The Best Motorcycle Riding Jeans for the 2021 Season
We’d Know: We’ve Hands-On Tested 2500+ Pieces of Riding Gear Since 2000
Entry-Level
Priced under $200, these riding jeans are ideal for new riders or value-conscious shoppers.
Mid-Range
Priced $200-$300, these riding jeans are high quality and offer great protection for the pricepoint.
High-End
Priced $300 and up. This category has the best of what is available when it comes to riding jeans.
A Brief Guide to Buying Motorcycle Riding Jeans
Every person has a slightly different size and shape, as well as their own idea of how a great pair of jeans should fit and feel. In addition, there are those riders who choose to make a fashion statement with a certain shade of blue or even a completely different color.
But the one must-have for all riders is that the jeans need to include safety features in a very inconspicuous manner.
The level of protection for a pair of riding jeans is a very personal decision. There are some riders who just want that extra layer of Kevlar in case they go down, while others want the entire complement of safety gear including hip and knee armor.
Our riding jeans evaluations address the durability, function, and overall safety features of the jeans. Knowing that critical information, riders can then apply their personal taste in cut, fit, and fashion statement to select the best riding jeans to meet their own needs.
– Chase
A note about our recommendations
Founded in 2000, the team at wBW has extensively tested more than 2,500 pieces of gear. Helmets, jackets, boots, gloves, accessories, and more. We do not fluff reviews. Read our review policies.
Priced under $200
Best Entry Level Riding Jeans
Scorpion EXO Covert
Price: $119.95
Where to Buy
Why?
With the $119.95 price tag, the Scorpion EXO Covert are an awesome beginner-priced riding pant option due to their 14oz heavy denim and DuPont™ Kevlar® lined construction paired with the ability to include knee and hip armor at a later date. Due to the armor being sold separately, it allows for these pants to be priced far lower than competitors that include armor in the price. Who knows, perhaps you won’t need the hip armor and can get away with just knee pads. That’s up to you to decide.
Specs
- Relaxed fit
- Traditional 5 pocket design
- 14 oz heavy denim
- Dark Indigo wash
- 165GSM DuPont™ Kevlar® lining from knee to waist
- Pockets for SAS-TEC knee and hip armor (sold separately)
- Mesh lining for comfort and airflow
Protection & Safety
- Heavy 14 oz denim construction with a DuPont Kevlar liner will make these pants very rash-resistant
- Padding pockets come ready to add armor of your choice at a later time
Although these pants don’t come equipped with knee and hip armor, the kevlar construction should still provide great protection in the event you take a skid along the pavement. If you are interested in adding knee and hip armoring to the pants, you can buy them for a combined price of around $55 USD and throw them in when needed.
REAX 267 Jeans
Price: $199.00
Where to Buy
Why?
Newly released for the 2021 riding season, the 267 jeans use a brand new blended fabric that includes super-strong Dyneema. This produces a lightweight, but extremely durable, slim-fit riding jean that also incorporates SAS-TEC CE level II armor in the knees. A new style of riding jean that is as high-tech as the bike you ride.
Specs
Features:
- Slim, straight fit riding jean
- 5 pocket design
- Single-layer 12oz denim
- Abrasion resist 68% cotton / 13% Dyneema / 10% nylon / 8% polyester / 1% Elastane blend
- Triple stitched seams in critical areas
- Reinforced belt loops
- Leather belt guide
- 6″ of reflectivity on the inner cuff
- YKK zippered front fly
- SAS-TEC CE Level 2 adjustable and vented knee armor included
- Armor ready hip pockets (armor sold separately)
- Knee armor and pocket have hook and loop fasteners for height and lateral adjustability
- Fabric tested to AA Rating on impact abrasion resistance prEN 17092-3:2019
Protection & Safety
- EN 17092-3:2019 AA rated material means that the jeans will survive a slide at 30 MPH long enough to fully protect the legs, although the seams may split and minor road rash might occur
- SAS-TEC CE II armor is the same type used in competition powersports
- Available hip armor pockets allow you to add even more protection to your jeans
Priced $200- $300
Best Mid-Range Riding Jeans
Klim K Fifty 1
Price: $289.99 – $309.99
Where to Buy
Why?
At around the $300 point, the Klim K Fifty 1 jeans look like a classic and comfortable pair of jeans that you have owned for years, but concealed inside are all of the safety features that riders need. The classic look, great fit and comfort, and awesome protection make the Klim K Fifty 1 one of the best pairs of riding jeans featured on this list.
Specs
- Relaxed / Straight
- Size down if between sizes
- Heavy-duty Cordura denim riding jean
- Durable nylon/cotton blend
- Stonewashed finish with whisker treatment
- YKK fly zipper
- Reinforced DuPont™ Kevlar® panel in slide zones
- D3O Evo hip and knee armor
- Poron XRD impact foam tailbone piece
- Adjustable knee armor positioning
- Flat-felled seams for max comfort
- Waist belt loops
- Full mesh comfort liner with wicking polyester
Protection & Safety
From the outside, these jeans look like any other with the standard five exterior pockets and belt loops. But hidden inside is all of the pockets for armor and protection that riders need
- D30 Evo armor is located at the hip and knee, with the knee armor being adjustable
- Poron XRD impact foam is located at the tailbone
- Reinforced with Kevlar in the slide zones
REV’IT Moto Jeans
Price: $259.99
Where to Buy
Why?
