Motorcycling is one of those rare pursuits where there’s more emphasis on men’s clothing than women’s. But there are more ladies who ride than ever before, and the apparel makers are catching up fast.
So here are five women’s motorcycle jackets that are not only functional, but pretty damn fine looking too.
Aether Apparel Arrow We’re big fans of Aether Apparel’s gear and often find ourselves reaching for an Aether jacket before a ride. The Los Angeles-based company simply ‘gets it.’ Their apparel is big on tech—but the styling is minimal, without trying to too hard to look vintage.
This is the $995 Arrow leather jacket. Aether picked a supple Napa cowhide, adding stretch panels at the sides for comfort, and a drop hem at the back for coverage when riding. Quilted panels on the arms add a touch of detailing, while thoughtful details like zippered hand pockets, and a chin guard to cover the zip at the top, round things out. It’s a good-looking piece of kit, but it’s also safe: Aether ships it with a full complement of D30 armor. [Superseded by the Aether Chase jacket]
Atwyld Alltime Fresh on the scene, Atwyld is the first girls-only motorcycle apparel brand we’ve come across. Founded by three lady motorcyclists from L.A., their ethos is functional, high-quality gear that also works off the bike. This is their flagship Alltime women’s motorcycle jacket, and we’d say they’re off to a cracking start.
At $650 it comes at a premium, but your money buys you a 1.3mm cowhide construction, with 8.3oz DuPont™ Kevlar® in key impact areas. It’s a classic moto jacket design—with an asymmetrical zip and quilted panels. The layout is made for riding, with stretch panels behind the shoulders, a dropped hem at the back and a handy loop for holding keys. There’s no armor though—for that, Atwyld are hoping you’ll spring for their $175 armored undershirt, and wear the two together. The Alltime is available here.
ICON 1000 Fairlady The Fairlady jacket has the signature aesthetic of ICON 1000: take on Armageddon, and look good doing it. The styling is somewhere between tactical and elegant—with a high collar, tough YKK zips and contrast stitching in all the right places. The Portland company has also worked in perforated panels for venting, and a removable satin-finish liner.
The chassis is 1.1-1.3mm select grain leather, and it’s fitted with lightweight and flexible D30 armor in the shoulders, elbows and back. Adjustment tabs at the waist help tailor the fit, and a leather tag on the main zip helps you grab it with gloves. It’s yours for $535, in either black or brown. [Buy]
REV’IT! Bellecour We love REV’IT! for producing gear that’s well thought out and excellent value. The Bellecour weighs in at just $330, but punches well above its weight. Available in brown or black, it’s made from vintage cowhide with a simple, timeless design.
Neat touches include waist adjusters for a tailored fit, an inner pocket just behind the zip flap, and an attachment point for a REV’IT! Safeway belt (which allows the rider’s pants and jacket to stick together). It’s kitted with Sas Tec protectors at the shoulders and elbows, with a pocket to take a back protector. [Buy REV’IT! women’s jackets]
RSD Maven Roland Sands might have got his start as a parts manufacturer and customizer, but these days he’s also known for stylish moto gear. There are a few women’s motorcycle jackets in the RSD catalog, and today we’re looking at the $565 Maven jacket.
Made from 1.1-1.3mm thick cowhide, it’s available in black, oxblood and tobacco. The leather is pre-oiled, washed and waxed, and then oiled again by hand—giving it a unique finish that’ll age well. It has an understated, café-inspired look, with a fit that RSD refers to as ‘performance riding.’ The arms are pre-curved, with perforated panels underneath, and there’s a drop tail too. It ships without armor, but it’s been made armor-ready with pockets at the shoulders, elbows and back. [Buy]