Jacket: Mesh or Textile
 

HI guys - I am in the market for my first jacket and am wondering how the mesh jackets compare to a textile jacket. I am in Texas and it will be HOT!!! soon 99+ and usually no relief from either rain nor breeze. I was just curious how much cooler the mesh jackets really are. Right now I am riding in a brown fleece lined canvas ( hey it's better than no sleeves at all) and it is not really all that hot when I am moving, but at stops, I'm sweltering. If the textile was in a light color, I almost think it would not be so bad, but have never worn one so don't know. I guess I am thinking also about the cooler parts of the year and trying to find a happy medium with one jacket. Input???

Re: Jacket: Mesh or Textile
 

Textile is better than mesh. Leather is better than textile. Mesh is cooler than both.

Think of it like paper/rock/scissors

However, there is a wildcard entrant.
Perforrated leather does a pretty good job of keeping you cool while also giving you the added protection of leather.

look into it.

Re: Jacket: Mesh or Textile
 

Get a cooling vest to wear underneath some sort of perforated jacket.

Re: Jacket: Mesh or Textile
 

I have leather and mesh, both sort of top of the line, both armored. Hardly ever wear the leather. (CA, maybe not as hot as Texas and probably not as cold either.) I like the weight of the mesh and, when it gets cool, I leave the lining in, add a thermal underlayers, or, if really cool, but my rain jacket over.

Haven't ever crashed at speed yet, but I'm guessing the leather is better for crashing.

Re: Jacket: Mesh or Textile
 

Check out MotorcycleGear.com. They are in your home state and are fine folks to deal with. They generally have a wide variety of items on Closeout sales and a great return policy. Some folks buy 2 of the same jacket, pants, glove, whatever and keep the item that fits best while returning the other.
Oh, just remembered. They have First Gear mesh riding pants(Womens)on closeout right now. The leg inseam is adjustable too.

Re: Jacket: Mesh or Textile
 

I have a mesh jacket, and I can wear it almost all summer, gonna try to make it the whole way this summer. The only places it gets any hotter then not wearing it at all is where the armor pieces are, but other then that it is not bad, and my jacket is solid black.