Veganuary (and gear for Vegans)
So it’s the new year and many of us have started some new year’s resolutions; for some of us it’s dieting, for some it’s taking up new hobbies and for some of us it’s trying a new lifestyle. As it is Veganuary, I think it’s only fair that we talk about what options there are for vegans in the motorcycle industry.
Way back when motorcycles were first made in 1885, there was no such thing as safe riding gear, it was just what you wore but as time went on we started wearing stronger clothing and were required to wear a helmet (in some countries by law). Let’s fast forward to 1928 when Irving Scott (a raincoat designer from Manhattan) invented the first leather motorcycle jacket for Harley Davidson. The leather biker jacket was the safest piece of clothing you could wear on a motorcycle and went on to be an iconic piece of equipment used by bike enthusiasts and biker clubs such as the Hell’s Angels, Pagans MC and my personal favorite the Sons of Anarchy… Anyway, Fast forward a few years and companies started to create textile based equipment for bikers and ever since there has always been a debate between leather fans and textile fans in which is better, but they both serve a purpose. It’s debated that leather is better than textiles which in some circumstances it is, but it depends on what type of riding you do as there is now a rating system which shows how well a piece of gear will hold up with abrasions and impacts.
All of which is completely irrelevant if you’re a vegan… what can you wear if you’re a vegan, can’t wear leather, can’t wear textiles because some of it comes from animals, so what do you do? Well now, brands have started making vegan friendly products using manmade fibers/materials to keep us safe which means you can easily get yourself a full set of gear that is completely safe AND vegan friendly. Now, what I’m going to do is, I’m going to show you what options you have for your vegan lifestyle for both men and women.
MOTOGIRL LOUISE JACKET. This is a great Kevlar lined jacket for women as its comfy, stretchy, has a casual style and offers all the protection you could need from shoulders to elbow and has a pocket for a back protector. Its also waterproof with a layer thats also removable!
MOTOGIRL RIBBED ARAMID LEGGINGS. These leggings are from Motogirl and are an amazing vegan friendly option for those that don’t like the extreme snug fit of leather or the bulkier style textile trousers. They come with hip and knee armour both level 2 and the materials used are DuPont, Kevlar and Polyester woven with abrasion resistant materials.
SIDI REX AIR. The Sidi rex are Sidi’s most advanced and most likely the safest boots they offer. They cover all areas for maximum safety for example reinforced toes, shin plate, ankle cups, sliders, 3 separate shoe tensioners and an Achilles heel cup.
RUKKA VIRIUM. The Rukka Virium are a great pair of vegan friendly gloves that can be used all year round but might need glove liners for when the weather gets colder as they are mesh. With that being said these gloves are Gore-Tex and will definitely keep your hands dry when the rain comes. They come with knuckle protection and protection on your scaphoid to prevent any issues with that little known but highly sensitive area should you have an accident.
DAINESE AVRO D2 TEXTILE. This Dainese jacket is a great choice for someone who wants a sporty jacket that is also vegan friendly. It covers all areas for protection such as shoulder and elbows and it has a pocket for a back protector which is always recommended. It also features a removable thermal liner for when the summer comes and you want to be a bit cooler.
DAINESE CARVEMASTER 2. The Dainese carve master 2 are a great pair of trousers for all year round as they cover all areas of protection, they’re Gore-Tex so they’ll keep you dry in the winter and they will be breathable for the summer so you don’t get as sweaty. These too are vegan friendly!
RST TRACTECH 3 EVO SPORTS. These boots are a great vegan friendly pair of boots that won’t break the bank. They cover all areas of protection from the shins, ankle cups, reinforced toes, lever guards and a reinforced heel.
DAINESE BORA TEXTILE GLOVES. These are a great pair of summer gloves which are vegan friendly. They have plenty of protection across the knuckles and are nice and lightweight. These won’t offer much protection from the cold and the rain as they’re just mesh gloves but, if you’re after a comfy summer glove then these would be perfect
Hope that helps - we welcome comments and feedback so please let us know.
