Best motorcycle jackets tried and tested by MCN | An expert buying guide, whatever you ride

After a helmet, the most well known piece of kit that bikers wear is a good motorcycle jacket. Motorcyclists have been wearing leather jackets ever since riders first discovered that cow hide was better at resisting damage than tweed. Things have come along way since then…

From the fairly basic all-black jackets riders worn by the Rockers in the 1960s (black to hide the oil spots as the bikes’ engines were generally far from oil-tight), we now have multi-coloured jackets in a huge variety of different shapes, styles and colours, covering everything from casual to full on touring. Fabric technology has also moved on hugely over time with textile materials offering a lot of versatility and choice.

There are now options available that are specifically designed for summer or winter riding, whether you ride a sportsbike, a naked or adventure bike. There are even a few options that include the latest airbag protective technology. Which type of jacket you require will be largely determined by what, where and when you ride.

Jump straight to

• Leather Jackets
• Textile Jackets
• Summer Jackets
• Retro Jackets
• Sportsbike Jackets
• Ladies Jackets
• Casual Jackets

Things to consider before you buy a motorcycle jacket

Before you put your hand in your pocket and buy a motorbike jacket, there are a few things you need to think about.

What bike you have, the kind of riding you do, where you ride and what conditions you face should all be taken into consideration first.

Jackets with a sporty cut, for example, fit the riding position on a sportsbike better than a cruiser or adventure bike. You’ll notice when you see a rack of leather sportsbike jackets in the shop that the arms all naturally hang forward in front of the torso. This is so they are comfortable when reaching forwards for clip-on handle bars.

That’s not to say they won’t work at all on other bike types, but it’s possible you’d be better off looking elsewhere.

Next, think about the kind of riding you do. If a bimble around town or to the pub on a sunny day is about as far as you get (or you want a jacket specifically for this) then you won’t need to think about weather protection. You could also consider a AA-standard safety level, too, or even a riding shirt or hoodie.

If you ride in all weathers, year-round and won’t get out of bed for less than a 300-mile route, then you will be looking at laminated textiles with thermal liners or a modular textile system with separate drop liners and wind-proof layers.

Leather is still the safest material in a slide and a AAA jacket with level 2 armour and back protector is most likely for you if you ride a sportsbike at or above a middleweight engine size. And if you fancy riding on track, go for one that can zip to matching trousers, too.

Style is less crucial than safety when it comes to motorbike jackets, but there’s a safety aspect to looking good in your clobber, too. If you think it looks good, you’ll always wear it.

Feeling comfortable is also a big deal on your bike – if you’re thinking about a chafe or pinch you’re not concentrating on the road properly. So, make sure you get the right size (order several and return the wrong ones) and resist wearing hand-me-down gear from a friend or family member if it doesn’t really fit (or it was made in the mid-20th century).

Leather Jackets

When people think about a motorcycle jacket, chances are the image of a leather jacket is what is conjured up in their mind. Leather was considered the best material to make jackets from for a long time as it had great abrasion resistance. These days typically leather jackets are for sportsbike riders and retro style riders due to the fact that leather jackets tend to be less practical than textile jackets. With less pockets and less versatility with varying weather conditions.

Full list of leather motorcycle jackets

Textile Jackets

Textile jackets tend to be more versatile than leather jacket due to their larger pockets, removable liners and waterproof membranes. Almost all touring jackets will be made of a textile material but pretty much any type of motorcycle jacket, be it retro, sports or adventure, will have a textile option. Textile garments are usually machine washable and can be re waterproofed using special detergents, which can make them an easier option for some. For help with how to wash textile motorbike kit.

Full list of textile motorcycle jackets

Summer Jackets

Summer jackets are fairly self explanatory, they are jackets that are designed to keep you cooler in summer riding conditions. They tend to be either perforated leather or a textile with mesh inserts to allow airflow through the jacket.

Full list of summer motorcycle jackets

Retro Jackets

With old being the new new, retro motorcycle styling is big these days. With detailing like diamond stitching and studs to give that vintage feel. These jackets tend to be either leather or waxed cotton. The perfect pairing for a classic motorcycle.

Full list of retro motorbike gear

Sportsbike Jackets

Sportsbike jackets are most often leather due to its abrasion resistance but are also available in textile. They have a shorter cut to avoid rucking up when leant over to the low bars of a sportsbike. You may find a race hump at the back to increase aerodynamics.

Full list of best sporty motorcycle gear

Ladies Jackets

Ladies jackets are obviously cut and tailored differently to accommodate the different body shape that women have. Other than the fit, ladies jackets don’t vary much from the mens’ versions.

Full list of ladies motorcycle jackets

Casual Jackets

Casual or urban riding jackets are designed to look more like regular clothes, for instance hoodies or softshell jackets. Typically they don’t offer the highest level of protection as their intent is more aimed at city riding at slower speeds. It’s important to be mindful of the safety ratings that are offered by this type of clothing and think if it is the right choice for your riding style.

Full list of casual riding jackets

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Things to consider when buying a motorcycle jacket

Safety Ratings

It’s generally considered a good idea to buy the safest gear that you can reasonably afford to, but it isn’t always that clear what is safe and what isn’t.

Motorcycle jackets in the UK should be certified to a safety standard, this is the CE rating. There are two types of ratings, one is for the abrasion resistance of the garment, rated from B to AAA and the other is for the armour. This will be rated at either level 1 or level 2, depending on the impact protection it provides.

Can it be zipped to a set of trousers?

Most jackets have a zip to allow them to be connected to a set of trousers (from the same manufacturer) to create a a suit where the back does not ride up and create a gap. Some jackets will have a full connection zip and others will only have a short zip the only zips the back.

Is the lining removable?

Most textile jackets will have a removable liner but not all leather ones will. If the lining isn’t removable, the jacket can become sweaty and a bit smelly, so buying one with a removable lining is generally a good idea, not only so they can be washed but also so they jacket can be worn in a wider variety of weather conditions.

Does it have vents?

The more vents, the cooler you will be! Some leather jackets are perforated, which is fine if the sun it out but less good when it rains, where textiles generally have zip-covered vents. If you are planning on touring hot areas, the more vents the merrier, but be aware that any zip is a potential weak point when it comes to water ingress so a waterproof zip is ideal.

Is it waterproof or water-resistant?

A lot of jackets are ‘water-resistant’ or ‘shower-proof’ which means they will resist a bit of rain but not a full-on deluge. A waterproof jacket should ensure that you stay dry in even the worst of the British rain.

What size do I need?

The fit you require from your jacket will depend on when you use it, winter jackets probably want to fit a little more loosely so there is room for layers underneath. A summer jacket can fit more snuggly as you will be unlikely to require layering up underneath, maybe just a summer baselayer. Some jackets are measured in sizes (XS to XXXL), others in EU measurements or UK sizes so check each firm’s size chart first what size will suit you.

Does it have a hump?

Some sporty leather jackets have an aerodynamic hump on their rear. They aren’t really necessary when riding on the road, but some like the race look, or maybe you plan to ride on the track.

How MCN tests Jackets

At MCN, our team of expert journalists with decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles test as many 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 (not 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 other prefer touring in textiles or cruising the streets on a Harley with a retro leather jacket.

Whatever we’re riding and wearing, the testers are asked to think about certain aspects of their 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 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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