View Poll Results: kevlar jeans or leather chaps
kevlar
34
54.84%
leather chaps
28
45.16%
Voters: 62. You may not vote on this poll
Chaps...or Kevlar
Tourer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: WI
Well--lot of that depends on quality of what you're talking about. And what level of protection you really want.
Kevlar jeans that are well lined are good--I have a pair of draggin jeans. But they aren't much in way of padding from impact.
Leather chaps or pants come in lot of diff thickness AND grade.
If you want ultimate protection, look at the riders who go down a lot--the racers. Never saw a bike racer wearing chaps. LOL.
Of course they all wear a one piece full leather suit. Not a two piece that zips together at waist, because the zipper connection can separate.
Here's a list IMO of protection options from greatest to least.
* One piece full leather racing suit--go speed racer. LOL
* Two piece leather racing gear that zips together at waist.
* Leather coat and leather pants.
* Leather coat and Kevlar jeans With leather chaps.
* Leather coat and Kevlar jeans With body armor.
* Leather coat and leather chaps over reg jeans.
* Leather coat and reg jeans.
* Street clothes. LOL
If it's just chaps vs Kevlar jeans for protection--it'd be Kevlar for me to save my butt. You can add body armor knee pads to help with impact on knees.
Kevlar jeans that are well lined are good--I have a pair of draggin jeans. But they aren't much in way of padding from impact.
Leather chaps or pants come in lot of diff thickness AND grade.
If you want ultimate protection, look at the riders who go down a lot--the racers. Never saw a bike racer wearing chaps. LOL.
Of course they all wear a one piece full leather suit. Not a two piece that zips together at waist, because the zipper connection can separate.
Here's a list IMO of protection options from greatest to least.
* One piece full leather racing suit--go speed racer. LOL
* Two piece leather racing gear that zips together at waist.
* Leather coat and leather pants.
* Leather coat and Kevlar jeans With leather chaps.
* Leather coat and Kevlar jeans With body armor.
* Leather coat and leather chaps over reg jeans.
* Leather coat and reg jeans.
* Street clothes. LOL
If it's just chaps vs Kevlar jeans for protection--it'd be Kevlar for me to save my butt. You can add body armor knee pads to help with impact on knees.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 1
From: -
Last edited by ghira75; Jun 11, 2014 at 09:18 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
Chaps are great. Easy on/off. Good in cold and heat, and long rides. I never bought Kevlar jeans, because most of them look uncomfortable to wear all day. They keep bugs off your pants, and I ride in dress pants to work.
If you don't like the way they look, they are easy to take on and off. Mine are elkskin and soft, yet abrasion resistant. I don't think I would like the feel of stiff, cheap leather.
If you don't like the way they look, they are easy to take on and off. Mine are elkskin and soft, yet abrasion resistant. I don't think I would like the feel of stiff, cheap leather.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,888
From: Newcastle, OK
Advanced
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: OKC, OK
I just purchased these(see link). All the kevlar pants i tried on, fit horribly. They where to big, or to small. My legs where hot just in the store, so i cant imagine my self wearing them on hot days. So these allow me to wear regular jeans, take them off when i get to where im going, and they are breathable. In the winter i will wear chaps and these. This option suited me the best. Everybody is different. Kevlar jeans do offer more protection area than leather thou, but the right leather will hold up longer than the kevlar. Good luck! Ride safe!
http://www.dragginjeans.com/draggin-liners/
http://www.dragginjeans.com/draggin-liners/
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,719
Likes: 60
From: Los Angeles
NDs suggestion seems the best.
The only thing that keeps me from chaps in the winter is it really doesn't get cold here, and they are arseless. And your **** is what's going to hit the ground pretty often.
Kevlar jeans always have coverage in the seat. Just make sure you get jeans that have 100 kevlar sewn in. Some go with a 60 percent kevlar and poly mix, which is pretty useless, so I hear.
Draggin Jeans makes a kevlar liner that you wear under your jeans like long johns, FYI. I am taking delivery of a pair tomorrow and will let you know how they work out.
The only thing that keeps me from chaps in the winter is it really doesn't get cold here, and they are arseless. And your **** is what's going to hit the ground pretty often.
Kevlar jeans always have coverage in the seat. Just make sure you get jeans that have 100 kevlar sewn in. Some go with a 60 percent kevlar and poly mix, which is pretty useless, so I hear.
Draggin Jeans makes a kevlar liner that you wear under your jeans like long johns, FYI. I am taking delivery of a pair tomorrow and will let you know how they work out.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,815
Likes: 2,555
From: UK
I have a pair of Kevlar lined Hood jeans with armor at knees and hips. They work really well, are comfortable and look like regular jeans. No extra stitching at the knees, or weird velcro straps.
I am also going to buy a pair of the forcefield liner pants with armor. I like the idea that the armor is held right against the skin rather than moveable as on kevlar jeans. Makes sure it is always in the right place. I will also get a pair of kevlar lined combat pants to go over these. Should be a good combo.
I'm thinking about a pair of leather pants - again with armor, but I haven't found any yet that don't either look too sportsbikey or too Village People.
I don't like the idea of chaps really - no armor, no butt abrasion protection and too much full on Village People.
I am also going to buy a pair of the forcefield liner pants with armor. I like the idea that the armor is held right against the skin rather than moveable as on kevlar jeans. Makes sure it is always in the right place. I will also get a pair of kevlar lined combat pants to go over these. Should be a good combo.
I'm thinking about a pair of leather pants - again with armor, but I haven't found any yet that don't either look too sportsbikey or too Village People.
I don't like the idea of chaps really - no armor, no butt abrasion protection and too much full on Village People.
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Joe Kucinski
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 196
From: Boise, ID
I have chaps so that's all I can really talk about. They don't seem too hot in summer while riding, but they are "warm weather" chaps. When I'm off the bike they seem warm if I'm not really moving. They did NOTHING for me when there was frost on the ground in the hills. I do only wear them on trips, and they are somewhat of a pain in the butt if you need to drop them to go #2. Like others have said there is no butt protection, but I'm an old white guy so mine is concave anyway...