Motorcycle Clothing Sizes

Hello! And welcome to Alex's Blog. This week's blog is about sizing – how to know what size to get, what the European and American sizings mean, how to measure etc. Sizing has been a big discussion point at J&S Accessories HQ since we started working on our new website.

The reason it has been such a large part of our discussions is that with so many brands and different items as well as items being labelled in European or US sizes it is very hard to simplify items sizes on a website. Very hard!

So we came to the conclusion that we should translate the sizes for you behind the scenes, to shield all of our lovely customers from the complications involved in sizing.

BUT just in case you are interested, or if you're still not sure on your sizing here is a comprehensive guide to sizing – including sizes of different brands to help you navigate your way.

Or, you can quickly jump to the section you want using the quick links below:

1) Glove Sizes.
2) Boot Sizes.
3) Leather Suit Sizes.
4) Leather Jacket Sizes.
5) Leather Jeans Sizes.
6) Textile Jacket Sizes.
7) Textile Jeans Sizes.
8) Ladies Clothing Sizes.
9) Ladies Glove Sizes.
10) Ladies Boot Sizes.
11) Kids Sizes.
12) Helmet Sizes.

1) Gloves.

These seem to be most confusing to our customers in regards to how to measure your hand. Luckily it's very simple, but this is why this heads the sizing guide.

All you need to do is measure across your palm in centimetres to come up with your glove size. It's as simple as that! Just hold your hand with the palm facing up and measure, in centimetres, from the side where your thumb starts (but don't include your thumb) across to the side of your little finger, in a straight line across (not around) your palm.

Below is a table for you to see which number translates to which size so you will find it easier to navigate from brand to brand (some show numbers, some sizes) and a handy illustration (above) to show you which part of your palm to measure.

When it comes to brands all brands either show the size in letters, for example M or L etc or in CMs. So if you follow this table below you won't go wrong.

As a rule Alpinestars gloves do tend to be on the snug size so you may sometimes need to go a size up, but as a rule if you follow your size here they should fit.

Glove size chart

2) Boots.

We have found boots to be very hard to translate as there are so many different variables.

For example, Alpinestars have different Motocross sizing to their men's sizing plus their size 40 in ladies is a size 7, whilst in men's it's a 6. This created a lot of work when launching the website…. But there are a few size tables you can follow – however these are very brand specific – fortunately for you on our website these are translated for you but remember that we do have stores nationwide (open 7 days a week) so if in doubt you can always go to one of our stores for a good try on to make sure you have the right size for you.

Some manufacturers are slimmer in the foot (and calves) than other boots (like Alpinestars, Sidi etc for example) so whenever possible we do advise to speak to one of our advisors.

Here are a lot of tables to try to help you with a guide to boots – we translate the sizes to English sizes so you don't have to consider these BAFFLING boots sizes but just so you can double check:

First up the normal size guide – remember these are just that – a guide and not true to all boots – if in doubt check with us! These are just here as a general guide. These apply mostly to Frank Thomas, BKS and RST boots.

Men's boot sizes

However, women's boot sizing is different – so don't be caught out here. These are a whole size smaller/larger (depending on which way you look at it!) than men's sizes!

Women's boot sizes

Now a lot of boots don't come with UK sizing in them, such as the Alpinestars racing and touring boots. They come with European sizes and UK sizes:

Alpinestars Race/Touring Boots sizes

However even though I would like to say this is as confusing as it gets. This is not the case.

As Alpinestars short trainer style boots come with different sizings again! They have Euro sizings but instead of UK sizes they also show US sizings just to make things more complicated – plus a few of them have different sizings to other trainer style boots.

I could fill this blog up with a lot of tables per boot – but we have translated the sizes to make life easier for you.

To cut a long story short if you're not sure on boot sizings give us a call or go to one of our stores. We will be able to guide you with specific boots to make sure you get the best sizing possible for you. Otherwise if you know your UK size and you never have to go a size up or size down etc then the size that we translate to *should* be correct for you, but this is not gospel – but we do try our hardest to get this correct and sell a lot of boots online with *touch wood* virtually no problems.

A hint on sizing in the fit of boots is that Sidi boots are quite narrow in the foot, TCX touring boots can be quite wide in the foot and if you do have big feet (size 14 upwards) just double check the European size you need as boots notoriously scrimp on size at the higher end of the table. So the actual boot may say a size 14 but you may want to just double check with us.

3) Leather Suits.

Leathers continue to baffle a lot of customers who contact me because of the differing sizings in different brands.

Leather suits are measured in inches around the chest, just under the armpits. So suits, even though you wouldn't necessarily think it, are sized solely from the chest size. The waist measurements are, usually, around 8-10 inches below the chest size for example a size 46 chest suit will have a waist of 36-38 inches. Brands such as BKS, Frank Thomas and RST all follow the UK inch sizings (so don't need tables for them as its just UK inches).

Alpinestars, IXS, Dainese and other European brands have European sizes. European sizes are exactly 10 above UK inches so if you're a 46 inch chest then you will need a size 56 in Alpinestars. Remember, we have translated all the sizes on our website to UK sizes to make this easier for you – but if you're looking in store then a size 56 is what you will need.

Alpinestars, IXS, Dainese and other European brands leather suit sizes

4) Leather Jackets.

Leather jackets are exactly the same as leather suits – they are measured around the chest (just under the armpits) and the brands are exactly the same. So, brands such as BKS, Frank Thomas and RST all follow the UK inch sizings.

And Alpinestars, IXS, Dainese and other European brands are again in European sizes. European sizes are exactly 10 above UK inches so if you're a 46 inch chest then you will need a size 56 in Alpinestars. Remember, we have translated all the sizes on our website to UK sizes to make this easier for you – but if you're looking in store then a size 56 is what you will need.

