Kevlar Pants Vs. Leather Pants: Do Kevlar Jeans Actually Protect You?

We all want to stay safe when we ride, but comfort and style are also valid concerns when it comes to motorcycle gear. Sometimes wearing full leathers is just not practical, especially if you’re commuting. Many riders are forced to make a choice between safety and work attire. I mean, you can’t show up for work in racing leathers when the dress code is business casual. That’s where Kevlar comes in.

The best motorcycle jeans have hip armour, knee armor, mesh lining, aramid fibres and have triple stitching. It is the ultimate protective gear for motorcycle riding. Other jeans that are slim fit do not offer impact protection and are not fully lined. A regular pair of aramid fibre motorcycle wear of the correct size is best suited for riders.

Can Kevlar pants protect you as well as leather riding pants can?

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Kevlar pants do not perform as well as leather. Leather provides superior protection against abrasion. That’s why professional motorcycle racers wear them. But, Kevlar riding jeans can still be a viable option for riders looking for style, comfort, and protection.

Kevlar is a product developed and patented in 1966 by a Polish-American chemist named Stephanie Kwolek while working for DuPont. Yes, a woman (girls rule). The scientific name for the material is Poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, and was branded Kevlar.

It was originally developed to make a better, stronger tire, and, while it is used in tires to this day, it also has many, other applications. Kevlar can even be found on your iPhone. Its most commonly known use is in body armor. Kevlar has been protecting our law enforcement and military personnel for many years.

Kevlar is not the only protective fiber out there, but it has been wildly adopted into motorcycle gear. Technically Kevlar is an aramid fiber and there are several other types in existence; para-aramids and meta-aramids. Brands such as Norex or Technora manufacture meta-aramid fabrics which are not quite as strong, durable, or lightweight as Kevlar which is a para-aramid fabric.

It’s important to know this distinction because some jean manufacturers will use Norex, providing a cheaper alternative to the, sometimes expensive Kevlar lined jeans.

Because of its anti-abrasion properties and its lightweight, it makes sense that Kevlar would be used in protective clothing such as riding pants. Kevlar jeans have gained popularity over the years as riders have been looking for alternatives to bulky riding pants, or riding with no extra protection other than a thin layer of denim.

Riders want the style and comfort of motorcycle riding jeans, but they also want protective jeans.

Abrasion Protection

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Hands down, leather provides the best protection against abrasion. Good leathers can often still be worn and effective even after a crash or slide on the pavement. They are incredibly durable and will hold up for years and years.

Kevlar jeans, still provide good protection against abrasion, once or twice depending on the severity of the slide. Of course, single layer jeans will never be as good as multilayered for a slide. They are incredibly heat resistant and will not melt under the friction of a slide.

There have been a lot of unscientific tests on kevlar jeans to see how they hold up to being dragged on the pavement. You can conclude from some of these tests that Kevlar jeans will not guarantee 100% protection against road rash. They do have a breaking point where they will eventually wear through, but, they are much more abrasion resistant than plain denim.

Impact Protection

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A simple pair of motorcycle riding jeans, or leather pants for that matter, is not sufficient impact protection. All good riding pants will include armor and the knees and hips, the most common impact points. Good riding jeans will include a set of knee and hip armor with pockets to place them in. What’s great about this is that you can remove the armor and leave it in your gear bag while you’re not riding.

Different manufacturers will have different style armor pockets, some requiring you to drop your drawers to remove them. Others may provide an outside zipper at the knee allowing you to remove the armor quickly and easily right there at your bike. No ducking behind a bush is needed.

So, compared to leather riding pants, Kevlar motorcycle riding jeans can provide just as much impact protection on your knees and hips depending on the durability of the armor plates used. One thing to consider when purchasing jeans, is whether or not they come with the armor or if you have to provide your own. Jeans that come with armor are more likely to have pockets that are custom sewn to fit the shape of the armor, preventing it from moving around. Other brands may or may not ensure a good fit.

Rain protection

Both leather and Kevlar jeans are going to get wet in the rain, however, leather will offer protection depending on how heavy the rain is. On the downside, leather takes a long, long time to dry and if you find yourself soaked, there’s no guarantee your leathers will be 100% dry by the next morning, even if you hang them out overnight. Kevlar jeans, however, can be thrown in the dryer and will be ready to go the next day.

So, in short, neither of them can be considered protection against rain, and neither of them will be comfortable once they are soaked. But, at least Kevlar jeans will be ready to go when you need them. Holy heck, you could even stop at a laundry mat and toss them in the dryer if push comes to shove.

Style

Motorcycle riding jeans are getting more and more popular with motorcycle enthusiasts and clothing manufacturers are listening. Riding jeans come in a number of styles from grunge to work appropriate chinos. You can find them in styles that are similar to Levi’s 501’s or 550’s.

They will come in a variety of colors like black denim, dark blue, acid wash, or stone wash. Some include features such as a strip of reflective material across the back, or elastic gathers above the knees to allow more flexibility when you ride. If you need to dress up a little more, you’ll find Kevlar lined pants that look like Khaki’s making them perfect when commuting to work.

Women‘s styles are becoming more popular as well. It’s nice that us women have the option to choose something that looks stylish but without compromising safety. While other riding pants are suitable for all riding, it’s nice to be able to jump off the bike and walk into a restaurant without having to strip off your gear or run to the ladies’ room for a quick change.

Motorcycle Pants vs Leather

When comparing motorcycle riding jeans, typically made of denim with leather motorcycle pants, the first thing you notice is weight. The leather motorcycle pants are significantly heavier than the motorcycle riding jeans. To combat this, manufacturers have begun using Kevlar in denim to provide abrasion resistance while keeping the weight down.

Kevlar seems like a good choice for protecting against abrasions because it can stretch with your body which should increase comfort and performance. But, Kevlar is also sensitive to heat & still does not perform as well as leather for pants.

Kevlar Lining for Jeans

Many motorcycle jeans actually include a Kevlar lining around the knees and hips to provide some abrasion resistance. While this may help, for true protection you still need a layer of leather over the Kevlar. Also, if you do go down on the road with just a Kevlar lining, you’ll notice that it will damage rather easily as opposed to real motorcycle armor. When looking for a pair of kevlar lined pants remember to see if they are single layer jeans or multi-layered.

Buying Kevlar Jeans

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With so many styles of riding jeans on the market, it’s hard to choose which one will be best for you. Look for features that you think you might like or that works for your situation. Do you prefer to have armor that is easy to install and remove, look for zippered knee pockets?

Do you want jeans that don’t ride up your boot when you sit on the bike or a waist that doesn’t slide down your butt exposing crack like Joe the plumber? Then, you could consider jeans with expandable elastic above the knees and at the waistband. Do you commute to work in a business office that requires you to step it up a knotch from casual Fridays? Then choose a Kevlar lined chino in black or khaki.

There are plenty of choices.

As mentioned earlier, we are aware that there are a lot of companies making motorcycle riding jeans, but they don’t include Kevlar. Instead, they will manufacture these jeans with heavy denim and reinforced knees. This is not the same a Kevlar or other aramid fabrics and will not provide you with the protection Kevlar will give. So, be sure to check the materials listed.

So, we’ve answered the original question; Are Kevlar jeans as good as leather? As far as protection goes, no, they are not. However, Kevlar jeans are a great option if you’re looking for more style and more protection than a basic pair of denim jeans.

About The Author

daniel and sarah on motorcycle

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