With motorcycling textiles becoming ever more sophisticated and littered with technical jargon, it’s sometimes confusing trying to understand what’s available. Laminated 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
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From respected British brand Oxford, this laminated jacket is designed to be affordable and within reach of most bikersu2019 budgets. It has a laminated outer shell that uses Oxfordu2019s own u2018Dry2Dryu2019 waterproof and breathable membrane bonded to a tough nylon material, while thereu2019s 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
Con:
Lacks the features of some
Bering Tijuana Gore-Tex
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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
Con:
Pricier than some
Richa Infinity 2 Pro
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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 u2018Aquashell Prou2019 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
Con:
Not as ‘snazzy’ as some
iXS ladies laminated ST-Plus
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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
Con:
Less fashionable brand
Weise Outlast Frontier
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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
Con:
Fairly sober design
Rukka Nivala Gore-Tex
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Yes, itu2019s pricey u2013 although Sportsbikeshop has cut nearly £200 off the RRP u2013 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
Con:
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 u2018D-Dryu2019 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
Con:
Not as ‘all-season’ as some
Revu2019It Vertical GTX
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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
Con:
Less fashionable brand