The Right Types of Leather Matter
The leather jacket is synonymous with motorcycle riding and has been for decades. From the early Schott jackets to the modern leather jackets from a wide variety of manufacturers and brands, the leather jacket has been a key part of many a motorcyclist identity.
With that said, not all leather jackets are the same. There’s a wide variety of styles and qualities out there for you to choose from, and you’ll want to find one of the best leather jackets if you plan to ride.
The type of leather used in the jacket matters, and there’s quite a bit more to it than you might realize. With this in mind, I thought it best to take a look at the types of leather jackets to inform you of what to look for when shopping for a motorcycle jacket.
Why Are There Different Types of Leather?
The answer to this question is simple. There are different types of animals and different layers of leather from those animals. Cowhide is one of the most common types of leather for jackets, but bison leather, sheepskin, and lambskin—among others—can be used.
The animal from which the leather comes is an important detail because leathers from different animals feel different and are suitable for different things. Leather from different animals will also wear differently over time, so you need to keep this in mind as well. The protective qualities of the leather jacket will also come into play here.
For example, cowhide leather is known for its durability. It’s great for motorcycle jackets. Sheepskin on the other hand is known for its lightweight qualities and its flexibility. These qualities make sheepskin great for high-fashion jackets.
Then, in addition to the types of leather, you need to think about the grades of leather. This is just as important.
What Grades of Leather Are There?
You want your leather jacket—if it’s a true motorcycle jacket—to be able to protect you in a skid. Different grades of leather will provide different levels of protection.
Before I talk about which grade is best for motorcycle jackets, I want to list out the different grades and talk a little bit about them each.
Bonded Leather
Bonded leather is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the scraps, dust, and other parts of the leather that don’t get used for anything else.
The leather manufacturer takes all of these pieces and scraps and shreds them. Then it mixes in some chemicals and creates a leather-like substance that appears to be a lot like regular leather. However, this bonded leather lacks many of the properties that many other types of leather have.
It’s of relatively poor quality. The durability of leather is far inferior to the real-deal, and this is why you should avoid this grade of leather for motorcycle apparel and gear if you can help it.
Genuine Leather
Genuine leather is real leather and can be a good solution for many types of leather made goods. However, it’s one of the lower grades of leather, and thus not the best for leather motorcycle jackets.
This grade of leather can actually have some variation in it. It’s really split leather and can be taken from various grades. This might sound like a good thing, but in reality, it’s not as good as full-grain or top-grain leather.
Top-Grain Leather
Now we’re starting to get into the good grades of leather. Top-grain leather is leather that’s taken from a good layer of the leather. It’s taken from the upper layers but not the highest level. It’s still a split leather, but it’s a far superior split leather than genuine leather is.
What you get with top-grain leather is a good strong leather that looks good and feels good right from the start. However, it doesn’t age quite like full-grain leather and that means you’ll likely need to update your leather jacket sometime down the road.
Full-Grain Leather
Full-grain leather is the best and what you want to look for in a jacket that you wear while you ride. Full-grain leather is the toughest grade out there and will provide you with the best protection from a skid or slide.
It also looks the best from the very beginning and ages well, acquiring a nice patina over time. It’s the kind of leather that you can break-in and a jacket made from full-grain leather will be a jacket that you can wear for decades.
Within full-grain leather, there are two different kinds: aniline and semi-aniline. Aniline leather is treated with a soluble dye. Semi-aniline leather receives a thin protective pigmented coat. This helps the leather feel softer and more comfortable.
Do You Really Need to Spend Extra Money for Full-Grain Leather?
I’d say yes. If you’ve ever bought a low-quality leather jacket, then you know. They simply don’t last long and don’t look good as they age. Also, full-grain leather will provide you with the best protection while you ride.
Below are some options made of full-grain leather.
Alpinestars Crazy Eight Leather Jacket
This jacket features full-grain leather main shell construction, an ergonomic collar with padded details, elasticated inserts for the arm aperture, two zippered hand pockets, pre-curved sleeve construction, lower back adjustment, all interior detailing finished with perforated soft leather, and a flannel internal lining.
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Amazon
Merlin Odell Air Jacket
The Merlin Odell jacket is another great option. This jacket features a full-grain cowhide construction, perforated panels at the chest and inner arms, leather zipper pulls and burnished hardware, removable 100g thermal gilet liner, YKK zippers, Level 1 CE shoulder and elbow armor, and a pocket for a back protector.
Check it out at Revzilla
Alpinestars Oscar Charlie Leather Jacket
The Alpinestars Oscar Charlie leather jacket is another great option with some vintage style. The jacket features an athletic fit, full-grain leather main shell construction, CE certified and removable Bio Armor shoulder and elbow protectors, a removable thermal insulated flannel liner, and a pocket for a back protector.
Check it out at Revzilla
Check it out at Amazon
