Best Cold Weather

There are some parts of the world where temperatures are kind to riders all year round. For the rest of us, the changing seasons mean temperature swings, new weather patterns, and nasty offerings from ole mother nature. Luckily, there are some pretty brilliant folks working with cutting edge materials, features, and technologies to build gear that makes riding in cold weather a joy – or at least less a test of your endurance and more of a brisk, and hearty experience. We’ve rounded up the best Motorcycle Jackets for cold weather riding to help you select the upper body gear that will extend your riding season, keep you comfortable, and provide reliable protection against the wind, the road, and just about everything else mother nature might throw your way.

At RevZilla, we work with, cater to, and speak with riders from a wide variety of climates. We know that “Cold weather riding” can mean very different things depending on where you’re from, when you typically ride, and what kind of riding you do. So we’ve broken down our selection into three temperature ranges that we think capture the most common conditions in the category.

The 60-75 degree range is ideal for those days where mornings and evenings are downright chilly, but midday temperatures are perfectly comfortable, meaning versatility, breathability, and moisture-wicking are paramount. Dropping down to the 50-60 degree range, we start to run into the limits of what many riders are comfortable riding in – especially at highway speeds or over long durations. Here, more substantial insulation has to be balanced with comfort, mobility, and utility. And for the coldest temps on this list, we look for gear that can keep you warm in those 50 and below temperatures. Whether you’re a year-round commuter, a high-latitudes adventurer, or a mountain-pass explorer, you’ll be best served with gear that integrates heated tech to combat the effects of weather and wind-chill.

The fourth refinement of the Ignition jacket by REV’IT! Is a do-all piece of gear that can keep you comfortable in a wide range of weather and temperatures. Perfect for those chilly mornings that turn into toasty afternoons. Tons of ventilation, a detachable waterproof liner, CE level 2 armor make this jacket as versatile as it is functional.

Vintage flight jacket style meets modern materials with the Cambria Women’s Jacket from Roland Sands. The Cambria is perfect for those 60 to 70 degree rides, where an extra layer is key to comfort, but doesn’t need to be overly insulating. We love how good this jacket looks both on and off two wheels.

Our picks for both men and women in the 50-60 degree temperatures come from Alpinestars. Their Andes V3 jacket includes a removable thermal liner along with a wind-resistant, waterproof, and abrasion-resistant shell. Well-placed vents help promote airflow when needed, while armor at the elbows and shoulders adds to the protective capabilities. Rides in these temps can become surprisingly frigid as speeds increase, and this jacket is up to the task. As always with Alpinestars, hardware and build quality are tough to beat.

The Sedici Garda WP Jacket is a fully-featured cold weather motorcycle jacket designed to keep you comfortable, even if you find yourself in those rugged conditions most of us do our best to avoid. A waterproof shell with reinforced elbows and shoulders includes tons of pockets for easy storage, ventilation for added airflow when needed, CE level 2 armor, and adjustability at the waist, cuffs, and forearms for fine-tuning fitment.

For our women’s pick, we’ve gone with the Klim Attitude Jacket. GORE-TEX construction is integrated with abrasion resistant materials like 600D cordura and goat leather to provide the best in protection, insulation, and breathability. Plenty of pockets add to the utility of this gear, while moisture-wicking materials keep you comfortable over long distances.