Jacket Selection question

Can anyone recommend a store in the DC-Baltimore, Philly, or NYC areas that have a gi-normous selection of riding gear? I need to get a jacket. Kinda want to try on some stuff at a store to get sizing then probably buy online or maybe pick something up on Craigslist.

Something I am kicking myself in the butt for - I was at a Dainese Store, in San Francisco, two weeks ago and forgot to look for a jacket. (I was too busy looking for little kid shirts for my nephew). Yes their stuff is spendy but a) cheaper than having to pay my part of the bill for the ER, and b) was told "don't make me regret buying this for you". I'm not necessarily looking for their stuff.

Should I go with leather or something more breatheable?

Thanks!

Coleman Powersports in DC Metro http://www.wherethepoweris.com

Cycle Therapy in NYC http://www.cycletherapynyc.com

Riding gear is something you accumulate, so don't be surprised if you end up with a closet full after a year or two. I prefer leather (protection, looks) but textiles are more versatile. It comes down to if you want a year round jacket or seasonal jackets.

I prefrer leather, but in the summer I have to have cortech

Bob's BMW has a good gear selection, just outside of Baltimore. What kind of gear are you looking for?

Might I suggest buying local?

+1 for buying local.

I ride pretty much all year round and a fair distance every day (120 mile round trip). I tend to prefer textile jackets for obvious weather reasons but usually have a leather jacket for summer. Leather does tend to offer a little more protection, but there are a (very) few companies out there that make textile clothing with similar protection. The one I'm aware of is Halvarsson, I have one of their jackets but I don't know if those are available in the US. IIRC they have the only textile jackets that are certified as personal protection equipment here in Europe. Rather heavy though, but not much heavier than a good leather jacket.

Make sure that whatever jacket you buy, you can get decent armour for it. You'll need it if soccer mom does a "sorry didn't see you" as leather tends to protect against abrasion, not impact. The quality of the armour can/will have a massive impact on how comfortable you are wearing it.

BTW, Dainese don't have that good a rep around here amongst people who I know have a lot of knowledge about motorcycle gear. For starters, the leather is or at least used to be too dry and you tend to pay a lot for the name.

I have had a Scorpion textile jacket for a couple years, and it's held up well. One snap tore about 11 months after bought it, Scorpion fixed it for free, in about 3 weeks. I bought an Alpinestars leather jacket about a year ago (like he said, it just accumulates).

I hate the Alpinestars. It's colder when it's cold, it's hotter when it's hot, it weighs twice as much. The protection is probably on par with the Scorpion, and it only cost over twice as much. Was it worth it? Not for a daily rider jacket, the Scorpion still is my first choice. Damn I look good in it though

try cyclegear.com? lots of stores around it seems