Textile Jacket Experiences in a Crash?

[dale55]

Wondering for those who wear textile/mesh jackets with the armor, have you every had the chance to test the jacket in a real crash? How do they hold up? Do they protect at all or are they worthless?

dale

[cnc]

I can't say personally, but one of the guys I know on here went through two crashes wearing both bottom and top mesh armour under his jeans and jacket. He swore by them and figured they saved his butt both times.

[Old Bear]

You will likely need to replace the jacket, as the material usually gets torn up pretty bad. That is, however, the point! YOU DON'T! The material keeps the road rash away, the armor prevents or at least lessens impact damage. Leather of course can take more abuse, but it will still get tears in it. My son-in-law had an unscheduled dismount last year in a very expensive leather jacket. The jacket, while leather, still got tore up pretty bad. He had a few spots where gravel got in through the sleeves and gave him a few abrasions, but nothing significant. Too bad he didn't have some super foot protection, as he shattered his heel into pretty much dust. Rough recovery, but he is back on the road now!

[waterman]

Originally Posted by dale55

Wondering for those who wear textile/mesh jackets with the armor, have you every had the chance to test the jacket in a real crash? How do they hold up? Do they protect at all or are they worthless?

dale

Talk to Sin City Stan and his lovely wife Rita. They crashed on their way to the Redwood rally 2 years ago. Pretty much they said the textile jacket saved their hides.

[Sin City Stan]

Originally Posted by waterman

Talk to Sin City Stan and his lovely wife Rita. They crashed on their way to the Redwood rally 2 years ago. Pretty much they said the textile jacket saved their hides.

It will be 2 years on August 23rd. We ruined two textile jackets. Rita got some road rash on her back because the jacket rolled up. I had a small rash on the back of my shoulder where the jacket wore through as I skidded down the side of the road. But the armor is what saved my shoulder. I had tendons and ligaments in my shoulder tore up but no broken bones. I was thrown about 20' and landed completely on the side of my right shoulder. I know without that armor I would have shattered my shoulder.

While sliding down the road a textile jackets will not hold up nearly as well as a leather jacket but I'm willing to give up some skin to save bones. The day I see a leather jacket with armor and can be opened up to let the air in on a hot day I will buy it. HD had a three piece leather jacket that would work great if they could get armor in it.

[Monkeyman]

I've got an armored mesh jacket. The contact patches (shoulders and down the outside of the arms) are 600 weight denier nylon. I think the only thing that would destroy that stuff is a long slide down pavement. The elbows and shoulder armor is CE rated but the back pad is just a soft pad. Not as good as CE armor but better than nothing.

The very best protection is armored leather but unless you live in the far north, it's just too hot. If I had any doubt my mesh (textile) armor wouldn't protect me, I wouldn't wear it. I have a leather jacket (non armored) I've worn on really cold days. I feel safer in my armored mesh.

[davidhollinger]

In all honesty, in the middle of the summer heat how many of you guys wear ATGATT?
I know it has been 90* here all last week and I rode in my half helmet and my tshirt. I do wear leather boots every single day though, but thats my normal attire. I usually wear at least my fingerless gloves even in the heat also. I know that if go down on the way to or from work, I have very little protection at all.

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by davidhollinger

In all honesty, in the middle of the summer heat how many of you guys wear ATGATT?
I know it has been 90* here all last week and I rode in my half helmet and my tshirt. I do wear leather boots every single day though, but thats my normal attire. I usually wear at least my fingerless gloves even in the heat also. I know that if go down on the way to or from work, I have very little protection at all.

Well the honest answer up to now has been I don't wear ATGATT when real hot. The only thing missing is armored or Kevlar pants. I have Kevlar jeans but too hot. So I just bought some armored mesh pants (Tourmaster Venture Air Pant). If they work well then I will be ATGATT in the heat.

Will I gear up for a 2 mile ride to the local bike shop? I hope so.

I was wondering if that motocross armor (back, chest, elbows, etc) under a Tshirt would be better than leather or textile w/armor. Up to now I have favored textile over leather.

I have read about the Bohn Armor but it sounds hot and confining in many reviews.

[coacha]

Originally Posted by davidhollinger

In all honesty, in the middle of the summer heat how many of you guys wear ATGATT?
I know it has been 90* here all last week and I rode in my half helmet and my tshirt. I do wear leather boots every single day though, but thats my normal attire. I usually wear at least my fingerless gloves even in the heat also. I know that if go down on the way to or from work, I have very little protection at all.

