How to buy the best women’s riding gear

For most female motorcycle riders, style is important. But when it comes to researching, choosing and buying protective clothing, aspects including safety, fit and comfort really should be your bigger priorities.

Decades of experience have taught me there’s so much more to female-specific riding gear than simply the size of the garment in question. And while women riders have never had so much choice when it comes to riding gear, it’s generally the same manufacturers who are creating gear for men who are also making gear to suit women, so there are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for your kit.

The convenience of internet shopping can make buying your gear online really tempting, but there’s only so much information you can glean from the associated sizing guides. Because while the length of the sleeves or the hip measurement might seem like a spot-on fit for your body shape, everything changes when you go from a standing position (from which the measurements are taken) to when you swing a leg over a motorcycle and assume a riding position.

The other thing to look out for is that more often than not, garments that are available for women often begin life as pieces designed for men. So, while measurements will have been adjusted based on the differing size and ratios according to female anatomy, it may not always translate into a comfortable or practical fit.

I’ve been sent gloves whose wrist openings are too small to fit my hands through, for example, being the result of a larger design simply made more compact for much smaller hands. So by the time the palm width and finger length were reduced enough to meet the XS sizing, the cuff opening was no longer usable. Another example is inner pockets located on the chest which, while really practical for flat-chested males, tend to be unworkable and their contents uncomfortable in female-specific jackets.

As well as giving your local dealer much-needed support, the added benefit of being in a bike shop and physically trying on a garment is the fact that more often than not there’ll be a motorcycle in the vicinity that falls into your genre of choice.

Once seated on the bike, check for any uncomfortable bunching that might take your concentration away from the road after an hour or two; make sure the physical extension of reaching the handlebars or footpegs doesn’t expose any skin or area of the body that should remain covered; and take the time to check that any built-in protective armour remains where it needs to be for maximum protection once seated on the bike.

Be aware that these movements will change significantly between a cruiser and a sportsbike, so find a bike that suits your individual circumstances – better still, bring your own.

Prioritising the safety features of your riding gear is really important for obvious reasons, but taking the time to find a garment that’s both protective and stylish is really beneficial. Why? Because if you don’t feel good about yourself while you’re wearing it, you might find yourself not pulling it on for those really hot days or really short rides, convincing yourself instead that ‘just this once’ you can go without it.

Given how protective clothing is often bulky and/or made of thick fabric that is less than flattering, finding gear that offers the protection you need, looks good and fits within your budget can be harder than you initially might think. However, taking the time to try on various styles and brands to find something that looks good and protects you well, will pay off in the long run.

If this means buying both a summer and a winter jacket, rather than trying to find an all-seasons jacket that can cover all bases, then do it.

If you’ve already got one or more items of riding kit that you’re happy with, make sure you take it with you when you’re purchasing other pieces. You might have a great-fitting and comfortable pair of boots, for example, but if the new pants you are eyeing off don’t do up around the outside of them (or, conversely, your boots won’t do up with your new pants inside them), then one of the pieces of will have its protective qualities compromised or it’ll be altogether redundant.