The 10 Best Textile Motorcycle Jackets Under $500

Why We Picked It:

The Scorpion Optima textile jacket is designed to be a very weather friendly textile jacket, meaning that it can handle three seasons, and if you live somewhere temperate, four season riding. There is a permanent waterproof membrane in the jacket, with a removable inner liner for when the days get hot.

Of note, there is excellent venting via two waterproof zippers on the front of the chest and two zippered exhausts on the mid back. The venting is designed so that it effectively cools the body core in a sport or three quarters standard riding position. All zippers are YKK and extremely durable.

Protection comes in the form of CE 1 rated shoulder and elbow armor, and a removable/upgradeable back pad. The textile is 450D abrasion resistant through most of the jacket, but slide points (shoulders, elbows, etc) have 600D abrasion resistant textile. The jacket also has multiple areas of hi-viz night reflection.

Why We Picked It:

The REV’IT! Offtrack 2 H2O jacket is a great jacket in that it is very adjustable, offers superb protection, and works in a wide range of temperatures. While mainly designed as a warm to hot weather riding jacket, a waterproof insert and a thermal insert (both of which stow inside pockets on the inside of the jacket) allow you to adjust as you go.

In terms of ventilation, there is a permanent mesh venting area that starts below the collarbone, passes up over the shoulders, and joins across the upper back. Should more ventilation be needed, there are two front zippered air vents that can also be unclipped from under the vent flaps and pulled open diagonally down to offer maximum ventilation.

Protection comes in the form of the majority of the shell being 600D polyester, with added PWR Shell ripstop abrasion resistant fabric down the outside of the arms and over the shoulders. SeeFlex CE 2 armor is provided in the shoulders and elbows, and optional internal pockets for CE 2 back and split chest armor allow for upgrading.

Why We Picked It:

A lot of textile jackets out there are either jack-of-all-trades jackets, or, at least in the sport bike market, meant more for the aggressive supersport and superbike style of riding. That alone makes the Dainese Energyca Air something of a special jacket, as it is meant entirely and purely for the oft overlooked sport touring market.

Made entirely of polyester Cordura Comfort fabric for the chassis and Cordura mesh on the front, back, and sides, you get the benefit of both 600D+ abrasion resistant protection and a hefty amount of cooling air flowing through the jacket on hot days. If the temperatures drop or the wind picks up, a removable windproof liner comes included to help regulate your temperature.

The jacket features Dainese Pro-Armor CE Level 1 shoulder and elbow armor, with pockets for a split chest protector and back protector in the mesh lining.

Why We Picked It:

If you want to have a great jacket that flows a ton of air, has some of the most abrasion resistant textiles on the market, and also is perfect for smaller and midsized riders, the Rev’It! Tornado 3 is the jacket for you.

The main body of the jacket is made of Rev’It’s polyester PWR|Shell 750D rated textiles, which is reaching leather-like levels of abrasion resistance. The mesh panels are made of PWR|Shell polyester-wrapped nylon core, which carries a 500D rating and flows air as if there was no mesh there at all. One of the superb things about the Tornado 3 is that instead of just using CE Level 1 armor, as 95% of the jackets out there use, Rev’It put their SeeSoft SeeFlex CE Level 2 (the highest CE level before racing armor) at the shoulders and elbows, and have a back protector pocket that will accept a CE Level 2 SeeSoft RV back protector as well as any other back protectors on the market.

Adjustment is also amazingly easy on the jacket, with forearm straps, bicep push-snap buttons, and waist adjustment straps. The collar also has a sliding snap button to keep it snug but not choking. The real ace up the sleeve, however, is that the jacket also has mesh around the neck-to-shoulder area, a very common area for heat to get trapped in a lot of jackets, which can escape through convection and airflow with the shoulder mesh area.

Why We Picked It:

The Stormhawk jacket is totally weatherproof and features an essential breathable waterproof membrane, keeping the jacket lightweight and reducing fatigue. A unique feature includes internal abrasion resistance from 600 Denier polyester.

The Stormhawk comes standard with the newest in armor advancements, D3O CE-Certified LP1 impact protectors, in the shoulders and elbows. This armor is hailed as more breathable and flexible than previous generations of impact protectors, improving the jacket’s overall comfort without sacrificing protection. A D3O CE Level 1 Viper back protector is also included, rounding out the full impact suite.

For warmth in chilly conditions during Spring and Fall, a full-length insulated liner is included. For warmer conditions, large exterior front & back vents, sealed with YKK® Aquagard™ zippers, provide significant airflow. The Stormhawk jacket can be worn as a standalone jacket or can be zipped directly to the Icon Stormhawk pants, assisting further with abrasion resistance.

