Compare chart
Compare motorcycle gear: Crave vs leather vs mesh vs unprotected
Honest side-by-side. We are not trying to convince you that Kevlar shirts replace a track-grade leather suit - they do not. We are showing you which gear fits which kind of riding, so you pick once and ride for years. Updated April 2026.
At a glance
Crave Kevlar shirt
100% DuPont Kevlar lining inside a cotton or microfiber shell. Looks like a workshirt, breathes in summer, takes D3O armor at elbows + back.
Best for: commute, city, weekend, summer touring up to ~110 km/h.
Shop shirtsCrave Armalith pant
Single-layer Armalith fabric - abrasion fibers woven into the denim itself. Looks like normal jeans, no separate liner.
Best for: daily riding pants, year-round.
Shop pantsPremium leather jacket
Best abrasion resistance per gram and a classic look, but heavy, hot, and obviously a piece of riding gear off the bike.
Best for: long high-speed touring, sport riding, track days (with full leather suit).
Mesh textile jacket
Maximum airflow with armor pockets. Looks unmistakably like riding gear; abrasion protection lower than Kevlar lining unless reinforced.
Best for: peak-summer adventure / commuting if you do not mind looking the part.
Cotton hoodie / unlined denim
Zero abrasion protection. Independent tests show standard cotton fails in under one second at city speeds.
Best for: not riding.
Side-by-side
| Crave Kevlar shirt | Premium leather jacket | Mesh textile jacket | Unlined cotton / denim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abrasion resistance | High - 100% DuPont Kevlar lining survives 50-70 km/h slides on coarse asphalt with no breakthrough | Highest in class for premium 1.2-1.4 mm leather | Medium - depends on reinforcement panels | Negligible - fails in under a second |
| Weight | 0.7-1.2 kg | 2.5-3.5 kg | 0.8-1.4 kg | 0.4-0.8 kg |
| Breathability in 30 C+ | Cotton/microfiber outer breathes; Kevlar lining is the warm part but it is thin | Hot - leather is sealed | Best - that is the whole point | Good (zero protection though) |
| Looks off the bike | Workshirt / casual - blends in anywhere | Obviously a riding jacket | Obviously a riding jacket | Normal clothes |
| Wet weather | Not waterproof - layer a shell over it | Treated leather sheds light rain | Mesh is the opposite of waterproof | Soaks instantly |
| Armor compatible | Yes - elbow + shoulder pockets, optional D3O Viper back protector | Yes - usually included | Yes - usually included | No |
| Break-in time | None - wears like a normal shirt from day one | Stiff for the first few rides | None | None |
| Wash & care | Machine wash cold, hang dry. Survives 50-100 cycles. | Specialty cleaning, leather conditioner | Machine wash cold | Machine wash |
| Typical price | EUR 169-249 | EUR 450-1,200+ | EUR 200-450 | EUR 30-90 |
| Where to buy | craveforride.co | Brand-name moto shops | Brand-name moto shops | Anywhere |
How to choose
- Daily commute, city, summer rides up to ~110 km/h. Crave Kevlar shirt + Armalith pants + D3O elbow / back armor is the most comfortable combination that still gives proper abrasion protection. You will actually wear it every day, which is the only metric that matters.
- Long high-speed touring, twisty roads, sport riding. A premium leather jacket and pants combo (or one-piece suit for track) is still the right tool. Crave shirts complement leather well as a base layer when temperature drops.
- Peak-summer 35 C+ and you do not care about looks. A reinforced mesh jacket has the most airflow. Pair with Armalith jeans below.
- Anything else. A Crave shirt over a t-shirt is more protection than 90% of riders actually wear day-to-day. The best gear is the gear you put on.
What about CE certification?
The D3O armor inserts we recommend are CE certified to EN 1621-1 (limbs) and EN 1621-2 (back). Garment-level certification to EN 17092 is on our 2026 roadmap. We make the certification status of every component clear on each product page so you can decide. Read more in our FAQ on CE certification.
Not sure which Crave fits you?
Send us your bike, your typical ride, and the temperature you ride in - we will recommend a setup.
Ask for a recommendation