MCN’s top tested textile motorcycle jackets for safety, comfort, and all-weather riding

There are two broad categories of motorcycle jackets: textiles and leathers. Each has its own distinct features, and often choosing between them comes down to personal preference and the type of riding you do.

Textile vs leather jackets explained

Leather jackets have a timeless style about them. They offer excellent protection, often with a higher CE Rating than textiles, and will last for decades if well cared for. But they’re less versatile in changing weather; they can overheat when it’s hot, and when the heavens open up they can become water-logged and heavy. If you do a lot of riding in those conditions, read on to find out why textiles may well offer the answer…

The basics of textile motorcycle jackets

The reason textile jackets are so popular is they do the job a motorcycle jacket is designed to do in most situations and in all weather conditions. 

The first is to keep vulnerable parts of your upper body protected if you have a spill. It should also keep you warm and dry when it’s cold or raining, and well ventilated when it’s warmer.

Comfort and practicality are big reasons why so many motorcyclists prefer textile jackets, but utility is another consideration. Textiles often have more pockets for carrying smaller items that you need to access quickly, and this is especially useful on longer rides where your motorbike is loaded with luggage that’s a bit harder to access.

Best deals at a glance

• 50% off Dainese Alligator Textile Jacket – was £369.95, now £184.98
• 45% off Pharao Cedar Waterproof Textile Jacket – was £189.99, now £99.99
• 30% off RST Pro Series Adventure-X CE Textile Jacket – was £299.99, now £209.99

Protective features of textile motorcycle jackets

A jacket’s impact resistance, abrasion resistance, and construction strength are factors that will protect you in a fall. You might also consider an airbag as an enhanced safety feature.

Many textile motorcycle jackets will come with armour inserted in the back, shoulders, and elbows, although some charge extra for the back armour plate. Chest protection is also often an optional add-on. The armour should be rated at least CE Level 1, but ideally Level 2 (the highest), which absorbs and dissipates impact energy more effectively.

And then the textile garment itself will have its own CE Rating. Clothing constructed to an AAA rating offer the highest level of abrasion resistance and the strongest construction methods (seam strength, zipper and so on).

These are often stiffer and not as comfortable on long rides, though, so many people find a balance that works for their own use. Most textile jackets these days are rated middle-spec AA, but are well covered by armour inserts to the highest level. If you mainly ride longer distances or at higher speeds then we’d suggest your jacket should have either the AA or AAA rating. Textile jackets used mainly for urban riding or bimbling over to the local café might only need to be A or AA rated.

The looks, features and practicality of textile jackets

After considering how a textile motorcycle jacket will protect you, it then comes down to the features and looks you want, and how practical it needs to be. 

Most will either be water-resistant or waterproof, and will be breathable and well ventilated for when temperatures rise.

Modular textile jackets combine detachable layers that provide different functions. There’s the tough, water-resistant outer layer, a waterproof inner layer, and a thermal liner for colder days.

You can add or subtract these layers depending on the weather forecast for the day. But three layers can be bulky, and it can be a hassle stopping to detach or replace layers.

Laminated textile jackets simplify this by bonding the inner waterproof layer to the outer shell guaranteeing you a dry ride. You’ve still got the detachable thermal liner if needed.

A touring-style textile jacket will be longer so it keeps your lower back covered over the miles and in varying weather conditions, while a sportier jacket will be shorter and maybe more stylish.

It’s worth considering if there’s any reflective material on the jacket. This goes a long way to increasing your visibility to others on the road, especially at night, without being quite as blatantly standout-ish as a hi-vis jacket.

Our top tried and tested textile jackets

A summary of what to look for in a textile motorcycle jacket

Textile motorcycle jackets are great for packing lots of functionality into one jacket, so it’s worth capitalising on that when you’re looking to buy one.

Protection is a big thing to consider, so check the safety rating for impact and abrasion resistance. Textile garments generally have lower safety ratings than leathers, and you don’t often see higher than an AA rating. But they compensate for that with the highest levels of armour inserts.

Utility can make textiles incredibly practical, so check how many pockets are offered and how big they are. You won’t want to carry everything in your jacket, but having large and plentiful pockets can save you from digging to the bottom your panniers at every border crossing and are ideal for carrying your phone, a few snacks maybe, and other small items.

Ventilation makes textiles incredibly versatile for year-round riding. Conversely, if you want the jacket to be warm enough for cold rides check for thermal linings and/or thermal padding to keep windchill at bay. Also consider any waterproofing, as not all textile jackets offer this, and some are better than others.

If all that sounds like a lot to get your head around, It’s worth having a look at some of our expert jacket reviews. Here at MCN, we go into the nitty gritty – putting all kinds of products through thousands of miles of testing, to find out which kit on the market today is really value for money.

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How MCN tests textile jackets

Our team of expert journalists, with decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles, test as many textile jackets as we can get our hands on so we can tell you which is worth spending your money on.

We don’t test our kit to destruction or crash test it (on purpose…); we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

Some of our testers specialise in sportier kit and ride a lot of sportsbikes on the road and track while others prefer touring in textiles.

Whatever we’re riding and wearing, the testers are asked to think about certain aspects of their textile jacket when they are writing their review. These categories should be given a star rating out of five, with only jackets that are awarded four stars or more overall included in a buying guide.

Comfort

Is the jacket comfy? This may seem like a pretty basic need but it’s one of the most important factors. If you’re thinking about how uncomfortable you are, you’re not thinking about the road ahead! Comfort also covers aspects like the venting/insulation and the feel on and off the bike.

Practicality

It’ll be more of an issue with more complicated modular jacket systems but is it easy to put on/take off? The testers will also consider the number and location of pockets and versatility in this category.

Looks

The look of a jacket is completely subjective, but we like our testers to give an opinion. They know their onions after all!

Quality

How does it feel? You can often tell from the moment you pick up a jacket whether it’s likely to last a lifetime or barely a season. If it’s waterproof, does it stay dry? What are the zips like to use and are they sturdy?

Protection

This is an objective element to this category as we only test jackets that are designated as PPE and so meet the required CE testing criteria. The overall garment abrasion standard and the level of the armour is taken into consideration, but it’s not as simple as scoring a tougher jacket higher.

Some jackets are designed to be lightweight, cooling or casual-looking and so any CE rating is impressive. Similarly, a high-rated jacket could have armour that doesn’t stay in place as you move around.

Ultimately, we ask our testers if they would you feel confident crashing in it (or how it performed when they did crash in it).

Value

Is the asking price fair compared to other jackets on the market and the quality of garment you get. Cheap doesn’t mean the same as good value here.

Overall

An aggregate of the other scores that may be rounded up or down at the discretion of the tester. The big question is, would they spend their own money on the jacket?

If you can’t see a review against a jacket on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These jackets 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.

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Our scores explained

When we review a textile jacket, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given jacket, 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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