Due to the exposed nature of riding a motorcycle, it’s almost guaranteed that the clothing you wear for the ride is going to get wet and/or dirty. Protection is almost as important, where the material from ordinary shirts and pants is usually unsuitable for protecting in the event of an accident. But much like motorcycle jackets, there are loads of pants that are made from the same quality materials.
It’s not to say that such pants are uncomfortable, however. Many are carefully woven to allow great airflow and acceptable maneuverability. Below are five of the best motorcycle pants found online, picked for safety features, and rider comfort. To know which are better for your individual needs, be sure to check out the Buyer’s Guide before reading the top pick in the Summary. Let’s get started!
Top 5 Best Motorcycle Pants
Here are the primary differences and features found on each brand. For more detailed info, go to the product’s description link.
Scotchlite reflective material throughout the pants
Waist, knee, and ankle adjustments
Reinforced stitching at all seams and edges
The HWK Motorcycle Pants are for Men are stylish and very easy on the eyes. This means that anyone in your vicinity will see you, no matter if you’re riding in the fog or rain. And if it happens to be the latter, you’re also in luck. The polyester fabric that makes up the top and interior layers of the pants is very strong, dense enough to bead up water when it touches the outer shell. Nothing will absorb inside of your clothing, keeping you dry at all times of your ride.
Quality Materials and More
Don’t worry about your undergarments getting drenched in sweat, either. The material, though dense, is breathable. Airflow throughout the pants, especially near the areas where the mesh is situated. You can make adjustments to these areas as well, keeping things sealed when the wind chill kicks up a bit. Pockets are also great in quality and can hold numerous items without risk of puncturing holes in the pocket material.
Additionally, sizing is very well done. So long as you’ve measured yourself appropriately, the pants that come to your door will fit as expected.Overall, the HWK Motorcycle Pants are top of the line, and very strong. You might even find yourself wearing them for jobs that you do outside of riding your bike; the material is that powerful. It’s not too stretchy, so be sure to look at the sizing chart carefully to make sure that it aligns with the measurements that you come up with. Highly recommended.
Pros
Water will bead off of the pants instead of seeping in the fabric
All pockets are situated in easy-to-reach locations
Openings for easy reach of items in front and back pockets
Zipper closures on each leg
The second product is the Viking Cycle Leather Chaps. These aren’t the same as your standard polyester-woven motorcycle pants and are entirely made of leather. You’ve probably seen this style before. Chaps are great for people that want the protection that ordinary motorcycle pants have but flexible and minimal enough to make them fast for disrobing.
For example, if you often find yourself taking another pair of motorcycle pants off every time you get off the bike, consider these to make the process a lot easier. But how does this work?
Why they’re Recommended
Whenever you’re cruising and are nearing a stop that calls for you to take off the pants, simply unbuckle the belt near the waist, unzip the zippers on the left and right of each pats leg, and that’s it. There’s nothing more to it. The Viking Cycle comes off and can be stored fast, keeping you comfortable and without the burden of having to find a place to stuff the pants in when you’re not wearing them.
They’re lightweight and can prevent your jeans from getting completely drenched. You could probably fit knee pads underneath if you wanted, though there’s no slot for you to do this on the leather itself.
Is there something that could be changed about the Viking Pants? Nothing much. While the leather material will block out moisture, you’re still not completely protected from the water, since the crotch and rear area remain exposed. But if you live in a dry location or just want pants that offer better protection than a normal pair of jeans, this is a great buy. They’re not low at the bottom, so feel free to don your best pairs of booths for the ride.
Pros
Leather is thick but contains enough openings to allow some breathability for the pants underneath
Doesn’t ride down the foot too low
Can be quickly put on and off by unlatching the belt buckle
Cons
Cannot protect the first layer of pants from getting wet
Next up is the HWK Motorcycle Cargo Pants. These are great for people that like pants that offer the wearer great customization. Have you ever found yourself in a situation on a bike where the interior lining felt too hot at the time? It happens quite often. The HWK pant solves the problem by allowing you to completely remove this layer, which keeps away the sweat and irritable feeling during long cruises. If that sounds well, give them a shot. But that’s not all that these strong pants have “up its sleeve.”
Reflective and Strong
Reflective material is very important both for you, pedestrians, and other drivers on the road. Without it, things would be much more dangerous. Not only do these pants contain Scotchlite straps throughout the body, but a reflective “body” altogether. The polyester material outside will be seen by anyone that comes near your bike, even in the pouring rain. There are also high-quality zippers on all pockets situated on the pants. All are deep and strong, making storage of anything you plan to carry on your person nothing to worry about.
