Whether you’re riding on some of the awesome Aussie high hill roads or on the Great Ocean Road, there’s nothing better than cruising on your motorcycle in riding season. While riding season means warmer weather, many riders think it’s a good idea to go low in terms of riding equipment.
Well, it’s not. Wearing the right clothing and gear at any given time is vital for motorbikers. Even if you’re an experienced rider that has never been in a crash or accident, you should know that it only takes a small mechanical error to cause a dangerous situation. And, your vulnerability and exposure can make you easily susceptible to many bodily injuries.
A protective helmet, eye shield, gloves, as well as pants and jacket are all parts of the essential motorcycle gear. Many riders, especially the ladies, find it challenging to choose the perfect fit from the many high-quality women motorcycle jackets on the market. If this you, you awesome lady driver, we got you! Here’s your step-to-step guide to everything you need to know on choosing the best womens motorcycle jacket for you.
1. Decide on the Material
Women’s motorcycle jackets are mainly made of two types of materials:
1.Leather moto jackets
2.Textile moto jackets
Both of these options have their own advantages and choosing one over the other comes down to personal preference. Leather can be great for the warmer summer months, while textile motorcycle jackets are usually warmer and more waterproof for colder and wetter months. Motorcycle jackets shouldn’t be worn for protection only: they also should fit your personal style and be highly comfortable for riders during rides. This makes choosing the material a very important step in the whole process.
Leather Motorcycle Jackets
If you choose leather, make sure to be at least 1.2mm thick to provide the optimum protection. Leather jackets adjust well to the body fit and provide a comfortable shape. A new leather jacket can be tight but as you wear it regularly, the leather will stretch and conform to the shape of your body. To stretch it faster, try wearing it around at home first for a few hours.
Maintaining your womens leather motorcycle jacket in good condition is as important as maintaining and cleaning your motorcycle. You can use a leather conditioner that you can spray the jacket and dry it afterwards. To prevent hardening over time, you can stretch the leather several with your hands weekly. This will speed up the stretching phase. If these tips don’t work well for you, search for help from a professional leather crafter.
Textile Motorcycle Jackets
There are several textile versions of women motorcycle jackets. A Gore-Tex is one of the most commonly used ones. It’s the best option that works as a protective shell that provides protection, ventilation, and adjustability at the same time. It’s guaranteed that this fabric will keep you dry while protecting you from the different weather elements. Textile womens motorcycle jackets often feature goat leather overlay on elbows and forearms for extra protection.
Another perk of these jackets is that they’re often made of reflective materials for enhanced visibility, which makes them great for night rides.
2. Find the Right Size
No matter the type of material, a motorcycle jacket can be protective and comfortable only if it’s the right size for you. That’s why it’s recommended that you try it before you buy it. If you’re shopping online, there are a few steps that you can take to ensure buying the best size.
- Make sure you shop from a trusted motorcycle store that has a motorcycle apparel size guarantee that allows you to send back the jacket if it doesn’t fit you. If the suppliers are in love with motorcycling, they suppose to understand the importance of finding the right size and fit, and will generously offer returns.
- Take your body measurements. Find a soft tape measure and ask a friend to help you measure the width of your back and shoulders. The length of the sleeves is very important, so measure the length of your arms, as well. And lastly, don’t forget waist measurements. Run the tape measure around your torso, placing it a little above the belly button. The waist sizing often changes, or it can be adjusted, making these measures least important. Compare your body measurements to the sizing charts on the site, if provided. If there are only common sizes, contact your provider for more information. They should be happy to help you.
3. Ensure Proper Fit
All motorcycle jackets, both men’s and women’s have a short, tight fit. Have you ever asked yourself why are they shorter than other jackets? Well, there are 3 main reasons for that: comfort, wind efficiency and increased safety. Excess fabric at your belly will make rides very uncomfortable for you. The looser fit will create a great wind resistance, which can result in some parts of your jacket flapping in the wind. This can distract you while riding and cause potential accidents. That’s why ensuring the proper fit is very important. Here are a few tips on that.
- When you try on a jacket, it should have a snug fit on you. Snug means not too loose not too tight. It shouldn’t get pulled up over your head. If it gets over your head easily, it’s too big for you. However, it shouldn’t be too tight on you, as it will restrict your movements.
- Protective armour that’s part of the jacket should be well-placed on critical areas of your body, such as your elbows and shoulders. You have to make sure that it sits nicely on you. If it doesn’t, see if it can be adjusted. A motorcycle jacket isn’t useful if it can’t protect you.
- Move like you usually do when riding. That way you’ll know if it restricts you or causes some kind of discomfort. It shouldn’t restrict you from leaning, turning, or reaching the handle grips. The sleeves should end at the beginning of your palms when your arms are re axed. When you reach them in front of you, they should end at your wrists. This way, you’ll ensure the jacket fits good with your protective gloves.
- Choose from different types of fit, such as European, Race, or American. European and Race have a close fit, often called a “sport cut”. The American fitting is considered the regular. If you want a sportier fit, you’ll feel better in the European fit.
4. Choose the Right Features for You
When you search for a women’s motorcycle jacket online, you’ll come across longer product descriptions, as every model holds different features. What one rider needs may be irrelevant to another, so choose your key features wisely. These are some of the main features you can choose from:
- Adjustable collars/wrists
- Sealed zips
- Vents on the chest and/or back
- Clinched/belted waist for an adjustable fit
- Exterior and interior pockets
- Stretch panels at the elbows and over the shoulder blades for added flexibility
- Quality construction (opt for double or triple stitching)