Oxford Bomber review | Waterproof AA motorcycle jacket tested

Date reviewed: June 2025 | Tested by: Jon Mansfield, BikeSocial member | Price: £179.99 | www.oxfordproducts.com

The Oxford Bomber on review is a classic (Mod?)-style textile jacket that I’ve been wearing for about 8,000 miles, but more importantly throughout each day for four or five months of the year while teaching new riders…

Pros & Cons

Construction and fit

Available in black or the khaki on review here, the Oxford bomber is a fairly lightweight textile jacket with a laminated waterproof membrane bonded to the back of the nylon (61% recycled) outer, and a fixed quilted thermal lining.

Sizes available are S, M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL, 4XL and 5XL in both colours, all at the same price point.

The Bomber’s sleeves are elasticated fabric that sits snug against my wrist to the point that any watch needs to be slim to be comfortable.

Protection & Certification

The Oxford Bomber is certified to Level AA under EN17092’s test criteria for abrasion resistance, seam strength and tear strength, which is the middle level of performance and what we expect to see of textile riding kit now. AAA is the highest level under this certification method, with A being the minimum (and too low in many people’s opinion for most motorcycle use).

Level 1 armour is supplied at the elbows and shoulders, which is the lower of the two standards (Level 2 offers more impact protection), and while there is a pocket for Oxford’s Level 2 back protector, it’s a £29.99 optional extra.

A reflective Oxford badge on the left arm, and a reflective strip down the middle of the upper back add some subtle visibility.

There’s a pair of popper-fixed loops inside the bottom of the jacket, which can be attached around your trouser belt to help keep the draft out and to reduce the chance of the back pulling up in a slide, though I don’t bother faffing with them.

From April 21 2018, all new motorcycle clothing is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). To meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. For more information on the new laws, click here.

Pockets

There are two useful zipped pockets on the outside, but I tend to keep my wallet in the Nelson pocket that’s tucked behind the zip on the left breast. I was worried about the fact that this is secured with just a single popper, rather than a zip, but nothing’s fallen out.

There are Velcro-closed pockets inside at the waist, and the traditional small, zipped pocket with pen slots on the left arm, which I sometimes tuck small things into like earplugs or coins.

Fastening

The zip is a YKK Aquaguard that’s easy to use with a fabric tab puller. I haven’t had any issues with it, but if you find this type starts to get stiff, a quick wipe with silicone oil after cleaning it will have it running smoothly.

Adjustment

There’s no adjustment in the Oxford Bomber – just elasticated fabric at the neck, cuffs and waist. I find it fits me well in my usual XL size.

Ventilation

There’s no ventilation built into the Oxford Bomber, so with the waterproof membrane and fixed thermal liner it can get a bit too hot for me in the summer. This is made worse by spending so long walking around off the bike, but I’d still say this is really a Spring and Autumn jacket. It’s mid-season kit in my opinion.

Warmth

The 100gsm polyester-filled thermal liner in the Oxford Bomber does a pretty good job of keeping you warm, but it’s not enough in the winter on its own. You could layer up of course, but it’s not a jacket I’d be wearing in the rough weather of winter.

Liner

The Bomber’s polyester liner is comfortable to wear against the skin, though it is a thermal liner, so not really suited to hot, sticky summer days.

Waterproofing

Oxford’s proprietary ‘Dry2Dry’ waterproof membrane is laminated to the outer shell with taped seams – combined with the water-resistant zip and the storm flap with built-in gutter behind, it does a good job of keeping you dry in showers.

It’s not perfect though, as in heavy rain I find parts of my forearms get a bit damp, which I think is likely due to water running down my arms to the fabric cuffs, then wicking back up inside. Other than that though, it’s surprisingly effective.

There’s no slack in the sleeves to get your gloves under the cuffs, but that wouldn’t help in this case anyway.

Cleaning

The only parts of the Oxford Bomber that are looking grubby so far are the ends of the sleeves. The jacket can be hand-washed at 30°C with the armour removed first, but shouldn’t be bleached, ironed, dry-cleaned or tumble-dried. Leave it to dry naturally while hung up.

Four alternatives to the Oxford Bomber

There aren’t many Bomber jackets to choose from that reach Level AA (what BikeSocial thinks of as the minimum for motorcycle road kit), but here are some other jackets to consider…

• Spada Turbine, £349.99 | This AAA-rated leather bomber jacket is beautifully made and include Level 2 armour throughout (including the back). The main limitation is of course the heat in summer, but this is a stunning piece of gear that really shows off the new kit coming from Spada now. Read the full review of the Spada Turbine leather bomber here.

• Spada Temper, £299.99 | Another Spada jacket, but only because the new range includes some really stylish kit that’s worth considering as an alternative. AA-rated with Level 2 armour throughout, this is one of my favourite bike jackets, though also just a bit too warm for hot weather. Read the full review of the Spada Temper trucker jacket here.

• Furygan Marlon X Kevlar, £189.99 | It’s not got the traditional styling, but this is still a great-looking, elegant jacket that’s a good price and AA-rated. The fit tends to be a bit snug with Furygan gear, so do check your sizing. Read the full review of the Furygan Marlon X Kevlar here.

• Goldtop 1958, £429.00 | Exquisitely made – like all Goldtop’s kit – the 1958 is a beautifully simple AAA-rated leather jacket. We haven’t reviewed this one, but have seen the superb quality offered in the Goldtop ’72 Easy Rider reviewed here.

These are just some of many alternatives – you can find all the jackets we’ve tested here  and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.

Oxford Bomber jacket review: Verdict

I love the style of the Oxford Bomber jacket, but I just wish I could use it through more of the year. Vents wouldn’t be in keeping with the look, and the quilted liner likely forms part of the abrasion resistance that helped it achieve Level AA.

But the fact that it gets too warm in summer – at least for me – means I don’t get the use out of it that I’d like.

A removable thermal liner would make this one of my favourites, and I do love the Oxford Bomber, so if the style’s what you’re after and you can afford for it to be part of your motorcycling wardrobe, then it’s well worth a look.

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