The 5 Best Hot Weather Motorcycle Jackets for 2024

Best Entry-Level Hot Weather Motorcycle Jackets

Priced under $200

ICON Mesh AF Textile Jacket

• Price: $185

• Where to Buy: RevZilla

  
  

Why?

No prizes for guessing what the ‘AF’ initials stand for here; and Icon aren’t kidding around, either. It’s not until you see this jacket in the flesh that you realise - surprise, surprise - it’s nothing but mesh across the chest, inside the arms and on the lower back. Yes, it may seem a little MC Hammer at first, but when worn with a suitably modest tee, it’s a really great option to keep you as cool as the Icon once the sun starts doing its thing. Although do note that if it rains, you’re totally taking a bath as it doesn’t come with a waterproof lining.

Of course, all those holes do have a downside, and that is much less abrasion resistance should you ever find yourself in an intimate encounter with some fast-moving bitumen. But being an Icon piece, the fit and finish is sure to please as will the company’s dedication to including top quality 3DO armour in all their jackets.

Fly Racing Street Coolpro Jacket

• Price: Up to $180

• Where to Buy: RevZilla

  
  

Why?

The Fly Coolpro Jacket is a go-to choice for mid-Spring thru mid-Fall sport and street riding and features abrasion resistant mesh construction for maximum airflow with 840D ballistic nylon in impact areas. It also features an anatomically fitted construction that moves seamlessly with you on the bike making it super easy to get into the perfect riding position without any binding or constricting.

Alpinestars Bionic Action Jacket

• Price: $160

• Where to Buy: RevZilla | Amazon

  
  

Why?

For those of us whose tires have more knobs than grooves, here’s a tried and true summer option from Alpine Stars, the snow-gear-turned-go-gear maker and one of motorcycling’s best-known brands. Yes, it looks rad but it also is surprisingly affordable. And with more holes than even Icon’s potty-mouthed Mesh AF, this thing is quite literally all protectors and not much of anything else. But boy, doesn’t it look tough? Sadly, it doesn’t come standard with superpowers, but it will protect you like a superhero.

Designed to be a motocrosser’s go-to protection, the jacket should also provide superior safety for dual-sporters and flat trackers, too. And if the plastic muscles look doesn’t take your fancy, you can always improve things by throwing a MX jersey over the top. But as with all off-road gear, it’s important to note that they aren’t designed for on-road use, and they probably won’t be staying in place should you come off at freeway speeds on surfaces that have much higher friction coefficients than good ol’ dirt or grass.

Best Mid-Range Hot Weather Motorcycle Jackets

Priced $200 - $450.

REV'IT! Tracer Air 2 Overshirt

• Price: $299.99

• Where to Buy: RevZilla

Why?

Because sometimes in summer you don’t want to look like you’re about to ride across the continent; especially if you are just riding around the block. But staying safe isn’t about the length of the ride you’re going on, as accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. So here’s something from Dutch gear gurus Rev’it that’s lightweight, vented and safe - and it also just happens to make you look as casual as you like.

While technically it’s still a mesh jacket, its finer, tighter weave has the look of a solid textile while still allowing air to flow around your buff, sculpted torso. It’s also a great example of the so-cool-right-now ‘Work look’ moto gear. But unlike a factory shirt, this thing comes with elbow pads, shoulder pads and the option of a back protector. Over all this mesh, already?  No problems, as it also comes in a non-mesh style and yes, those shirt-style collars are button-down-able.

Best High-End Textile Motorcycle Jackets

Priced over $450.

Helite Free-Air Mesh Airbag

• Price: $939

• Where to Buy: RevZilla | Amazon

Why?

Despite the name, the Free-Air Mesh Airbag jacket from Helite is not actually a mesh jacket. Instead, it is a 600D Cordura chassis with some reinforced mesh panels for airflow. It comes with CE level I elbow and shoulder armor, and a SAS-TEC CE II back protector.

However, the best protection this adventure fit jacket provides is a built in Helite Turtle airbag, which is attached via a lanyard to your bike and doesn’t rely on anything other than physics to deploy. No fancy electronic sensors, no need to recharge the battery overnight. 70 lbs of force on the lanyard and the airbag will deploy in milliseconds, protecting you from slides, tumbles, and impacts as best it can.

If you’re looking for a premium hot-weather jacket, this is it.

At WBW, “Best” Actually Means Something

Remember when you could open up a review of something, and when the publication—magazine, car show, whatever—said “best” they stood behind it? Yea, we remember, and we’re bringing it back.

Here’s how we do things:

• We disclose our affiliate relationships—We make money via advertising and affiliate relationships on our website. It’s how we pay our team and invest in things like sending Jim to Italy. And Japan. And France… wait… why do we always send Jim places?

• We obsessively hands-on test—We wear and ride with gear before reviewing it, and we update reviews down the line if our opinions change. We look at real-world situations because that’s the world we live in.

• We’re objective—Good gear is good gear, regardless of who made it.

• We’re value-focused—Why pay $500 if something for $250 is just as good? Our review scores and recommendations reflect best value. Brand only goes so far—the gear has to stand on its own.