Learning how to choose a textile motorcycle jacket is easier with a checklist. Look at the armor first. Then check the shell fabric, the liners, the vents and the reflective parts. Last, check the fit, the pockets and the zips. This guide walks through each point in plain words, so you can compare jackets with care.
Textile jackets are popular for touring. They are light, they can take a liner for cold days, and they often have vents for warm days. But two jackets can look alike and still be quite different inside. A short list of checks helps you see what you are really getting.
A good textile touring jacket needs eight things. It needs armor at the shoulders, elbows, back and chest. It needs a tough shell fabric and liners for cold or wet days. It needs vents, reflective parts, many ways to adjust the fit, useful pockets and a zip that joins it to your pants.
Use this table when you compare jackets side by side.
| Feature | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Armor | A CE level on the shoulder, elbow, back and chest pieces | Armor spreads the force of a hit |
| Shell fabric | A D number, such as 750D | It tells you how thick the yarn is |
| Liners | A mesh lining, a removable warm liner and a waterproof liner | One jacket can work in more seasons |
| Vents | Panels or zips you can open | Air keeps you cool on hot days |
| Visibility | Reflective parts on the front, back and arms | Drivers can see you in low light |
| Fit | Straps and zips at the waist, arms, cuffs and collar | The armor stays in the right place |
| Pockets | Pockets outside and inside, with some that keep water out | Your phone and papers stay safe and dry |
| Pants zip | A connection zip at the back of the waist | The jacket and pants stay joined |
The sections below explain each line of the table. Start with armor, since it does the most work in a fall.
Check the armor one spot at a time. Look for a CE level on the shoulder, elbow, back and chest pieces. Level 1 and Level 2 are the two levels. Level 2 lets less force pass through to your body in the lab test. Level 1 is often thinner and softer to wear.
CE is a European mark. For motorcycle armor, it shows that the piece passed a set impact test for its level. The test checks how much force gets through the pad. A lower number is better, so Level 2 has the tighter limit. For more on this, read our guide to CE Level 1 vs Level 2 armor.
Some armor is called an "insert." That means it slides into a pocket inside the jacket. You can take it out before you wash the jacket. Make sure the pocket holds the armor still, so it does not move when you ride.
Here is a real example. The MotoSpeeds touring jackets use this armor set:
A divided chest protector comes in two parts, one for each side of the chest. This lets the jacket open and close at the front.
You may also see EN 17092 on a jacket label. EN 17092 is the European standard for whole riding garments, not just the armor. It uses classes AAA, AA, A, B and C, where AAA is the highest. If a jacket has a class, it will be on the label inside.
The D number on a textile jacket stands for denier. It tells you how thick each yarn in the fabric is. A higher D means a thicker yarn. A 750D shell uses thicker yarn than a 500D shell. Thicker yarn often makes a heavier, tougher cloth, but the weave matters too.
The shell is the outer layer of the jacket. It is the part that touches the road if you slide. So the fabric weight is worth a look. But the D number is only one clue. How tight the weave is, and how many layers sit at the elbows and shoulders, also count.
The MotoSpeeds touring jackets have a 750D shell. To learn more about fabric weight, read what denier means for riding gear.
Liners let one jacket work across more seasons. A mesh lining lets air move on warm days. A removable thermal liner adds warmth when it is cold. When the liner comes out, the jacket feels lighter and cooler again. This is why liners matter so much on long trips.
The MotoSpeeds touring jackets have a 3D mesh lining and a detachable thermal liner. The thermal liner even has its own pocket. They also have a detachable waterproof liner for wet days.
Rain is a different question. A textile jacket can keep water out in two main ways:
A drop liner is not the same as a waterproof shell. Ask which type a jacket uses before a wet trip. You can learn how removable liners work, or compare laminated shells and drop liners in more detail.
Vents let air in so you stay cool on warm days. Look for panels or zips on the chest, since that is where the wind hits first. Removable panels give the most airflow. A cuff zip helps too, because it lets air into the sleeves and makes room for your glove.
The MotoSpeeds touring jackets have ventilation panels on the chest. The panels can be removed for more airflow. Each sleeve has a cuff zip. Open it to let air in, or use it to tuck your glove cuff under the sleeve and over your base layer.
On a hot day, take out the thermal liner, open the chest panels and open the cuffs. On a cool morning, close it all up again. That is the main gain of a touring jacket with liners and vents.
Reflective parts help drivers see you when light is low. Car headlights bounce off them, so you show up at dusk, at night and in rain. Look for reflective parts on the front, the back and the arms. That way you can be seen from more than one side.
The MotoSpeeds touring jackets have laminated reflection on the front and the back. They also have reflective logos on the back, the chest and the upper arms. The arm logos help when a driver sees you from the side.
A touring jacket should fit close enough that the armor stays in place. It should still let you move and reach the bars. Adjusters help you get there. Look for straps or zips at the waist, the arms, the cuffs, the hem and the collar. Then try the jacket in a riding position.
The MotoSpeeds touring jackets have many ways to tune the fit:
These jackets also come with a Custom Size option. With it, the jacket is made to your measurements. See how to measure before you order.
For standard sizes, check the size chart. For a full fit check, read how a motorcycle jacket should fit.
On a long ride, pockets and a pants zip make life easier. Look for pockets both outside and inside. Some should keep water out. Then look for a connection zip at the back of the waist. It joins the jacket to matching pants, so the jacket stays down when you lean forward.
The MotoSpeeds touring jackets have four outside pockets:
They also have four inside pockets, including two inner pockets and a pocket in the thermal liner. For the pants, they have both a long and a short connection zip.
Before you buy pants to match, ask which pants the zip fits. Not every jacket zip fits every pair of pants.
Textile is a good pick for touring because it can take liners, vents and many pockets. Leather is often chosen for sport and city riding. Both can carry CE armor. To compare them in more depth, read textile vs leather for city riding.
If you are planning a full set of gear for all weather, our guide to all-weather touring gear covers pants, gloves and boots too.
The , the and the all share the features in this checklist. Each has the same armor, 750D shell, liners, vents, reflective parts, adjusters, pockets and connection zips.
You can see all of them together in our range. Use the table at the top of this guide to check any other jacket you are thinking about, too.
Choose the jacket that passes the most checks on the list above. Look for CE armor at the shoulders, elbows, back and chest. Check the shell's D number, the liners and the vents. Then make sure it fits well with the adjusters set, and has the pockets you need.
A good touring jacket works in many kinds of weather. It has a removable thermal liner for cold days and vents for warm days. It has CE armor, reflective parts and pockets that keep water out. A zip that joins the jacket to your pants also helps on long rides.
Yes, if you can. A connection zip joins the jacket to matching pants at the back of the waist. This stops the jacket from riding up when you lean forward. It also helps keep wind out. Check which pants the zip fits before you buy.
Not always. Some textile jackets have a laminated shell that keeps rain out at the surface. Others use a drop liner inside, so the outer fabric can still get wet. Some have neither. Ask which type a jacket uses. The MotoSpeeds touring jackets have a detachable waterproof liner inside, and the two stash pockets at the waist are waterproof.
CE Level 2 is the higher of the two CE levels for motorcycle armor. In the lab test, a Level 2 pad lets less force pass through than a Level 1 pad. Level 2 pads are often a little thicker. Both levels must pass a set impact test to carry the CE mark.