for my knees and hands but (both my own fault). And I mean I wasnt going slow I dropped the clutch just before red line I think was about 12k (rolling around 30kph I think). and then was going along fine until I was upset by a bump, I think I was going about 80+ (guestimate, I have the speedo on the front wheel) but I slowed it down in the hard landing abit before dropping it and going flying I even scratched my shoei shogun helmet, which pissed me off the most, but my leathers only had a little hole where the ruff seal puntured it and no real marks from the slid after landing on my arm.

But I vote leather, in all my bins its saved my arse and it will continue to do so for many years, Until I get a GSX and wrap myself around a pole.

Can someone please explain how the fabrics have better 'impact' protection because I dont really understand it myself sorry? (serious question)

**John** · 23rd February 2005, 12:13

Originally Posted by bungbung

Cordura offers no impact protection by itself.

The armour (if provided) under the cordura provides the impact protection, as does the armour under the leather.

There is soft armour and there is hard armour, its a function of the design and intended purpose of the clothing rather than the type of outer layer material.

Yea I also figured that, it just depends how much armour you want, I mean you could wear a straight jacket and put armour in it, and it would be the same thing If you get my philisofical (SP fooked if I know) way of trying to explain crap

**Wolf** · 23rd February 2005, 12:20

I wear Dririder jacket and pants and found that being incautious filling up the bike one day resulted in a "lovely" melted hole in the leg (stepped in too close to the bike and brushed my leg up against the exhaust pipe).

Fortunately the hole is down where it goes over the boot so it's not much of an issue but it does highlight an issue with Cordura - not very heat tolerant. I've not binned and skidded wearing it but I wonder if it would behave like a nylon-shelled jacket I once had (and slid down the road whilst wearing) in that friction with the road would melt it just as much as tear it...

Still trying to find the ideal riding wear. What I want is some form of "breathable" armour that is also totally waterproof, non restrictive, lightweight, warm in winter, cool in summer, impervious to impacts and not damaged by skidding.

Oh, wait! Don't we all?

**Biff** · 23rd February 2005, 13:18

Armoured leather for fun - Better protection and makes my bulge look bigger.
Armoured Cordura for work - Need to wear my work gear under it you see.

There are varying types of quality to be found in Cordura clothing, hence the varying first hand accounts as to the performance of different Cordura kit during 'offs'.

A fat bloke once told me, "As a general rule of thumb, the more you pay etc etc".

**duckman** · 23rd February 2005, 13:19

I've used both Synthetic suits and leather .... I currently wear a two piece leather suit with CE armour built in.

Leather might be a bit hot in summer but only when your sitting in traffic. Once your moving I've never been too hot.

If you think about the purpose behind wearing this gear doesn't it make sense to wear the material that offers the best protection in the worse situation.

I really couldn't care less if I get a bit wet or a tad hot... When it comes to hitting the tarmac , Give me leather any day!!!