Why are almost all mesh pants black?

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:02 am

I was looking for mesh jackets/pants today and didn't like all the black. The reason you buy a mesh jacket is to tame the heat. So why all the black to bake you? I like the sporty jacket body colors for safety (blue, red, yellow). But why the black shoulders? And almost all the pants are only black. Yikes! Talk about hot. Why make something that's supposed to be cooool out of black material? It makes no sense. Give me gray, silver, or white pants and shoulders. Even blue, red, or yellow pants and shoulders would do.

Eazy · Post by **Eazy** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:05 am

Because black makes you look tougher.

Duh.

Also, because red is red.

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:08 am

The color of the jacket/pants actually doesnt make you any hotter/cooler in the sun, the fact you have a jacket or long heavy pants on makes you hot because it surrounds your body.

I think black goes with everything, so they just make it that way too. But i've seen denim pants which look just like jeans but are abrasion resistant by cortech/tourmaster.

99 dollars a pair! People buy cheaply made brand name jeans for 50 dollars a piece, for 99 dollars you'll get a high quality pair of jeans which can take a slide.

http://tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php ... 252&cat=26

irishtim · Post by **irishtim** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:19 am

It's sexy! (And slimming!)

captaintg · Post by **captaintg** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 5:20 am

jfrost2 wrote:The color of the jacket/pants actually doesnt make you any hotter/cooler in the sun, the fact you have a jacket or long heavy pants on makes you hot because it surrounds your body.

I'm pretty sure the color does effect the temperature. Dark colors absorb uv rays and get hot. Light colors reflect them and stay cooler. Test it out on the next sunny day by alternating between a black t-shirt and white t-shirt.

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 7:54 am

It may just be a simple matter of economics. The demand for mesh pants may not be great enough (yet) to warrant offering many colors. Though the color may make you hotter, the most in demand color for riding apparel is black. Black is probably the cheapest fabric to get because it's the most used.

Also, I just don't see a lot of people out there wearing yellow pants.

Of course, this could be a chicken & egg scenario.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:27 am

I hear ya k1dude! It took me quite awhile to track down what I thought of as "proper" hot weather gear.

The only non black mesh armoredpants I was able to find was Fieldsheer Four Season Mesh in silver.

http://psawonline.com/FIELDSHEER-FOUR-S ... KDRNFM.htm

(They tend to run a little small and I did not check prices)

Gloves are pretty easy to find in white but boots were a challenge. I lucked out with boots when I stopped in Cycle Gear in West Palm Beach. They had a pair of white Icon Motorhead boots that had been special ordered and didn't fit the person. They fit me perfectly and were half price to boot (pun intended!)

Last summer I rode my Burgman from South Florida to Chattanooga in temps consistantly over 100. I wore some light nylon shorts under the mesh pants and a cooling vest with sleeves.

It really was close to wearing an air conditioner!

Quo Vadimus · Post by **Quo Vadimus** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:46 pm

Amen!

Tourmaster makes a white (silver) version of the venture mesh pant... but not in my size! Sigh. (They have it at NewEnough, but its still $135)

If you think about purchasing this pant, I should let you know that there are some velcro strap-and-loop tabs on the waist for size adjustment (handy to change with the thickness of what I'm wearing - or not wearing - underneath), but both of the loop parts are currently tearing. It'll be a $5 fix at the alterations place next door, but something to know before you get involved.

Kevin K · Post by **Kevin K** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:59 pm

Think about it. Which gets dirty faster--pants or jacket? Pants are more likely to pick up road tar, oil, and who knows what else. My grey Roadcrafter pants have lots of stains on them, but my black AD-1's still look great.
YMMV.
-K

teacherquinn · Post by **teacherquinn** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 3:11 pm

I just got some awesome looking mesh pants from New Enough. Joe Rocket...in black. I put them on and was instantly uncomfortably hot. Hated the armour position and couldn't get them off fast enough. Returning them tomorrow. I would also love to find a pair that didn't fit so uncomfortably and didn't feel like I was covered in bubbly wrap. I'm looking at the Draggin jeans but I think they'll be too warm as well.

DennisD · Post by **DennisD** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 3:54 pm

My First Gear mesh pants feel great. You have to try on several brands to find the right fit.

Blood doesn't show up as easily on black.

Dennis

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 6:00 pm

Thanks for all the responses.

I knew about the Fieldsheer mesh pants. But I've heard Fieldsheer isn't the best quality. I tried on one of their mesh jackets and the sewing was horrible. The panels were all scrunched on one side and not the other.

I didn't know about the Tourmaster mesh pants. I'll have to check them out.

I agree about the Joe Rocket stuff. The armor seemed to be designed to grind against my bones. Very uncomfortable. But I find that's not only a problem with Joe Rocket. Most of the jackets I've tried, the armor grinds into my shoulders (Fieldsheer, Motoboss, Joe Rocket). If it's just painful to wear, how painful will it be on impact?

robtaylor · Post by **robtaylor** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:37 pm

jfrost2 wrote:The color of the jacket/pants actually doesnt make you any hotter/cooler in the sun, the fact you have a jacket or long heavy pants on makes you hot because it surrounds your body.

actually according to a study i read about on scooter scoop the fact the you are wearing insulated clothing should protect you from some of the heat. if you are wearing vented clothing your body temp may actually be lower than someone wearing shorts and a t shirt because the sun isn't directly shining on you.

i also have to disagree with the color thing, darker colors are going to absorb more heat from the sun instead of reflecting it like lighter colors would do.

robtaylor · Post by **robtaylor** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:40 pm

k1dude wrote:Thanks for all the responses.

I knew about the Fieldsheer mesh pants. But I've heard Fieldsheer isn't the best quality.

i guess i'm disagreeing with everyone today, but i have a fieldsheer moto morph 4 season jacket and i couldn't be happier with. it seems to be made very well and a lot of attention to detail seems to have been paid.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:47 pm

robonz23 wrote:
k1dude wrote:Thanks for all the responses.

I knew about the Fieldsheer mesh pants. But I've heard Fieldsheer isn't the best quality.
i guess i'm disagreeing with everyone today, but i have a fieldsheer moto morph 4 season jacket and i couldn't be happier with. it seems to be made very well and a lot of attention to detail seems to have been paid.

Agreed (with robonz23) on Fieldsheer quality. Don't know about their pants though. I never wear pants on a scooter.

Groovealufagus · Post by **Groovealufagus** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:00 pm

I've got a field sheer mesh jacket and it saved my hide in a 20 mph lay down last Tuesday. Jacket's still in perfect shape, and so am I. I'm going to buy their 4 season pants in the next month (I've got 5 weeks of no riding due to a fractured thumb and wrist... watch that front disc brake and practice hard stops in a parking lot somwhere).

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:22 pm

I have over 10,000 miles of riding with my Fieldsheer jacket...no problems.

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:01 pm

Take a look at the Olympia Airglide mesh pants (available in silver).
A bit pricey but nice quality.

http://www.olympiamotosports.com/mensai ... depant.htm

Rick

Piedmont · Post by **Piedmont** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:14 pm

I'm going to join the chorus in support of Fieldsheer here. I've worn mine for 700 miles now, and it's comfy and safe feeling as can be. All the reviews of people who've taken a spill in them that I've read are glowing as well. The only issue I had was all the logos, but 30 minutes with a razorblade took care of that