Some riders tend to overlook the legs prefer to focus more on jackets helmets and gloves and think that a pair of denim pants will be fine for any riding situation. Your legs are just as important as any part of your body when riding a bike and unless your pants are reinforced, skidding at 60kph will turn any pair of denim into tissue paper.
The best product is the Bohn Bodyguard Adventure Armored Pants (Amazon). Find out more below.
These are the best kevlar leggings for men:
Are kevlar leggings safe?
Kevlar leggings are abrasion resistant and save your legs in case you make a crash on your motorcycle. You can wear Kevlar leggings under regular jeans, or wear them like yoga pants.
Why Kevlar Leggings?
Leather pants are the most effective when it comes to abrasion resistance but let’s face it, not everyone wants to get leathered up every single time they want to ride their bike. Some riders prefer that their gear doesn’t stand out from regular clothes. Even gear manufacturers have addressed this issue and more and more riding gear is being disguised as normal everyday clothing. This is why Kevlar riding leggings are becoming more and more accepted in the riding community.
The main reason why some riders would prefer wearing Kevlar leggings over regular motorcycle leathers or textile pants is the added layer of safety it provides. Kevlar is one of the strongest materials when it comes to tensile strength. Pound for pound, Kevlar is five times stronger than steel. Not only that, but Kevlar is also highly heat resistant.
Most gear manufacturers boast that their Kevlar jeans and leggings can give riders a minimum of five seconds of slide protection. Five seconds may not sound like a lot until you realize that going above 50kph basically turns the road into a belt sander. Moreover, five seconds for some gear manufacturers is the benchmark and aim for their jeans and leggings to have even more abrasion protection making Kevlar jeans even safer.
Another reason why riders like wearing Kevlar leggings is the ability to be able to wear any designer pants or jeans on a motorcycle ride. Wear a Kevlar legging under your regular jeans and you now have more abrasion protection and heat resistance. Kevlar leggings give riders the availability of being stylish without sacrificing safety.
What is Kevlar?
Kevlar is a synthetic fiber that possesses great heat resistance and tensile strength. It was developed by DuPont in the ’60s and has applications ranging from race tires to bulletproof vests. With Kevlar’s development, motorcycle gear manufacturers finally had material for the stubborn “denim only” motorcycle crowd. Kevlar got integrated into riding jeans and now riders can have protection, style, and comfort in their gear.
Best Kevlar Motorcycle Leggings for Men
Anybody who has ever tried to look for any piece of motorcycle gear knows that the manufacturers don’t want to make it easy. The motorcycle market is highly saturated and too crowded with options. That’s why I took the liberty of looking into forums and reviews and scoured the internet for the better choice of Kevlar pants. One of the top options for Kevlar motorcycle leggings in the Market today is the Bohn Bodyguard Adventure Armored Pants (Amazon).
Comfort
The Bohn Armored Pants is made of a breathable lycra fabric giving the rider maximum ventilation for hot summer rides. The fabric is also highly stretchable allowing for an articulated fit and ease of movement when riding through twisty canyon roads.
Armor
Not only does the Bohn Bodyguard Adventure Armored Pants come with a Kevlar lining but it also comes standard with armoring. Bohn Zorb knee/shin, hip, thigh, and tailbone armor all come with the leggings.
Additional Features
Other features of the Bohn Adventure Armored Pants are:
- Non-roll elastic waistband for a snug closure
- Zipper ankle closures for an articulated fit
- Easy install and easy remove armor pockets
- Ventilated crotch panel for added ventilation and maximum comfort
- Non-shrink, washer ready fabric
Benefits of a Motorcycle Kevlar Leggings
The Bohn Bodyguard Adventure Armored Pants is good enough to wear on its own but if riders choose to, these leggings can be worn as a base layer. This is an additional feature of the Bohn Armored Pants – versatility. For riders who want protection but don’t want to stand out too much in motorcycle gear, then the Bohn Bodyguard Armored Pants is comfortable enough and thin enough to be worn under their favorite pair of jeans.
Best Kevlar Motorcycle Leggings for Women
For our lady riders, Oxford also has a good option in their lineup. The Oxford Super Leggings (Amazon) is among the top picks for a lot of female riders and it even got a ‘Staff pick’ status from the folks at Revzilla. The Oxford Super Leggings is a heavy duty motorcycle pants masquerading as typical yoga pants.
Comfort
The Oxford Super Leggings are made of stretch fabric with full aramid Kevlar lining. This means that Oxford leggings don’t only give the rider an articulated and comfortable fir, but it also boosts the protection. The Kevlar doesn’t only cover the seat and high impact areas but almost the entirety of the pants up to the middle of the calves.
Armor
CE Level 2 knee armor inserts come ready with the Oxford Super Leggings and are actually pretty slim. They bulge out a little bit of course but the leggings still retain a nice shape. The armor inserts are also extremely soft and malleable which means you won’t feel awkward stiff walking in them.
Fitting
The leggings fit slim and skinny and come with a high waist rise. Concerned that these leggings may not fit you? Don’t worry because Oxford thought about it first! The Oxford Super Leggings comes in regular, short, and a tall cut to ensure a good for any rider.
Other Features
- Pocket inserts for optional hip armor for added protection
- 4-way stretch panels making the leggings comfortable to move in
- 2 deep front hand pockets
- Belt loops around the waist for attaching leggings to jacket
While these leggings can be worn on their own, their thin nature allows them to be worn as a base layer under casual clothing to provide a hidden layer of protection.
What to pair it with?
Both the Oxford Super Leggings and the Bohn Bodyguard Adventure Armor Leggings are wearable as is but can both be a base layer for extra protection. The Oxford Leggings, however, are more versatile when it comes to mixing and matching other pieces of gear or clothing. Due to the stealthy design element, one would have to look closer to realize that the leggings are more than just your average pair of yoga pants.
Any mesh jacket or textile jacket would pair nicely with the Oxford leggings but a classic leather jacket would probably be the best match. The leggings are actually quite fashionable and would not at all feel awkward in a closet full of designer brand clothing.
Why All Riders Should Wear Kevlar Leggings or Jeans
Kevlar undeniably provides one of the most reliable protection for motorcycle riders and some believe that every rider should have a pair (or more) of Kevlar leggings or jeans in their closet. Due to lots of manufacturers turning to Kevlar for their gear, Kevlar is slowly becoming a staple in every rider’s closet. And why shouldn’t it be? It has excellent heat protection, high abrasion resistance, and it’s a fabric so it won’t bulge out or cause too much awkward movement and discomfort.
Kevlar is more expensive than your average pair of riding pants but the added protection and safety benefit you get far exceeds the cost of investment. Kevlar is a material that has been tried and tested throughout history. And if you’re still not convinced, check out this Kevlar Pants Drag Test video from Bowtex. If you think that your regular jeans are just as good as Kevlar, check out Ryan’s Motorcycle Jeans vs. Regular Jeans – Crash Test video on Fortnine.