Last updated: 23 October 2022
When it comes to versatility, textiles are essential for any touring motorcyclist.
Sure, leathers look good. And they’re all well and good as you belt down the Amalfi coast on your Ducati.
But if you’re carting your stuff from one hotel to another through a range of conditions, environments, and road surfaces, you’re probably going to opt for textiles.
If you believe everything you read, you’ll be tempted to go out and spend £1,500 on a premium laminated jacket. And that’s great. If that’s what you’re into.
Our advice is to save your cash by buying affordable textiles and then spend the money you save on another tour instead!
So with that in mind, here are 10 of the best textile motorcycle jackets to suit your budget.
Overall Winners
Best Budget Textile Motorcycle Jacket
Oxford Mondial Advance Textile Motorcycle Jacket
Best Midrange Textile Motorcycle Jacket
Furygan Voyager 3C Textile Motorcycle Jacket
Best Premium Textile Motorcycle Jacket
Rev’it Dominator 3 Gore-Tex Textile Jacket
Budget Range (up to £300)
Oxford Mondial Advance Textile Motorcycle Jacket
We’ve always been big fans of Oxford products. Like many riders, we started out with Oxford – because it did the job and was affordable. And this option is no different.
One of our favourite features is that it’s lightweight. And that, in part, is because this jacket doesn’t hold water when caught in the rain.
The jacket has a durable outer shell construction, and Oxford’s own Dry2Dry laminated membrane which is waterproof and breathable.
The WarmDry removable thermal tech liner keeps you warm and dry and provides additional comfort against the skin.
To keep you cool when the temperature rises, you’ll find zip-operated ventilation panels made from the same water-resistant YKK zips used throughout.
Whilst the jacket doesn’t come with back protection, there is a pocket to add some if you want to. There is, however, CE-approved protection at the shoulders and elbows.
For added protection, Oxford has used reinforced structure stitching with bar-tack design to improve durability against abrasion.
Alpinestars Andes V3 Drystar Textile Jacket
One of the biggest challenges when looking for textile jackets is all-weather variability. And the Andes V3 offers it in abundance at an affordable price.
Using Alpinestars’ propriety Drystar membrane, this jacket offers 100% waterproofing for those wet days in the saddle. But it also offers high levels of breathability and ventilation when the sun comes out.
As well as the Drystar waterproofing, you’ll also find a durable poly-fabric construction and a removable thermal liner.
The Andes V3 also utilises DVS direct ventilation system, front intakes, and a rear exhaust vent to control airflow.
For protection, you’ll find Nucleon Flex Plus CE protection at the elbows and shoulders, and pockets for optional chest and back protection. The jacket is also compatible with the Tech-Air 5 airbag.
Other nice details include a soft-edge collar with mesh lining, pre-curved arms for added comfort, and a waterproof wallet/document pocket.
Held Zorro Textile Motorcycle Jacket
This option from Held is far from the offering of premium brands. But much like the Oxford Mondial above, the Zorro jacket is an excellent all-around offering at a great price.
On the outside, the jacket is constructed from a Heros-Tec 500D construction. And there are 900D reinforced double layers at the elbows for protection.
On the inside, you’ll find a mesh lining for comfort, a detachable thermal liner, and a Humax-Z-Liner, which is waterproof, windproof, and breathable.
There aren’t any clever ventilation systems like you’ll find on some of the more premium jackets, but there are numerous air vents – easily accessible thanks to glove-friendly zips.
As with most of the affordable jacket options, the Zorro comes with CE-protection at the elbows and shoulders and pockets for additional back protection.
RST Pro Series Adventure-X
RST has always done a good job of providing products across price ranges. And if you’re lucking for an afforable, do-it-all jacket from RST, you can’t go wrong with their Pro Series Adventure-X.
Compared to many, this jacket is quite weighty. But that’s because it’s constructed from an Abrasion-resistant MaxTex outer. The whole thing is reinforced with a ballistic fabric for strength and includes Coates bonded nylon triple-stitched seams.
The inner consists of a quilted (removable) liner bonded to a SinAqua Pro membrane for waterproofing.
For airflow, there are zipped vents on the chest, arms, and back.
Other nice touches include a removable map pocket, CE-level 2 protection (rather than the usual Level 1 at this price point), and the use of Strong Max zips.
Midrange (up to £500)
Furygan Voyager 3C Textile Motorcycle Jacket
We were lucky to test this jacket extensively on a month-long trip to Norway and the Arctic Circle. And considering it’s a midrange product, it performed flawlessly.
