[ES13Raven]

...some riding jeans. I still want to wear jeans on the around town rides, but want some added protection of kevlar.

I need some feedback from those of you who own a pair of these kevlar denim jeans. I have narrowed it down to these:

1. Cortech Mod Denim Jeans. Pros: Doesn't look like they have Kevlar, but have leather reinforcement and CE armor for the knees. I can get them in the exact waist and length size I need. Cons: Not the most stylish looking jeans.

2. Joe Rocket Kevlar Rocket Jeans. Pros: Looks like they have a good amount of kevlar in the seat and knees. Has CE armor for the knees. Comes in regular length and short length. Cons: More stylish than the Cortech jeans, but still not the best looking jeans. CE armor sits too low.

3. Shift Torque Jeans. Pros: The most stylish looking out of the group. Looks like they have decent kevlar in the seat and knees. Cons: Only come in one length - I would need to get them altered. No armor.

4. Teknic Rage Denim Jeans. Pros: Decently stylish - I would rank it 2nd out of the group. Less expensive - $72 retail. They have a regular and short length. Cons: Could probably use a little more kevlar. No armor.

Anyone try any of these pants? What is your feedback?

Thanks

 

[Bpro]

I have a few pairs of Draggin Jeans. Never had to try them out, but have heard good things. Personally the cut was fine in both of the styles I have but my skin and Kevlar don't get along for a long day. as long as I do under armor I am fine.

1 added bonus is that they are made right here in the USA (if that matters to you) and you can actually visit the factory/outlet store. If you find yourself in western NC its definately worth stopping in if for nothing else the room filled with "factory seconds". (and the cute girl who waited on us last time...)

 

[Bpro]

for the record I should mention that all my riding buddies I am the only one who has issues with Kevlar.

 

[ES13Raven]

I have a few pairs of Draggin Jeans. Never had to try them out, but have heard good things. Personally the cut was fine in both of the styles

Hey man, I remember you from the YZF600R forum. Good to hear from you.

So you have both the classic and the relaxed styles of Draggin Jeans?

If I am going to be wearing Icon Leg Armor under them, will they fit nicely in both styles or just the relaxed one?

 

[Bpro]

Pretty much just the relaxed for me, but I have thick calves/knees.

 

[MJ939]

I've crashed in the relaxed Draggin Jean twice. They're not very stylish. I never had a problem with the kevlar, but they're hot as hell. Maybe hotter than leather.

The first time, I had no armor and I was rear ended by a car. I went on a pretty good superman flight. Landed feet first, I think, then knees. The pants survived fairly well, but the impact force caused a pretty bad road rash (skin tissue basically crushed) and a broken kneecap on the knee that hit first, medium rash (from rubbing against the actual pants) on the other kneecap. They're better than regular jeans, due to much better abrasion resistance, but impact protection is pretty minimal.

Second time was a pretty typical lost-front-end lowside at about 30 mph. I had the Draggin Jeans knee armor in that time. The outer jeans part of the pants was ripped open and destroyed, but the kevlar held together and the knee armor did its job. Again I wound up with knee rash due to my skin rubbing against the pants, but my knee would have been destroyed without the armor.

I only wear full leather now, but I do recognize how inconvenient it is if you want to ride your bike for daily things. As is commonly discussed here when gear comes up... I guess you have to choose how much risk you're willing to take. But definitely get the armor if you can. It's a huge difference in protection level.

 

[arcticamt6]

I have the shift lowdown jeans and icon field leg armor for when I do errands and stuff on the bike. The armor fits well underneath the jeans, and you honestly can't really tell that it's there. I originally bought a pair of Draggin jeans in the correct size, but Draggin runs small, so I returned them and found a better deal on the Shift jeans, bought the next size up, and they were too big. I didn't feel like dealing with the return again, so I just wear a tight belt. Overall, there is a good amount of kevlar in there, but I feel much better in my Leather pants. I believe the jeans are slightly cooler as well to wear during the summer.

What about some textile overpants? You can typically get ones with good venting, CE armor, and you can wear shorts underneath

 

[zxfreak]

Fieldsheer makes a kevlar lined riding jean that I wear, they are kind of baggy style so under that I wear a pair of bohn armor pants, I feel pretty good about the protection level wearing the two together. If you wear jeans for riding at least wear the kevlar ones and wear some armored pants underneath, they are really good. Check out this website:
Bohn Body Armor

 

[Gee]

I had a pair of Icon jeans and had a bad accident. I would not know if the jeans would have held up on the pavement, but a nicely planted metal pole informed me that riding with no armor is just plain ignorant. Of course, its a choice of vanity vs. health. Try some mesh pants with CE armor for the summer season if it is a question of too high temps. Good luck

 

[lasermax]

"Try some mesh pants with CE armor for the summer season if it is a question of too high temps. Good luck"
+1, Great gear.