Driving a motorcycle can be a struggle in hot weather, especially in the warmer parts of the world. I’m someone who sweats quite fast and last summer was just killing me. So I decided to look for alternatives for my leather jacket, just for those hot summer days.
After some Google searches, I came across mesh motorcycle jackets. They seemed the perfect solution but I was wondering if they are safe enough. I did some research on them and want to share my conclusions with you. I’ll give you a short answer in the bolded area below, and will go into detail further after that.
Want to know what my favorite recommended mesh jacket is? Read my buyer’s guide for mesh motorcycle jackets.
Are mesh motorcycle jackets safe during a fall?
Professional mesh jackets will keep you relatively safe during a fall. They are designed to protect you while sliding over the asphalt. Depending on the material that is being used, they can even have a higher abrasion resistance than regular textile jackets. Some mesh jackets offer armor on impact areas, for extra protection during the impact of the fall.
What is a mesh motorcycle jacket?
Mesh motorcycle jackets are made for people who ride during the hot summer days. They typically have fabric that lets air pass through on the front and the back, whiles it still has protective Cordura on the impact zones. The mesh material in the front and back ensure that the fresh air is blown all through the jacket.
Make sure the mesh jacket fits well. It has to fit close to the body otherwise, the extra fabric will slam your body during riding in the wind. A mesh motorcycle jacket can be combined with a mesh pair of pants or trendy motorcycle jeans. I personally combine them with my kevlar motorcycle jeans all the time.
Are mesh jackets much cooler than textile or leather jackets?
Quite often people wonder if mesh jackets are that much cooler than textile or leather jackets. Especially because nowadays most textile jackets offer ventilation zippers and leather jackets can be bought perforated for extra ventilation.
I own a textile, leather and mesh motorcycle jacket. My personal experience is that mesh jackets make a HUGE difference in hot weather. I start wearing my mesh jacket between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 24 degrees Celsius). I’ll wear my leather jacket when it is a little bit cooler, but my leather jacket can’t get wet. I have a textile jacket for the winter period when I ride through the rain.
As I said, I’m someone who sweats quite fast and often. The mesh jacket keeps me so much cooler. I typically wear a sweat absorbing shirt underneath my mesh jacket and it has made a huge difference for me.
My biggest problem is that the jacket may be too cold in the early summer. During the afternoon it might be 80 degrees and the jacket is perfect. But when driving home in the evening with a temperature of 65 degrees, it might get a little bit chilly. Especially when driving at higher speeds.
To summarize, I’m just extremely happy with my purchase.
Combining a mesh jacket with a cooling vest
Are you in extremely hot weather and is a mesh jacket not enough to cool you down? In that case, I can advise adding a cooling vest under your mesh jacket.
What you do with this, is putting it underwater and you gently wring it out. There is also a mesh layer in the vest, which increases airflow and a absorbent layer which absorbs the water. Then there is a waterproof layer, which keeps the water from touching your skin.
You wear this under your mesh jacket. When the air hits the vest, the water will evaporate and it will give a cooling effect for hours. The only thing you have to do when it dries out, is putting it underwater and wring it out again.
The best part is that REV’IT has a cooling vest that you can insert into your primary textile or mesh jacket. This means you can take both the jacket and the vest off at the same time. It’s absolute heaven when you drive in extremely hot conditions!
Will mesh jackets tear down while sliding on a crash?
The simple answer is no, they do not. Mesh jackets are made to not tear down whiles you slide on a crash. They feature a heavy mesh and polyester outer housing, usually have protectors in the shoulders and elbows, and an extra layer of protection on impact zones.
However, they are not re-usable after a crash. The differences between the different type of jackets after a crash are:
- Leather jackets will scratch badly on a crash, but in most of the cases they don’t tear down. In some cases, it’s even possible to sand and dye the leather. After that, the suit is good to go and you don’t have to buy new gear to stay protected. On longer slides
however , even leather will tear down, especially when you already crashed previously. - Regular textile jackets are made to withstand an impact and a slide. In most cases, it means the end for your textile jacket. You cannot sand and dye it to wear it again.
- Mesh jackets are a one time only kind of thing. Yes, the material is made to not tear down on a slide. You just don’t want to crash twice with the same mesh jacket, especially when you’ve
slided
Is armor in a mesh jacket recommended?
Some good armor on the shoulders and elbows is always recommended. My REV’IT GT-R Air 2 jacket comes with flexible armor on the shoulders and elbows. On top of that, I added armoring in the back panel of the jacket. I rather drive a little bit less comfortable than having my spine uncovered during a crash. And to be honest, it’s not even that uncomfortable after all.
How much mesh do you need?
You can buy all kinds of mesh jackets and every brand has it’s own pros and cons. But how much mesh does a mesh jacket actually need?
When you compare the mesh jackets, you’ll see that some are completely made out of mesh whiles others just have mesh panels.
It really depends on your preferences which mesh jacket is best for you. The jackets that are completely made out of mesh material, are the coolest. However, they can be chilly when you ride your bike in the early morning or late evening.
Some mesh jackets also feature leather on the impact zone. These jackets tend to be a little bit more expensive, but they have a really nice finish and will last longer than the full mesh option.
My jacket is made out of textile, with mesh on the chest and back area. This is just fine for me, I don’t need mesh in my armpits and on my sleeves.
Are leather jackets safer than mesh jackets?
Some say there is nothing better than a leather suit. And I have to admit, leather would always be the first choice if we are speaking of safety. Have you ever seen Valentino Rossi driving on a racetrack in a mesh jacket? No, you haven’t.
Comfort, on the other hand, is a big thing when driving anywhere else than the race track. I’m simply getting too hot in a leather suit and I start losing my concentration due to that. Also keep in mind that the mesh material is only added on the ‘
It’s also the reason form te to choose for a 2-piece suit in stead of a 1-piece suit. More info can be found in my article: 1-piece vs. 2-piece motorcycle suits.
What is the best mesh jacket to buy?
Nowadays, there are a lot of different mesh jackets to choose from. I’ve made a whole dedicated page to the best mesh jackets you can buy today. It features brands like Alpinestars, REV’IT, and Dainese.
They all have their own price and it’s also a matter of personal preference. I love the Dainese jackets in the way they look, but they never fit me. That’s why I chose for REV’IT. I’ve also made a mesh jacket buyers guide, where I’ll go into detail for when you are buying your first mesh jacket.