A textile jacket is easier to wear than a leather jacket. They’re lighter and more flexible too. For all-day comfort, they’re a great choice.
They’re generally also a lot cheaper than a leather jacket, although it goes without saying, you can still spend a lot of money on textile kit.
One of the main benefits of a textile jacket is that they’re cheaper and easier for manufacturers to make them waterproof compared to a leather jacket. Most leather jackets will need to use a membrane, like Gore-Tex or the equivalent to keep water out and that tends to hike up the price.
We’ve put together a showcase of some great waterproof textile motorcycle jackets to suit all budgets. All the jackets in this test have a removable thermal lining and CE approved armour, meaning they’re ideal for all-year-round use.
RRP: £69.99
Made from 600D Cordura fabric for durability. The manufacturer claims it’s waterproof and the user reviews give it the thumbs up. It features a removable thermal lining and removable CE armour in the shoulders, elbows and back. There are waist and cuff adjusters for a better fit and the main closure is a YKK zip covered by a popper flap (which ought to provide decent protection in torrential rain) plus a high collar to fight the wind and raindrops. It’s not for everyone but for the price it really is hard to fault.
RRP: 169.99
The Montreal 4.0 is a long jacket with a waterproof drop liner and Dry2Dry breathable membrane to stay dry in extreme conditions. Suitable for all seasons, the removable thermal liner is perfect for colder days. The high collar includes an adjustable neoprene edge for added comfort along with soft Amara cuffs to prevent rubbing. Shoulder and elbow armour provide protection while the Bar-Tack stitching adds extra durability.
RRP: £219.99
Constructed from durable reinforced poly-fabric textiles, the Andes V3 includes CE level 1 Nucleon Flex Plus shoulder and elbow protection. For all-round protection, it is compatible with the Tech-Air 5 airbag and contains pockets for chest and back armour. With a removable thermal liner and added ventilation, this waterproof jacket protects you in all weather conditions. Featuring an adjustable waist, hem and pre-curved arms for comfort, it is suitable for a wide range of body shapes. Complete with 100% waterproof inner and outer pockets, plus connecting zip for the Andes V3 trousers.
RRP: £499.99
Constructed from Max Tex, Ballistic hardwearing textiles, the Adventure-X includes a built-in wireless airbag, CE certified back, shoulder and elbow protection for all-round safety. All boneded to an SinAqua waterproof membrane. With a removable liner and vents, this waterproof jacket protects you in all weather conditions. Featuring adjustable sleeves, waist and stretch panels for comfort, it is suitable for a wide range of body shapes. The apt neck protection reduces the risk of water entering the jacket and protects the full-length zip closure.
A hefty price tag but a quality bit of kit. The Kalix by Rukka is made with a Cordura 500 shell and Gore-Tex Pro 2-layer liner. Armour includes D3O CE approved armour in the shoulders and elbows and a pocket for a back protector. Two internal and two external pockets. Long waterproof zips for added ventilation in summer. It will zip into Rukka trousers. Register the jacket with Rukka for a 6-year warranty.
Women’s Waterproof Textile Motorcycle Jackets
No longer do you have to put up with ordering a small man’s size jacket and dealing with the boxy fit; there is now a decent range of women’s specific motorcycle jackets, built with curves in mind.
We’ve picked the ARMR below, as it’s a no-nonsense motorcycle jacket with a great set of features for a really good price.
RRP: £129.99
The ARMR Kami is one of the best ladies waterproof motorcycle jackets thanks to its wide range of sizes, subtle, yet feminine design, and overall protection. Constructed from 600D outer shell, Dry Tek waterproof liner, removable thermoline insulating liner and storm flap retention system. The Kami is 100% waterproof, thanks to TLS triple lock seams and provides warmth in colder climates. Protection is provided through CE approved shoulder and elbow armour plus the option to add back and chest protectors. The jacket has loads of adjusters to find your perfect fit, including 2 position elbow protector adjustments.
CE Approval for Textile Motorcycle Jackets
There are a couple of standards that your motorcycle clothing can be tested to. Either EN17092 or EN13595.
It’s important to understand that you don’t have to wear kit that is tested to this standard. You can ride in a T-shirt for example and that doesn’t have CE approval.
However if you buy motorcycle clothing from a retailer it is classed as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and therefore requires CE approval.
For motorcycle jackets (and trousers, jeans and leather suits) the standard is the same. Either EN13595 (this is the old standard) and the levels are Level 1 or 2. Or it’s tested to the new standard EN17092. The new standard has ratings from AAA (the best) to C. Any ‘A’ rating means it has been tested to an impact and abrasion standard. If it is B-rated it provides the same level of abrasion protection as an A rated garment but without impact protection and anything C rated designates it has been designed to hold impact protection. The minimum you want is an A rated garment.
Textile Jacket FAQs
How do you clean a textile jacket?
You can either hand clean it or machine wash it. If you’re hand cleaning, use a household scrubbing brush and some proper bike-kit cleaning solution, such as Sdoc or Nikwax. Work it in gently, then rinse it off then hang to dry. If you’re using a machine, ensure you empty all the pockets, remove the liner and use a specialist wash. Dry either on a line, or check your jacket to see if it can be gently tumble-dried. You can also use an iron on a low heat and place a towel between the iron and the jacket to gently dry it.
Can you re-waterproof a textile jacket?
If you see any areas where rainwater no longer beads up, then these will need re-proofing. Buy a bottle of waterproofing, it either can be hand-applied or you can add it to your washing machine to recoat the entire jacket.
Sources
Thanks to the following websites which helped us research and write this waterproof textile motorcycle jackets review:
https://www.goreprotectivefabrics.com/technologies/products/gore-tex
