Recommendation for really tough riding pants?

davidscooter · Post by **davidscooter** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:38 am

Howdy all,

Can anyone recommend some truly tough riding pants? If I crash, I really don't want to butcher up my legs. I don't mind spending even up to $800 - it's worth it if I can avoid shredding myself. One caviat: I am one of these grass-eating vegetarians, so I'd strongly prefer not to do leather. Any recommendations?

Thank you

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:41 am

Textile. Most gear companies make them. Get to a store and try some on. What fits me, won't fit you or the next guy. It'll mostly end up coming down to the features that you want.

Also, and this is a key point, don't eat your pants. Bring a granola bar along if you think you might get hungry.

redhandmoto · Post by **redhandmoto** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:57 am

Lostmycage wrote:Also, and this is a key point, don't eat your pants. Bring a granola bar along if you think you might get hungry.

LOL, Dude..

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:23 am

If you want tough and price is no object…
http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-suit ... pants.html

http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-suit ... ants.htmlw

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:26 am

Unfortunately worded jokes aside, I agree with LostMyCage.

I would trust a good textile, like Cordura, over leather ANY day. Also, getting a pair of motorcycle pants with armor in it is WELL worth it (trust me, I almost lost my leg in January), and plain 'ol leather cruisin chaps won't have that. I plan on getting some good pants, or at least knee/shinguards, when I can walk again.

Also, I don't know your deal- whether you scoot recreationally, or every day as a commuter, in all kinds of weather in what region of the US or what have you... but another option besides guards, chaps, overpants etc. you could look into if you don't like those is kevlar-reinforced jeans.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:43 am

They are also now designs out there for kevlar reinforced work pants like Dickies

I've got my eye on those in black if I ever find some at a good price. Will make riding to work alot more convenient

scootavaran · Post by **scootavaran** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:39 am

neotrotsky wrote:They are also now designs out there for kevlar reinforced work pants like Dickies I've got my eye on those in black if I ever find some at a good price. Will make riding to work alot more convenient

That sounds pretty cool. Where can i find them??

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:54 am

All good pants will have adjustable CE armor in the knees as well as hip padding.

There are many good brands out there. First brand I would check out is the same brand as your jacket. Most jacket/pants from the same brand will zip together to create a one piece. A nice feature especially when it is cold. I have these Feildsheer Murcury 2.0 Overpants which zip together perfectly with both of my Fieldsheer jackets - summer and winter.

Second thing I would look for is pants with a good removable liner plus numerous zippered vents so you can use the pants in cold to warm weather. For very hot SoCal weather you likely will want to get mesh pants. (I am about to order these Icon Hooligan 2 Mesh Overpants to throw on over shorts for summer riding. They have no hip padding but for the price are the best deal I've found. If money is no object motorcyclegear.com just put these ones on sale).

If you'll be riding in the rain a lot check if the pants are water resistant. If they will frequently be getting soaked you might want to buy some waterproof rain overpants to slip on over the riding pants so you are not constantly having to dry out the riding pants.

If you want something more casual there are a bunch of different kevlar jeans on the market. I have a pair of Sartso jeans.

Check out motorcyclegear.com for some good deals or motorcycle-supertore.com, bikebandit.com and motorcyclecloseouts.com.

That's it from me.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:41 am

I've gone down with Icon reinforced jeans (the infamous Amerivespa Chattanooga Lookout Mountain ride). They did their job. No road rash but a real nasty bruise on my hip!

Really you can't beat good leather with armor.

That being said I usually wear textile or mesh due to the heat. If you buy from the same manufacturer you can usually zip your jacket to your pants. This prevents your jacket from riding up during the slide on your back. Makes it more like a one piece.

I have a set of Fieldsheer gear, jacket and pants that works very well I was wearing that jacket when I went down and had no elbow or shoulder injuries at all. I did tear a hole at the elbow armor but it did it's job.

Remember...don't dress for the ride....dress for the slide!

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:50 pm

Ok, I'm a big gear whore. I've spent more on my gear than some of my bikes cost.

