The leather jacket has cemented itself as the archetypal motorcyclist's garment. While a slew of technical advancements mean that many textiles now rival leather in terms of protective properties, the leather jacket remains a staple in any biker's wardrobe. Some may be more practical than others, but they all share one common trait, they look damn good. Here's a selection of our favourite leather motorcycle jackets for 2021.

Let's kick this list off with a brand that is synonymous with high-quality leathers: Goldtop. Their 76 is a timeless looking jacket for modern-day riders.

It is based on Goldtop's original 1976 Scuftuf jacket but has been updated to house Knox's state of the art Micro-lock armour. It comes equipped with CE Level 1 armour in the shoulders and elbows and a pocket for an optional back protector.

This jacket is manufactured from hand-selected, 1.4mm thick aniline cowhides, making it the thickest one in this line-up yet also one of the supplest ones. Goldtop have created a highly competent and protective riding jacket that screams biker heritage.

CE AAA Rated.

The feature-packed Gable leather jacket is the most versatile jacket on this list. Available in slick Black, and a luscious retro Oxblood, the Gable offers classic style with modern features beyond most other jackets in its price range.

Constructed from a stunning 1.3mm Two-Tone Cowhide Leather that is completely tape seamed for full waterproof performance, it does away with the need for a drop liner/membrane. Combined with locking waterproof YKK zippers, the Gable won’t let a drop of water through. No need to carry around the unsightly over-jackets for when the heavens open.

The Gable is not just designed to protect you from the elements - a CE AAA certification means you can rest assured that Merlin have created a safe garment here. They’ve also been kind enough to include D3O Level 1 protectors at the shoulders, elbows, and back as standard, plus a removable 125g thermal full body liner so you can continue to ride through colder temperatures, and a jacket to jean connecting zipper for added security.

CE AAA Rated.

Another waterproof leather jacket is Helstons' tracker. The cut of this jacket is reminiscent of 80s racer jackets. The company have used full-grain cowhide for the construction and equipped CE approved armour in the shoulders, elbows and back Leather will mould to the shape of your body with time, but the accordion stretch leather panelling at the sides will help with movement right away.

As mentioned, Helstons have added a waterproof membrane which, together with the inner thermal waistcoat, you can remove as temperatures dictate, this jacket is great at adapting to changeable riding conditions.

CE A Rated.

Belstaff does the classic black leather jacket incredibly well and the Cheetham demonstrates this to a T. The low profile silhouette of this jacket is bound to flatter pretty much any body shape and is constructed of high-quality calfskin leather. More densely-packed than hides from older animals, calfskin is more supple and abrasion-resistant. The Cheetham really is an investment that you’ll be wearing for years to come, with the fine leather moulding to your shape and taking on a high luster with use.

The diamond-stitched double layers at the shoulders and elbows also have CE approved Safe-Tech armour underneath and a pocket for a back armour upgrade. With the subtle yet gratifying additions of a corduroy inner trim and a red contrast lining, Belstaff has once again shown that it's all in the attention to detail.

CE A Rated.

The Clash has been a long-standing staff and customer favourite. It brings some undeniably cool rocker-style to the table with its slanted front zip, diamond stitch detailing and studded elbow panels.

Each jacket is constructed from top-grain hand-finished, washed and oiled premium Cowhide leather, meaning each one is as durable and unique as the last. We love the aggressive fit too. The rotated, pre-curved sleeves and the dropped back hem give a natural feel when hunkered down on the bike.

The updated Clash is now safer than ever. Its construction and materials have been revamped and reinforced with double or triple stitched seams. CE level 1 SAS-TEC armour at the elbows and shoulders is included as standard, with a pocket to upgrade the protection on offer with an optional back protector.

We can speak from personal experience when we say this jacket only gets better with age: ours is 6 years and many miles old and still going strong, looking and fitting even better than the day we got it.

CE AA Rated.