The inimitable pair of denim jeans goes perfectly with the biker jacket so it makes sense to have the best protection possible when going for that classic look. Aramid fibre and kevlar jeans are the answer to this problem, offering the perfect blend of fashion and high-end crash protection. This used to be a small sector of the market but nowadays it’s grown arms and legs with most major brands looking for a slice of the pie. This blog will go through a few of the options you have available to you.
You’ve got the mainstays of the motorcycle world such as Dainese and RST in this area, but you’ve also got some lesser known brands such as Knox and Rokker making waves with their kit, but do they stand up well to the big brands? Short answer, yes, but budget and features are going to be what pushes you towards one or the other.
Dainese offer a large range of jeans currently with fits for both men and women and a variety of cuts to suit your style. Bike Stop is running a sale on some Dainese jeans as they’re due to be replaced by new lines so you might be able to pick up yourself a bargain! Starting at £149.95 Dainese’s range is characterised by a solid feature set throughout – armour in the knees and the very least with aramid fibre in all the key areas. Older aramid fibre jeans used to have a habit of being a bit shapeless but Dainese, in true Italian fashion, has made some truly stylish items - don’t fear they do make a relaxed fit pair in the ‘Tivoli’ as slim jeans aren’t to everyone’s taste!
A new entry to the motorcycle jeans market is Knox; a British brand well renowned for their excellent Handroid gloves and armour they’ve been branching out into other parts of the gear market. Making use of a range of abrasion resistant materials including Kevlar, Dyneema, Cordura and Spectra they cover a range of budgets. On top of this Knox jeans utilise their own MicroLock armour which is super soft until its impacted and it does its job of absorbing shock – ideal for trousers where you expect maximum comfort and range of movement. Knox sits in the middle of market price-wise, however their Spectra model known as the ‘Shield’ busts the £200 mark thanks to its tech. Spectra is a special type of denim that’s stronger than aramid fibre, along with being stretchable and water resistant – ideal for a biker. A premium product for sure but its feature set stands it apart, with its price undercutting the next pair.
In a similar vein Rokker are a small company that’s been making waves in the segment thanks to its unique features. Sitting very much at the premium end of the market they’ve managed to make jeans that cover all bases – full waterproofing, armour at the knees and hips and a seamless design. You pay a premium for this level of tech (£349.99 for the ‘Revolution’) however you’re getting a pair of trousers that can be used almost all year-round, potentially well worth the price of admission. Rokker also make a non-waterproof ‘Original’ pair for £269.99 which uses Dynatec abrasion protection along with a seamless design.
Spidi are also in the fray with a new option joining the market just recently in the ‘Pathfinder’. Most motorcycle jeans look like normal jeans, however the ‘Pathfinder’ goes down the route of looking like a well-fitted pair of cargo trousers – that extra pair of pockets could come in very handy! Spidi also have a pair of trousers much like Knox’s ‘Shield’, with the ‘J-Dyneema’ having one layer of denim and Dyneema combined together to give the authentic look and feel of normal jeans. Including armour at both the hips and knees the only thing it lacks is waterproofing and at £279.99 it’s a direct rival to Rokker’s non-waterproof ‘Original’ pair.
Lindstrands continue to make inroads into the UK market, and rightly so as they make gear well-suited to UK riding. They've done well to make a solid offering at a reasonable price – their basic ‘Wrap’ comes in at £89.99 but makes do with no armour and Hi-ART linings in key areas; it would be worthwhile considering adding at least knee armour to this pair, however if you’ve already got some from another pair of trousers this could be an ideal budget option. They’ve also taken the fight to Rokker, Knox and Spidi with a pair of jeans, the ‘Macan’, that uses a single layer of denim with an aramid fibre weave – at £209.99 and including knee and hip armour they make a great case for themselves.
Last, but certainly not least, RST have got their teeth into this market and as usual are making kit with a great set of features without breaking the bank. The ‘Tech Pro’ is a great example of how they go about things with Level 2 armour at both the knee and hip with a full Cordura lining. You don’t get the seamless design of pair costing over £200, but you’re also only paying £149.99. Meanwhile, the ‘ReInforced Jean’ is only £129.99, includes a seamless design with Kevlar reinforcement in key areas and includes knee armour. If the Lindstrands ‘Wrap’ is a touch too basic this could be the basic pair that will suit you perfectly.
The Bike Stop shop in Stevenage is currently temporarily closed, but our online shop is still alive and well and taking orders (and calls Monday to Friday!) We’re even doing a 10% off promotion – just enter the code ‘TOGETHER’ at checkout. You can check out our full range on our website with free delivery for any order over £25 on the UK mainland, and delivery possible to almost anywhere else. Not only that but our ‘No Quibble’ returns policy allows for returns within a 365 day period – see our returns page for more details.