Are there any negatives? Hardly anything. The fit is a bit large, especially if you order them without much thought to sizing chart accuracy. It’s nothing that you haven’t seen before, so simply go down a size if you must.
For larger individuals, this may not be necessary. The lower part of the pant legs is a little narrow. See if you can find a wider size leg in this case, particularly if you have big calves. In any case, these HWK Pants are great for all bikers but especially those riding in weather conditions that call for good reflective material.
Pros
Contains a removable waterproof liner
Woven with reflective material
Zipper for attachment to motorcycle jackets
Cons
Unless the adjustable waist straps are used or a smaller size acquired, the fit could be larger than expected
Next up is the Fly Racing Youth F-16 Pants. These are sized and fitting for adolescents and young adults, but can also be great for smaller-framed adults of any age. There are lots of various colors for you to pick, from pink to brown or yellow and green.
Flexible material abounds, making the pants easy to put on or off when in a hurry. These are stretch pants, and will “contour” to the shape of your legs. However, considering that you get the correct size, they aren’t too tight-fitting and do offer some looseness along the center leg and thighs.
Pocket Quality and More
Great for Boys and Girls Again, the Fly Racing Pants are unisex. They’re great for both boys and girls. Just be sure that the measurements are accurate and there shouldn’t be any problem with getting them to fit. And since the polyester material does stretch, you can expect to have them around for a long time. If you’re the kind of person whose weight fluctuates very often, these are highly recommended. Simply adjust the waist straps and that’s it, the stretch will cover your size change as you gain or lose pounds. Overall, the Fly Racing Youth Pants are an excellent choice for anyone that has a small frame. But even larger individuals might like them. In such a case, you could go up a size to get a fit that’s a tad looser. Do be careful with the pockets, however. They’re very thin and you could easily tear a hole in the material they’re made of. So long as you’re not lugging around a huge chain of keys or holding numerous pencils inside, no punctures are likely to happen. Give these pants a try and you won’t be upset with your purchase.
Pros:
Is unisex; can be worn by both men and women
Good stretchy material that can accommodate users with fluctuating weight
Excellent zippers that’ll never tear when pulled
Cons:
Thin pockets that may tear if pointed objects are placed inside
*Green*Lastly, the Fox Racing 180 Prix Pants is made for riders on motorcycles and dirtbikes. Out of all of the pants shown, these are one of the most slim-fitting. Don’t take this is a sign that you won’t be able to wear them, however. There are numerous sizes available, ranging from 28 to 42 at the waist. They’re recommended for anyone with a slim to average build, or those that find the larger motorcycle pants too heavy.*Green*
Pocket Quality and More
Breaking them In The pants have cool design of the company’s logo, along with enough colors to match with most bikes. Being that the fit is slim, you should expect to go up a size if you don’t want them to hug you too tightly. If you don’t, the waits and lower leg may feel awkward and uncomfortable, more so for people accustomed to looser-fitting pants. There are no pockets featured here; be sure to have a separate storage location for your smartphone and other personal items. In the end, the 180 Prix Pants will make your riding more relaxing and safe.
Pros:
Excellent knee and thigh protection from abrasives
Comes in sizes that are great for slim and medium-framed riders
Not loose to the point of catching on to other objects
Cons:
No pockets on the pants
Runs small in size
Buyer’s Guide
For great tips that’ll help you find the best pick from the choices above, look at the guidelines below.
How to Choose the Best Motorcycle Pants
Before you begin looking for any pair of motorcycle pants, always ensure that you know what sizes you should be looking for. Much like any type of pants, you’ll want to check the sizing chart, and what others have said about the pants and their accuracy. Many pants are made in a way that deviates from the sizing charts that are advertised.
Because of this, it behooves you to measure, more so when the pants are coming from a brand that you’re never worn before, or aren’t familiar with. If you do this, it’s guaranteed that the pants you get won’t be too big or too small. This, much like other types of clothing, are one of the most common complaints that consumers have about motorcycle pants, in general.
Material Quality and Denier
The reason why motorcycle pants are differentiated from other bottoms is the quality of the material. Almost all pants that are sold on the market contain either polyester or polycarbonate materials in their makeup. Polyester strength is measured in denier, which is usually abbreviated with a single “D.” Nylon fabric materials are also measured in denier.
Most motorcycle pants will either be 600 or 1000 denier, though 600 is the most common gauge. High denier consists of better protection when the fabric is rubbed against hard surfaces, such as the asphalt. A lot of motorcycle gear retains this sort of strong fabric, which is useful in unfavorable situations such as a motorcycle accident.
