Not sure if this is right section to post, but, here goes.

I am a new rider to the street and have become totally confused with all the options for riding pants.

Regular Jeans
Cycle Spec Jeans
Over Pants
Bohn Under Armor
And the list could go on.......

Looking for real world recommendations, I want to save my hide the best I can without breaking the bank. I'm thinking good 'ole Wranglers or Carhart with Bohn Armor. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

If you are seriously worried about losing skin then leather pants/overpants or technical materials with armor inserts.

 

i have jeans with kevlar in them, the jeans material is thicker than usual.

 

So I've tried a couple of different combinations so far. What I've had is Bull-It SR6 jeans that I bought 2 sizes too big and wore over Forcefield ProPants which are armored all over. The jeans are fully lined in something akin to kevlar and I felt really protected in them. However, it was really bulky and a real hassle off the bike or when I got to work and changed pants. Now I wear a pair of RevIt Philly 2 jeans with knee and hip armor and kevlar in the impact areas. They are a little stretchy so they are really comfortable and the armor is pretty thin and flexible. They fit well and don't look different than plain jeans. They are the bare minimum I would accept for protection but they are enough protection that I don't feel like it was too much of a compromise. When these wear out I think I want to try some jeans from Resurgence but I may stick with RevIt unless something better is available.
Overpants would work especially if you can't really change once you get to work since you can just unzip and put them in a bag and you're good to go. A friend of mine just got some kevlar leggings with pockets for armor in the knees and hips. He will wear them under regular pants and it seems like a good option but they will get hot because it's like wearing sweatpants under your jeans while sitting on an oven. Hope that helped some!

 

Bohm under armor work very well but hard to put on and hot in summer.
Kevlar jeans are an uncomfortable material(opinion), yet no too bad and very resistant to tears.

Dedicated motorcycle aftermarket denim jean makers with armor is you best compromise...IMO
Noting nothing works better than leather for pavement sliding.

I have dedicated motorcycle jeans with larges legs to fit boots, air passing material in crotch and behind knees and armor only on the knees. Xelement is the brand as I recall. There are ok for town crashes but I would not want to slide down the highway with them.

Style over function plus comfort issues...good luck in your decision.

 

It all depends on the level of protection you want. For the most part, the more protection the more money you will spend.

I wear Klim Badlands riding pants and jacket. That stuff is way expensive but it is Goretex and waterproof. Plus it will certainly protect you. They and Aero stitch are considered top of the line in the long distance riding community that I am part of. If price is a concern don't bother looking up the price of the Klim gear, however Aerostich does have some stuff that is less expensive. While very expensive, it is something that you will likely never need to replace unless you wreck or gain/lose a lot of weight. I know people wearing the same gear for 10-15 years. Both Klim and Aerostitch do have less expensive gear however I am not that familiar with it

For less expensive gear that is still waterproof and offers pretty good protection consider Firstgear's stuff. Quite a few people wear their stuff and it is waterproof as well.

And then you have the riding jeans, some are made with Kevlar and some have pads. They aren't waterproof but will offer protection.

I suggest spending some time on Revzilla's website and looking at stuff. It can be confusing as there are so many options. I'd first start with what you want the gear to do (level of protection, water proof, etc) and go from there. Revzilla's website does have a chat feature so it may be worth spending some with them (or on the phone) asking the difference between some of the gear. For example, their website lists 111 different riding jeans ranging in price from $90 - $600

Sorry for the broad answer, but it really is a broad question

PS - A lot of people ask why I spent so much on riding gear. Truth is 1) I got a huge discount by buying my jacket on close out and I got my pants used from someone I know who wore them 2-3 times, and 2) I was fortunate enough to be wearing a Klim Badlands jacket when I hit the ground doing 70 mph. I also ride 20-40,000 miles a year in all kinds of weather conditions so my risk profile is a bit higher than many riders so it is easier for me to justify expensive gear

 

you can find rider opinions/reviews on a lot of apparel at adv riders under the equipment forum and the flea market runs a lot of stuff through it. I have gotten some good stuff there for reasonable prices. You do have to join to access the flea market.

 

The Bohn armor is a great option but it will be very warm in the summer. I have 2 pairs of kevlar jeans with armor and they are warm in the summer. A pair of mesh riding pants over shorts is another good option. Here is a link to a pair like mine.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sliders-Mot...53.m1438.l2649

 

Normal jeans will offer almost no protection in a spill. Plenty of manufacturers making riding Jeans with Kevlar. At the moment my favorite is the Dainese Todi. Comes with the knee armor, and you can also buy hip armor for them. Comfortable and a lot cooler than wearing leather. Draggin Jeans are also worth checking out.

 

Check out http://www.dragginjeans.com . My wife uses the liners and really likes them. Hers has not been road rash tested and hopefully never will. She says they are more comfortable than the chaps she has.