Fabulous fabrics: Best textile motorcycle jackets

A motorcycle jacket has so many functions, that cramming them all into a single garment can sometimes seem impossible. Back in the day there wasn’t really much choice. However, there are plenty out there that do a great job nonetheless.

One of the first is to keep you protected and when it comes to this, you are looking at two areas; impact resistance, thanks to included armour and abrasion resistance, and construction strength.

When it comes to armour, there are several locations this can be useful. Pretty much all jackets should include armour at the shoulders and the elbows, as there are the main landing areas if you come off the bike. Most jackets will also have a pocket for a back protector (if one is not included – many will be). You’ll potentially find chest armour as well, as one of the main areas of injury, particularly in the case of a car pulling out of a side road, is to the chest.

Armour should be CE rated at either Level-1 or Level-2, Level-2 being the better of the two, as it absorbs and dissipates energy better.

When it comes to the garment itself, this will also be CE rated, using either a B, A, AA or AAA rating, AAA being the highest level of protection. All motorcycle equipment is classed as PPE and so, must have a CE rating to be legally sold. The CE rating rated not only the abrasion resistance of the garment but also its construction methods and the likelihood of it remaining intact in the event of an accident.

Related: Best motorcycle waterproofs

Once the protective elements of a garment have been considered, then it’s down to features. Most textile jackets will be waterproof but some might use a single layer of material to do this, some might have a separate waterproof inner jacket (a drop liner) and some may use a membrane to offer waterproofing as well as breathability to stop it getting too sweaty (Gore-Tex is the most famous of these).

Do you want a touring-style jacket (3/4 length for better protection for longer on the bike) or something a little more sporty (shorter and possibly cooler)? Do you want a removable thermal liner so it’s warm on cooler rides and vice versa? How about vents for really warm rides?

There is so much to consider, but here are what we reckon are some of the best jackets around.

Related: Best leather motorcycling jackets

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