by Rick K. for webBikeWorld.com

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Summary:  Padded and armored pants offer protection when worn under jeans or leathers.  The Cool Air mesh provides good air flow and are designed for warm weather. 

Is there a place for body armor in a world of motorcyclists whose riding gear consists of shorts and a T-shirt?

I'm continually amazed at the disregard most riders have for personal safety, indicated by their choice of clothing (or lack of it). 

I've become more and more conservative and safety conscious over the years, wearing leathers, a full-face helmet, race boots and gloves on every ride, simply because I think it's an excellent part of my risk management strategy.

But I can't tell you how many times other motorcycle riders have stared at me at a stop light or made disparaging comments, simply because I was dressed for the occasion!

I'll never understand it, and I'll take a guess that some riders think they look "cool" by only wearing jeans to ride?  My impression is just the opposite: it looks dumb.

However, there's not much that I can do to change things.  So if you must ride in jeans, the least you can do is wear some protection underneath. 

I'll bet that many motorcyclists don't realize that there is a product that's designed to be worn under jeans for added protection.

Bohn has been making various types of body armor, back protectors and more for as long as I can remember.  These Cool Air Bodyguard Adventure Pants are specifically designed to be worn under non-armored motorcycle clothing, including jeans. 

The pants have armor in the knees, shins, hips, thighs and tailbone.  They'll fit under most jeans, as long as they're not too tight. 

Most jeans have a looser fit than was the case not too long ago, and we had no trouble fitting the Bohn armor under several different brands of jeans.  The Cool Air pants use a type of nylon mesh, which is definitely breathable and has good air flow. 

Wearing these snug-fitting pants underneath a pair of jeans takes some getting used to, especially in warmer weather.  They also add to the time it takes to go riding, which may be one of the main reasons why more riders don't wear protective gear.  By the way, Bill is wearing the Bohn pants over a pair of long underwear in the photo above, for the sake of modesty!

The pants slip on like a pair of panty hose (not something I'm very familiar with!), and some care has to be used in pulling them up to waist height.  The mesh is slightly fragile, due to its wider mesh, which offers more air flow in hot weather.  Combined with the snug fit, it's easy to pull too hard in the wrong place with the potential for a torn seam. 

Bohn says that the Cool Air pants have nevertheless proven to be durable, even though they don't use the same heavy-duty Lycra material of the Adventure version of their armored pants.  The Adventure version is slightly less expensive and are designed for all-season use, but are not quite as cool as the Cool Air when the weather turns warm.

But if minimal care is taken, it's easy to pull them on and a few quick adjustments will locate the armor in just the right spots.  The shin/knee armor can be moved up and down slightly to account for different leg lengths.  The pants also have zippers at the ankle to help with getting the on and off.

Once they're on, they all but disappear, especially when riding.  The knee armor is noticeable when walking, and there's a snug feeling all around, but it doesn't seem to take long to get used to it.

The Cool Air Bodyguard pants also work nicely under non-armored leather pants.  The armor in the Bohn pants is removable, and the pants are washable.

Conclusion
Jeans provide near-zero abrasion resistance and obviously have no padding.  The Bohn armored pants are about the only option for added protection if you must wear jeans.  But the Bohn products are also appropriate for those motorcyclists who wear leather.

Padding and armor will only protect the rider if it doesn't move during a fall, so the snug fit of the Bohn pants can actually provide better performance than built-in armor in some looser fitting leathers.