Leather Jacket and Rain?

[Tampa Tom]

Thinking about going from Textile to Leather. Here in Florida it rains daily. Anyone had any experiences riding with a leather jacket in the rain. Does it spot them or are they water resistent? I am thinking of a First Gear Scout jacket.

[Ken]

I avoid leather and rain whenever possible. It takes forever to dry, gets really heavy, and will stain the leather after a while.

[Trekker]

I agree with Ken. Leather isn't a very water resistant material compared with textile garments. When I first got back into riding, all I had was a leather jacket, and the first weekend I rode out of town it poured. I was soaked right through. If your sure you will be converting to a leather jacket, maybe you could use a rain jacket over it to stay dry. And rain suits can be colorful and reflective for safety.

[billxp]

No more leather for me. I just love the versatility of textile.

But if I did still wear the leather i'd treat it with NIKWAX (http://www.nikwax-usa.com/powersports/)

[Elmo]

Coming from the cruiser world into the ST world, I gave up the leather for the mesh... love it! I wear a light rain jacket under the mesh.

Elmo

[vintagemxr]

I have an old biker buddy (real biker, not pretend one...) who swears that ArmorAll is the best thing he's used on his trusty old leather jacket to make it water resistant. "Resistant" is the operative word there. As for me, I still wear a leather jacket but carry a rainsuit for the odd rainy day here in the desert.

[John Anthony]

Leather and water don't mix too well. IIRC, its abrasion resistance decreases by 20% each time it's soaked. I have about 4-5 jackets, one of which is a Harley leather jacket that fits me like a glove. But I don't wear it when it looks like rain. Which, of course, living in Seattle never happens.

John

[Dorian]

I have a leather jacket I've worn motorcycling for years. I use it in the winter, mesh in the spring, summer and fall. I rub it down a couple of times a year with Mink Oil (available at any shoe or boot store). We all know that oil and water don't mix, and the Mink Oil does a good job of keeping the leather soft and free of cracks.

Don't go suede.