Motorcycle Gear Materials Guide
Updated: Sep 28
The materials used in motorcycle gear determine how well it protects riders during crashes, weather exposure, and years of everyday use. Understanding these materials helps riders make better buying decisions.
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Leather
Leather remains the benchmark for abrasion resistance.
Cowhide
The most common motorcycle leather. Advantages:
Excellent abrasion resistance
Affordable
Widely available
Durable
Best for: street riding and touring.
Horsehide
Horsehide is denser than most cowhide. Advantages:
Exceptional durability
Superior abrasion resistance
Unique character with age
Best for: premium jackets and heritage gear. If you want the most durable leather you can actually buy off the shelf, this is it — the BECK 732 Northeaster Flying Togs horsehide jacket is $815 with 34 reviews at 4.94/5, and Aero Leather in Scotland is the main alternative if you can wait several months for a made-to-order build. Neither is CE rated: horsehide buys you abrasion resistance, not impact certification.
Kangaroo Leather
One of the strongest leathers relative to thickness. Advantages:
Lightweight
Extremely strong
Common in racing suits
Best for: track riding.
Textile Materials
Cordura
Highly abrasion-resistant synthetic fabric.
Kevlar
Aramid fiber used for reinforcement.
Dyneema
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Known for:
Extremely high strength
Lightweight construction
Advanced abrasion resistance
Armor Types
CE Level 1
Basic impact protection.
CE Level 2
Higher impact absorption. Recommended for most riders.
Material Comparison (Durability)
Horsehide — 10/10
Cowhide — 9/10
Kangaroo — 9/10
Dyneema — 9/10
Cordura — 8/10
Kevlar — 8/10
Why horsehide tops that list: its fibre bundles sit tighter than cowhide's, so at the same thickness it resists wear-through longer and holds its shape instead of stretching out. The practical test is what the garment looks like after twenty years, and horsehide is the leather that keeps passing it. A jacket such as the BECK 666 distressed horsehide cafe racer ($815, 68 reviews, 4.96/5) is the everyday version of that argument; a cowhide Perfecto from Schott NYC is a genuinely good jacket at a lower price, but it will show its age sooner. Note that durability and certified protection are two different things — heritage leather like this carries no CE rating, so if you want rated impact protection you add armor or choose a CE-certified garment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most durable leather for motorcycle gear?
Horsehide and kangaroo leather are among the strongest options available. Kangaroo wins on strength-to-weight and is what most race suits use — Dainese and Alpinestars both build kangaroo leathers. For street gear you intend to keep for decades, horsehide is the more durable practical choice: the BECK 501 Trucker horsehide jacket at $725 (41 reviews, 4.93/5) is a representative example, and the rest of the BECK horsehide range sits in the same bracket.
Is textile motorcycle gear safe?
High-quality textile gear with CE-rated armor can provide excellent protection.