Alpinestars, IXS, Dainese and other European brands leather jacket sizes

5) Leather Jeans.

Sadly the same cannot be said for leather trousers. For British brands such as Frank Thomas, RST and BKS it is simple enough. Just measure your waist in UK inches. Done. But European brands open a whole new can of worms! Different brands refer to different UK sizes. For example, a European 54 in Alpinestars is a size 36 in inches. (you just subtract 18 to find the UK inches). But in IXS a size 48 is a size 38 (subtract 20) See the tables below for brand specific sizings.

Leather Jean sizes for IXS, Berik, Arlen Ness, Dainese etc.

Alpinestars jeans say to take 18 off (although bear in mind they are small in sizing anyway!)

Leather Jean sizes for Alpinestars

6) Textile Jackets.

Now on to textile jackets. These are a lot easier to understand. The majority are measured in M, L , XL etc. which is fairly easy to guess correctly – but to cut out the guess work check out the sizing guide tables below. Again, some brands can be a bit smaller than others (Alpinestars) and always remember that if you plan to wear extra layers underneath this will change your sizing.

Textile Jacket Sizes

7) Textile Jeans.

Textile jeans are also very easy – again just measured in M, L , XL etc. Please see the table below:

Textile Jean Sizes

IXS textile trousers specifically have an extra letter on the front of their long and short trousers. “L” for Long (obviously) and a more baffling “K” for the short leg. Again, this is translated online but in store this is what those letters mean!

8) Ladies Clothing Sizes.

Ladies clothing is a little harder to navigate than mens.

There is a general sizing guide and lots of brands tend to size ladies items in ladies UK sizing such as 10, 12, 14 etc. which would make it seem that it is easier, however, a lot of these brands are very small in sizing so you may find you're a size bigger in these clothing (maybe even two!) Do not be disheartened if this is the case – the motorcycle world is a little further behind on ladies clothing than it should be but it is getting there!

Ladies leathers are all in UK sizing so this makes life a little easier – but just remember that Alpinestars and Dainese come up small. IXS also do but we translate European sizings to UK sizings (but as they are so small we compensate for this) so you should be able to trust our website sizings for IXS ladies leathers.

IXS Ladies Leather Sizes

As you can see they are a little different to normal euro and UK ladies sizing.

In textiles here is a guide for ladies sizing. This is very apt for BKS and Frank Thomas (bear in mind that Alpinestars can be smaller)

IXS Ladies Textile Sizes

IXS ladies textile clothing has the letter “D” in front of all the sizes. This stands for “damen” which is German for ladies as IXS is a Swiss company. This is left out of our online sizing but if you do receive a label like this then that is explained! In ladies clothings in Frank Thomas sometimes the label will have the letter “L” preceding the size. This just simply stands for “Ladies” and is usually marked in clothing that has a male and female version to make it easier to tell the difference between the different versions.

9) Ladies Glove Sizes.

As with mens, hold your hand with the palm facing up and measure, in centimetres, in a straight line across your palm from the side where your thumb starts to the side of your little finger.

All the brands either show the size in letters, for example M or L etc or in CMs and below is a table for you to see which number translates to which size.

As a rule Alpinestars gloves do tend to be on the snug size so you may sometimes need to go a size up, but as a rule if you follow your size here they should fit.

Ladies Glove size chart

10) Ladies Boot Sizes.

With boots I did hit upon the sizing before whilst looking at the mens boots. This is the general womens size guide – but this is a guide, not applicable to every boot we sell (unfortunately). As I mentioned above the motorcycle world can sometimes be a bit behind on their female sizing and boots are no exception. Sometimes boots can be labelled up as womens but feature men's sizings. We try to compensate for this with our translations online but in store watch out for this. We fully recommend trying these items on to make sure. Also think about the kind of socks you will be wearing. A lot of our customers prefer thicker socks which can take you up a boot size.

Ladies Boot Sizes

11) Kids Sizes.

Kids clothing is far too varied to put in to tables. Every single item of clothing we sell (even in the same brand) is different to the next. We try to translate as well as we can online but trying on is key here. If you do order online and it isn't right you can exchange or get a refund no problem at all.

IXS measure their children's clothing in the height of the child in centimetres, whilst other brands tend to age bracket their clothing and others tend to just assign an M, L, XL etc. It really is a mixed bag.

The same applies to childrens helmets. Each brand is different and every helmet varies too. Online this is explained and translated in to CMs. But see the helmet sizing guide below to see how to measure your child's head. Different brands give different sizes for kids - if you're unsure what size you order online for kids helmets theneither give us a call or e-mail us to check that you're getting the right size. Even better take your child in to one of our 30 stores nationwide for a good try on!

12) Helmet Sizes.

To measure your helmet size just measure the circumference of your head (it is easier and more accurate if you get someone else to measure your head) in CMs. Do this just above the eyebrows as straight as you can (as per the picture)

Most helmets will follow the table below:

Helmet Sizes

However, AGV in some of their top spec helmets, have an MS size and an ML size. They do this to give a more accurate fitting in the most popular size bracket. MS is 57 CMs and ML is 58 CMs.

Schuberth helmets have a little different sizing system:

Schuberth Helmet Sizes

Heads are all different shapes so even though technically a helmet should fit you, and it will fit, it may feel uncomfortable compared to another brand. Usually if you have a specific brand another helmet from that brand should fit the same.

Remember that all the information here is a guide – just a guide! If you do have specific questions either just give us a call, send us an email or go in to one of our stores and we will help you as much as we can. We do have a wealth of experience available to you. Hopefully this size guide helped you navigate a little through the world of sizing on motorcycle kit but we're always here if you need any more guidance.

Until next time,

Stay safe!

Alex