More so than most jackets in this price range, the Voyager 3C is incredibly technical thanks to its laminated waterproofing, a huge array of zipped ventilation panels, and a removable thermal liner.
It truly is a jacket for all weathers.
Despite being constructed from high-tenacity laminated polyester, it’s incredibly lightweight yet durable. And whilst it doesn’t come with chest or back protection, there are dedicated pockets to add both.
As standard, the Voyager 3C comes with D30 protection at the shoulders and elbows, which is both comfortable and lightweight.
If you’re buying this jacket for touring, you’ll love the mass of pockets that come on both the jacket and pants. These include 5 outer pockets, a large map pocket on the back, 4 internal pockets, and a waterproof document pocket.
Related: Read our full review of the Furygan Voyager 3C
Richa Cyclone Gore-Tex
Where the Furygan jacket above concentrated on the details, Richa concentrated on the weather. And in doing so, they produced an excellent touring jacket that gives protection against rain, wind, cold, and heat.
It’s also the first in the lineup of touring jackets that uses Gore-Tex – hence the jump in price.
Waterproof and breathable 3L GTX lining is used throughout, and there are also GTX stretch panels on the rear. On the inside, you’ll find a detachable thermal liner for warmth and comfort.
As with the Furygan jacket, the Cyclone GTX uses D30 CE-protection at the elbows and shoulders. But this jacket also comes with D30 Level 1 back protection. There are also provisions to add chest and back armour if required.
As a touring jacket, it comes with plenty of pockets, adjustable waist tabs and hems for comfort, A.V.S ventilation, and glove-friendly YKK zips.
Dainese Carve Master 2 Gore-Tex Textile Motorcycle Jacket
The second Gore-Tex featured jacket on our list is the Carve Master 2 from Dainese.
It’s well-built, with an external 3D Mugello fabric construction for abrasion resistance, a waterproof and breathable GTX membrane, and another water-resistant layer to prevent dampness.
But it provides excellent protection, too. The jacket comes with CE-protection at the shoulder and elbows, TPU plastic shoulder armour, and accommodation for G1 and G2 back protection.
For touring, it comes with 7 pockets: 4 external, 2 internal, and a rear cargo pocket.
Premium (£500+)
Klim Kodiak Gore-Tex Textile Jacket
As we move into the premium area of textile motorcycle jackets for touring, we move into more Gore-Tex lined products guaranteed to keep you dry.
The Kodiak comes with a Gore-Tex shell construction and perforated leather overlays at the shoulders and elbows.
For protection, there is D30 level 2 armour at the shoulders and elbows, as well as back protection as standard. You will also find Spacer mesh protection on the chest.
As you might expect at this price point, there is a lot of attention to detail. As well as the two chest pockets, there are 2 hand-warmer pockets, 2 internal stash pockets, and a medical information card pocket on the arm.
Looking after ventilation is a multitude of vents at the upper arms, lower arms, chest, back, and sides.
The snap-back collar feature is easy to use, and the removable kidney belt is a nice touch.
Rukka Kallavesi Gore-Tex Textile Motorcycle Jacket
As we approach the realm of 4-figure textile motorcycle jackets, we start with Rukka’s Kallavest GTX jacket.
Thanks to its Gore-Tex Pro 3 laminated construction, this jacket is waterproof, windproof, and breathable.
On the outside, the jacket has a Cordura shell fabric to resist tears and abrasion, as well as additional strengthening at the elbows and shoulders.
The neoprene collar features a blend of high-tech fibres such as aramid and Cordura for comfort and protection.
Keeping you warm is a removable 60g thermal liner and Outlast temperature regulation sleeve ends. And keeping you cool are ventilation panels on the chest, back, sides, and sleeves.
For protection, this Rukka jacket features D30 Air XTR protection at the shoulders and elbows, as well as CE-certified chest and back protection.
It’s also ready for the optional Rukka D30 Air Full back protector – available separately.
Other nice features include the adjustable sleeves and hem for an individual fit and waterproof internal/external pockets.
Rev’it Dominator 3 Gore-Tex Textile Jacket
If you’re looking for the best-of-the-best, you needn’t look further than Rev’It’s Dominator 3 jacket.
If you’re a Rev’It fan, you’ll know just how good the predecessors to this jacket were. But now we have a new version with a cleaner, updated design.
These updates include improvements to ventilation and waterproofing and refinements to construction, performance, and comfort.
As you would expect, the jacket is completely waterproof – thanks to its 3L GTX laminate construction.
The newly designed VCS|Zips provide ventilation to the upper and lower arms, while Rev’it’s patented VCS|Aquadefence chest panels keep the upper body cool.
