Kevlar and Aramid Fibre Jeans - Are They Right For You?
In today's post I'm going to cover the relatively recent invention of kevlar and aramid fibre jeans. Technology is continually improving and now some pairs of these jeans are indistinguishable from high street brand jeans in terms of fit and look, while still providing protection in the event of a spill.
The average pair of normal jeans is next to useless in the event of falling off a moving motorbike - they provide almost no abrasion protection and zero impact protection - but they they do let you look good, especially paired with the correct boots and jacket. This is where kevlar and aramid fibre jeans come in. By adding the abrasion protection of these fibres in key areas of the jeans, and using extra heavy denim and reinforced stitching abrasion protection is drastically improved. Additional features are also available such as armour for the knees and hips, as well as weatherproofing to create an all-weather set of motorcycle jeans.
To begin with, it's worth clarifying the difference between aramid fibre and kevlar, and for most part it's just branding. Kevlar is a DuPont trademark, while the term 'aramid fibre' means any other very similar material - in practice it's hard to tell between the two. Kevlar is well-known however and makes people think of bulletproof vests, but sadly motorcycle jeans aren't bulletproof, so your Mad Max dreams can't become a reality sadly.
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The market is well established now with a lot of big brands getting in on the action - Draggin' Jeans is one of the most successful and have continuously developed their product with their most recent designs blending in with high street jeans. Their abrasion resistance is well established too, but they generally require the addition of impact protection, and considering their high asking price that's not the best deal.
Dainese have got in on the action with an ever expanding range of these jeans - their most recent addition is the Todi which includes the abrasion protection of these fibres, as well as included knee armour. They have a slim fit, and two different colours available, which means you can wear them off the bike without feeling like you're wearing ill fitting baggy jeans. The kevlar protection is found at the bum, knees and hips, with the option for hip armour. Overall, if you're looking for some of the best kevlar jean protection with the most svelte fit these are likely one of your best bets. Dainese do other models, colours, and more relaxed fits to allow for other tastes, or any layers underneath the jeans.
The Amelia is a women's set of jeans also by Dainese, and also boasts stretch denim to achieve a better fit, but includes all the safety features the Todi has - notably the same abrasion protection and armour, and comes in two different shades of blue to match your gear better. Dainese does other jeans for women too beyond the Amelia to suit other tastes and achieve the best fit.
At the top of the range, you have Rokker's Revolution motorcycle jeans. These are a truly premium product that can easily become your go-to riding gear for all situations (apart from the track). Their unique selling point is the inclusion of a wind and waterproof membrane which becomes porous according to weather conditions to keep you dry and warm, or cool and ventilated. Not only that but they include both hip and knee armour, as well as almost the entire jean being abrasion resistant. Fit is good, and there are no rivets to cause paintwork scratches, and the fly zip is waterproof. The only stickler is the price, they cost more than twice as much as typical mid-range jeans (£349.99), but if you're going to use them daily they make an excellent investment.
In the middle you have a relatively small brand for the UK - Lindstrands (part of Halvarssons and Jofama) which is based in Sweden. The Macan falls between Dainese and Rokker in terms of price at £199.99 but includes hip and knee armour, and much like Dainese models it has abrasion protection on the knees, hips and bum. Fit is relatively relaxed but looks much better than motorcycle jeans of yore. There is even the possibility to zip the jeans to a jacket, a relatively unique and possibly useful feature for some.
Motorcycle jeans are certainly a viable alternative to conventional textile and leather trousers for most situations, and make a much more attractive prospect off the bike in terms of comfort and looks. It's hard to compete with leather's superb abrasion protection, but they are far more practical, and the Rokker jeans can compete with waterproof textile offerings. I personally ride in Draggin' Twista jeans almost all the time and they do feel secure thanks to the heavy fabric, and they're great for walking around in. The only reason I can't recommend them wholly is the lack of included armour and quite a high price despite this, but they remain a good product.
Bike Stop has a large range of motorcycle gear, including motorcycle jeans of course, both online and in the shop in Stevenage. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, subscribe to our mailing list to keep up to date on events happening at Bike Stop throughout the year, drop by to have a chat, have a delicious Lavazza coffee and a cake, or view our large motorcycle gear range.