These jeans are cut to allow riders the range of motion needed when throwing a leg over a bike, but when you are not on your bike, no one would guess that you are wearing riding jeans. REV’IT found a way to combine the classic look and comfort of blue jeans with the durability and protection riders need.
Specs
- Outer Shell: 12.5oz Cordura denim
- Protection: Seesmart CE level 1 protection at knees, pocket for optional Seesmart CE level 1 protection at hips (sold separately)
- Visibility: 3M Scotchlite reflection
- Fit: tapered fit
- Features: zipper fly front closure, comfort seat, triple-needle stitching, safety stitching
- Pockets: five pockets
Protection & Safety
Safety Features:
- Tucked inside these sleeper riding jeans are Seesmart CE level 1 armor pads at the knees
- Pockets at the hips can accommodate Seesmart CE level 1 hip armor which is sold separately and costs about $20
At under the $300 mark even with the addition of hip armor, the REV’IT Moto riding jeans offer all the comfort and style that a fan of blue jeans could ever want and the protection that a rider needs making them the 2019 selection for Best Value Riding Jeans.
Priced $300+
Best High-End Riding Jeans
Rokker Revolution Waterproof Jeans
Price: $499.00
Where to Buy
Why?
The Rokker Revolution waterproof jeans give riders even more features than the average pair of riding jeans as well as excellent protection and comfort. The Revolution jean seeks to emulate the classic Levi 501 fit; if you’re going to emulate, emulate the best, right? At a buck under $500, the Rokker Revolution waterproof riding jeans are not inexpensive, but you are definitely getting your money’s worth.
Specs
Features:
- Designed to fit like a Levi’s 501
- Classic comfort fit which includes a straight cut, high waist, wide leg, and a waterproof zipper fly
- Integrated c_change membrane reacts independently to changing temperatures and activities
- c_change is 100% waterproof and windproof, it closes when exposed to cold and opens in response to warmth taking into account the prevailing humidity and body moisture
- c_change ensures the ideal body climate by balancing out the ambient temperature and body moisture
- Body armor pockets at knees and hips made of 100% Schoeller-Dynatec
- Double layer of Schoeller-Dynatec at knees for additional protection
- Removable CE Certified D3O knee and hip protectors are included
- The D30 CE Certified protectors provide maximum comfort through softness and flexibility but when impacted the intelligent molecules inside lock together, spreading the force over the whole pad
- Constructed without rivets that could scratch the bike
- Easy care (washable at 110° F, ironing after washing increases the water repellency
Protection & Safety
- Made of 100% Schoeller Denim-Dynatec, an innovative combination of Schoeller Dynatec and denim which is extremely resistant to abrasion but offers the look and comfort of real jeans.
- Integrated c_change membrane which helps to regulate body heat via wicking and is 100% waterproof and windproof
- Armor pockets at the hips and knees are also constructed of Schoeller-Dynatec and the knees have an added layer as well for extra abrasion protection
- Comes with removable CE Certified D3O knee and hip armor so there is nothing extra that you need to buy to complete the protection in these jeans
Spidi K-Dyneema Jeans
Price: $359.90
Where to Buy
Why?
The K-Dyneema Jeans are a great option for riders seeking a slim-fitting pair of riding jeans in the upper price range to reap the benefits of a higher quality product. These pants come with both knee and hip armor unlike the Bull-It Tactical Slim Fit Jeans listed earlier.
Specs
- 13oz stretch denim
- Reinforced with abrasion-resistant Dyneema fabric
- Includes Warrior Lite knee and hip protectors
- Carabiner key ring
- Connection tab to attach jacket to jeans
- 5 pockets
- Slim fit
Protection & Safety
These jeans are fully prEN 17092: 2017 class AA certified due to their abrasion-resistant fabric construction and inclusion of both knee and hip armor.
Knox Shield Spectra Jeans
Price: $329.99
Where to Buy
Why?
The Spectra jeans are for those riders that want a straight fit jean that will give them the highest level of protection. Using an entirely new compound of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber (UHMWP), it boasts a 40% stronger abrasion resistance than Kevlar, and has fifteen times the tensile strength of equivalent steel thread. On top of it all, they’re lightweight, water-resistant, and come with microlock knee and hip armor built-in.
Specs
Features:
- Spectra single-layer stretch Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWP) construction
- Straight fit with tapered leg
- Medium rise
- Naturally water repellent
- Invisible armor pockets with external knee access for easy knee armor removal
- Leather Knox patch on waist
- YKK zippers
- Four deep pockets
- Removable Knox branded key loop
- Included CE certified Knox Micro-Lock knee and hip protectors
- 5-year guarantee on Micro-Lock protectors when registered
- CE approved to EN17092- 3 Class AAA as a protective riding garment
- Inseam: 33″
Protection & Safety
- EN17092- 3 Class AAA rating is the same rating that competitive powersports gear must meet or exceed
- Microlock knee and hip armor is CE certified for impact resistance
