The Idol Leather Jacket by Cortech Review [Motorcycle Apparel]

When you pick up The Idol leather jacket by Cortech, it has the light, supple, and soft feeling of non-technical jackets that are not heavy-duty enough to provide much protection for motorcycle riding. However, The Idol, part of Cortech’s Boulevard Collective, is all 1.0-to-1.2 mm drum-dyed bovine leather. Inside, CE level 2-rated SAS-TEC shoulder and elbow armor from Germany are standard, though an Italian CE back protector is a $20 option from Safe Tech via Cortech. It’s a motorcycle jacket.

Available in classic black or brown, The Idol’s leather is finished with a soft, oiled-look sheen. The finish made me wonder if the leather is waterproof. The product description does not say anything about it, one way or another, so the jacket gave it a simple test. At least initially, under direct cold-water spray, the leather sheds water completely; whether it would remain impervious to road spray and rain indefinitely is unclear, though you’ll certainly be fine in an unexpected shower. The styling and cut of the leather echo vintage lines of motorcycle jackets from the 1960s, while the interior is lined with smooth bronze-colored polyester fabric.

The short, padded-top mandarin collar on The Idol by Cortech has a snap closure. The zippers—main front, hand-warmer pockets, chest pockets, and cuffs—have antique-style YKK zippers that engage and operate smoothly. In addition to the four exterior zipper-closure pockets, there are five internal pockets, including a large concealed-carry pocket with dual-snap closure.

Action back gussets facilitate full range of motion for your arms, and accordion leather stretch panels at the sides make for a sleek, flexible fit around the midsection.

No vents, perforations, or textile ventilation panels are built in, so getting airflow into the Idol’s interior on hot days is a matter of partially opening the main front zipper. Being lined but not insulated, the jacket is best suited for cool-to-moderately warm temps. For cold-weather riding, a good baselayer is necessary, as there is no zip-out liner or internal or external storm flap over the main front zipper.

The zippers at the sleeve cuffs work well to enable the sleeves to be cinched down enough to prevent much air from getting in up the arms, particularly when closed down around the cuffs of your gloves.

The Idol jacket has a classic, vintage look and is remarkably comfortable and flexible. The fit for me is true-to-size compared to my usual jacket size. The MSRP of The Idol Leather Jacket by Cortech is $300, though it is discounted to $200 on the Helmet House website at the time this review is published.

The Idol Leather Jacket by Cortech Fast Facts

• Sizes: S-Small – 3X-Large
• Colors: Black; brown
• Armor: SAS-TEC CE level 2 shoulder and armor (Safe Tech back protector is optional)

The Idol Leather Jacket by Cortech Price: $300 MSRP