The best leather motorcycle jackets tried and tested by our MCN riders

Leather motorcycle jackets are the go-to option for many riders for a variety of reasons. They come in a whole range of styles, from sports jackets to retro jackets as well as touring jacket designs. Leather motorcycle jackets can also be casual and not scream ‘motorcyclist’ at the top of their voice, which can be useful if you’re on the bike but also, want to spend some time off it when you arrive at your destination or, indeed, en route.

Most importantly though, leather motorcycle jackets offer exceptional protection. Leather is one of the most abrasion-resistant materials available (hence why racing suits are made of leather) and is most likely to protect you in the event of an off that sees you sliding down the road.

They can also help create an image of you and your bike, from old-school racer to biker bad-boy. In fact, many non-motorcycling leather jackets have taken their cues from garments developed and used on the road – look at Marlon Brando’s jacket in The Wild One, for example.

What to look for in a leather motorcycle jacket

In practical terms, modern leather will look cool, should protect you from at least a slide and a tumble and can even help keep you warm and dry. It will feature armour like any motorcycling jacket – at the shoulders and elbows and if it doesn’t come with one, should have a pocket for an optional back protector and possibly chest protection too. These will have a of level 1 or the higher-specification and more impact-absorbent Level 2 so check.

The jacket itself should also be CE rated, with a B, A, AA or AAA rating, AAA being the most abrasion-resistant and with the most secure construction. You could also look for a removable thermal liner to help keep you warm on a chilly ride and a degree of water-resistance may also be present though not as effective as a proper waterproof textile, for example. If it looks like rain, then grab yourself a set of throw-over waterproofs, as we looked at recently.

If you a really safety minded, some modern leather jacket, especially race inspired ones, will feature airbag insert capabilities. These deploy in the event of an incident to protect you with an air cushion around your vitals.

We’ve pulled together a selection of the different types of leather jackets available, covering sporty, retro and those designed for women.

Sporty leather jackets

Sports styled leather jackets tend be longer in the back and shorter in the front to prevent rucking when in the tucked position. There are usually a lot of options within this bracket of leather jackets. See our full list of sporty leather jackets.

Retro leather jackets

Retro kit tends to feature details like quilting and poppers, focusing on the old school look that is required to look the part on a retro bike. Take a look here at our selection of retro leather jackets.

Leather jackets for women

We are seeing more and more ladies kit options available for female riders, with more flattering fits and designs. The cut of a ladies jacket will of course need to be different to that of a men’s jacket, allowing for a curvier torso.

Frequently asked questions

Is a leather jacket waterproof?

Generally no, they are waterproof to the extent that the water will run off the leather for a short period of time before it starts to work its way through seams and into the lining. There are some options that have waterproof membranes but they are not very common at all.

Can I tour in a leather jacket?

There is nothing to say that you can’t tour in a leather jacket if you wanted to but textile jackets tend to offer more helpful features such as larger pockets, waterproof membranes, zip open ventilation panels and storm collars. These features make them more versatile for the varied weather conditions that you may face on your travels.

How do I care for a leather jacket?

Leather jackets are effectively made from animal skin so they need to be cared for in the same way you would care for your own skin. Clean regularly to remove dirt build up and follow up with a conditioning cream or balm to keep the leather supple and protected.

Is a leather jacket the safest type I can buy?

It’s not really a straight yes or no answer on this one. Yes a leather jacket can be one of the safest options you can buy, there’s a reason that the professional top level racers wear leather, however that does not mean all leather jackets are safer than textile options. It is important to be aware of the CE rating that a jacket has been awarded alongside the armour suite it has fitted. Many textile fabrics have been developed to perform to the highest safety standards, so they can be a good option to consider.

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How MCN tests leather jackets

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles in order to provide you with opinions and evaluations you can trust, alongside news of the most significant developments in motorcycling safety gear. We want you to stay safe, enjoy your riding and hopefully look great while doing so! 

We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions.

That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on. To make it onto this list, leather jackets must have been worn for thousands of miles by our team of experienced testers, show no major flaws, and meet modern safety standards as well as offering decent value for money. 

Each of our expert reviewers tests their leather jackets for a variety of things, both subjective and objective. Factors assessed include what level of protection they provide, what armour comes fitted as standard, how comfortable the jacket is from the first wear, what pockets there are, does it look good and if they include details such as a removable thermal liners, zip pockets or any additional weatherproofing properties.

We cover thousands of miles in these jackets and regularly compare them with one another in the office, so collectively we’ve built the sort of knowledge base you can trust.

If you can’t see a review against a leather jacket on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet or because it did not earn a score of four stars or above. Only four and five star rated jackets will make an appearance in our best of buying guides. These jackets will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

Here’s a brief run-down of the star rating system we use, and what each score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement. It might be lacking safety features, be poorly built or far too expensive to recommend.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

To find out more about our kit testing, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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