Bike Gear Without the Animals
Although certainly a minority there is a growing number of people who choose to avoid the use of animals in their clothing, food, toiletries and many other things. Bikers, while traditionally dressing in leather and enjoying a bacon sarnie, do have veggies and vegans in their midst, however the impression it’s hard to find animal-free gear can be a barrier, thus putting them off riding a motorcycle. We can all agree on more bikers being a good thing!
The reasons for the choice of avoiding animal-based products can be varied, from ethical to environmental concerns, however the most protective gear has traditionally been made with leather. Modern materials mean this is no longer the case. It’s possible nowadays for a biker who wants to have great gear without animals being harmed can have that cake (egg and milk free maybe), and eat it.
While with food you get hidden random ingredients to confuse whether something contains an animal product (who knew some red food colouring was made out of bugs?), with gear it’s a bit simpler, although the labelling can be tricky. Gear is either vegan or it’s not, you don’t tend to get animal byproducts like milk or egg in it, the only likely one you might see is wool – basically all other animal-derived materials require the animal to have been slaughtered, such as various leathers and glues, or maybe down feathers. The argument can be presented that some animals weren’t slaughtered for the sole purpose of their hide, however it’s fair to say it at least contributed to the decision.
Previously glues used to be filled with bones, cartilage and whatever else to make them effective adhesives, however many modern glues are free from this so more textile gear is within reach of the strict vegan or vegetarian. What might surprise you however is the amount of gear that’s been vegan for some time because the materials used actually suit better than proper leather – sports boots are a great example, commonly made from Lorica rather than leather.
We at Bike Stop take our customers’ demands seriously and want to cater to their needs as best we can, so we have taken the step to add a vegan category on our website to make it easier for anyone trying to avoid animals when buying gear. Obviously, we’re reliant on manufacturers being truthful about what they make their gear out of, but it’s in their best interest to be honest or face significant backlash.
The one argument you might be faced with this kind of gear is the waste issue – the use of synthetic materials results in higher plastic waste so if you’re not strict in your beliefs this is a factor to consider. It is fair to say that most leather gear uses stretch panels and polyester liners however, along with plastic-based armour so the argument can be taken either way. If you’re set on reducing your impact on animals then focus on making your new gear last as long as possible to reduce the waste from whatever you wear. We won’t cover other impacts as it’s quite the rabbit hole.
So, what kind of gear can you get? Short answer, quite a bit!
Helmets are a very easy one as they rarely include leather, with any leather-type material on the chin strap typically being the polyurethane (PU) kind. The only potential stumbling block can be adhesives, so if you want to be doubly sure before parting with your money then either check in with us or the manufacturer for clarity.
Jackets and trousers have had textile examples for some time that fit the bill, however it’s only been a recent development where you can get jackets that ape their sporty leather equivalents with proper fit, look and performance. Dainese have made a great job of making jackets without animals that can stand toe-to-toe with the leather counterparts in the looks and protection departments. You can even get features that leather jackets lack, like massive mesh panels and seriously effective waterproofing. If you’re looking for a sporty one then the Dainese Racing 3 D-Dry ticks most of the boxes, with a D-Dry lining throughout, a removable thermal liner, vents on the shoulders and back as well as great armour, shoulder sliders and looking slick; this is a hard jacket to beat regardless of any ethics.
Trousers present more options as you’ve got the ‘traditional’ textile gear, but you’ve also got aramid fibre jeans to add to your options. This same tech is starting to make appearances in jackets, or equivalents to jackets (aramid fibre shirts and hoodies have become a reality). Ideal for the casual look, and by default completely vegan, aramid fibre gear utilising cotton or synthetic outer layers could be an easy answer to avoiding animal products. While great looking it’s fair to say these types of gear don’t always offer the best weather protection however, and without spending big bucks on Rokker’s Revolution jeans (fully waterproof, well armoured and with excellent abrasion protection – you can see why they attract such a premium!) you might wish to opt for either more traditional textile trousers or even carry a set of waterproof overs (either a set of bottoms, or a full one-piece).
If you opt for textile trousers then the Dainese Tempest 2 D-Dry will tick the same boxes as the aforementioned Racing 3 jacket – great protection from untimely spills and the weather with a D-Dry membrane, removable thermal liner alongside huge closable vents, Cordura abrasion protection and D-Stone tech for impact protection. If you choose to go the aramid fibre jeans route then you’ll need waterproof overs; we stock a variety from Oxford, Dainese, Alpinestars and Rukka to suit any budget.
Moving onto boots and you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise if you’re looking for a sporty boot – the vast majority of those are made from synthetic forms of leather thanks to their lighter weight and good abrasion protection. Alpinestars’ superb SMX-6 in non-waterproof, Drystar and Goretex forms for both men and women are completely animal-free – probably one of the best options in this segment for a do-it-all boot. You’ve fewer options when it comes to casual style or serious adventure boots, but you’ll find the majority of Sidi’s boots will fit the bill with Lorica used in a large number of their boots.
Finally, we move onto gloves and you’ve got a decent selection here too. Sadly, you won’t find the latest and greatest race gloves here as they opt for thin and tough leathers to achieve their performance, however that isn’t to say you can’t get a great performer without leather involved. Synthetic suedes, leathers, Kevlar and Cordura all appear in gloves and often perform as well as, sometimes better than, equivalent leathers. Even Rukka, king of weatherproof gear, have a 3-season glove to suit, the Virium Goretex which will take you comfortably through most of the year without a hint of a leak during a British summer.
The Bike Stop shop in Stevenage is currently temporarily closed (we're looking to open as soon as we can!), but our online shop is still alive and well and taking orders (and calls Monday to Friday!) We’re even doing a 10% off promotion – just enter the code ‘TOGETHER’ at checkout. You can check out our full range on our website with free delivery for any order over £25 on the UK mainland, and delivery possible to almost anywhere else. Not only that but our ‘No Quibble’ returns policy allows for returns within a 365 day period – see our returns page for more details.
