Quote:
Originally Posted by apinajus
Thanks for the info guys!
I have been checking the website / stories of the guys that have done looong travelling and I see that almost all of them use leather pants and jacket
Why?
Is there any practical advantage in using them?
|
Leather? Really? Folks on this forum and many RTW types do not wear leather all that much, least I haven't noticed it.
Modern synthetic fabrics are what most wear, have done for ages now ... most all products are off shoots of Dupont Cordura, which got into moto gear about 30 years ago.
Some commuters and weekend riders wear full leathers and of course the sports bike and vintage bike guys still wear it full time. But among ADV types leather went out maybe 20 years ago for most??
This especially true since companies like BMW, Aerostich, Rev'it, Klim, Motoport and several other good ones started going UP market with their gear. So yes, higher prices but more features, better fit and quality.
Most top of the line Cordura type gear includes Gore-Tex in some form. Gore Tex you know as a hiker and you also probably know it does not work when dirty.
Some are foolish enough to believe Gore-Tex's breathable quality means it will be perfect in HOT weather. WRONG! Gore-Tex works in Cold, like when your hiking up a mountain, cross country skiing.
But when sat on a bike in 100F and 90% humidity with little ventilation, Gore-Tex will par boil you as ANY synthetic gear will.
My thoughts on Leather:
About 12 years ago the guys I was riding with used Cordura type gear, pants and jacket.
Most guys use Aerostich (USA) many still use it exclusively for our 2 to 4 days rides here in San Francisco Bay area.
But some of us realized we liked our leather pants better than synthetic ones.
Not for the hottest weather but it's good nearly year round here in California where we have HUGE range of weather, from 120F Death Valley to minus 24F in our Sierra Nevada. I've ridden in BOTH extremes dozens of times.
It's leather pants for me every time.
But now, about half our group of 25 riders, wear leather pants for all but the hottest weather. No one wears leather off road ...if they can avoid it.
Many riders forget that leather is the "original" breathable fabric and breaths 100% better than any synthetic pants I've worn (and I've tried many as I get the stuff free from a magazine to test)
I like leather. It works for me in the coldest conditions up to about 85F. Over 85F I switch to mesh dirt bike riding pants (with armor underneath).
Good leathers offer great protection and comfort. While my synthetic pant clad buddies are sweating like rapists at the fuel stop, I'm nearly always fine.
For a jacket, I went to Cordura type synthetic jackets 20 years ago and have never looked back. So, synthetic jacket, leather pants is how I roll.
But traveling I always pack dirt riding vented pants for hot conditions. The leathers are a PAIN to pack but worth it when it cools down or I go back into the mountains.
If it rains, with leather you have to have a plan. I always carry rain pants. These pack to nothing and can be slipped over my leather pants in 2 minutes. My leather pants are also treated with Sno-Seal, a Bee's wax leather treating
product that makes them quite water proof.