If cost is no object, your choices are:

Klim - most made in USA (just released the Badlands and Latitude pants which look pretty schweet - if they came in smaller waist size in Tall, I'd be sporting a pair right now)

Motoport - made in USA (one of your own in Cali...Wayne has a great reputation and you can get custom-fitted if you're an "odd" size by visiting the shop)

Aerostich - made in USA (I've got a pair of the Darien pants; I'd like them more if they were longer and I got the "long" size...you'd think for a Minnesota company, they'd make pants to fit those tall Scandinavians!)

Rukka - most made in Finland (Nothing beats Rukka in my book...cheapest place for Americans to buy is from www.biker-land.de -- log in for even lower prices and don't forget to subtract the 19% MwST tax)

Halvarssons Safety - Swedish company, don't know where they manufacture (a friend who is more of a gear whore than me swears by the Safety line of gear)

Stadler - German company, don't know where they manufacture (spendy, spendy)

I forgot to add the BMW gear. Some of it is REALLY nice. And how freakin' awesome would you look riding a scooter wearing a Rallye 2? I'd love a Belice jacket but they're as difficult to find as hen's teeth.

If cost is an object, you can't go wrong with Olympia or FirstGear. They both make good-quality, middle-cost protective gear. I'd throw Rev'It in there but I've never worn anything from them, and I've read mixed reviews on quality. It sure does look good.

All links are to the company's websites. Good places to buy are Revzilla and Atomic Moto.

And just my two cents on riding pants. I've been doing a lot of reading lately about accidents (MAIDS report, some of the Aussie reports, some NHTSA stuff). Injury to the legs is over 50% in almost all the reports that include that kind of information, yet scooterists of all MTWV riders seem to have the lowest percentage of riders who wear some kind of leg protection. I just don't get it.

Here's a fun little interactive graphic that pulls statistical data on accidents in New South Wales. Because the US still doesn't have any decent data (come on Virginia Tech, we're waiting!), riders have to look to other countries for recent information.
http://roadsafety.mccofnsw.org.au/a/91.html

Glad you asked, huh

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:09 pm

I can only say that i found my Sliders very comfortable and wear them often. I don't always wear them for my 5-mile slower commute, but on any of the longer rides we do or if I'm just out 'exploring', then hands down I'm in them with knee armor.

I can't imagine a lot of the costlier options being any worse!

smarkum · Post by **smarkum** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:02 pm

do any of these options come in light grey or yellow? I'm thinking a lighter color will not be a hot in the summer sun as the black . . . I don't care about style, I want to be safe and not melt! My mesh jacket is grey and light blue. I've worn a black and navy blue mesh and it was noticeably warmer . . .

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:53 pm

smarkum wrote:do any of these options come in light grey or yellow? I'm thinking a lighter color will not be a hot in the summer sun as the black . . . I don't care about style, I want to be safe and not melt! My mesh jacket is grey and light blue. I've worn a black and navy blue mesh and it was noticeably warmer . . .

Olympia makes mesh pants (they're called Airglide) in grey. I got a pair used off another forum. I like 'em and do think they're cooler than my black mesh pants. They have zips that come up the whole leg for easy on/off at the beach (nothing like a bikini bottom and moto-boots) and they come with a waterproof rain liner. Although I usually just ride in the rain without putting it in if it's really hot. Feels great.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:58 pm

Although it may look silly, anyone know if there is any belt on over pants armor just for knees and hips that aren't pants themselves?

Rush · Post by **Rush** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:23 pm

I'm all about gear but often just use these inexpensive knee pads with jeans or cotton pants on a hot day-

http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/43/ ... /KNEE+PADS

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:30 pm

smarkum wrote:do any of these options come in light grey or yellow? I'm thinking a lighter color will not be a hot in the summer sun as the black . . . I don't care about style, I want to be safe and not melt! My mesh jacket is grey and light blue. I've worn a black and navy blue mesh and it was noticeably warmer . . .

My fieldsheer gear is "silver" Not bad on a hot day with a pair of shorts under the mesh pants!

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:25 am

motoport

http://www.motoport.com/index.php?optio ... &Itemid=15

I have the air mesh II kevlar jacket.
Very well made
great customer service
8 year crash warranty
not very attractive if that's important to you

they are kinda pricey but worth it

ravenlore · Post by **ravenlore** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:47 pm

Tom wrote:Although it may look silly, anyone know if there is any belt on over pants armor just for knees and hips that aren't pants themselves?

