How Canada's 2025 tariffs Hiked up the prices of the U.S. Motorcycle Gear (and Left European Gear Unscathed)

This year the rider community saw the cost of the motorcycle gear shoot up overnight, because of the 25% retaliatory import tariffs set on American products including motorcycles and related apparel. This was a response from Canada in the trade disputes and it effectively made US-manufactured gear less desirable and accessible in comparison to the value of other available gear in the market. In this article we’ll break down the effects of these tariffs with examples of American products (gloves, jackets, boots, etc..) and compare them to some European gears that managed to avoid this hike in price. Canadian riders in 2025 need to know where the value is and why a shift in focus could save you some money.

2025 Tariffs: Why U.S.-made Gear Costs More:

As you know, on March 4th of this year, Canada enacted a 25% surtax on many American goods -  from orange juice to motorcycles, apparel and footwear. For us motorcyclists, “Apparel and footwear” isn't just a statement of fashion; It involves leather riding jackets, armoured pants and boots made in the USA. Under normal circumstances, Canada and the USA trade freely in these goods (thanks to agreements like CUSMA/NAFTA).  But this retaliatory tariff changed that overnight. Now, Canadian retailers and riders need to import American-made gear with an extra 25% duty applied at the border.

For the ~2.2 million Canadian riders, this trade war translates to higher costs for staying safe and comfortable on the road. It's an unwelcome hit to the wallet, especially when gearing up for the riding season.

U.S. vs. E.U. Gear

Given these tariff-induced price hikes, Canadian riders are naturally looking for alternative options.

One outcome that is clear is that the European gears have gained a price advantage over the equivalent. Lets take a look at some U.S. gear that Canadians know and love:

Vanson Leathers Jackets (Made in USA): Vanson is famed for its hand-made leather motorcycle jackets out of Massachusetts. In 2022, a typical Vanson heavyweight jacket like the Vanson “America” classic leather jacket retailed for about $749 USD (approximately $950 CAD)​
. Under the new tariff, Canadian importers must add 25% to the cost. By 2025, that same jacket’s effective price has soared to roughly $1,190 CAD for Canadian buyers – a jump directly attributable to the tariff costs. This means Canadian riders are paying hundreds more for the same made-in-USA jacket than they would have a couple years ago.

In 2022, the Boss Engineer Boot was priced around $579 USD, approximately $725 CAD. With the 25% tariff imposed on U.S.-made footwear imported into Canada in 2025, the price has surged to about $906 CAD. Similarly, the Jobmaster, previously retailing for $685 USD (~$857 CAD), now costs approximately $1,071 CAD post-tariff. This significant price increase highlights the financial impact of the tariffs on premium American-made motorcycle gear for Canadian consumers.

We’re seeing a solid 15–20% increase in the sticker price, closely mirroring the 25% import tax once you account for currency exchange and other costs. The story is similar for Highway 21’s boots – for instance, their popular engineer boots that sold around $190 USD ($240 CAD) now end up in the $300+ CAD range after tariffs, making them significantly pricier for Canadians. In short, American-made gloves and boots that used to be budget-friendly have crept up into a higher price bracket, narrowing the gap between mid-range and premium gear.

Langlitz Leathers Jackets (Made in USA): Langlitz is a legendary Portland, Oregon maker of custom motorcycle leathers. These were never cheap to begin with – a bespoke Langlitz leather jacket often costs over $1,600 USD (around $2,000 CAD) new, given the craftsmanship​

. Canadian riders who coveted a Langlitz are now facing an even steeper hurdle. With a 25% tariff in place, roughly another $500 CAD is added in import duty on a jacket of that value. That pushes a Langlitz well into the mid-$2,500+ CAD range by 2025. For a Canadian rider, the tariff is the equivalent of paying for an extra jacket sleeve that you never get – it’s just tax. This dramatic price inflation has unfortunately put ultra-premium American gear even further out of reach for the average buyer.

