Casual Protection - The Best of Riding Jeans
- Motorcycle Gear Reviews
- Mar 4, 2024
- 4 min read
Riding in comfort and style shouldn't have to mean compromising on safety. We all know that jeans are part of the "Uniform" when riding a motorcycle. Unfortunately, your Levi's off no protection if you were to ever be involved in an accident. Riding Jeans give you that much needed protection without compromising the style and comfort of regular jeans. In this article, we are going to review some of our top picks for Riding Jeans.
Street & Steel Oakland Riding Jeans
The Oakland Riding Jeans by Street & Steel is a classic 5 pocket jean. The cut of the jeans boarder between a straight cut and a boot cut. This style certainly appeals to the older guys, like myself, who have the look of the skinny jean trend. I also really like that these jeans use a seamless knee design. Many riding jeans have stitching that runs across the jeans above and below the knee to hold the knee armor in place. This stitching screams riding jeans. With the seam less design, the Oakland Riding Jeans look at home on or off the bike. If you like a more relaxed fit, Street & Steel recommends ordering one size up from your normal size. They are offered in both Black and a more traditional Blue.
Street & Steel uses a denim blend material for the Oakland Jean. It is a very heavy thick 12oz denim to provided abrasion resistance. There are reinforced panels in key impact zones as well. These panels are designed to keep the jeans from ripping apart in case of a slide. The blended denim has an elastic quality to allow some stretch. With the thickness of the denim, this is very important to ensure comfort for an all day ride. The elastic feel makes these jeans feel less restrictive than others on the market.
One of the features that make these jeans such a great value is that they do come with CE-Approved Armor for the knees. Armor provides both abrasion and impact protection in key areas. The Armor is adjustable to ensure proper placement when riding. For most riding jeans in this price point, you have to buy the armor separate. The Oakland Riding Jeans comes with the armor, but some riders still opt to upgrade the armor to something they find more comfortable or higher rated.
As Riding Jeans go, the Oakland jean is a really good value. They are one of the more reasonably priced jeans. There are better options at a higher price point, but the bang for your buck here is pretty good. That is why these are one of the best selling Riding Jeans on J&P Cycles and a staff pick as well.
Iron Workers Harden Riding Jeans
The Iron Workers Harden Riding Jeans are one of the least expensive motorcycle jeans on the market. That being said, you get a lot for your money here. They have a very casual style that looks good on or off the bike. There is a seam across the jeans to hold the knee armor in place. I don't love the look of the seam, but it is subtle enough that I don't hate it.
The Harden Jeans are 100% Denim and available in two colors. You can choose from Light Blue or Dark blue, but both colors are pretty dark, so keep that in mind when choosing. The company calls these a relaxed fit, but most riders find them tight through the thighs. If you like a more relaxed fit, you should order up a size or two.
There is an additional protective lining in key areas. This lining is designed to provided abrasion resistance. The denim isn't has heavy (thick) as other riding jeans I've seen. That's not all bad. The ligher weight denim does make them more comfortable for daily wear. Having the Aramid protective lining provides the protection in the areas most needed.
What really makes these jeans such a good buy is they do come with Knee armor and pockets where you can add hip armor. The knee armor is held in place with Velcro. So, you can make adjustments to ensure the proper placement of the armor. Being able to add hip armor is a big deal at this price point. If you are going to add hip armor, that is another good reason to size up when ordering.
Klim K Fifty 2 Jeans
If you are not familiar with Klim, they are an Idaho based company that is known for high quality Adventure gear. They off world class quality gear for snowmobiles, off road riding, dual sport, and Adventure touring. They haven't really participated in the more traditional street bike market, until now. The Klim K Fifty 2 Jeans offer the same exceptional quality that Klim has built their reputation on. If you are searching for a good quality riding pants that offers the most protection and still looks great, these have to be on your list.
There is a definite heft to these jeans. Unlike most riding jeans that use denim or a denim blend, the K Fifty 2's are made from Cordura denim/nylon cotton blend. This heavy weight material provides a superior level of abrasion protection. They have a stone washed finish that gives them a worn in look. There are three color options to choose from as well. All three colors, Black, Stealth Blue, and Dark Blue, are all on the darker end of the spectrum. This is a seamless design, so there is no horizontal stitching to give away the fact you are wearing armored jeans. They are a relaxed fit with a slight taper at the ankle.
Where the K Fifty 2's really shine is the added protection they offer. These jeans include the D3O EVO Knee and hip armor. The Knee armor placement is adjustable to ensure proper fit. There are also reinforced interior panels made from Kevlar. Another big plus is the included Poron XRDA tailbone pad.
The Klim K Fifty 2's are the most expensive riding jeans on our list. That being said, if you do not want to compromise on safety and style, it is money well spent. The quality and added safety features of these jeans are superior to most on the market. Also, when you factor in the added cost of adding armor to a less expensive jean, there isn't that much of a difference in price. Before you buy a pair of riding jeans, check these out!
