Thursday, April 10, 2008

• Leather Harley Davidson Jacket or Synthetic? Making the Right Choice

  Hunting for a Harley Davidson Jacket? If so, you've got a large array of shapes and sizes available to you. As a Harley rider, you’re fortunate to have many great choices when shopping for a jacket. The flip side, of course, is sifting through all the choices to find just the perfect one.

  The two biggest options are a synthetic or leather. When you've made that choice, you're half way home. There are positives and negatives to both, but in the end it's an issue of personal choice.

  If you're dead set on a classy leather jacket, no amount of persuasion will convince you to opt for a synthetic. Stick with me for a few minutes, though, and allow me to show off the different styles available.

  But if you cannot wait, you can locate a selection of featured Harley Jackets here.

  Harley Leather Jackets

  Leather is the champ of good looks. It's luxury feel and supple exterior are unparalleled and will never go out of fashion. There are numerous different types of Harley leather jackets though, in general, leather offers fewer selections for color and style than synthetic materials.

  An additional potential problem: leather can be extremely hot. The thickness of the material presents a tradeoff -- thicker material offers superior safety but can be unbearably warm in the summer. Some jackets offer perforated leather to deal with this problem, but it's not an ideal substitute for the configurability offered by synthetics. Heavier weight leather also has a longer "break in" period and can be stiff at first.

  A quick thought on leather measurements: leather measured at under one millimeter in thickness is said to be lightweight, whereas leather thicker than 1.5 mm is very heavy. More about leather weight can be located at this site.

  Synthetic Jackets

  If you're searching for timeless good looks, synthetic jackets may probably never rival leather. But a synthetic may be extremely good looking in its own right, and may supply much of a premium when it comes to functionality.

  Several different choices in materials are available when choosing a synthetic. One of the most popular is Cordura, a protective substance that is often used in hiking boots and luggage. Cordura jackets are frequently treated so that they are both waterproof and permeable, like Gore-Tex. Jackets made of Cordura also often feature interior body protection pads in the joints and/or spine. Look for CE-rated pads for the best level of abrasion resistance.

  Also, because these synthetics can be easily dyed, they are available in a wider variety of color choices. Finally, synthetic jackets are often very configurable -- many have openings that supply more circulation, or replaceable interior linings that provide added insulation.

  This website offers a good overview of the pros and cons of synthetics and leather.

  Nylon and Denim Jackets

  Of course, some jackets just do not quite fit the aforementioned categorization. Denim, for example, offers a unique value: a type of classic style which is desirable to many, while cooler in the warm months than leather. Nylon provides configurability and many of the weatherproofing options of a synthetic but, according to some, might not offer the great looks of leather.

  Harley Women's Jackets

  One quick note on ladies jackets...

  Finding options that are designed only with women in mind is now possible. You'll be pleasantly surprised with the choices available. Most synthetic jackets are unisex, but at least a few options are available that are specifically targeted for women. Choosing a leather jacket opens up a wide set of choices for fitted, stylish women's jackets.

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