Gear list developed by: Simon Bertram and Brittany Morrow

If you’ve been following the recommended path for gearing up to start your lifetime riding adventures, you will already have the perfect helmet for your head. The next most important piece of gear is the one that keeps your torso safe, the ever evolving and very jam packed market segment for jackets.

Leather jackets, if made properly and with motorcycle grade leather, are the highest protection, and a requirement if you are going to be attending track days. However, if the track is not your destination, textile jackets offer nearly the same level of protection while being a lot friendlier in terms of cooling, riding seasons, and adaptability.

Of course, your budget does enter into the equation. Most leather jackets cost well over $500, while nearly three quarters of textile jackets come in under $500. With that in mind, we present to you our picks for the top 10 textile jackets under $500 for 2021.

NOTE ON SIZING: Sizing for jackets can vary wildly from manufacturer to manufacturer. To simplify the sizing, we will use the following descriptions:

• Sport: Expect a tighter fit, precurved arms, and should feel comfortable in a tuck or three-quarters position

• Adventure & Touring: Designed to fit a little looser so that the rider can comfortably ride upright in a standard posture, but tight enough to not be billowing or flapping in the wind

• Cruiser: A relaxed fit that fits comfortably around the shoulders and waist, allowing for great reach forwards to the handlebars.

• • Tight fit (also known as a race fit) is when the jacket will feel like it’s compressing you ever so slightly.

• • Moderate fit is where you have good ranges of motion, but may feel tight in some areas that are reinforced or designed for protection.

• • Loose fit is when the entire jacket feels loose in all areas of your torso without being too far from the body.

Scorpion Optima

• Price: $199.95
• Where to buy: Revzilla | Amazon
• Fit: Sport / Touring – Moderate

The Scorpion Optima textile jacket is designed to be a very weather friendly textile jacket, meaning that it can handle three seasons, and if you live somewhere temperate, four season riding. There is a permanent waterproof membrane in the jacket, with a removable inner liner for when the days get hot.

Of note, there is excellent venting via two waterproof zippers on the front of the chest and two zippered exhausts on the mid back. The venting is designed so that it effectively cools the body core in a sport or three quarters standard riding position. All zippers are YKK and extremely durable.

Protection comes in the form of CE 1 rated shoulder and elbow armor, and a removable/upgradeable back pad. The textile is 450D abrasion resistant through most of the jacket, but slide points (shoulders, elbows, etc) have 600D abrasion resistant textile. The jacket also has multiple areas of hi-viz night reflection.

REV’IT! Offtrack

The REV’IT! Offtrack jacket is a great jacket in that it is very adjustable, offers superb protection, and works in a wide range of temperatures. While mainly designed as a warm to hot weather riding jacket, a waterproof insert as well as a thermal insert, both of which stow inside pockets on the inside of the jacket, allow you to adjust as you go.

In terms of ventilation, there is a permanent mesh venting area that starts below the collarbone, passes up over the shoulders, and joins across the upper back. Should more ventilation be needed, there are two front zippered air vents that can also be unclipped from under the vent flaps and pulled open diagonally down to offer maximum ventilation.

Protection comes in the form of the majority of the shell being 450D polyester, with 600D abrasion resistant fabric down the outside of the arms and over the shoulders. SeeFlex CE 2 armor is provided in the shoulders and elbows, and optional internal pockets for CE 2 back and split chest armor allow for upgrading.

Icon Stormhawk

• Price: $315.00
• Where to buy: Revzilla
• Fit: Cruiser/Adventure/Touring – Moderate

The Stormhawk jacket is totally weatherproof and features an essential breathable waterproof membrane, keeping the jacket lightweight and reducing fatigue. A unique feature includes internal abrasion resistance from 600 Denier polyester.

The Stormhawk comes standard with the newest in armor advancements, D3O CE-Certified LP1 impact protectors, in the shoulders and elbows. This armor is hailed as more breathable and flexible than previous generations of impact protectors, improving the jacket’s overall comfort without sacrificing protection. A D3O CE Level 1 Viper back protector is also included, rounding out the full impact suite.

