The Textile Industry has been experimenting for years with synthetic blends aimed at producing suitable apparel for the extreme conditions often found in the great outdoors. A whole new breed of outdoor wear has evolved resulting in added comfort and safety for adventurers pursuing such activities as skiing and snowmobiling, mountain and rock climbing, dirt biking, road racing, or just motor biking down the road.

For the motorcyclist, high density ballistic nylon, better known as Cordura, combined with Air Mesh or Stretch Kevlar blends for reinforcement, offer a textile alternative to the often hot and heavy leather motorcycle jacket and chap.

The Cordura Alternative

Cordura based motorcycle jackets are light weight and water resistant, a desirable quality in warmer and wetter climates. Performance ratings for such criteria as resistance to abrasion and maintaining integrity in the event of a crash are comparable to their leather counterparts. Heat resistance and breathability of synthetic textiles are an added measure of comfort and safety, and these ballistic nylons are designed not to “grab” the road, allowing for a clean slide as opposed to a dangerous tumble.

A good Cordura motorcycle jacket will offer seam sealed protection to keep out moisture, yet be vented to allow for a breezy, comfortable ride. Zip out linings offer an extra layer of warmth, and can be made from moisture resistant insulating materials like the water repelling synthetic Goretex.

Cordura motorcycle pants will often have heat resistant material at the inner calves to avoid melting down at close proximity to a hot exhaust pipe, and stretch material or panels can be located at strategic locations for added maneuverability.

Added Protection: Following the Lead of the Racing Industry

Perhaps because these textiles are much thinner than leather, a small bump on the elbow is likely to hurt a lot more. Motorcycle apparel manufactures have incorporated the use of extra protections for the most vulnerable parts of the body that have long been utilized on the motorcycle racing circuit.

Extra padding made from shock absorbing material like Tempra Foam, Dual Density Foam, or hard rubber, can be strategically located at the shoulders, elbows and knees, and in the case of many cordura motorcycle products, are removable.

Look for these extra protections to be CE approved. Certifique Europe is a European organization similar to the DOT in the U.S. that attempts to establish a standard for body armor in the European community. Arguably, there are many perfectly good protectors out there that just have not been submitted to the CE for approval, but as far as standards go for motorcycle safety gear, it’s all we have.

Extra protections in the form of CE approved body armor are by no means exclusive to the textile motorcycle apparel industry. Modern day leather motorcycle jacket designs are using them more and more, and manufacturers of professional motorcycle racing suits, leather and otherwise, have always incorporated these features for the safety and protection of their racers.

There is, and always will be camps on both sides of the issue of leather vs. textile. Some say that no textile can hold a candle to a riding grade leather product in the event of a crash. Others will say a light and breezy cordura jacket is like a breath of fresh air, as opposed to a stifling, heavy leather jacket on a hot summer day. 

The bottom line is the choice is yours, and the determining factor may be as simple as the place you live. Thirty years ago things were different. It was either get the leather, or hit the road, Jack!

Next: Rule # 3: Protect the Extremeties

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