The best summer motorcycle gear tested by MCN riders for adventure, cruising, racing and touring

One of the best times to go riding is in the summer; bright sunshine, warm weather and long hours of daylight make any ride even more fun. And the prospect of a ride to the seaside for fish and chips is, frankly, one that few can resist. However, just like riding in winter, choosing the right summer motorcycle gear can make the difference between enjoying every moment and it feeling like a chore.

While your year-round textile kit will work well into the summer, you may find that however breathable the membrane, however large the vents, and however removable the thermal liner, they are still a little cumbersome and restrictive for a ride in the height of summer. So you may want to consider something a bit more lightweight, a bit cooler, a bit more appropriate to the conditions.

If you know what you are looking for jump straight to it:

• Helmets
• Jackets
• Trousers
• Gloves
• Boots
• Other things to consider
• Frequently asked questions
• How we test kit

So, here’s our picks of the best summer motorcycle gear:

Helmets

The best summer helmets will let you feel the refreshing cool breeze, while still keeping you safe should anything happen on the road. Open-face helmets are unmatched for ventilation, but leave your chin and face completely exposed. Flip-fronts offer the best of both, and are often packed with extra features that make them incredibly versatile. Some full-face helmets offer great ventilation too, so the amount of choice starts to become overwhelming. But we’ve chosen some of the best for you; here’s our top picks:

Jackets

The best summer jackets should be comfortable, keep you cool, and make you look good. Nothing can top a good leather jacket for looks or protection, but they can get pretty hot and stuffy. Textile jackets often have lots of ventilation, and that can make them more comfortable in really hot weather. You might want a jacket that can give you more versatility, if you plan on going touring or adventure riding, and there’s plenty of options on the market for that too. With all that in mind, here’s our top picks of the best summer jackets:

Trousers

The best summer trousers will keep you cool and protected, while being comfortable and light enough that you can make the most of the weather. That makes riding jeans the go-to choice for many riders, but some textile trousers may offer more versatility should you need it on tour, or adventuring. Of course, leather trousers will offer the best protection for high-speed riding too, so they’re worth considering for sports riding, and especially for track day racing. With that in mind, here’s our top picks for the best summer trousers:

Gloves

The best summer gloves should offer lots of ventilation to keep your hands cool, while still protecting you as much as possible. This can be a difficult balance to find, but that comes with one big advantage – summer gloves often give you great feel for the bike’s controls, making your ride that much more enjoyable. Of course, there are some options on the market that offer great armour and reinforcement in a summer glove too, and you may prefer peace of mind over tactility. With that in mind, here’s our picks for the best summer gloves:

Boots

The best summer boots should offer protection, and good feel for the bike’s controls, without creating a sauna around your feet. That means breathable, comfortable boots with good CE ratings. High topped boots will offer more protection, but at the cost of some freedom of movement. Some manufacturers offer riding boots that look just like trainers, which are an excellent choice for tackling the urban sprawl. With that in mind, here’s our picks for the best summer boots:

Other options to consider

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to compromise on safety to stay cool?

The simple answer is no, the materials used in protective motorcycle gear has moved on significantly and most manufacturers are able to offer summer gear like mesh jackets with safety ratings of AA or above.

Is summer gear worth spending money on over other gear?

This really depends on how good your personal ability to handle the heat is and where you live. If you live in a climate where you don’t get many warm days, then no, it’s probably not worth having specific summer gear. However if you live in a warmer part of the country and you struggle in the heat, then I would say it is definitely worth having kit to keep you cool and concentrating.

What should I be looking for in summer kit?

Look for the safety rating as with any kit, this is what keeps you safe in an accident. Also generally speaking what keeps you cool is ventilation, like mesh panels. These allow the air to flow through the garment and keep you from getting too sticky.

How MCN tests summer motorcycle gear

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t usually test our summer motorcycle gear to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions, while also being on top of the key safety regulations. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one, and regularly test and review summer kit.

To find out if a summer product is worth spending your money on, our testers use them in the way you will. That means riding in them in whichever conditions they are designed for, which in this case means warm weather.

We test against various criteria such as the weight of the products, its venting, any active cooling technology, how it performs stationary in traffic as well as travelling at motorway speeds, and of course, which safety ratings they adhere to.

This allows us to give a full overview of which areas each product performs well in. We asses how the products fit; are they true to size, and they comfortable to wear while riding but also off the bike too? Do the products feel like the level of quality matches up to the price, or does it exceed in this area?

If you can’t see a review against an item on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These items will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

What our star ratings mean

When we review a product, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given product, you may also find more specific scores for the different aspects of a product’s performance to help you make an informed decision. Here’s a guide to what each number score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

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