Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Riding Jacket

A good riding jacket is among the most important elements of riding gear. It not only provides protection from the elements and helps you avoid serious injuries in the event of a crash, but also makes you look stylish when you ride your beloved two-wheeler. Though it takes little knowledge to choose the right riding jacket, here are some simple tips with the help of which your jacket can be more than just a cosmetic addition to your riding gear.

Let’s have a look.

1. Reflectors:

A riding jacket essentially needs to have reflectors. The reason being, it helps in improving the visibility in dark as riding at night can be dangerous. This is when a rider needs to get noticed by other vehicles. If you have reflectors on your riding jacket, they will glow in light from any other vehicle and make you highly visible. Hence, other motorists will be able to spot you from a distance.

2. Fit:

A comfortable fit for a riding jacket is as important as its protection capabilities. The jacket should neither be too tight nor too loose so that it can be worn comfortably both, in summer and winter. Further, its length at the arms should be just perfect as longer sleeves can interfere while holding the handlebars.

3. Removable Liners:

Most of the jackets come with a removable liner - with options for rain and wind-proofing. Such a liner that can be removed by simply unzipping it from the interior of the jacket. The presence of liner proves quite useful in winters when you have to cope up with chilly winds and freezing temperatures while riding on open roads. A liner helps you stay warm and cosy and makes sure that your body temperature remains normal in such adverse conditions.

4. Number of Pockets:

A riding jacket must have at least a few pockets to accommodate some stuff including mobile phone, wallet, etc. This would be a convenient way to store important items during a ride, and you can easily carry any of the utilities mentioned above without any hassle.

5. Air Vents:

If you are willing to go for a leather jacket, make sure that the one you are choosing comes with a number of air vents. The reason being, leather is poor in air passage and if your jacket has absence of air vents, then you might end up sweating yourself to misery during peak summer days.

6. Thickness:

While buying a leather jacket, do keep in mind that the thickness of the leather should be at least a millimetre thick or more. This can be really helpful in case of a crash as your skin will not get damaged due to this thick leather layer on it. 

7. Leather Material:

Jackets made of cowhide would prove to be the best. It is one of the finest leathers and feels totally natural to touch. Pigskin leather is also a good quality of leather but goes for a toss when it comes to durability.