Safety Before Style: How to Choose a Good Quality Biker Jacket

Leather is one of the most popular materials used by bikers worldwide and there is a very good reason for this. The increasing demand for leather products has increased competitors which can drive prices down (great for the buyer but not for the seller). But when looking for leather to wear for riding purpose, never look for the cheapest price, look for quality and what will keep you the most protected! Look for an investment!

What Leather to Buy?

There are many different leather used for different purposes, below are different types of hides and what they are best used for:

●     Cowhide/buffalo- One of the most durable hides used in the leather industry, used for furnishing and motorcycle leather jackets. It is one of the more expensive hides but offers the best thickness and is long lasting. This leather is usually stiff and heavy.( Image by jacketsusa )

●     Lambskin- A lot more softer and supple, lightweight and used in the fashion industry forfashion wear. It will still last longer than fabrics.

●     Split- This leather is what most manufacturers calls budget leather, top layer of leather is sliced and two thinner layers are used.

These are the main leathers used, there are a lot more which available but the listed above are mainly used for leather jacket. When buying online look for trusted sellers and for jackets made in cowhide or buffalo hide. These hides will offer the best protection on the biker as they are the thickest hides available. The thickness can vary depending on what sellers are offering but 1.1-1.3mm is a good thickness for a biker jacket.

There will be a lot of sellers who only use the terms real leather, or full leather! email or telephone in and ask what leather is actually used. This is because sellers may be selling split leather which is a lot cheaper than cowhide but not as thick or durable. So always look for a seller who states what hide the jacket is made of.

Added Features:

Below are the main added features which make up great motorcycle leather jackets:

1.     Protectivearmour pads- the most key feature to look for, check to see if the jacket comes with armour and/or has pockets to place armours into. These are typically in the shoulders, back and elbows. CE approved armours are the pads which you should search for as these have been tested.

2.     Extra external padding- Some jacket come with extra padding on the outside

3.     Double lining- This will help keep you insulated, most sellers who sell jackets with double lining usually have one which is removable and can be easily zipped out.

4.     Air vents- This helps to circulate air around the jacket.

5.     YKK zippers- These are heavy duty zips

These are the main things to look out for when purchasing leather jacket online, once you’ve looked at the leather used, the safety aspects that the jackets have then look at the style and colour you refer. Once again note that it is key to buy from a seller who has stated what leather is used and to be sure always email or telephone to confirm. ( Image by jessica )

Leather is pricey, so if for a great biker jacket but at a cheaper budget, there is lots of fabric jackets which are ideal for biking. These jackets can sometimes offer more features such as reflective piping to help keep you visible to other drivers at night. These jackets can also be very well insulated if purchased from the right person. 

Kelly Richards- Leather expert has studied different hides, focusing on safety for bikers. 

Leather Leather Leather, what can you buy?

Leather is everywhere! It’s used for making the majority of our sofas, shoes, handbags, purses and clothing. Leather jacket for mens is probably the most purchased leather clothing. Anything bought in leather is money well spent if you have purchased the right leather, it’s durable and will last a long time. Unlike fabric clothing it, the more worn leather is, the better it seems to look. Below we will look at some of the most purchased designs in leather jackets, coat and waistcoats.

Leather Jacket for Mens

The most famous style which has been used by a vast majority of sellers is the marlon brando leather jacket. This jacket offers the a punk rocker look which most musicians now where as well as bikers and for generalfashion wear. In the early 19th century leather jackets were associated to a certain group or just for bikers.

Now it’s worn as an everyday item regardless of whether you own a motorcycle or not. It is important to buy jacket which are made from 100% real leather if you want your monies worth, generally in biker wear then you should be after products made in buffalo or cowhide. For fashion wear then your looking at a softer less expensive leather which is lambskin or sheepskin. (Image by san )

Mens Coats

fabric seem to be the popular option for coats, especially for formal wear. Leather coats are now coming into style also, we see them worn in major Hollywood movies and realise that they actually look quite good on. In recent movies we see the Jack Reacher wearing a nice mid length black leather coat and going back about 15 years there is the famous red coat worn by Brad Pitt in Fight Club.

Mens coat come in a range of different style and colours, the majority stick to neutral colours. We have given examples of mid length coats, let's not forget trench coats. These were bought back into style after the release of The Matrix movies where you see all the main characters wearing long length trench coats.

Mens Waistcoats

Waistcoats for men seem to be a multi purpose where and depends on the style purchased. For example, the multi pocket fishermen's waistcoat is usually worn while fishing to hold all the bits and bobs as well as camping. This is what we call a multi purpose vest because of its excessive pockets. These are usually made from cowhide leather and can be quite expensive.

The there is the very famous Sons of Anarchy leather vest which, this seems to be quite a popular design and worn by bikers and fashionbuyers. Made from cowhide leather, it’s simple and can be worn over a leather jacket. The mandarin collar style is simple and we see that most fashion buyers wear this vest with combat trousers and a t shirt.

Mens waistcoats were mainly associated with bikers but now are worn for fashion wear, the numerous different styles make them desirable to everyone. ( Image by Freaky )

Leather trousers

Worn by fashion buyers and bikers, these come in a range of styles and colours. The most popular are the classic loose fits trousers which are plain and match with almost everything. You can wear these with a shirt or t-shirt. The next most common style sold are the combat cargo leather trousers which are a lot more casual and comes with large pockets on the side of the legs.