For so long, women had to put up with ill-fitting jackets or adapt men’s motorcycle clothing to fit; the good news is that is no longer the case.
There are some truly awesome motorcycle jackets for women on the market, and we have gathered the best of the bunch here.
From all-weather textile to leather and mesh, there is a women’s riding jacket for all of us, so let’s take a look.
Perfect for Everyday Riding, Protective and Waterproof
Loaded with technical features to keep you dry and protected every day, a worthy investment.
Waterproof, Affordable, All-year Riding
Excellent value motorcycle jacket will get you through all weathers, all year.
Best Womens Motorcycle Jackets Reviewed
Klim Artemis Hi-Viz Women’s Jacket
Klim is best known for its adventure/touring clothing, making it some of the best all-year gear you can get your hands on.
To start with, you get CE-rated D30 Level 1 armor at the shoulders, elbow, and back; this can be upgraded to Level 2 armor if you wish.
D30 is some of the best armor around, it is soft when you are riding or walking, but in an impact, it hardens up to absorb the energy away from your joints.
Another big plus for the Artemis is the Karbonite ripstop overlays that bolster the jacket’s abrasion resistance.
The Hi-Viz strips mean you are more likely to be seen when riding in the dark; always a bonus.
You also get a GoreTex performance shell, where the GoreTex is laminated to the outer shell, keeping any water out and you dry.
There are 8 vents across the chest and arms and 2 exhaust vents at the back, which can be opened up to keep you nice and cool.
The jacket also comes with a Klimatek cooling mesh in the padded pockets to assist airflow.
You can also make plenty of adjustments to get the perfect fit; adjustment straps are at the waist, hips, biceps, and forearms.
It is a longer jacket, so it will cover your lower back when riding and lay down over the tops of your legs a little when seated.
It does need to be broken in, so you need to put down some miles in the jacket before you find it settles and it is completely comfortable.
Pros:
- GoreTex performance shell – waterproof
- D30 armor included
- Adjustable for perfect fit
- Loads of ventilation
- Good coverage
- Hi-Viz
Cons:
- Needs to be broken in
BILT Tempest 2 Waterproof Women’s Jacket
The BILT Tempest 2 offers an all-year riding jacket at a fraction of the cost.
You get CE-rated armor at the shoulders and elbows and a pocket to put in some back armor (which you should always do).
The 600D outer shell construction is backed up by overlays on the shoulders and elbows for extra abrasion protection.
The jacket comes with a thick quilted thermal liner that can be removed when you are in warmer temperatures, while the mesh inner liner allows air to circulate once you open up the vents on the outer jacket to keep you cool.
You can make adjustments to the cuffs and waist for the best fit, and the neoprene collar ensures comfort around your neck.
The jacket tends to come up a bit small, so maybe going a size up isn’t a bad idea but bear in mind that once the thermal liner is taken out, the jacket will be roomier too.
The waterproof liner is built against the outer shell, so it keeps the rain at bay for those unexpected showers we all come across.
Pros:
- Good value
- CE armor at shoulders and elbows
- Durable 600D construction
- Removable quilted liner
- Adjustable
- Back protector pocket
Cons:
- Back armor not included
- Comes up a bit small
Alpinestars Stella T-Kira WP Jacket
Alpinestars will never disappoint when it comes to quality riding gear.
The Stella T-Kira is a waterproof textile jacket with a stylish sporty edge.
Not all sportsbike riders want leather, and some want to ride all year in all weather; well, the T-Kira has got you covered.
The waterproof membrane backs the outer shell to keep out rain while allowing breathability.
You also get a removable thermal liner and vents at the chest so you can tailor your jacket for the climate.
CE Level 1 armor at the shoulders and elbows is supplied with pockets for chest and back protectors. You can clip in the Alpinestars Nucleon CE Level 2 back protector if you want to.
There are multi-layer areas on the impact zones and comfort edges on the collar and cuffs.
The arms of the jacket are also pre-curved, so when you put the jacket on and sit on your bike, the jacket is already formed in position for maximum comfort – no breaking in necessary.