I wear a pair of strap-on Shift knee/shin guards under my normal work slacks or weekend jeans. They fit and are not noticeable under anything but true skinny jeans.

davidscooter · Post by **davidscooter** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 4:48 am

Howdy all,

Thank you for everyone's advice on buying armored pants. I ended up buying "FirstGear" brand pants from a brick-and-mortar motorcycle gear shop. I wanted to buy Klim or Aerostich or one of the brands recommended, but I would have had to buy it on the internet, and I worried about sizing/returns. Hopefully this "FirstGear" stuff is alright. It cost ~$400 including tax. It's gotta be better than what I do now, which is to wear regular Dickie's slacks with strap-on knee/shin guards underneath.

Rippinyarn · Post by **Rippinyarn** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 1:37 pm

I've got Firstgear overpants, some Joe Rocket fully armored pants and some AGV Kevlar-lined pants. I got each of them on sale from motorcyclegear.com. It looks like they have a few pair of those left, and they are my favorite riding pants by far - I also wear them off the scoot all the time and no one knows that I'm Kevlar-lined!

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/cl ... green.html

smarkum · Post by **smarkum** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:04 am

anybody ever worn the Hooligan 2 Pants? They come in white or silver (cannot remember) and the description is that they are made with mesh. . . they seem like they are a good deal . . . hoping someone has experience with them.

Hey Rippin - are those Kevlar pants HOT in the sun?

and what about the Vega Mercury Mesh Pants available at the motorcycle superstore? the price is right on them . . . but now much in way of reviews. Thoughts? I'd like to get some pants ordered as I'm baking out there in our 90+ weather . . . mesh with shorts underneath has got to be cooler thank the pants I'm wearing now.

I've looked and cannot find the fieldsheer pants in silver anymore

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:12 am

smarkum wrote:anybody ever worn the Hooligan 2 Pants? They come in white or silver (cannot remember) and the description is that they are made with mesh. . . they seem like they are a good deal . . . hoping someone has experience with them.

I have the Icon Hooligan 2 Overpants and really like them. But there are a couple of caveats.

As they are baggy styled overpants the knee armor is not held snugly against your knee. So whether the knee armor stays where you need it in the case of a mishap is a crap shoot. There is no hip armor. And while they do unzip at the ankle/calf to slip over boots/shoes, they don't do slip over boots with the same ease as overpants that have full leg zippers.

All that said the mesh is great, the wind goes through them nicely, and in the case of a slide they will definitely serve you better than just wearing regular pants. So if, like me, you are looking for an inexpensive overpant, that is cool enough for a hot day, and that you can throw on over shorts or thin pants for summer riding, then for $115 they are a great buy.

smarkum · Post by **smarkum** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:45 pm

Thanks Kabootz for the mini review. Think I will give them a try. . .

What are your thoughts about size? If one usually wears a 32 pant then would one want a 32 here or a 34? I would guess a bit bigger as they are overpants -- but, if they are baggy, then maybe that is accounted for?

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:34 pm

smarkum wrote:Thanks Kabootz for the mini review. Think I will give them a try. . .

What are your thoughts about size? If one usually wears a 32 pant then would one want a 32 here or a 34? I would guess a bit bigger as they are overpants -- but, if they are baggy, then maybe that is accounted for?

Buy the same size as your regular pants. I wear a 34 waist so I bought 34's and they fit perfectly. I've worn them for a number of long rides including an 800 mile weekend and have been comfortable start to finish. There are size adjusters built in to the waist as well as that closure/clasp/ratchet thingy at the front so you can always snug them up as needed.

smarkum · Post by **smarkum** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 12:16 am

Ok ! C O O L i hope

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:54 am

So what's the latest on the pants front? I'm going to need to break down and get pants because I changed jobs (a really, really good thing), but now have a fast freeway commute (not happy about this, and neither is the Buddy since it will now be my weekend ride). I ride year around and would love to find pants that could handle 40-98 temps.lol. I guess for now since we are heading into summer, I'd like something that can breath. My morning commute is super fast as traffic is light,so I won't get hot ...but the afternoon commute kind of sucks because of heavier traffic and the area where my office is can easily hit mid 90s+. Do any of these mesh pants have the hip armor? Does anyone recall seeing a thread that details which lower body part is at greatest risk when scooterists crash?

