Some experienced bikers swear by the benefits of leather trousers, but textile motorcycle trousers have come a long way in the last 30 years, and so leather is not always the best option. Leather is abrasion resistant and leather trousers can look great, but leather absorbs the rain like a sponge, and it has little by the way of thermal qualities. It is true that racers wear leather, but they don’t spend hours in the saddle, so don’t tend to get miserably cold and wet. The road rider, by contrast, can get very cold and wet on a long journey, and a pair of leather pants can make one feel even less comfortable. Racers, by the way, wear leather not just for its protective qualities but also for its tendency not to create wind resistance and turbulence. A pair of textile trousers will offer comparable levels of protection to leather and considerably enhanced levels of comfort. For 99% of riders! we feel that a textile pant is the best option. A leather trouser is really for the summer, and for when looking sharp is the primary consideration.