For warmth in chilly conditions during Spring and Fall, a full-length insulated liner is included. For warmer conditions, large exterior front & back vents, sealed with YKK® Aquagard™ zippers, provide significant airflow. The Stormhawk jacket can be worn as a standalone jacket or can be zipped directly to the Icon Stormhawk pants, assisting further with abrasion resistance.

Joe Rocket Atomic 5.0

• Price: $184.99 to $199.99
• Where to buy: Revzilla | Amazon
• Fit: Sport – Tight

The Joe Rocket Atomic 5.0 is, as the name suggests, the 5th evolution of the popular Atomic series. Often considered one of the best inexpensive (note: not “cheap”) sport motorcycle jackets, on offer is plenty of protection from the road and from the elements. The jacket is made of 450D and greater abrasion resistant synthetics, and has built in waterproofing while allowing some breathing. As well, there is 360 degree application of hi-viz reflective materials for night safety.

Ventilation comes via two massive front zippers that are also waterproof when fully closed. Exhaust is via two lower back vents, in what Joe Rocket calls “the wind tunnel cooling effect” position, so that cool air enters via the front, runs over the entire torso, and due to positive pressure is pushed out the rear vents. If more cooling is needed, there are small zippers over the biceps to increase positive flow.

Shoulder and elbow armor is standard and is fully CE rated. There is a pocket in the back for armor, and the jacket has a removable thermal liner. Of particular interest is that the elbow and shoulder armor is externally accessible, meaning that if you want to put harder or different types of armor into those areas, such an upgrade is easily possible without having to fuss about inside the jacket.

First Manufacturing Speedster

• Price: $149.99 to $169.99
• Where to buy: Revzilla
• Fit: Cruiser – Moderate

The First Manufacturing Speedster jacket is the budget choice for the casual cruiser or standard rider that wants to be protected, yet have an understated look. This jacket is so discreet that without closer inspection, it passes as simply a heavy windbreaker to the eye. Shoulder gussets allow for a bit of stretch for the wider shoulder crowd. Made of abrasion resistant Cordura textile, the Speedster is not fully waterproof, but is rated as being decently water repellent.

Ventilation is provided by two horizontal front zippered vents. No rear venting exists, but there are discrete areas around the shoulders where the jacket is micro-perforated to allow for air and heat to pass out of the jacket. There are also two small underarm grommets that allow air to pass over them as in a helmet ventilation system and pull heat out via the venturi effect.

Protection is provided by CE 1 rated shoulder and elbow armor, reinforced with full 600D rated Cordura over the armored areas. A soft back protector is provided in the rear pocket. There is a full sleeve zip out thermal liner for when the temperatures dip towards cold. A solid three season jacket.

Speed & Strength Off The Chain 2.0

• Price: $199.99
• Where to buy: Revzilla
• Fit: Cruiser – Loose

The Speed and Strength Off The Chain 2.0 jacket is designed with the cruiser rider in mind, looking like a zip up hoodie but providing full textile jacket protection. The shell is full 600D equivalent synthetics, and is water resistant, not fully waterproof. A neat feature is that there is a full hoodie sweatshirt zipped in as a thermal liner, that can be removed and worn as just a hoodie when not on your bike.

Ventilation is slightly different than most jackets in this price range, with the primary airflow coming in via zippered bicep vents and exhausting out of mid back zippered vents. This is purposefully designed to get air from around a cruising or touring windshield, which are usually tall and wide. The left breast pocket can be opened as a semi-vent if needed, but is intended as a carry pocket.

Protection is very prevalent in this low-key jacket. Full CE 1 rated shoulder and elbow armor is of course standard, however also included is a full CE 1 rated spine protector built into the back of the jacket. Because this may stretch the fit a little, there are shoulder gussets to allow those with larger builds to still fit comfortably.