Protection comes from Seeflex CE-level 2 armour and a Seesoft CE-level 2 back protector. The Dominator 3 is also ready for the Seesoft CE-level 1 divided chest protectors, available separately.
Furthermore, 3L Gore-Tex Pro reinforced Armacor fabric is used on the shoulders for additional protection against abrasion.
As with the Rukka jacket above, the Dominator comes with a removable kidney belt for additional stability and support if required.
Things To Consider When Buying A Textile Motorcycle Jacket For Touring
As you can see, textile motorcycle jackets come in all kinds of materials and have a whole manner of features, price points, and advantages. But which is right for you?
Below, we look at some fundamentals you should consider before buying a jacket. Listing down your priorities should help you buy the best jacket for your needs.
Why Textiles?
People have been arguing about this for years. And they will continue to do so! But for me, textiles have always done a better job of combining functionality with weather protection, comfort, and cost.
Leathers are great – for the track. But for touring, you can’t beat textiles. They take very little by way of maintenance, offer excellent protection, and are hard-wearing.
On top of this, they keep me dry on wet days in the saddle, keep me warm with the temperature drops, and keep me cool when the sun comes out.
If you need to satisfy various demands and will be subjecting your kit to multiple conditions, textiles are the way to go.
Waterproofing
In my opinion, waterproofing is the biggest factor when buying textiles. Of course, you could say armour/protection is the biggest factor – and you’d be right.
But protection can be upgraded or added. Waterproofing is what it is, and it’s difficult to add more of it!
If you do a lot of touring and expect to get caught in the elements, go for Gore-Tex if you can afford it. Yes, it’s expensive. But it’s also guaranteed to keep you dry.
That said, you don’t have to go for GTX. Many brands offer their version of Gore-Tex, and you will usually find this in the more midrange options.
It’s also worth noting that more budget options may offer waterproof liners – which is fine. They will keep you dry. However, what they don’t do is keep your jacket dry. They soak up the water (rather than repel it) and this makes for a heavy jacket that takes hours to dry out.
Protection
Any jacket worth its salt will come with at least some form of CE-certified armour. On the budget end of the spectrum, this will probably be Level 1 in the shoulders and arms.
As you go up the price range, this is usually upgraded to Level 2 protection, and you may also find it in the chest and back panels as well as at the shoulders and elbows.
At the very least, you should go for a jacket that can accept additional armour. This allows you to purchase your own armour and fit it in the jacket of your choice.
Ventilation
As mentioned above, waterproofing should be one of your priorities. The problem with waterproof jackets is that the laminate often reduces ventilation. So whilst you will be dry, you’ll also be hot and uncomfortable.
This is where ventilation comes in.
Cheaper options may offer a few zipped vents, whereas more premium products offer scientifically-designed ventilation systems designed to optimise airflow.
I highly recommend buying a well-ventilated jacket if you ride in warmer temperatures. Staying cool goes a long way to maintaining comfort.
Material & Hardiness
Most textile jackets are made from some form of polyester fibre, and the density per thickness is rated in denier (D). So when you’re making a shortlist of jackets, it’s worth noting down the D value – the higher, the better.
I also prefer jackets that are double (or even triple) stitched at impact points for added durability and abrasion resistance.
Comfort & Fit
If you can, try on any jackets as part of your purchasing process. You can buy the best jacket on the planet – but if it doesn’t fit your body shape, irritates your skin, or is generally uncomfortable, what’s the point?
To take it a step further, try sitting on your bike when the jacket is on. Do the sleeves ride up to expose your lower arms? How about the rear? Does the hem ride up to expose your lower back?
Simple things like this can make even the best jacket in the world unsuitable for you.
Visibility
Back in the day, you were always told to wear lighter colours as it’s easier for other road users to see you. And this is true. For example, more people notice riders in white helmets than in black helmets.
But visibility technology has come a long way, and you can now wear dark clothing that offers excellent visibility in the dark thanks to reflective panels and features.
In daylight, these reflective panels aren’t noticeable. But in dank conditions, light reflects off them making you more visible.
Buying The Best Textile Motorcycle Jacket: Conclusion
At Motorcycle Tourer, we’re big believers in getting value for money. And whilst you often get what you pay for, we believe in buying mid-range kit and using the money you save to go on another tour instead!
If you’re into premium, top-of-the-range laminate jackets (and you can afford them), that’s great. You’ll find some of the very best in this list.
But if you’re after budget or middle-of-the-road gear that will keep you warm, dry, comfortable, and ventilated, then you really don’t need to stray much past the top 6 or 7 jackets in this list.
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Top image: Razvan Mirel
