i in fact prefer jean moncler jacketss/vests over leather. they're cheaper, easier to come across, look fairly badass, and you may do just as much (if not much more) to customize them...bleaching and whatnot
(heavy polyester outer fabric after which Thinsulate having a Gore TeX membrane sandwich in between.
My existing Cruiser is only about 2yrs. old and living in southern Arizona, the primary cause I purchased it was protection from cactus along with other thorny devils within the desert.