BlaSTr
Miami ST
I think it's a given that leather is the standard and best road protection. I own both (Joe Rocket leathers and Tourmaster/Joe Rocket mesh/textile and Spidi textile). The Spidi is a 3/4 length for cold weather riding while the Tourmaster is my every day riding jacket.
The trouble I have is leather in very hot/humid weather. It doesn't breathe and heat stroke is a very real problem. I am far more comfortable in mesh when the weather is 75F+ and although I've ridden in 100F with the mesh, I see no alternative to not wearing something other than T-shirt and skin.
My textile/mesh gear is armored at the elbows, shoulders, and spine. I think they do this for added protection and to meet EU requirements. I've not been down in the mesh/textile but have in the leather. My only concern about non-leather protection is having the fabric melt from the friction and the liquid plastic fuse to my skin. The leathers were scuffed but not burned through nor was there any evidence of melting.
The mesh/textile gear also has the added feature of flexibility as others have posted. The rain liners compress to a small bundle and the liner in the jacket not much more. I am far better prepared since I keep the liners in the bags at all times and don't forget to pack them. And they seem cooler than wearing rain gear over leathers. I don't know why but suspect the ventilation of the mesh/textile allows air to circulate around the waterproof liner thereby removing a bit more body heat.
I recently bought a coolvest and have been trying that under the leathers and mesh/textile gear. So far the vest more than compensates for the lack of ventilation when in leathers.
Doug
The trouble I have is leather in very hot/humid weather. It doesn't breathe and heat stroke is a very real problem. I am far more comfortable in mesh when the weather is 75F+ and although I've ridden in 100F with the mesh, I see no alternative to not wearing something other than T-shirt and skin.
My textile/mesh gear is armored at the elbows, shoulders, and spine. I think they do this for added protection and to meet EU requirements. I've not been down in the mesh/textile but have in the leather. My only concern about non-leather protection is having the fabric melt from the friction and the liquid plastic fuse to my skin. The leathers were scuffed but not burned through nor was there any evidence of melting.
The mesh/textile gear also has the added feature of flexibility as others have posted. The rain liners compress to a small bundle and the liner in the jacket not much more. I am far better prepared since I keep the liners in the bags at all times and don't forget to pack them. And they seem cooler than wearing rain gear over leathers. I don't know why but suspect the ventilation of the mesh/textile allows air to circulate around the waterproof liner thereby removing a bit more body heat.
I recently bought a coolvest and have been trying that under the leathers and mesh/textile gear. So far the vest more than compensates for the lack of ventilation when in leathers.
Doug