Should I consider leather chaps? It seems like they would be pretty easy to get in and out off which is a plus, but would they offer as much protection?

hg3 · Post by **hg3** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:10 am

I found this on the net.

http://www.bohn-armor-pants.com

* Available in 3 Performance Materials:
Adventure - Most popular, all-season style.
WinterThermal - Extra insulation in the cold.
CoolAir Mesh - For extreme heat & humidity.

Women Riders Really Use These!

Yes - just cut and paste from their ad - for what it is worth

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:07 am

Hey there Peabody! How goes it

Incase you're interested, the white pants of mine that you and I were talking about on the San Diego Genuine ride are the same Icon pants that I mention a couple of posts above — The Icon Hooligan 2 Overpants. I still love them. Still great summer pants. And if I'm not mistaken I believe there is now a newer Hooligan model that does have hip armor.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 3:52 pm

hey peabody, I did a review a little while ago on the Rukka Focus pants.
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=869475
They do not have venting and may be hot in stop & go summer traffic. I haven't had them in the summer yet.

I do find mesh pants too cold, even when it's in the upper 70s/lower 80s, if I'm moving fast. Just too much airflow which winds up exhausting me as it's dehydrating. I wear Olympia Airglides in the summer for my stop & go commute. If you're tall, they'll be too short. The guys call them capris on me.

You can pick up a pair of Airglides on ADV for cheap. They come up quite often. The Rukka pants cost about $300 plus about $45 for shipping. Considering much lesser brands cost the same, it was worth it. Nothing beats Rukka in my opinion. And the hip armour is real armour, not crappy padding. And it just fits. You don't look all baggy and droopy.

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:53 pm

Hi guys,thanks for your input

here is what I decided to order based on some of the thread feedback, price and utility (these look like they realistically have a kind of cool weather with liner to kind of hot weather without ).
http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/cl ... pants.html

In case the link does not work they are fieldsheer titanium women's mesh pants. I'm hoping I will have the discipline to wear them. I'm already
thinking of bailing on the afternoon portion of the commute on the freeway for surface streets because the conditions are so much worse....aggressive driving, dangerous merges/ junctions and high winds everyday so far. since to my knowledge, these are not magic pants I might have to find some good back routes home

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 8:44 am

I also have a pair of Fieldsheers. Great pants. I couldn't be happier with them. I'm sure you'll like them. Plus that is a great price!

Rusty Shackleford · Post by **Rusty Shackleford** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:25 pm

I wear Drayko jeans. They're the only CE rated riding jeans out there that I know of.

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:04 am

Skootz Kabootz wrote:Hey there Peabody! How goes it

Incase you're interested, the white pants of mine that you and I were talking about on the San Diego Genuine ride are the same Icon pants that I mention a couple of posts above — The Icon Hooligan 2 Overpants. I still love them. Still great summer pants. And if I'm not mistaken I believe there is now a newer Hooligan model that does have hip armor.

Yes, I did like the Icon pants, but something tells me I could not pull them off as well as you did!

hewl35 · Post by **hewl35** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 9:54 pm

Try Duluth Trading Fire hose pants.

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Sat May 11, 2013 2:52 am

Well an update on my fieldssheir pants. I highly recommend them. I have been wearing them sans liner over my thin dress pants for freeway commuting. They come with a liner so I plan on trying them for my s. cal "winter" riding as well.Hey, In all fairness, upper 30s is chilly for riding so I may need to use the lap apron too. I am thinking I can even wear them on the days I want to wear a skirt, and whip the pants off in the work locker room once I am at the office. One thing is I think they run a little small, especially with the liner and when you are wearing pants underneath it could make it worse. I got the small women's and they fit great in the legs but are tight in the waist.

Modern Buddy

Recommendation for really tough riding pants?

Recommendation for really tough riding pants?

I bought FirstGear pants