You can also zip this jacket to any Alpinestars pants.
You should be aware that Alpinestars’ sizing tends to come up a bit small in the body with long sleeves. They base their designs on European sizing, so you may find you need to go up a size in the body and put up with slightly longer sleeves or adjust them.
Pros:
- Sporty design
- Waterproof
- Attention to detail with comfort edges and pre-curved sleeves
- Comfortable
Cons:
- No back protection
- Sizing comes up small
Roland Sands Maven Women’s Leather Jacket
The RSD Maven jacket is a vintage-style leather jacket that protects you while ensuring you look good both on and off your bike.
CE-rated armor is equipped at the shoulders and elbows, with a pocket ready for you to add in back armor.
The jacket is performance-ready; it has pre-rotated and pre-curved sleeves, a relaxed collar with a longer back section.
RSD has used soft but durable leather for the jacket, and it is hand-washed, oiled, and waxed to get the premium finish.
There is no question of comfort when putting the Maven jacket on; there are flex-fit panels and sleek poly-satin lining.
The leather is perforated at the sleeves and chest to accommodate airflow, and you get several pockets outside, inside, and on the sleeve.
Pros:
- Quality construction
- Premium leather
- Stylish
- Comfortable
Cons:
- Pricey
- No back armor included
Joe Rocket Classic ‘92 Women’s Jacket
This retro-style leather jacket from Joe Rocket is a great-looking jacket ready for adventures on and off the bike.
It has been tailored for a feminine fit; it is adjustable at the waist and cuffs and provides you with a total of 9 pockets to stash your everyday bits.
There are pockets for shoulder, elbow, and back armor, but it does not come with any, so be sure you select some armor to go along with it.
The leather is good quality, and the fit, on the whole, is pretty good, maybe a little roomy, which isn’t a bad thing as it means you can layer up underneath.
Pros:
- Quality leather jacket
- Traditional retro styling
- Adjustable
Cons:
- No armor supplied with jacket
REV’IT! Eclipse Women’s Jacket
The REV’IT! Eclipse jacket is the ultimate lightweight summer riding mesh jacket at a reasonable price.
It is constructed from 600D polyester for excellent abrasion protection and is paired with Knox Flexiform CE armor to ensure you have the best impact protection.
Knox armor is fitted at the shoulders and elbows, with the back protector needing to be bought separately depending on size.
The mesh construction will allow maximum airflow at hot temperatures and keep you nice and cool while riding.
It is comfortable from the get-go and offers you a casual summer jacket that will keep you protected if needed.
Pros:
- Comfortable
- Ultimate summer jacket
- Knox armor
- Great value
Cons:
- Only suitable for warm/hot weather
Buyers Guide
Care, considerations and cost
Despite having read through the reviews of our best ladies’ motorcycle jacket options, you might still be a bit confused about what style of jacket to go for.
Here is our short buying guide to help narrow things down and make sure you buy the best jacket for you.
Key Differences for Women’s Jackets
Cut/Fit
When it comes to the cut of a lady’s jacket, it is fundamentally different from a men’s jacket; manufacturers have finally caught on that women generally have smaller shoulders and wider hips and have started producing jackets that accommodate this.
Having a jacket cut right for the correct body shape means that everything works properly and as it should.
For example, the body armor will sit in the right places, vents will open where you need them, and there won’t be gaps in the jacket where air can circulate, making you too cold or warm.
An often overlooked issue is when you have a jacket that is too big, with excess fabric, the wind can hit the material and blow you up like an inflatable, causing more fatigue than if you were wearing a well-fitting jacket.
Having a jacket cut for wider hips means that the jacket doesn’t bunch up when you sit on the bike, sometimes leaving your lower back exposed. A good womens jacket should be able to be worn on the bike and have you covered appropriately.
It is also nice, particularly with all-year textile jackets, to have wrist cuffs and a neck closure that close correctly rather than being too wide, so don’t block all the air out in cooler weather.