I ride total ATGATT 90% of the time. I always wear my Tourmaster jacket or my Olympia mesh jacket, Aerostich pants or mesh pants (this is the area that I may not be ATGATT on some rides), boots, gloves and helmet. I'd rather be a little stinky after a ride than go down and lose a bunch of skin. I have plans to get a Aerostich jacket in the future when I can afford the cost. Stich stuff is some, if not, the best made for riding.

[Old Bear]

I've got the Bohn Armor CoolAir Mesh. On the days I wore it, I really forgot about it on the ride, and the material breaths pretty well. I screwed up and got one size too big however, so the armor drops to my shins if I walk around much. I'm working on getting the correct size. Plus, I just ordered the Bohn Armor shirt in what they call lime yellow (I call it barf-green), which I will wear under my cut. I am hoping that will give me the air flow I desire. And last, the Frogg Togg's Chilly Dana is fantastic!

[BigRat]

When the temps get too high for a full jacket, I usually wear a t-shirt and leather vest, and I also wear elbow/forearm guards. It may look slightly goofy, but I am fond of my elbows.



I also wear jeans or firehose pants, with knee/shin armor underneath.

[cnc]

I do wear Atgatt. I have leather pants and jacket for cooler weather and an armoured mesh jacket as well as armoured mesh to wear under my jeans in hot weather or I some times wear armoured ballistic nylon pants. I always wear a Nolan n43 helmet, leather gloves and boots with any of the above combinations.

I decided to always be protected after reading Brittany Morrows story of how she came off a bike wearing a helmet and not much else. It's a real eye opener. She almost died from the road rash. Today she promotes Atgatt through the rock the gear website.

[davidhollinger]

In the winter time, I am very protected...3/4 helmet or FF leather all over and my boots. Summer is just unbearable, even with just a Tshirt and my cut, I burn up sitting in traffic. I havent seen the mesh jackets and I am not sure if I bought it I would wear it especially on club rides. Silly I know... but I will be looking into the Brittany Morrows story Norm. Thank you.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by davidhollinger

In all honesty, in the middle of the summer heat how many of you guys wear ATGATT?
I know it has been 90* here all last week and I rode in my half helmet and my tshirt. I do wear leather boots every single day though, but thats my normal attire. I usually wear at least my fingerless gloves even in the heat also. I know that if go down on the way to or from work, I have very little protection at all.

Not me. I will probably get attacked for this, but if I can't be comfortable when I ride, then what's the point? I always wear trousers, but sometimes I wear Nikes instead of boots. I usually wear a helmet and always wear gloves. I will usually wear long sleeves to minimize exposure to the desert sun.

For you newbies - I crashed my Nomad two years ago and had some nasty road rash on both forearms below the elbows. It was March 15th, it was 80 degrees and I was riding home from work. I had on jeans and a polo shirt. My leather jacket was in my saddlebag (it was chilly when I rode to work that morning). Even after that, I do not wear a jacket 100% of the time and I do have a nice textile jacket with a lot of mesh for warm weather.

If someone wants to dress up like an ordnance disposal technician to ride, that's their decision and that's fine. I choose not to do that. That's my decision.

[dshelly]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Not me. I will probably get attacked for this, but if I can't be comfortable when I ride, then what's the point? I always wear trousers, but sometimes I wear Nikes instead of boots. I usually wear a helmet and always wear gloves. I will usually wear long sleeves to minimize exposure to the desert sun.

For you newbies - I crashed my Nomad two years ago and had some nasty road rash on both forearms below the elbows. It was March 15th, it was 80 degrees and I was riding home from work. I had on jeans and a polo shirt. My leather jacket was in my saddlebag (it was chilly when I rode to work that morning). Even after that, I do not wear a jacket 100% of the time and I do have a nice textile jacket with a lot of mesh for warm weather.

If someone wants to dress up like an ordnance disposal technician to ride, that's their decision and that's fine. I choose not to do that. That's my decision.

+1 I agree with Scott, My excuse is that there is minimal traffic here and the roads I ride I'm lucky to see a car every 4-5 miles. I've had my close calls but if you pay attention to others (cagers) on the road you'll be fine.

Now that I said that I really need to watch out.