When thinking about buying motorcycle leathers many things must be thought about. Style is really a secondary consideration here, the amount of protection is the primary concern for the avid biker, when buying motorcycle leathers. That is the purpose of leathers after all.

For many years leather has been the standard for motorcycle jackets, pants and other clothing items, this is because it is so tear resistant, it keeps the biker warm, and of course the shield it provides for the biker against the hard pavement of the road.

Leather can vary in quality though. We will explain why this is, through this article, to assist you in your choice of which to buy. We shall offer details on the different hide types and how you can tell which one is what type.

You will see as you are looking at motorcycle leathers that there are three types of hides used to make them: buffalo, cowhide, and pigskin. You could also see a few others like sheepskin, but these are not as strong as you would want them to be for protection when riding.

Out of the three major hides pigskin is the softest. This is real good, if you are riding in the winter months, for keeping you warm. It also has a nice stylish appearance. Some people disagree on whether pigskin is as strong as cowhide. Pigskin to me has a bit more tendency to get torn, which makes it a bit more tender to me. You may want to use another leather type for riding. But the pigskin for wearing is plenty durable. Spend a few more bucks and buy the right grade of leather to protect your body while riding.

Now for the buffalo hide that is used for leathers, it comes from the water buffalo of either India or the country of Pakistan. Speaking of Pakistan they just happen to be famous worldwide for their legendary skill for turning out quality leather goods. Even though buffalo hide is a bit unique compared to cowhide it is high quality when it comes to durability and protection.

The strongest of the options is cowhide however. This is because it has strength and is quite durable. Its thickness varies from 1mm -1.3mm, the thickness varies due to the process which the hide goes through for tanning. Cowhide provides plenty of warmth and protection against road injuries. For the top quality in your motorcycle leathers choose cowhide to protect you.

To understand your choices further you have to understand what grain actually means. The grain is just the outside of the skin of the animal, or its epidermis. You can have certain flaws in the grain like scarring, cuts, and scratches. But when the grain is in its natural condition is when it is at its strongest and it the most durable. The grain of leather has the ability to breath, which makes it more comfortable to wear.

This is one time you do not want to buy Made in the USA label. This is because the better leathers come from Pakistan and some countries nearby. You will spend too much to the ones made in the USA compared to the quality you get. With Pakistan being such an expert in the industry you can really rely on their quality to be top notch.