I'm looking for some advice from those of you who have experience with some of the Kevlar lined jeans. What do you have and how do you feel about their comfort and protection.
I have a pair of the AD1 pants from AeroStich but I'm looking for something for short trips that is a little more convenient but still offers some protections. CE knee pads that are easily removable would be a plus.
Aerostich - They make a pair with externally accessible knee pockets but just a double layer of denim in the critical areas, no kevlar.
Sliders - Kevlar and some type of knee pad attachment, not sure how it works.
AGV - Just released a new model "Corsica" that has Kevlar and was supposed to have knee pad pockets but does not.
Bull-It - Can't find much more than a youtube video. Look nice but I'd like to know details, price, and where to get them.
I know there are a lot of others out there (Draggin, Joe Rocket, etc) but I also need to be able to get them in a 32 or 34 inch waist and a 36 inch length which is where the problem lies.
I'm looking for some advice from those of you who have experience with some of the Kevlar lined jeans. What do you have and how do you feel about their comfort and protection.
I have some which I wear sometimes in warm weather (with Knox strap on knee armor underneath). But I think the protection of them and most kevlar lined jeans is poor. The kevlar blend reinforcement may (or may not) have sufficient abrasion resistance, but from what I read, the seam burst strength and the integrity of the garment is really poor on many of them. Also on many the coverage is insufficient: many don't cover the side of the leg. Knees and butt isn't enough if you're sliding on your side.
There are a few choices now in CE rated jeans. There's even a pair that's CE level 2 rated which means it passes a higher safety standard than most leather riding pants. http://bull-it.com/
For CE level 1: http://www.drayko.com/
I think these are the Australian Draggin Jeans rebranded to sell in the USA (which has its own Draggin Jeans).
Knee pad pockets aren't necessary. If you're wearing jeans on the moto, you probably want to be dressed in regular clothes. With the knee armor in the pockets they may hang funny and look odd when you're off the bike. And the knee armor won't be as secure as strap on knee armor anyway. So I wear that under the jeans.
Wearing jeans with the armor in pockets can be sort of like giving up safety for style and getting neither.
I even wear mesh pant (that do have pocket for inserted protection) over my casual pants AND wear "strap on" knee protection over my casual pants instead
I'm looking for some riding pants with protection that I can wear all day at work (no jeans allowed). I commute about 12km one way each day.
I saw some office pants, but nothing good.....
I also sent AeroStich an e-mail asking them how they felt about the abrasion resistance of the double layer denim in the seat of their Protekt jeans and if they had ever considered adding a Kevlar or similar material between the layers for added protection.
I really like that their knee armor is removable from the outside. I'm just looking for a little added protection for those trips out for dinner, movie, etc. where I can just walk in when I get there. These would be great because I could just quickly pull the knee armor out.
I may have to take a ride to Stich as soon as the snow is gone and look at them in person.
Any motorcycle jeans I've seen are cut like farmers jeans. Recommend Dragginjeans liners worn under regular jeans with maybe Icon or simliar knee shin protection. They are all Kevlar with double layers over the strike points.
I have 2 pairs of SLIDERS 4.0 KEVLAR, one jeans, the other cargo, and I love them. I chose them over the other brands because of the wider area of protection, more kevlar lining. Thank goodness I haven't had the need for them so far. They have mesh compartments for optional knee paddings which I also bought, but decided early on not to put them on as the pants themselves are loose fitting and on impact the paddings might move around and not provide the intended protection. Instead, I wear the SHIFT knee/sheen guards under them.
Even though I own a couple of pairs of motorcycle pants I managed to crash and slide last fall wearing only reg. jeans on my legs. I can now say with certainty reg. jeans offer no abrasion protection. I'm not sure I would have been any worse off wearing shorts. I won't be making that mistake again. In contrast my jacket, gloves, etc. offered 100% protection.
Bull-it jeans look very nice and the CE rating gives them some added credit but I can't find much out about them. I'd like to see a reasonable video on them and a dealer in the US http://bull-it.com/products/covec-laser/indy/
Rhok jeans have the added sliding protection and externally removable knee armor but are only available in a 32" inseam. http://www.rhok.com.au/jeans.htm
Draggon jeans are smart looking. I found that the kevlar started to itch after a while and in warm weather sweated causing the itching to become worse. I used to wear underpants which covered my thighs to stop the itching.
they are not Kevlar, but Taramid? or something? lined on the inside. soft, but very rugged. the impact protection is light and durable too. $190 to get a pair to the US, and they cut the length to size. I'm 34x34 and a bit snug, but they stretched to fit well. long enough when legs are bent on the cycle. very happy with my pair. get away with wearing th at the office.
I still have not heard back from AGV regarding the change to their new Corsica Jeans ...
I did however hear back from AeroStich regarding their Protekt jeans:
"The Protekt jeans that we currently have in stock are made with an underlayer of 600d nylon so the seat and
knee areas have a layer of denim and the 600d nylon which is the same material our AD1 pants are made of."
Given that they are local and have externally accessible knee pad pockets I'm going to take a rider over and look at them (if it ever stops snowing). If I don't like them, the Kyrano C6 will probably be my next choice.
I consider Kevlar jeans minimum protection. Great for riding around town at 35 mph and below.
Keep in mind that Kevlar degrades in UV so they only have maybe a 5 year life from date of manufacture before they start breaking down and lose their strength.
I also have ICON field armor leg and knee protection.
Tried some alpinestar knee protectors, and they were uncomfortable sliding up and down and its a fuss to put on each time you want to go ride. In the kyrano jeans the pads are D30 so thin light and soft, yet very protective. You could barely tell they're there...
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