Of note, there is a concealed pocket inside the jacket on the upper left that comes with a softform holster to carry, as Speed and Strength puts it, “stuff” in.

Klim Dakar

• Price: $279.99 – $309.99
• Where to buy: Revzilla | Amazon
• Fit: Adventure – Loose

The lightweight yet surprisingly durable Klim Dakar Jacket is built for harsh off-road or dual sport conditions with a 600 Denier shell. Micromesh is included on the back and in all stretch zones to maintain maximum breathability.

Karbonite ripstop reinforces the shoulders and elbows in case of a get-off. This jacket also features multiple vents, making it ideal for all but the coldest season. Color options include light gray (shown) which significantly reduces heat fatigue in the hot sun.

For protection, the 600 Denier shell can withstand the inevitable beating an ADV jacket is meant to endure. However, no armor is included, so you will need to wear your own armored compression/mesh shirt or add armor into the included back, shoulder and elbow pockets. Reflective panels help with the chances of being seen at night with other road users nearby.

Alpinestars Andes v3

• Price: $279.95
• Where to buy: Revzilla | Amazon
• Fit: Adventure – Moderate

The waterproof Drystar membrane on the Alpinestars Andes v3 allows for exchange of heat and moisture during the colder 3 seasons, while highly efficient direct venting creates ideal conditions in the summer heat. Along with an insulated liner, the Alpinestars Andes v3 Jacket is a true 4 season garment for both adventure and touring riders.

For protection, a durable textile chassis gets the job done both on and off-road. CE Level 1 shoulder and elbow armor is included, but back and optional chest protection will need to be purchased separately. Reflective panels help with the chances of being seen at night with other road users nearby.

One of our favorite features of this jacket, the Andes v3 is also compatible with the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 airbag system, which is the latest technology in impact protection and provides an unprecedented amount of protection. Keep in mind, this must be purchased separately and significantly adds to the price of the package.

ICON Mesh AF

Although this has more of a sporty look, the ICON mesh AF definitely has all the airflow you could ever want on a hot day and all the impact protection you deserve while riding the street – no matter what type of bike you’re riding.

Icon’s Mesh AF Jacket is perfect for hot weather. Mesh panels combined with ballistic nylon make this jacket both breezy and abrasion resistant where it counts. This jacket fits perfectly over a casual t-shirt and provides so much airflow that it’ll feel like the t-shirt is all you’re wearing without offering up your skin as a sacrifice to the road gremlins.

The ICON Mesh AF jacket – both the men’s and women’s version – comes standard with a complete set of CE Level 1 D3O elbow, shoulder and back armor. For the price, you won’t get a better set of protection included in any other street jacket.  Adjustability in the sleeves and waist allows for a tailored fit if desired and keeps you focused on the road ahead.

Alpinestars T-Jaws WP & Stella T-Jaws WP

The Alpinestars T-Jaws WP and Stella T-Jaws WP jackets are designed specifically for those that ride sport and supersport bikes. Made of 450D polyester textile for the main shell, the shoulders, forearms, upper back and lower front of the jacket feature 600D textile for the primary sliding zones found in a lowside crash. Waterproofing is via a non-removable but breathable inner liner.

Ventilation is via two diagonal shoulder vents on the upper chest for intake, and passthrough of the waterproof liner on the back for passive exhaust. As the jacket is designed to be worn fully zipped and clasped, Alpinestars did test the jacket for ventilation comfort and states that it is effective at keeping riders cool without needing extra rear vents.

Protection is via CE 2 rated shoulder and elbow armor, as well as an integrated soft pad upper back protection build into the jacket and covered with 600D textile. There is an internal back pocket for a back protector, and Alpinestars recommends using their Nucleon CE 2 rated back protector. Most manufacturers’ back protectors should fit, however, if you already have one from another jacket or would prefer a different material.

Of special note for the women’s jacket, there are special accordion zones around the upper chest and upper sleeves to allow for a more comfortable, yet still sport tight fit without compromising safety.