I use a First Gear mesh jacket for summer riding. It gets hot when you are at a stop sign or light but keeps you cool once moving. Cooler weather is when I use a leather motorcycle jacket with the zippered vents on the front and back. Both jackets have the soft pads as armor on all the right places. I also have one of those cheap buffalo hide e-bay jackets which must weigh 20 lbs. I used it for two years an had to replace the zipper on it. I had it on when I dumped the bike and it did it's job keeping my skin protected. I'm not using it now cause I lost about 50 lbs and it looks like a tent when I wear it. Cheap gear is better than no gear in a crash.