Gear Need-to-Knows

[Mistress Maygin]

Originally Posted by Rider

Leather is leather, textile is what they call ballistic nylon and mesh is perforated textile.

I meant a real explanation. Like diff in weights, protection, price (if any). Stuff like that. I know what the materials are by themselves and can pretty much gather my own conclusion to some extent, but I'm playing newb. And like I said, this thread could later be used by other people who may not make clothes for extra cash on the side.

Originally Posted by neebelung

Mesh is just that - you look at it and you can see through it if you hold it up to light. And there are varying qualities - some will be tighter knit (smaller holes), which will give better protection, but allow a bit less air in (Alpinestars mesh seems to be pretty tightly knit).

Textile is a tighter woven fabric - no visible holes in it. It doesn't breathe particularly well, so you want to look for one with lots of zippered vents (Cortech has some great ones... Chris and I each have a Cortech textile and LOVE them). It's VERY comfortable though, and lightweight (but doesn't allow air to pass through, other than the vents... suitable up to about 80 degrees).

Leather is just leather. But you want to look at the tag to see what KIND of leahter. MOST of it will be cowhide, but there are some companie (higher end, more expensive) that produce stuff from Kangaroo leather (particularly gloves), and then companies like Held supplement cow leather with sting ray hide on the impact areas of their gloves.

Like that! lol Does the difference in leather offer difference in protection?

Mesh will only protect in the areas where the guards are, I would imagine? Textile similar to mesh, but with more in the way of protection from road rash. If you slide far enough, though, it will eventually wear through, right?