Motorcycle vest sizing trips up more riders than jacket sizing does, because a vest is worn so many different ways: over a t-shirt in July, over a hoodie in October, sometimes over a jacket. The short version: measure your chest over the layers you actually ride in, expect a trim fit through the body, and let features like side lacing handle the in-between. Here is the full answer, including the questions we hear most.
Should a vest fit tight or loose
A riding vest should sit close to the body without pulling at the snaps. Too loose and it flaps at speed and looks borrowed; too tight and the front gaps open when you sit on the bike. When you stand naturally, the front panels should close without strain and the armholes should not bite. Remember you are usually sitting with arms forward on a bike, which pulls the back panel taut, so a vest that feels perfect standing up can feel snug in the saddle. That riding position is why quality vests cut the back longer than a fashion vest. Legendary USA builds to that allowance and publishes it: on the measured chart for the Legendary Beatdown, a Large is a 46 inch garment chest cut for a 42 to 44 inch body, and a 2XL is a 51 inch garment chest cut for a 47.5 to 49 inch body. That four to five inch working allowance is what lets the back panel pull taut in the saddle without the front snaps gapping.
Do motorcycle vests run small or large
Neither, but they measure differently than casual clothes. A vest size is a chest measurement over a bare shirt, so if you plan to wear yours over a hoodie or flannel, measure over that. As a rule of thumb, layering over anything thicker than a t-shirt means going up one size. Legendary USA vests are sized by chest measurement rather than by shirt size: men's lettered styles run S through 5XL and men's numbered styles run 36 through 56, sized directly by the inch. If you ride in both seasons, pick a side-laced model. Side lacing on a Legendary USA men's vest gives 2 to 4 inches of chest adjustment, and 2 to 3 inches on the women's cuts, which is why one side-laced vest covers a summer t-shirt and an autumn flannel.
How to measure yourself
Wrap a soft tape around the fullest part of your chest, under the armpits, wearing what you ride in. Keep the tape level and breathe normally. That number, in inches, is what you compare against the size chart on each product page. Every Legendary USA vest page carries a measured chart with chest and length, and the charts are per model, not generic, so check the chart on the vest you are buying rather than assuming your usual size. Cut matters more than the label: Legendary USA cropped club styles such as the LowLife are cut roughly 3 inches shorter in the body and run slim, so a rider who takes a 2XL in a traditional Legendary USA straight cut usually needs a 3XL in the fitted one.
Big and tall riders
Legendary USA men's vests run S through 5XL in lettered sizing and 36 through 56 in numbered sizing, and the Legendary Club Vest with side lacing also comes in a Long length that adds two inches for taller riders. Leather stretches a little with wear and molds to you, but it will not fix a vest that is a full size off, so size from the tape, not from hope.
Vests that make sizing easy
- Legendary Club Vest with Side Lacing, $179.99. Made in USA, sizes S to 5XL plus Long, with laces that adjust for layering.
- Legendary Gunslinger Leather Vest, $220.00. Western cut in sizes S to 5XL, with interior gun pockets.
- BECK 566 Horsehide Motorcycle Vest, $440. Made in USA horsehide that breaks in to fit like a second skin.
Frequently asked questions
Should a motorcycle vest fit tight or loose?
Close to the body without strain. The snaps should close easily standing up, and the vest should not flap at speed. Legendary USA builds a four to five inch working allowance into its vest patterns: on the Legendary Beatdown chart a Large is a 46 inch garment chest cut for a 42 to 44 inch body.
Should I size up for layering?
Yes, one size if you ride over a hoodie or flannel, or choose a side-laced vest that adjusts across seasons. Side lacing on a Legendary USA men's vest gives 2 to 4 inches of chest adjustment, and 2 to 3 inches on the women's cuts.
Do leather vests stretch after wearing?
A little. Leather molds to your body with wear, but it will not make up for a vest that measured wrong on day one. It also depends on the hide: Legendary USA cowhide vests do not stretch significantly and are sized true, Legendary USA lambskin relaxes most across the chest, and Legendary USA denim vests do not stretch like leather at all, so size up on denim if you are between sizes.
What sizes do motorcycle vests come in?
Legendary USA men's vests run S through 5XL in lettered sizing and 36 through 56 in numbered sizing. The side-laced Legendary Men's Leather Club Vest adds a Long 2 inch body length as a separate option from the chest size. On the women's side Legendary USA reaches 5XL on most styles and 8XL on the Lilly Purple Leather Vest.
The bottom line
Measure over what you ride in, trust the per-model Legendary USA size chart, and let side lacing cover the seasons. Get those three right and the vest disappears on the bike, which is exactly what a good one should do.