Personal Preference
While consumers have lots of motorcycle pants to choose from, the ultimate piece of advice is to go with what you want the most. Those shown in the reviews are varied in the sense that each has individual differences and styles that cater to most riders. If you don’t want to standard motorcycle pants, or simply like older types, chaps might suffice for you. Or maybe you need something for a younger rider that’s not large enough for some of the cargo pants.
There are pants for such a situation as well. No matter what kind of pants that you wish for, keep safety as your highest priority. That means reflective material whenever possible. However, keep in mind that some pants, such as the aforementioned chaps, may not have such material. In this case, consider purchasing Scotchlite separately to latch onto your pants, more so when riding in less than favorable conditions.
Number of Pockets
Many motorcycle pants have lots of pockets. They’re easy to find and most brands built them much stronger than your average pants pocket. But if you’re going to be hauling lots of items in them, it’s a good idea to check their quality anyway. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to do this without actually having the pants in your possession already. Instead, you can go off of what others have said about their quality. This is useful, but observing the photos of their makeup in the product description is also a good idea.
You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you notice a hole in one of the pockets when you’re on the road. When you see pockets with zippers that appear thick and deep, these are good things. Check to see if there’s information concerning the material makeup of the pocket linings. And remember, waterproof pockets are a thing as well. Considering looking for waterproof pockets to protect your most sensitive gear from getting damaged, more so when riding in moist climates with lots of precipitation.
Riders with smartphones may want to pay special attention to pocket quality, and its position. This is important if you switch the phone between the amount (for GPS purposes) and your pockets. You don’t want anything that could take your attention away from the road for too long, so fast storage should be considered.
Waterproof and Water Resistance
Waterproofing is very important when shopping for motorcycle pants. Most brands are waterproof or water-resistant, but what’s the difference?
Waterproof means that the pants will keep whatever is underneath the material from getting any level of moisture on them. When you see this advertised, you can bet that the paths will prevent you from getting wet. However, water-resistant pants aren’t entirely waterproof and may prevent moisture, but not to the point of complete protection.
Again, most pants sold today do have waterproof protection, though some simply aren’t built for rainy conditions. Many chaps contain openings in areas that make them unsuitable for a rainy day. In that case, find pants that contain waterproof outer or inner linings. The polyester material is usually sufficient enough for dealing with water on its own.
Breathing Room
Having mentioned linings, always go for motorcycle pants with linings whenever you can. Alternatively, you could also seek pants with thinner polyester material. Everyone wants tough pants that are breathable, but this isn’t always easy to find. Chaps are great for this, and many of the newer cargo pants are decent in airflow as well.
Furthermore, motorcycle pants with mesh vents offer outstanding breathability. When you see this, it means that portions of the pants contain flaps, often secured with zippers, that you can open up when things get too hot. They tend to work the same way as motorcycle jackets with a similar feature, so just open them up when you wish to cool yourself off.
Washing and Maintenance
Most motorcycle pants can be machine-washed, though it’s still a good idea to run over the instructions for washing that are listed on the tag. You may have to air dry wish certain polyester and nylon brands. If possible, this is the best method to extend their life since machine drying has been known to tear the microfibers in woven material.
Though this might not happen quickly, the risk is there. Additionally, be careful when placing in a washer, since many pants contain straps and several layers which may tear if being washed with lots of other clothing. Try to limit the number of clothes you add to a load when cleaning your pants.
Wearing with the Right Jacket
If you own a motorcycle jacket that has zippers along the tail, you can attach it to some pairs of motorcycle pants. When looking for this, check out photos of the pants to see if there are zippers around the waist. Most are embedded along the rear, next to the belt buckle. Although most zippers should fit, some could be proprietary to the same brand.
If this is the case, you would be limited to using a jacket/pants attachment that’s made from the same company. Yet in most cases, you shouldn’t have to worry about this. Those going touring might be interested in this more. Remember that attaching your pants to a jacket in this manner could also be a bit uncomfortable, more so in hot and humid regions. But connecting might offer better protection since there would be no gaps that are exposed in the waist area.
Summary/Conclusion
Which pants do you think are best for you? There were lots of great choices shown above. However, this is one pair that maintains great breathing room, strong material, and is relatively easy to pull on and off. This is the first product on the list, the HWK Motorcycle Pants. Still, the others are just as effective at protection. Find one of the others more interesting instead? Go with anything that you wish and you’ll be satisfied with your pick.
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