European motorcycle gear brands have not been caught in this U.S.-Canada tariff crossfire – and that’s good news for riders. In many cases, you might even find European brands offering better value or higher spec gear for the same money as a mid-range American item that’s now marked up due to tariffs. Let’s highlight a few key European brands that showcase unintentional spike in value:

European Gear Holds Steady in Price

Schuberth C5 Helmet (Made in Germany): Schuberth, a German company, makes high-end modular helmets. The C5 helmet was introduced around 2022 with a price of about $749.99 USD at major retailers​ roughly equivalent to $950-$1,000 CAD at that time. Here in 2025, the Schuberth C5 still sells in Canada for about $960 CAD (MSRP)​. Essentially, its price for Canadian buyers has remained in the same ballpark as before. There’s been no 25% jump because European imports weren’t targeted by the tariff. In fact, competition and exchange rates even led to occasional discounts – for example, some Canadian stores offered sales on the C5 or threw in freebies, something that’s been impossible with constrained U.S. gear. The key point: a premium German helmet that cost $1k in 2022 still costs about $1k in 2025, making it a more cost-effective choice now relative to equivalent American lids that have gone up in price.

Pando Moto Gloves (Made in Lithuania, EU): Pando Moto is an up-and-coming European brand (Lithuania) known for stylish, protective motorcycle apparel. MotoHut carries Pando Moto’s gear, including their leather riding gloves. A pair of Pando Moto “Onyx” leather gloves sells for around $98 USD or 139 CAD on MotoHut’s site​,  under the $100 mark. This pricing has been stable; a couple of years ago, these gloves were in the same range (around $90–$150 depending on model). Without any new import tax, European gloves have avoided the sudden surge that hit American gloves. Canadian riders will notice that a $100 European glove might actually be cheaper today than a $80 American glove that had a 25% tariff added. The value proposition of brands like Pando Moto has improved purely because their prices haven’t been artificially inflated by trade policy.

REV’IT! Jacket (Made in Netherlands): REV’IT! is a Dutch brand and a favorite in Canada for high-quality jackets and apparel. The pricing on REV’IT products in 2025 is largely in line with what it was a few years back (aside from normal yearly updates). For instance, MotoHut lists the popular REV’IT! Sand 4 H2O jacket (a versatile textile adventure-touring jacket) at around $489 USD (699 CAD) in 2025​

. When the Sand 4 was first released a couple of years ago, its price was in the same range – so Canadian riders aren’t paying extra due to any tariffs. Even REV’IT!’s premium jackets like the top-tier Poseidon 3 GTX, which retails for about $804 USD ( 1150 CAD )for its high-end GORE-TEX version​, remain priced on par with their historical MSRP. In other words, European jacket prices have held steady. They haven’t needed sudden hikes, making them more competitive against U.S. brands than ever before. A mid-range American-made jacket that crept up to $1200 in Canada now looks very expensive next to a European high-end jacket at ~$800.

Why MotoHut Focuses on European Gear for Value

At MotoHut, we’ve seen these trends unfold first-hand. As a Canadian gear retailer, we stock a mix of products – but lately we’ve leaned into our European brands because it simply makes sense for our customers’ wallets. MotoHut carries Schuberth helmets, Pando Moto apparel, REV’IT! gear, and other European lines precisely to offer stable pricing and great value to Canadian riders. Throughout 2025, the prices on these items have remained predictable and competitive, whereas U.S.-sourced inventory has faced markups beyond our control.

By highlighting European options, we want riders to know they don’t have to pay a tariff penalty just to get quality gear. For example, instead of a tariff-inflated American leather jacket, you might consider a high-quality leather or textile jacket from a European maker that gives you equal protection for much less cost. The price stability of European gear essentially acts as a built-in discount compared to equivalent American products right now.

Bottom Line for Canadian Riders in 2025

The 2025 retaliatory tariffs have created a clear divide in the motorcycle gear market in Canada:

American-made gear now comes with a ~25% premium in price, through no improvement of the product itself (it’s purely tax). Iconic U.S. items – whether it’s a handcrafted Vanson or Langlitz jacket or a pair of classic Highway 21 gloves – have become more expensive than they were a few years ago​
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This price hike might make riders think twice, or consider delaying a purchase, especially for high-ticket items where 25% adds up to hundreds of dollars.

European-made gear has been immune to these tariffs, keeping prices much the same as before. Helmets from Schuberth, jackets from REV’IT!, gloves from Pando Moto or Italy’s Dainese, etc., are competing strongly on price against their American counterparts because they don’t carry the tariff burden. In many cases, European gear offers equal or better quality for a lower cost in Canada right now.

For Canadian riders evaluating gear purchases in 2025, it’s a great time to shop European. You’ll find that your dollar goes further when it’s not paying an extra tax. MotoHut is proud to offer a wide selection of these European brands, ensuring our customers can get top-tier helmets, jackets, and gloves without the tariff-driven markup.