Harley Davidson Jackets
by KENNETH AV
Searching for a Harley Davidson Jacket? If so, you've got a wide selection of shapes and sizes available to you. As a Harley rider, you��re fortunate to have several excellent options when choosing a jacket. The flip side, of course, is sifting through all the options to find the right one.
The two biggest options are some type of synthetic or leather. Once you make that decision, you've fought half the battle. There are positives and negatives to either, but in the end it's a matter of personal choice.
If you're looking for a classy leather jacket, no amount of persuasion will change your stance. Humor me for a moment, though, and allow me to talk about the different choices available.
But if you can't wait, you can locate a selection of showcased Men's and Women's Harley Jackets here.
Harley Leather Jackets
Leather is the top dog of good looks. It's luxury feel and supple surface are unparalleled and will never go out of fashion. There are numerous different models of Harley leather jackets but, in general, leather offers fewer choices for color and design than synthetics.
Another possible pitfall: leather can be extremely hot. The weight of the leather presents a balancing act -- thicker leather offers better protection but can be too hot in the summer months. Many jackets utilize perforated leather to deal with this concern, but it isn't an ideal substitute for the configurability of synthetics. Thicker leather also has a longer "break in" period and can be stiff initially.
A short word on leather measurements: leather measured at under 1.0 millimeter in thickness is said to be lightweight, while leather thicker than one and a half mm is quite heavy. More on leather weight can be found here.
Synthetic Jackets Jackets made of synthetics will fall short of the timeless styling of leather. But a synthetic is often extremely good looking, and can supply quite a bit of a premium when it comes to functionality.
Synthetics come in a variety of materials. The most common is Cordura, a protective substance that is frequently used in hiking boots and luggage. Cordura jackets are very often treated so that they are at the same time water resistant and breathable, a la Gore-Tex. These jackets also typically provide interior body protection in the joints and/or spine. Look for CE-rated pads for the most highly-rated level of protection.
Also, since synthetics are inexpensively colorized, they are often sold in a great pallette of color options. And finally, synthetic jackets are often very adjustable -- many have openings that supply additional circulation, or removable inner liners for extra insulation.
This website provides an excellent comparison of the pros and cons of synthetics versus leather.
Nylon and Denim Jackets Other types of materials will present their own value equation. Take Denim. It provides a unique tradeoff: a type of timeless style that is appealing to many, while less hot in the warm months than leather. Nylon, for example, supplies durability and many of the cooling options of a synthetic but, according to some, might not provide the great looks of leather.
Harley Women's Jackets One short note on ladies jackets... Finding items that have been designed only with women in mind is now possible. You'll be pleased with the options out there. Many of the synthetic jackets are designed to be unisex, but others are specifically designed for women. Going with a leather jacket provides a wide range of options for tailored, stylish women's jackets.
---------- This article was written by Ken Av, a motorcyclist since his teens and a self-crowned expert in evaluating motorsport gear. Ken's ridden a Harley for several years now, and enjoys to collect and evaluate Harley gear. Check out his thoughts and evaluations of his favorite Harley Apparel so you can bike with confidence.
