Durabiliity of Tornado textile vs. leather
I'm trying to decide whether to get the REVIT Tornado or a leather jacket like Alpinestars Mert. I'm concerned about the durability of the textile compared to the leather in case of a crash. How does the textile in the Tornado compare (polyester 600D?) compare to leather in abrasion resistance? Also, how does the Tornado compare to the Turbine (Cordura 1000D and Superfabric)? Overall I'm just trying to get the safest jacket I can. I live in Austin TX and would like to get by with one jacket if possible for all seasons (usually it does not get below 50F).
Without comparing the specific jackets, I can speak to the trade-offs between leather and textile in choosing cycling gear.
Leather is almost always going to be more abrasion resistant if you go down on the pavement. High quality leather gear is the best possible barrier between your skin and the road. The exceptions to the general rule are thinner "style over substance" leather gear as opposed to the best textile gear with 1000 denier at contact points and other more exotic compounds, including leather, at the most likely points of contact.
The downsides of leather gear boil (pun intended) down to heat retention and sensitivity to water. Even perforated leather can be pretty hot in Texas, and rain is not the friend of leather. There will be times when leather gear is just not the right choice for the conditions, and if you decide to go anyway, a decent textile suit is infinitely better than nothing.
I would say that overall, a high quality textile jacket will be the most versatile seasonally, and the trade-off between protection and comfort is not too steep that you'll feel unduly exposed. Later on, you can add a good leather jacket for the many times conditions warrant it.
1 year, 6 months ago

by
KenO
Orlando