Ultimate Riding Pants

Off the shelf mass produced jeans provide little to no protection against abrasion and impacts. That's why having the right riding pants is so important. There are a few options available to us riders who value safety and style. You could wear overpants, chaps, or leather pants. I started sweating just typing that thinking of riding in the hot summer sun with an extra pair of pants on. The alternative? Our Top Pick for the best riding pants, Tobacco Motorwear Riding Pants.

Armored Motorcycle Jeans

If you are like me, and grew up in the era of He-man and G.I. Joe, the notion of spending several hundred dollars on a pair of jeans is probably pretty mind boggling, but bear with me. The cost of these riding pants may seem high, but when you compare it to buying a cheap pair of jeans and then having to wear a second pair of protective pants over them, it suddenly becomes a lot more reasonable. There are some draw backs to these riding jeans and will explore those in depth as well.

Tobacco Motorwear offers very classic looking riding pants that are made of the highest quality materials. These pants are designed to look great on and off the bike. Most riding pants appear bulky or have what appear to be random seams running horizontally across the jeans. All Tobacco riding jeans look like, well...jeans. All of the Tobacco riding pants are made in the USA. There are a variety of styles of riding pants available. The styles vary from skinny, tapered, straight, to relaxed. They also offer Women's Riding Jeans, which is definitely worth checking out.

Check Out The Different Styles of Riding Pants

What Make These Pants Special

Kevlar Riding Pants

All of the Tobacco Riding Pants are lined in key areas with Dupont Kevlar. As you can see in the picture the Kevlar covers your rear and lower thigh to mid shin. Kevlar is very resistant to abrasions and is much more difficult to puncture than denim. There is also a mesh lining at the front of the pants to make them very breathable. All of the interior components of the riding pants are sewn into the seams of the jeans. That is why other riding pants have those weird seams that run horizontally across the jeans.

The type of denim varies based on the style of riding pant you select. They are all made from high quality and heavyweight fabric, ranging from 12.25 oz. to 14 oz. The materials vary in more than just weight. They offer Raw Denim, Raw Stretch Denim, Prewashed Denim, Selvedge Raw Denim, and Japanese Selvedge Raw Denim. As you look through the different styles and read over the different types of Denim used, it is easy to be confused or just assume they are all just fancy names for good denim. There are distinct differences between these materials. Now, here is where I confess that my expertise is in motorcycle gear, not textiles. So, I'm going to give a simplistic explanation.

• Raw Denim - This is denim that is unwashed, un-shrunken and in its purist form. The Raw Denim is rope dyed, which means it is dipped in a dye that does not entirely penetrate the fabric. When produced at the mill, it is stiff. Raw Denim jeans have to be broken in. In fact, it is recommended to not was them for at least two months. Wearing them and breaking them in over this time will give the jeans that worn in look. Where the denim creases and rubs it will fade. What people really love about Raw Denim is that it will stretch and form to your body. This break in process is what gives you a one of a kind look and the best fitting jeans you have ever owned.

• Raw Stretch Denim - Raw Stretch Denim has many of the same qualities of Raw Denim. The difference is that that the denim fibers are wrapped around a core filament. This is called spun yarn. The Raw Stretch Denim breaks in a little easier and as the name implies, provides a little more stretch.

• Selvedge Raw Denim - This type of denim is woven on a shuttle loom, which passes one thread only. This process makes the jeans stronger, stiffer, and more resistant to fraying. The knit of the fabric will be much more dense, which means they will last longer. This is one of the highest quality denims on the market.

• Pre-Washed Denim - This one is going to be complicated...not really. Pre-washed simply means that the denim has been washed or finished. Most all mass produced jeans are pre-washed jeans. It gives the jeans a softer feel and an aged or worn in look off the shelf. You do not have to break pre-washed jeans in. But that also means they will not form to your body as well as a raw denim pair would.

Broken In Riding Pants

Ironside Armored Jeans

The Ironside Armored Jeans are different enough to offer their own section in our discussion. The Ironsides are made of the same quality materials as all of the other Tobacco riding pants and feature the same Kevlar and mesh linings. They also have armor pockets to place the available D30 armor. The pockets have zippers that line up with the seams of the jeans, so they are barely noticeable. The armor can easily be removed to transition from on the bike to off the bike wear. The armor also has velcro attachments to ensure the proper placement for each rider. This is a big advantage as often armor sits either too high or too low when there is simply a pocket to hold it in place. Adding armor to the riding pants provides impact protection in addition to the abrasion protection provided by the Kevlar.

Perfect Riding Pants?

The short answer is no. They are not perfect. We recommend them primarily because of the versatility of the pants to be worn on and off of the bike and the protection they provide. If you have pants you wear everyday, you will likely wear them when you ride. If you have to change clothes to ride the bike, it is likely you will not wear your protective gear. That is why we give these riding jeans our top recommendation. We also recommend them because they are of exceptional quality and offer a classic style that seems to be missing in todays motorclothes. So, why aren't they perfect? There are two complaints we have about the riding jeans from Tobacco.

• Sizing - Sizing can be complicated. Be sure to read the full sizing description and watch the video provided. Remember that most of these jeans do have a break in period and may be a little snug at first. Most all of the inseams are 36". That means that for most riders you would need to roll the bottoms or have them hemmed.

• Armor not included - When you purchase the Ironsides Armored Jeans, they do not come with the Armor. The Armor is available for purchase from Tobacco Motorwear, but it is an additional cost that at this price point, we feel should be included.

Check Pricing - Tobacco Motorcycle Pants

Pros	Cons
Exceptional Quality	Expensive
Classic Styling	Sizing Is Complicated
Unique Look When Broken In	Armor Is An Additional Cost
Kevlar Lining
Availability Of Armor Pockets

Special Offer

Follow the link below to get a free pair of Riding Gloves with your first purchase!