Kevlar jeans armour. Question.

**LBD** · 7th February 2010, 02:35

I am about to buy a set of Kevlar jeans for summer riding...If there will be any summer left when I get there.

There are many brands of Kevlar jeans, but this thread is not about those....Its knee armour I want to discuss.

There are two basic options...
1) Fit the Knee armour to your knees then fit jeans
2) Fit jeans with CE armour inside sleeves sewn in.

I understand the concern about the armour in option 2 moving around and not offering as much protection as option 1. However I am concerned that with knees bent, that the strap behind the knee could get uncomfortable on a longer ride.

Any one care to comment or make a suggestion before I commit?

**cc rider** · 7th February 2010, 03:14

Possible solutions...
Have the pockets sewn smalller. You would need to consider thread choice etc. Draggin should be able to give advice on this. But I'll ask the Rep on Monday.

Wear MX style armour over your jeans. Meh, fashion escapes me lol

Once you have your jeans, see if you can borrow someones armour to trial.

**helenoftroy** · 7th February 2010, 04:24

I have cargo Draggins and wear MX armour underneath

Cool in Summer...mainly wear when Im on trail bike,occasionally on Duc

Armour has adjustable straps calf & above knee...no probs!

**slowpoke** · 7th February 2010, 04:32

From bitter experience I'm not a big fan of the kevlar lined pants. Just bite the bullet and get something decent (leather or textile) to start with rather than jerry rigging half arsed protection, especially if you are doing longer open road rides.

**cs363** · 7th February 2010, 11:29

Originally Posted by slowpoke

From bitter experience I'm not a big fan of the kevlar lined pants. Just bite the bullet and get something decent (leather or textile) to start with rather than jerry rigging half arsed protection, especially if you are doing longer open road rides.

+ 1 on that. If you must get Kevlar jeans, at least ensure the Kevlar is multi directional, rather than the cheap shit Draggin and most others use. You'll appreciate that when you have a real world tumble, taher than being dragged down a drag strip in one direction.....
IMO Kevlar jeans are barely a step above normal heavy denim and at best only good for around town and trips to the coffee shop, if you're so inclined.

**LBD** · 7th February 2010, 12:03

Originally Posted by cs363

+ 1 on that. If you must get Kevlar jeans, at least ensure the Kevlar is multi directional, rather than the cheap shit Draggin and most others use. You'll appreciate that when you have a real world tumble, taher than being dragged down a drag strip in one direction.....
IMO Kevlar jeans are barely a step above normal heavy denim and at best only good for around town and trips to the coffee shop, if you're so inclined.

Thanks for the comments so far....I am fully kitted with both leather and textile gear....I am just looking for something a little cooler for the summer months....

**disenfranchised** · 7th February 2010, 15:02

Originally Posted by helenoftroy

Armour has adjustable straps calf & above knee...no probs!

I tested out a couple of styles of MX shin/knee guards, and found the most comfortable one was one which just strapped around the calf.
They do make things a bit warmer though, so it might defeat the whole point of getting the jeans anyway...

**tracyprier** · 8th February 2010, 09:28

Originally Posted by cs363

+ 1 on that. If you must get Kevlar jeans, at least ensure the Kevlar is multi directional, (snip).

Multi-directional? explain Spock

**cs363** · 8th February 2010, 10:54

Originally Posted by tracyprier

Multi-directional? explain Spock

My understanding of it is that not all Kevlar cloth is created equal, some has the Kevlar thread running in only one direction with the rest of the weave being made up of support threads of a different substance. Obviously with this style of cloth the strength is only in one direction.
Higher quality (and more expensive) cloth has the Kevlar thread woven in both directions, though apparently there can still be different versions of this as some lower quality fabrics will still have support threads rather than being 100% Kevlar.
This appears to be why some people can crash in Kevlar jeans and slide with little damage, whilst other accidents will see the Kevlar tear apart quite easily - all down to the direction the cloth is stressed.
I saw this graphically demonstrated at a motorcycle show in the US a few years ago, where someone was comparing the different types.
Something worth checking if you are looking at Kevlar jeans, the other thing worth checking is exactly where and how much Kevlar is actually in the jeans, some have surprisingly little.
One of the biggest issues with Kevlar jeans IMO is that misguided shops are selling them to unsuspecting individuals as a viable alternative to leather or textile pants as an all round pant. This they most certainly are not, if however like LBD you are wanting a cooler wearing pant for around town, going to and from work etc., then they are probably OK if one rides with an extra margin of caution, given the protection they offer, or lack of.
And by the time you've added knee/shin guards and perhaps hip pads the jeans are becoming quite bulky and probably not that much cooler than conventional pants as disenfranchised points out.

This of course is only my opinion on Kevlar jeans, I'm sure there will be plenty with other views. Some even feel it's safer to ride in jeans and t-shirts, but there's a whole other thread discussing that particular topic.....

Edit: On reflection it may not be Draggin I'm thinking of but that other similar brand of which the name escapes me right now, anyhow whatever the brand, check out how much Kevlar is in the jeans, where it's placed and have a good squiz at how it's constructed. And remember, they ain't leathers folks....

**Hitcher** · 8th February 2010, 20:38

Originally Posted by LBD

Any one care to comment or make a suggestion before I commit?

If armour is a must-have for you, don't wear kevlar jeans. Seriously.

I wear Draggins. I don't wear armour in them, largely because I believe armour is overrated.

**allycatz** · 8th February 2010, 20:44

I just bought a pair of Draggin jeans on TM....I was kinda surprised at how light weight the denim is. I think id of been better off reinforcing some of my other jeans with Kevlar panels

**Hitcher** · 8th February 2010, 20:48

Originally Posted by allycatz

I just bought a pair of Draggin jeans on TM....I was kinda surprised at how light weight the denim is. I think id of been better off reinforcing some of my other jeans with Kevlar panels

If that troubles you, don't buy kevlar-reinforced jeans. The kevlar is there to provide abrasion resistance once the denim abrades or tears. Denim is made of cotton. Seriously.

**allycatz** · 8th February 2010, 21:00

Originally Posted by Hitcher

If that troubles you, don't buy kevlar-reinforced jeans. The kevlar is there to provide abrasion resistance once the denim abrades or tears. Denim is made of cotton. Seriously.

Doesn't bother me at all as I bought them for on the scooter and shorter pillion rides. I got them at a good price (less than 1/3 new price), just expected a heavier quality denim

**AllanB** · 8th February 2010, 21:01

An interesting thread to watch.

Always been in leather personally, though nowdays that's more due to the lack of $ to enable me to try anything else! I went for a spin around the block wearing jeans last weekend to warm the engine prior to a oil change - felt weird.

My thoughts are if you are in the fancy Draggin etc jeans then you probably are not interested in additional armour as it will negate the 'free' feeling the trou offer.

Don't some of the new fancy synthetic pants with armour have air vents etc?

Just had another thought (I blame the wine) - you could always get some of those leather chaps the American boys wear .........