Style
While the most essential part of a jacket is that it fits and is fit for purpose, it is also nice to know that you can buy a jacket now that suits your riding style.
Now I would be lying if I said the industry had got it all perfect for women’s clothing; there is still some way to go, particularly when it comes to the amount of pink that some brands think is necessary to deem a jacket a ladies over a mens.
However, styling in the last decade for women has undoubtedly come on leaps and bounds, and there are plenty of options if you want to avoid the pink brigade.
We have social media to thank for this, with some super cool women leading the charge for female riders with events like Babes Ride Out and women’s riding groups like The Lita’s sweeping across the US and worldwide.
Female riders are making their presence felt, and fortunately, that means manufacturers are producing some awesome riding gear directly for women and not just adapting men’s styles.
Protection
More than anything, it is essential that you buy a riding jacket that will protect you in the event of an accident.
It can look great, be all singing and dancing technically, but it has one job, and that is to protect you.
So, make sure that it is fitted with (or can be) shoulder, elbow protection, and a good back protector as a minimum.
Be sure that the armor is CE-rated.
Note: Sometimes manufacturers pad out a jacket with a piece of foam for a back protector; this is useless and will offer no protection, so be sure to upgrade this to genuine armor.
Leather vs. Textile
There are many debates online about which is more protective in terms of abrasion resistance between leather and textile.
The fuel on the fire here is that for racing, only leather is accepted.
However, the facts are that they are both equally as good, and there isn’t much between them when it comes to everyday riding.
Proper Motorcycle Standard
You want to make sure that you choose a jacket specifically built for motorcycle use.
Wearing your favorite leather jacket isn’t going to cut it; the leather used for motorcycle clothing is thicker and reinforced in the impact zones.
Lastly, when it comes to abrasion protection, make sure your jacket is reinforced at the shoulders and elbows; these are the areas you are most likely to endure an impact/slide, so you want to make sure the material holds up and protects you.
What do you need from a jacket?
When it comes to buying a jacket, you need to consider what you need it to do and what conditions you will be riding wearing it.
You probably want to avoid a mesh summer jacket if you know you will hit some wet weather regularly, and maybe a leather jacket isn’t the best all-year riding jacket either.
Leather
Leather jackets are best for summer riding but can carry you into cooler weather if it has a thermal lining or space to add layers underneath.
Generally, leather jackets aren’t great for wet weather, but there are some exceptions where they have a waterproof coating or liner.
Sportsbike riders will lean towards leather for its protective properties. You can get features like a speed hump on the back for better aerodynamics (mainly only noticeable at track performance speeds).
Leather is also a favorite choice for cruiser and retro bike riders.
There are some great styles to choose from; they can look good both on and off the bike.
Textile
Textile jackets tend to be the most technical riding jackets and, as a result, can be a good choice for all-year riding in all four seasons.
Often made with materials like Cordura or Kevlar, textile jackets are substantial in the abrasion resistance department and are just as protective as leather.
Where they excel is with technical components such as inner layers. You can have a jacket with a waterproof liner, a thermal liner, and a comfort liner, all of which can be removed to suit your riding conditions.
You will find vents on your textile jackets that you can open up and let the air flow through; if you take out your thermal liner, this can be perfect in warmer weather.
Equally, some textile jackets are GoreTex laminated, which means the waterproof layer adheres to the outer fabric so that the rain cannot penetrate the jacket at all.
If you ride a lot in the rain, this can be a massive bonus, as you are guaranteed to be kept dry.
Mesh Jackets
Mesh jackets are relatively new to the market and are a type of textile jacket.
Produced using the same materials as a standard textile jacket, they will have a large mesh section on the front of the chest and back.
These are perfect for riding in hot weather, allowing loads of airflow while still providing you with a substantial amount of protection.
Conclusion
For me, without a doubt, you can’t go wrong with the Klim Artemis jacket; it is a versatile riding jacket that you can throw on in any weather and go out for a ride.
However, on a tighter budget, the BILT Tempest 2 offers excellent value and features above its price tag.