7 Best Motorcycle Jackets in 2026
The right motorcycle jacket makes for a comfortable and safe motorcycle tour. The wrong jacket can ruin it.
If you pick the wrong kind of jacket for the job, you may find yourself so cold or hot that you can’t go on with the tour. You also have to match the jacket’s protection features to the kind of riding you do—without going over your budget.
Sounds like a tough choice? It doesn’t have to be. Here, we have collected the seven best riding jackets available to help you find the right one for you.
Klim Kodiak
A serious motorcycle tour requires a serious riding jacket. Klim Kodiak’s latest iteration, building on its predecessor models’ strong foundation, is one serious contender for long-distance touring.
The jacket’s construction handles virtually any weather you might face on a ride. Its 10 adjustable vents allow for plentiful airflow during hot weather. Meanwhile, once rain falls, the three-layer wind- and waterproof Gore-Tex shell, waterproof zippers, and detachable storm collar keep water outside.
The build quality is robust, and although we haven’t been able to put this new jacket through extensive testing, we have no reason to believe it won’t hold up in the long term. This is a true four-season jacket—if you can feasibly get on the road, the Kodiak will deal.
Another strong point is the storage volume. The Kodiak features an almost comical number of pockets (although it has lost one from its previous version). You have pockets on the front, chest, inside the chest, forearm, and liner for a total of 10 well-sized compartments.
For protection, you get CE Level 2 shoulder, elbow, and back armor, all vented for your comfort. There’s also a mesh chest protector, and the jacket supports a kidney belt.
All that protection does come at the cost of weight. The Kodiak does weigh a decent bit, although not enough to make it uncomfortable to wear.
And then there’s the cost—Klim Kodiak costs more than most riders’ first motorcycle. But if you’re on the market for a touring jacket that will take anything you can throw at it, the Kodiak’s worth every penny.
Alpinestars Halo Pro Drystar XF
The name Alpinestars Halo Pro Drystar XF doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Yet, it’s appropriate in the sense that it has as many parts as this modular all-weather jacket. The Drystar XF (pardon us for not using the full title) comes apart in a good way to suit the conditions you’re riding in.
All put together, the Drystar XF is an extremely well-sealed, rainproof jacket. Its three-layer laminated shell prevents water saturation even in a sustained deluge and dries quickly afterward.
Once the temperature rises, you can open the foldaway chest and back panels to reveal mesh areas that allow for excellent airflow. If that’s still not enough, the sleeves shed their rainshell and transform into mesh sleeves.
For protection, the jacket features the popular Nucleon Flex Pro armor (CE Level 2) on the shoulders and elbows. There’s no standard back armor because the jacket is designed to integrate seamlessly with the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 airbags. That may not suit all riders, but if you’re a Tech-Air user, you can be certain your airbag system works with this jacket. On the back is also a waterproof pocket for storing the removed sleeves.
To provide a comfortable fit, the Drystar XF features a slew of adjustment straps at the biceps, wrist, and waist, which work well and stay tight over a long ride. There’s a good number of pockets, and an integrated channel for a hydration hose as a nice touch.
The jacket can be fiddly with all the removable components and adjustable vents, and they also put it on the heavier side. The price tag is higher than other Drystar jackets but nowhere near some of the competition’s.
Klim Badlands Pro
Heading into the badlands on a dual sport or ADV tour? Don the Klim Badlands Pro. It takes what the Kodiak does and turns it up to 11, creating one of the most protective and rugged riding jackets on the market.
The Badlands Pro has a tri-layer Gore-Tex Pro shell that, like Kodiak’s, provides exceptional waterproofing even when the skies open up for hours on end. Klim has eliminated the collar adjustment issues that plagued the Badlands’ earlier models, and the collar cinches up without a fuss and remains comfortable over longer distances.
A total of 12 air vents scattered around the robust jacket provide complete airflow on hot rides. The interior is lined with a moisture-wicking material to remove sweat from the inside. The ventilation solution works excellently—which is good considering the heavy jacket is still on the warm side.
Two of the front vents can function as pockets, but you likely won’t need them, as there are 11 other pockets incorporated into the interior and exterior. Saddlebags? Unnecessary. There’s a hydration bladder pocket ready to go as well.
As with the Kodiak, the shoulders, elbows, and back come with CE Level 2 vented armor. You have upgraded impact pads on the chest, and you can upgrade those to CE Level 1 armor. Klim has also added abrasion-resistant Superfabric patches to the shoulders and elbows.
So what's the catch with this jacket? It’s the price. You could buy three or four budget jackets for the price.
Yet, we wouldn’t call the price excessive. One of the toughest jackets out there, Klim Badlands Pro is the ultimate dual sport companion.
Leatt ADV MultiTour 8.5
When out on the off-road trail, a change in the weather can mean you’re stuck in rain or blistering heat for a long time. The modular Leatt ADV MultiTour 8.5 jacket changes with the weather to keep you comfortable with its adaptable structure.
