JACKETS

The most advanced textiles money can buy

BRAND NAMES

The higher price tag on the very best textile jackets is partly down to the brand-name materials used in their construction. Names like Gore-tex and Dupont are market leaders and don’t come cheap – but you get what you pay for.

VENTED PANELS

Most textile jackets feature vents of some kind. However, not all vents are equal: if they’re too small or are badly positioned, they won’t do much to regulate your temperature. Look for large, well-sited vents on the front of the body. Some jackets also have “exhaust vents” on the back.

WARMTH

Although most textile jackets come with removable thermal fleeces and are very warm at a standstill, wind chill can really have an effect after hours in the saddle so invest in a good thermal base layer if you’re planning any long trips in winter.

KEEP IT CLEAN

Many suits use Gore-tex material which has holes just big enough to let moist air out but not big enough to allow raindrops in. It’s therefore crucial that you keep Goretex garments clean or the holes can block up and won’t work properly.

TRY TEXTILES

If you’re a traditional wearer of leather biking gear you’ll be astonished at how much warmer textile garments are and how many more features they boast. If you’ve never tried wearing textiles why not give them a go and see what you’re missing out on?

“Dane products are tested for thousands of miles in extreme conditions before being sold to the public”