How to Choose the Best Motorcycle Riding Pants

Posted by Vinay Sharma on December 23rd, 2016

When searching for Motorcycle Riding Pants the first thing to consider is which of these three materials you want this gear to be made from. Once you have decided over their pros and cons, you will be sorted with your desired pants.

Leather pants

Leather pants come in many styles to suit motorcycle riders' varied needs. When treated properly to keep the leather clean and soft, your leather pants will keep you safe and comfortable for many years. Leather will give you great abrasion protection if you have an accident. And chances are your accident-damaged leathers can be repaired.

But leather by itself won't absorb the impact to your knee, hip or thigh if you have an accident. So you might want to consider pants that have strategically placed armour or padding on these impact-prone areas. Leather will block out cold winds and mild rain.

But, unless your garment is lined with a waterproof material such as Gore-Tex or the leather has been specially treated to make it water-resistant, you'll have to wear rain pants over your leathers to stay dry in wet weather.

On hot days, leather garments, especially if they're black, that aren't adequately ventilated and/or exposed to a continuous breeze when you ride can become very hot and uncomfortable. And removing odours from leather may be difficult.

Synthetic textile pants

Basic motorcycle pants made of synthetics such as nylon, polyester or even Kevlar are thinner, lighter, more flexible and can be more comfortable than leather. This is particularly important in hot weather when keeping cool is a priority. On the flip side, you'll need an insulating layer underneath synthetic textiles to keep you warm in cold weather.

Synthetic materials perform well in foul weather. They resist mildew and are easy to wash and keep clean. But they're not waterproof. So when riding in the rain, you need motorcycle riding pants that have a waterproof lining; or you can pull your rain gear over your riding gear. Nylon and polyester by themselves cannot protect you from abrasions if you have an accident. They'll tear or wear through when scraped against a rough road surface.

But pants made entirely of Kevlar or that have Kevlar reinforcing panels covering your knees, thighs and seat can prevent road rash on these abrasion-prone areas. And similar to leather, synthetic textiles won't absorb the impact if you have an accident. That's why many synthetic textile pants give you armour padding on the knees, thighs and hips.

Denim motorcycle riding pants

Many riders would rather wear pants that don't look like motorcycle riding pants. That's where denim motorcycle pants come in. They're made to look, feel and perform like blue jeans and like other types of casual cotton pants. They're airy, very comfortable and will keep you cooler than leather or synthetic textile pants. But because denim alone gives you virtually no abrasion or impact protection, such protection must be built in. You can find denim pants that have Kevlar panels sewn inside to protect your knees, hips, thighs and seat from abrasions. You can also find denim pants that have impact-absorbing padding or armour on the knees and hips.