Mesh riding gear such as the FirstGear Mesh Tex II jacket (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/item.aspx?style=9448) I own is made from an open-weave mesh of heavy ballistic nylon such as Cordura, usually lightly padded if at all, but with dual-density or EVA armor in strategic locations. The idea is to give a rider lightweight, minimally encumbering summer riding gear that flows enough air to be cool enough to ride in when it's hot and sticky without dehydration and heatstroke, but still offers enough armor and abrasion protection to prevent significant injury during a "typical" street-riding get-off. It's usually considered expendable gear, as it's not as tough nor as protective as leathers and a single non-trivial get-off (a high-side, say) will usually rip it up pretty badly. But in that, it's much like a vest -- if you have to USE it in earnest, it gets replaced or repaired before you use it again.
Hmmm, fascinating. How does this layered mesh compare with the ballistic nylon stuff that Aerostich has been using for the last few years? I always liked the toxic waste suit (http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/HiViz-Motorcycle-Suits-sp-19.html) -- I've seen a few on the freeways around here and I must say it is really damn obnoxious (and therefore serves its purpose well).
An Aerostich or similar textile suit is designed with slightly different purposes in mind. It's designed to be pretty weatherproof, to have close to the protection of leather gear under normal riding conditions, and to go on and come off easily over everyday clothes. A 'stich is more protection than mesh gear, though not as much as full leathers; the corollary is, it's hotter and more confining than mesh gear. Great for the commuter who needs to wear business clothes, and a lot of long-distance touring riders swear by them. Since it's weatherproof (or at least, weather-resistant; I'm told they ALL eventually start to leak at the crotch), you don't need to carry separate rain gear. (Though in a torrential downpour, you may want to have a full rainsuit anyway. Then again, in a torrential downpour, if I have much choice in the matter I get off the road.)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
Motoport sells mesh Kevlar gear -- expensive, but many folks swear by them.
Yet another alternative is perforated leather. Mesh leather shreds easily, but perforated is strong and provides nice air flow at speed.
no subject
no subject