These Pants are Made for Riding Hot

Chaps with fringe, pucks, leather, Kevlar, textile –who knew there were so many options when it came to riding pants?! Choosing the right pants for riding is a big deal, because if you choose the wrong pants you’ll find you’re in for a very uncomfortable ride, not to mention you probably won’t be inclined to wear them as often as you should.  The right pants should provide a comfortable ride and keep you safe in the event of a crash. So before you head to the motorcycle shop, read up on material, styles and cuts so you can make a educated decision to protect your derrière.

Leather chaps; always a tempting option, but consider a few key points before you start acting out the YMCA song in the dressing room. First thing is that chaps are…well…lacking substance in the rear –the most common place of contact on the road in a crash. Chaps are great for added warmth or protection from hot tail pipes, but for crash protection riders should always wear, at the least, a thick pair of jeans under them.  Stylish, warm and great knee protection, while you may have fallen in love with a certain pair of chaps, for your rears sake, remember their weak point.

Leather pants; probably the most protection for your lower half, with thick leather covering all angles and sometimes CE armor in the knee pockets you won’t find a better pant for sliding across concrete. When shopping for leather pants, remember they are cut to be in riding position and may look a little odd standing in front of the mirror. Check if the pant includes armor in the knee area or if they offer a pocket to insert armor after purchase. Also, if you’re going to be getting your knee down, check the puck options. While leather pants are a clear winner in the safety department they’re not always a practical option.

Kevlar riding jeans are a great option for the casual ride. If you turn riding jeans inside out you will see the reinforced areas are normally the rear, outside of the thighs and knees, all places in need of protection in a crash. The great things about riding jeans, is their ninja status, great protection on the bike, great casual style if you pop into a restaurant or store.  Brands like Dainese, Shift and Drayko have really stepped up their designs, offering very cute styles of protective jeans for women.

You will also find some textile options on the rack. Textile pants are often waterproof with knee armor and reinforced areas. They are a great options for long hauls, since you can pop them out when approaching weather and pull them over your jeans. In addition to textile riding pants stores normally carry waterproof pants, that don’t offer any abrasion protection but are nice to slip on over whatever riding pants you have decided on during a damp ride.

For every riding style, there is a pair of pants. Remember what you want to protect and choose with confidence!