The Best Riding Vests for Fall 2025

There’s something about riding in the fall that just hits different. The air feels sharper, cleaner. The bike runs stronger, the throttle a little crisper. Roads you’ve ridden a hundred times suddenly feel new again, framed by leaves turning from green to fire. It’s the season where you catch yourself pulling over just to take it all in — the smell of woodsmoke, the low sun throwing long shadows across the asphalt, the simple joy of being out there.

Fall is for riding. And it’s for layering. Mornings start cool, afternoons heat up, and by the time you’re heading home, the chill is back. That’s where a vest earns its keep. It gives you freedom to move, keeps the essentials close, and adds just enough warmth without weighing you down. More than that, the right vest feels like part of the culture — a piece of gear that says you belong to the road, the bike, and the community that comes with it.

Why Vests Belong in Your Fall Kit

Every rider has their go-to gear. The jacket that feels like a second skin. The gloves broken in just right. The boots that have seen more miles than you can count. A vest slips into that same category — not a gimmick, not an extra, but a piece you reach for again and again.

Why? Because fall riding is unpredictable. One hour you’re warming up in the sun at a coffee stop, the next you’re pushing through cool air on a back road lined with red maples. A vest makes those transitions easy. It keeps your core warm without boxing you in. It adds storage when your jacket pockets are already loaded. And let’s be honest — it just looks right. There’s something timeless about a vest on a rider, the way it carries patches, the way it wears in and tells your story mile after mile.

It’s not about “needing” another piece of gear. It’s about finding that one thing that makes every ride a little better, a little easier, a little more you.

The Lineup

Not every rider is the same, and not every vest is built the same. Some are clean and sharp, meant to look good on and off the bike. Some are rugged, built to take a beating in the shop or on the road. Some even bring protection into the mix without losing style. Here’s a look at a few of our favorites this season.

Loser Machine Kingsway Vest

Some days you just want to keep it simple — clean lines, no fuss, a vest that feels as good at a bike night as it does rolling down back roads. The Kingsway is that vest. Lightweight denim with a low-profile quilted liner, it layers easily without bulking you up. Riders love how it breaks in, and some even wax it for that perfectly worn-in patina. It’s one of those pieces that just gets better with age.

Loser Machine Condor Vest

If the Kingsway is sharp and trim, the Condor is its workhorse brother. Canvas-built, soft like it’s already been broken in, and with a bit more heft. It’s the kind of vest that feels at home whether you’re wrenching in the garage or logging miles on the highway. Add in a soft collar, interior pockets, and a key hook, and you’ve got a piece of gear that’s as practical as it is comfortable.

PCM Canvas Vest

This one’s close to home — our flagship canvas vest. Heavy 20oz canvas, armor-ready, and designed to wear in like your favorite pair of raw denim. It’s tough at first, sure, but that’s what makes it so rewarding. The more you ride in it, the more it tells your story. With hidden pockets and a clever zipper that lets you lift the liner for patch sewing, it’s built for riders who want a vest that’ll last years, not seasons.

PCM Rider Vest

Take everything you love about a rugged canvas vest, strip out the bulk, and add a quilted leather shoulder panel that looks like it was made for long hauls and late nights. That’s the Rider Vest. It feels lighter than our classic Canvas Vest, but still packs that same durability — just with a more refined finish.

PCM Marguerite Vest (Women’s)

A vest built with women riders in mind, the Marguerite takes the same rugged canvas foundation and gives it a fit that’s flattering, comfortable, and practical. It’s armor-ready, patch-friendly, and tough enough to be a staple piece for years. Limited stock, but always a favorite when we have it.

PCM Work Vest

This one was born out of the shop. I had one made for myself years ago, and people kept asking when we’d start selling them. Now we do. The Work Vest is made by Canadian workwear brand Tough Duck, with PCM embroidery stitched across the back, it’s as much at home in the garage as it is on the road. The hidden storage pocket inside is a game-changer, and I’ll be honest — I still wear mine while welding, shoveling snow, or layering over a Pando base shirt on hot rides. It’s versatile, it’s rugged, and it feels like part of the PCM story.

Merlin Club Vest

For riders who want more than style, the Merlin Club Vest is the one. It’s stretch denim, comfortable, and lightweight, but here’s the kicker — it comes with a D3O back protector already built in. CE-certified, patch-friendly, and designed to stay put on your ride, it’s proof that you don’t have to choose between looking good and riding safe.

Picking the Right Vest

Every vest has its place. Some are all about style, some about durability, some about protection. The right one comes down to how you ride, what you value, and how you want your gear to tell your story.

Here’s a quick breakdown to make it easy:

Time to Ride

Fall doesn’t last forever. The leaves are already turning, the days are getting shorter, and every ride feels a little more precious. This is the season where you chase sunsets, take the long way home, and soak in every mile before the cold sets in.

A vest won’t change who you are as a rider — but the right one can make those rides more comfortable, more practical, and maybe even more memorable. It’s not about adding another piece of gear. It’s about making the most of the season we wait all year for.

So grab the vest that fits your style, layer up, and get out there. Because once the leaves are gone and the bikes are tucked away, all we’ll have are the stories — and maybe the patches on our vests to remind us.

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