Top-spec textiles: Best laminated motorcycle jackets

Published: 31 August 2023 Updated: 17 January 2024

Best laminated textile motorcycle jackets

With motorcycling textiles becoming ever more sophisticated and littered with technical jargon, it’s sometimes confusing trying to understand what’s available and laminated motorcycle jackets are one of the most recent examples.

Most all-weather textiles use a combination of detachable layers to provide different functions, usually a tough, water-resistant outer shell, waterproof inner layer and a thermal liner.

These types of textiles can be very effective and have the additional advantage of being adaptable and versatile – the modular design allows you to detach unnecessary layers, depending on weather conditions. On the downside, repeatedly detaching/replacing layers can be inconvenient and with all layers fitted, they can be bulky.

Modern laminates, however, simplify this by laminating or bonding the waterproof membrane to the outer shell providing a waterproof garment with fewer, less bulky layers which should shed water more effectively and minimise absorption, helping drying times and comfort in the wet. However, on the slight downside, the laminating process can make the garment more expensive.

So, what’s out there, what do you get for your money and which should you go for? Here’s our pick of some of the current best to help you decide.

Oxford Mondial

Rrp: £289.99

Price: £269.98

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From respected British brand Oxford, this laminated jacket is designed to be affordable and within reach of most budgets. It has a laminated outer shell that uses Oxfords own waterproof and breathable membrane bonded to a tough nylon material, while there's a durable inner lining to provide comfort against your skin and a detachable insulated thermal lining.

There are zipped ventilation panels to help prevent overheating, CE certified shoulder and elbow armour, YKK zips and it comes in sizes S-5XL and in a variety of colours. It’s also ‘Recommended’ by our sister title, RiDE.

Pros

Respected brand
Highly rated
Affordable price

Cons

Lacks the features of some

Bering Tijuana Gore-Tex

Price: £464.99

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

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Bering is a quality, highly-respected French motorcycle clothing brand which is part of the Segura group. The Tijuana is a laminated textile jacket that's a mid-priced offering with lots of quality features including a genuine Gore-Tex construction with breathable and waterproof laminate membrane.

There’s also a removable ShellTech thermal lining, CE-approved shoulder and elbow armour (although a back protector is extra), four external and two internal pockets and also a five-year warranty.

Pros

Quality brand
Five-year warranty
Gore-Tex membrane

Cons

Pricier than some

Richa Infinity 2 Pro

Price: £299.99

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Another well-priced laminated all-season textile jacket, this time from Richa. It features a tough textile outer with a waterproof laminated layer and a detachable thermal lining.

There is D3O armour in the shoulder, elbow and back, a pocket for an optional chest protector, soft-finish neoprene collar and cuffs and hook and loop waist and arm adjusters. There is a large rear pocket plus two front pockets and again comes in sizes S-5XL.

Pros

Highly rated
Extra armour and features
Good price

Cons

Not as ‘snazzy’ as some

iXS ladies laminated ST-Plus

Price: £374.99

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

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This German clothing brand may not be as fashionable as some, but it provides more womenu2019s clothing than most, gets good ratings and is generally highly regarded.

The ST-Plus has a hard-wearing polyamide outer shell with a two-layer waterproof and breathable membrane welded to the outer. There’s a removable quilted thermal inner jacket, adjustable waist, elbow and upper arm for optimum fit, an elasticated hem, six outer and two inner pockets including a waterproof ‘Napoleon’ pocket and CE Level-2 shoulder, elbow and back protectors.

Pros

Quality features
Lots of protection and pockets
Adjustable fit

Cons

Less fashionable brand

Weise Outlast Frontier

Price: £269.99

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This is a mid-price laminated all-season textile jacket from respected motorcycle clothing brand Weise. It has a 600 Denier polyester outer shell with laminated water and windproof lining, an extra, removable quilted thermal liner, CE-approved shoulder, elbow and back armour and zip-operated ventilation panels in the torso, shoulder, arm and back.

It also has a neoprene-trimmed comfort collar, an adjustable waist belt, stretch panels under the arm and at the elbow and four external and three internal pockets as well as a large rear map pocket. It also comes with a two-year warranty.

Pros

Quality brand
Lots of pockets
Two-year warranty

Cons

Fairly sober design

Rukka Nivala Gore-Tex

Price: £1062.49

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

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Yes, it`s pricey although Sportsbikeshop has cut nearly £200 off the RRP but Finnish brand Rukka is widely considered to be the ultimate when it comes to winter textiles. Its Nivala combines some of the very best materials and features available and gets very high ratings from buyers.

It features a Gore-Tex Pro 3 laminate construction, generally considered to currently be the best, combined with Armacor strengthening on the shoulders and elbows. There’s D3O body armour not just for the shoulders and elbows but back and chest, too. There’s also a waterproof YKK-Aqua front zip, waterproof pockets, a down/feather detachable thermal inner jacket and even a full six-year warranty.

Pros

Arguably ‘the ultimate’
Top quality brand and features
Six-year warranty

Cons

Eye-watering price

Dainese Tonale D-Dry

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If you want a textile jacket with a bit more kudos and style, you can always rely on Dainese. Its Tonale is one of the latest additions to its laminated range and is a relatively lightweight, slimline touring jacket available in a variety of stylish colours and with top-notch features.

It’s also reasonably priced for a more premium jacket. There’s an abrasion-resistant outer with Dainese’s ‘D-Dry’ laminated waterproof and breathable membrane, a detachable thermal inner jacket, two zipped chest vents as well as a rear vent, CE-certified Level-1 shoulder and elbow protectors plus pockets for both back and chest protectors and it has a quality, simple design.

Pros

Quality brand
Stylish design
Good ratings

Cons

Not as ‘all-season’ as some

Rev'It Vertical GTX

Rrp: £419.85

Price: £499.99

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A good quality mid-price laminated jacket that combines many of the features of a higher-priced jacket with the slim, simple style of more fashionable ones. Claimed to be ideal for year-round riding, it features a genuine Gore-Tex outer shell with a 2L Gore-Tex laminate that is 100% waterproof and extremely breathable.

There’s also a detachable thermal liner, Rev’It’s patented ‘Aquadefence’ ventilation system, ‘Seeflex’ Level-2 CE-approved armour at elbow and shoulders, pockets for optional chest and back protectors and an overall CE approval rating of AA.

Pros

Gore-Tex outer and laminate
Quality features
Stylish design

Cons

Less fashionable brand

About the author: After qualifying as a mechanical engineer, Jim Blackstock began working on magazines in the early 1990s. He remains passionate about product testing to ensure readers know what products offer good value and why. He relishes torrential rain to see if riding kit keeps water out and an hour or two to tinker on a project bike in his workshop.

- Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us.

By Jim Blackstock

Keen wet weather rider and dedicated product tester for MCN and sister publication RiDE Magazine.

Best laminated textile motorcycle jackets