Leather or Textile?

[thrasherfox]

I am looking to get a pair of riding pants.

I am having a difficult time choosing between leather and textile.

Textile seems lighter and probably a lot cooler to ride in, and it gets hot where I am at in the summer. 90+ most of the time.

I also like the zipper legs on the textile making it easy to take them off.

The leather however seems a lot better protection if you go down. It not only seems better at protecting against abrasions, but also might do a better job of keeping limbs in tact and attached to the body.

Any experience? comments?

I am looking at First Gear Pilot pants for the leather pants

And looking at the Joe Rocket Phoenix Pants for the Textile.

Comments? Suggestions?

 

[BigDawg_03Busa]

I voted leather, but I'm wondering if you'd be better of with textile (waterproof that is). Kinda like having protective waterproof clothing with increased comfort. This may be the option for me as I have legs like small tree trunks.

 

[MidnightBusainSD]

I have first Gears over pans the 550 denimer type i really like them and had gone down in them once slid a ways and never saw any marks on them i was impressed i only slid about 5 to 10 foot though and they area also setup to attach a jacket to them also and have a liner for them as well price wasn't bad but they might be a bit bulky since you wear them over your jeans or shorts which i did in really hot days

 

[Kento-Moto]

I would say get a pair of each if you can afford it. Laguna had some great prices on stuff last year. I have a pair of Dragin jeans I like, (www.dragginjeans.com). They have Kevlar sewn in the knees & butt and I have insert armor for the knees too. Also there is a bunch of stuff you can wear under what ever kinda pants you have check out www.actionstation.com

Also, I found an article I posted here ( somewhere ) once that had a comparo chart. It showed how far you could skid a material across ashphalt before it broke through, very interesting. wish i could find that again... anyway I remember denim jeans were like 4 ft or less, motorcycle textile was about 30 feet, leather was by far the best like 100 ft or more. I believe in good protection.

 

[MET]

I have and use both. I love m Joe Rocket pants and mesh jacket. Love my ason, love my Tecknic. I use them all. Theya re all ver safe, the big diffeence is if you do go down the leath may be able to be sed again. The Textile most likely will not. It will protect very goo though.

 

[pure_ego]

if you hit somethign capable of tearin limb from body.. i wouldn't have too much hope of leather, or textile holding it on... not to be a pessimist.. but it's just part of bikin.

 

[pure_ego]

i personally wear all leather stuff.. even in the heat... i love my skin.

 

[Haywood]

I'm with ego on this one.. I always wear full leathers, regardless of temperature or distance. I don't know too much about the textile stuff because of my affinity toward leathers. Lots of guys wear them though, although I've never seen a professional rider wear them .. wonder if there's something to that, eh?

 

[BigDawg_03Busa]

Textiles come in handy with rain though. I know we never plan to ride in the rain, but man try wearing leathers after a 30 minute downpour.

 

[thrasherfox]

Textiles come in handy with rain though.  I know we never plan to ride in the rain, but man try wearing leathers after a 30 minute downpour.

BigDawg -

You forget.. I live in California.. it don't rain here bro lol

I have however lived in South Carolina for a few years, and I must say I was amazed and blown away on how it would be sunny on one side of the street, and 20 feet away it would be pouring rain on your neighbors across the street.

Or how you can be driving down a really pretty road sun shining and all, and out of nowhere it just starts pouring rain. still nice and sunny... just raining like crazy lol

I am a total 100% fair weather rider and proud of it.. if I were stuck somewhere and it started raining, I would probably get a hotel room and call the wife and say I will be home tomorrow.

So textiles just for the purpose of being water proof, is not a consideration for me.. but I do appreciate you mentioning it, because most people would need to take that into consideration. And I were not such a wimp about riding in the rain, I would also

I think what I have decided to do is buy a pair of leather pants to match my leather jacket and I will see how that works. If it gets too bad, then I can always buy textiles later.. at least pants. My jacket is pretty air vented so I think I can wear that in heat or cold.

 

[thesnake]

All leather cept pants here. Gloves, boots, jacket= leather. Pants typically jeans. I've slid about 40 feet with jeans and it ain't any fun picking glass and pabbles out for a few months... I'm looking for a pair of leather pants that is fairly cool and doesn't cost and arm and leg (no pun intended!)

 

[Nijinsky3]

Textile for cold weather, leather for hot. BTW, leather should always (ideally) be snug/close fitting. The looser it is, the more it will twist/pinch in a crash! I have heard of some nasty stories involving loose leather suits and accidents. Call Z Leathers in Huntington Beach, Ca for custom stuff, they do a great job!