Textile jackets

[gueedo70]

I am looking for suggestions for a good textile motorcycle jacket with armor. Also I dont want them to be too expensive. My Christmas gift from my parents is all my motorcycle gear so I dont really want to have them get the most expensive stuff on the market.

[kschilk]

I've got a Fieldsheer Hydro Tour...fully armored, zip-out liner, lotsa' pockets, looks good and it appears to be nearly 100% waterproof. It's a little on the heavy side but no more so than most others in that style. It's primarily a road jacket but I got this one for mostly off-road use and it's comfortable enough, that I can ride agressively off-road quite comfortably. It's somewhat ventilated but even without the liner, it's too warm for hot summer woods riding...on the street, it's tolerable. I got it last spring for $143, on sale.

[PJL]

I am looking for suggestions for a good textile motorcycle jacket with armor. Also I dont want them to be too expensive. My Christmas gift from my parents is all my motorcycle gear so I dont really want to have them get the most expensive stuff on the market.
I use a Cortech (by Tour Master) GX Sport II textile jacket (pictured to the left in my avatar). Costs around $150-160 retail. Has six zippered vents on the front (both biceps, both shoulders, and center of the chest), three exhaust vents in the back (between the shoulders and one on either side of the back), and comes with CE-approved shoulder and elbow armor and a back protector. Waterproof/windproof shell and also has a quilted removable liner. I've ridden in it in temps as low as 25 degrees and my core doesn't get cold (although with the low collar, a balaclava is a MUST -- learned that the hard way). Tour Master stuff is carried in a lot of brick and mortar shops and easily available online. I'd check it out in a store if I were you. I ordered a 48, which is what my suit jackets are, without trying one on, and I find the torso is a bit too loose and balloons up with the vents open at highway speed.

http://www.newenough.com/protective_apparel/textile_jackets_and_pants/cortech_by_tour_master/gx_sport_series_2_textile_motorcycle_jacket.html

Great jacket for the money, IMO.