Everything You Need To Know About Motorcycle Leathers

When thinking about buying motorcycle leathers many things must be thought about. Style is really a secondary consideration here, the amount of protection is the primary concern for the avid biker, when buying motorcycle leathers. That is the purpose of leathers after all.

The A #1 fabric for motorcycle gear has always been leather. This is because of certain characteristics that it has including: the ability to keep you warm, it is waterproof to a certain extent, it does not tear easily, it helps to cushion your fall, and prevents serious injury from happening.

But not all leather is created equal. Through this article you will learn the choices you have when buying motorcycle leathers. We will discuss the various kinds of hides, what the various tanning procedures are, and how to recognize the differences.

When you are buying motorcycle leathers you will find mainly 3 basic types of hide used: buffalo, pigskin, and cowhide. Once in awhile you may find some sheepskin, lamb skin, and some others. But beware because these hides are not the same quality and really are not be thought of as true riding leathers.

Out of the three major hides pigskin is the softest. This is real good, if you are riding in the winter months, for keeping you warm. It also has a nice stylish appearance. Some people disagree on whether pigskin is as strong as cowhide. Pigskin to me has a bit more tendency to get torn, which makes it a bit more tender to me. You may want to use another leather type for riding. But the pigskin for wearing is plenty durable. Spend a few more bucks and buy the right grade of leather to protect your body while riding.

A good high quality type of leather is made from buffalo hide. This does not come from the buffalo from North America, instead it is from the water buffalo which comes from Pakistan and India. In fact Pakistan is world famous fro their leather products, they are true experts in manufacturing with leather. Buffalo hide unlike pigskin is considered a good grade of leather for protection when riding.

The most frequently used hide for leather is cowhide. Through different tanning procedures the hides could range between 1mm and 1.3mm in their thickness. Cowhide is comfortably warm and provides you with the ultimate in road protection. Bikers very often prefers this over any other kind of leather for there motorcycle gear.

Ever notice the grain on leather? This is really only the top layer of skin from whichever animal it is taken from. Imperfections can show up in the grain from time to time as in scratches, scars and cuts, but the natural grain I when the hide has the most strength and is the most durable. Due to the fact that leather breaths it is very comfortable for the motorcyclist to wear.

This is one time you do not want to buy Made in the USA label. This is because the better leathers come from Pakistan and some countries nearby. You will spend too much to the ones made in the USA compared to the quality you get. With Pakistan being such an expert in the industry you can really rely on their quality to be top notch.