Why We Picked It:

The Speed and Strength Off The Chain 2.0 jacket is designed with the cruiser rider in mind, looking like a zip up hoodie but providing full textile jacket protection. The shell is full 600D equivalent synthetics, and is water resistant, not fully waterproof. A neat feature is that there is a full hoodie sweatshirt zipped in as a thermal liner, that can be removed and worn as just a hoodie when not on your bike.

Ventilation is slightly different than most jackets in this price range, with the primary airflow coming in via zippered bicep vents and exhausting out of mid back zippered vents. This is purposefully designed to get air from around a cruising or touring windshield, which are usually tall and wide. The left breast pocket can be opened as a semi-vent if needed, but is intended as a carry pocket.

Protection is very prevalent in this low-key jacket. Full CE 1 rated shoulder and elbow armor is of course standard—however, also included is a full CE 1 rated spine protector built into the back of the jacket. Because this may stretch the fit a little, there are shoulder gussets to allow those with larger builds to still fit comfortably.

Of note, there is a concealed pocket inside the jacket on the upper left that comes with a softform holster to carry, as Speed and Strength puts it, “stuff” in.

Why We Picked It:

The lightweight yet surprisingly durable Klim Dakar Jacket is built for harsh off-road or dual sport conditions with a 600 Denier shell. Micromesh is included on the back and in all stretch zones to maintain maximum breathability.

Karbonite ripstop reinforces the shoulders and elbows in case of a get-off. This jacket also features multiple vents, making it ideal for all but the coldest season. Color options include light gray, which significantly reduces heat fatigue in the hot sun.

For protection, the 600 Denier shell can withstand the inevitable beating an ADV jacket is meant to endure. However, no armor is included, so you will need to wear your own armored compression/mesh shirt or add armor into the included back, shoulder and elbow pockets. Reflective panels help with the chances of being seen at night with other road users nearby.

Why We Picked It:

The waterproof Drystar membrane on the Alpinestars Andes v3 allows for exchange of heat and moisture during the colder 3 seasons, while highly efficient direct venting creates ideal conditions in the summer heat. Along with an insulated liner, the Alpinestars Andes v3 Jacket is a true 4 season garment for both adventure and touring riders.

For protection, a durable textile chassis gets the job done both on and off-road. CE Level 1 shoulder and elbow armor is included, but back and optional chest protection will need to be purchased separately. Reflective panels help with the chances of being seen at night with other road users nearby.

One of our favorite features of this jacket is that the Andes v3 is also compatible with the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 airbag system, which is the latest technology in impact protection and provides an unprecedented amount of protection. Keep in mind, this must be purchased separately and significantly adds to the price of the package.

Why We Picked It:

Although this has more of a sporty look, the ICON mesh AF definitely has all the airflow you could ever want on a hot day and all the impact protection you deserve while riding the street—no matter what type of bike you’re riding.

Icon’s Mesh AF Jacket is perfect for hot weather. Mesh panels combined with ballistic nylon make this jacket both breezy and abrasion resistant where it counts. This jacket fits perfectly over a casual t-shirt and provides so much airflow that it’ll feel like the t-shirt is all you’re wearing without offering up your skin as a sacrifice to the road gremlins.

The ICON Mesh AF jacket—both the men’s and women’s version—comes standard with a complete set of CE Level 1 D3O elbow, shoulder and back armor. For the price, you won’t get a better set of protection included in any other street jacket. Adjustability in the sleeves and waist allows for a tailored fit if desired and keeps you focused on the road ahead.

Why We Picked It:

Although it might look like it, the Alpinestars T-GP R v2 Drystar Jacket is not just for sport bike or super sport riders. The style lines are more subtle and not as aggressive, which can be stretched into another riding style. This is perfect for any rider touring and/or commuting in a 3 season configuration, with 4 seasons if you live in a cooler climate.

The Alpinestars T-GP R v2 jacket comes with a multi-fabric shell construction with abrasion-resistant material in strategic areas. The main chassis is made of 400D polyester with 600D in impact areas in this v2 iteration.

Drystar is also laminated directly to the jacket as a waterproof and breathable membrane to provide coverage when the element hits. A zippered front air intake system and passive vents in the back help bring moisture away from the body. The removable thermal liner also helps keep you nice and toasty, down to about 48°F (8.8°C).

The Dynamic Friction Shield (DFS) external dual density TPU sliders on the shoulders cover up the CE-certified Level 2 Bio Air armor underneath. The Bio Air armor is also found at the elbows. Along the back inner arm and above the elbow, elastic stretch panels are added for comfort and range of motion.

The sizing is more towards a European cut with a sports fit. So keep that in mind if you have a beer belly and are stuck in-between sizing—we’d recommend that you go a size up.