Posted by Mike Bradley on August 15, 2001 at 00:38:26:
In Reply to: Protective gear posted by Michael Bechler on August 13, 2001 at 18:10:31:
Leather is always better because you can slide on it at least 4 times longer than on cordura before the fabric wears through to your bare skin! But leather is heavy, hot and not entirely waterproof, so lots of people have both.
Things to note IMHO:
- Get CE-spec armor. It's the most protective.
- There's no point in getting cordura if it's not waterproof.
- With cordura, be sure there are ways to snug the sleeves and pant legs, such as snaps or velcro straps. If you can't snug them, the sleeves and pant legs will rotate in an accident, and the armor will rotate with them and no longer be positioned where it can protect you.
- Cordura clothing usually has reflective patches. That's good.
- Black leather is sharp-looking but very hot. For hot weather, be sure you can ventilate leathers adequately. Most high-end makers have hot-weather jackets with chest, arm and back ventilation.
- Zip-out insulation for cold-weather is pretty common in both kinds of clothing.
- My ideal pants would have to be custom-made: leather chaps, armored, with a full seat lined with Kevlar.