Leatt markets the jacket as having “five-way functionality,” consisting of three pieces. There’s the base jacket, which features a HydraDri waterproof membrane on the bottom section and a mesh upper section to allow for breathability.
On top of the mesh upper, you can affix another waterproof outer shell, which blocks wind and water alike. Inside you’ll find a removable, warm thermal liner that also functions as a separate windproof and water-repellent casual jacket.
Ventilation of the base jacket is excellent, with its large mesh panels allowing so much airflow that you may be surprised how hot the weather is once you stop. That ventilation stops after you attach the rain cover, which seals you completely from the outside air (which means you may get sweaty).
Your back, elbows, shoulders, and chest are protected by CE Level 2 3DF armor, making the MultiTour 8.5 one of the most protective jackets we’ve featured. The ripstop material on the outer layers offers abrasion resistance in case of slides.
As a special highlight, the lower pockets are very roomy and can hold large items without them pressing into your stomach. At the same time, the bottom part of the jacket is very loose even when cinched up.
Attaching and removing all the layers isn’t the quickest operation, so you may get rained on while you fiddle with the attachments. And although the Leatt isn’t as costly as the Klim jackets, you still can’t call it cheap. It’s nonetheless an excellent option for ADV and dual sport riders looking for a robust and modular jacket.
REV’IT! Boson
Every jacket we’ve featured so far has been for long-distance touring and/or dual sport riding. The REV’IT! Boson, meanwhile, is a comfortable and stylish motorcycle jacket for city riders.
Its outer shell features a Hydratex membrane for water resistance (not proofing) and an effective wind barrier. The Boson isn’t built to stand up to a deluge, but it's more than enough to keep you dry when motoring to the office in a drizzle.
CE Level 1 protectors at the elbows and shoulders offer protection against low-speed urban tumbles. The jacket has a back pocket that can take a CE Level 2 armor pad (available separately). For commuters who need more protection against reckless city drivers, the Boson is designed to accommodate the REV’IT! Avertum airbag (buy a one size larger jacket).
Looks-wise, you can’t tell the Boson is a motorcycle jacket. It has a loose, modern cut that remains good-looking even off the saddle. At the hem are jean loops and a cinch cord for keeping the jacket from ballooning in the wind. The hood also has a snap attachment to keep it in check.
The REV’IT! Boson is tailor-made for motorcyclists whose rides mostly take them around town. It offers sufficient protection for street riding without the bulk of dual sport jackets, and it’s cool enough to walk into a restaurant with.
Klim Altitude Women’s
While riding ladies can certainly wear jackets cut for the male body (and many do), they can be uncomfortably loose or bulky on a woman. The Klim Altitude Women’s is one of the most popular woman-specific touring jackets, offering the brand’s familiar features tailored for women.
The Altitude jacket has gusseted shoulders for improved mobility. Paired with the expanding waist panels, the structure allows you to move into riding positions easily without feeling restricted. There are plenty of adjustment bands on the arms and waist to secure a proper fit.
The Gore-Tex exterior keeps you dry even in the harshest of riding conditions. Cross-body chest vents and forearm vents allow for massive airflow. The back exhaust vents sit low down the back, which allows using a hydration bladder without impeding the airflow as much.
The Altitude jacket sports Cordura fabric on the shoulders and goat leather overlays on the elbows and forearms. For armor, you get vented Klim Rogue pads in the shoulders, elbows, and back. As a bummer, those are all CE Level 1 armor, and you have to pay extra to upgrade to Level 2. If the guys get Level 2 in the box, why not the gals?
Although the ventilation is good, the Altitude is clearly designed for wet and cold weather. At the same time, it doesn’t come with a thermal liner, so you may be chilly or sweaty, depending on the temperature. The price is also on the higher side—it’s a Klim, after all.
Then again, it’s a Klim, after all. Riding women looking for a comfortable and protective three-season(ish) riding jacket can’t do much better.
Tourmaster Zephyr Mesh
Not every rider can or wants to sink a huge wad of cash in a riding jacket. Fortunately, you don’t have to. The Tourmaster Zephyr Mesh jacket brings you versatility and performance at a budget-friendly price.
As with the Leatt jacket, the Zephyr features removable liners. The thermal mid-layer, with its thermal waffle lining, will keep you warm. Yet, as a cool feature (pun entirely intended), you can zip off the sleeves to turn it into a vest. It looks nice enough to wear as a jacket on its own.
There’s also a waterproof shell that comes in its own bright orange storage pouch. You can wear it over or under your jacket—the rain shell is thin and nearly see-through, so it doesn’t matter where it goes. It works equally well.
On the shoulders, elbows, and back are Armanox flex armor, rated for CE Level 2. The entire outer shell is made of ripstop polyester, and there are additional nylon anti-abrasion patches on key impact areas.
As a special mention, the pockets are very well designed. They’re deep enough that your wallet sits over your stomach without hanging out the side or pressing on your belly.
You get all that at a very reasonable price to boot. The Zephyr is a no-brainer for a solid, wallet-friendly three-season riding jacket.
Read our full review of the Tourmaster Zephyr Mesh riding suit (including the pants).