Time and time again, we, unfortunately, see what happens when riders are under-protected. You may only think of some sort of mean, rough and tough biker when somebody mentions leather and motorcycles. However, that’s the wrong image to have.
Riders are investing in leather so much because of its protective qualities. Leather has been proven to provide more safety and protection over any casual clothes. But just a leather jacket can only go so far.
That’s why manufacturers have invested so heavily into converting the style and protection of leather into proper gear for all riders. One of these items is leather motorcycle pants.
Leather motorcycle pants have more protection and style than most things on the market today. That said, you want to be sure that you get the right pair! That’s where this article comes in, we’ll assess five different leather motorcycle pants and you’ll be able to find the one that’s best for you!
Let’s hop into it!
Table of Contents
COMPARISON CHART
IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
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1. Alpinestars Missile v2 Airflow Pants
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CHECK PRICE ► | |
2. Dainese Misano Leather Pants
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CHECK PRICE ► | |
3. Street & Steel Heavy Duty Chaps
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CHECK PRICE ► | |
4. Icon Contra 2 Leather Overpants
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CHECK PRICE ► | |
5. Rev’It! Ignition 3 Pants
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CHECK PRICE ► |
1. Alpinestars Missile v2 Airflow Pants
Specification
Material | 1.3mm bovine leather |
Design | Pre-curved leg construction |
Size | 44-60 |
Weight | 5.05 pounds |
Strap | Yes |
Features
- CE level 1 knee armor protects your bony bits.
- Add armor into the hip pockets for supplemental protection.
- They are constructed from 1.3mm bovine leather.
- Internal mesh lining with stretch panel inserts works with outer stretch zones for freedom of movement.
- Internally reinforced seat area.
- Hook and loop ankle adjustment.
Aside from the cool name, these pants are an impressive piece of gear. The premium leather resists abrasion. A bit of perforation along the thighs helps airflow through the pants when you’re at high speed.
The accordion stretch zones above the knee and the textile panels on the calf and crotch make it easy to throw a leg over your ride and tuck the pants. It has zippered vents that let you control the amount of air flowing through the pants.
A jacket to pant connection zipper connects the pants to an Alpinestars jacket for an alternative to a two-piece suit.
The pants themselves have a long list of features that make them an excellent choice.
PROS
- CE certified pants.
- Alpinestars GP-R protection on the knee.
- Replaceable Sport knee sliders for impact and abrasion resistance.
CONS
- No removable liner.
These pants really shine. The replaceable sport knee sliders are very useful, with just a simple velcro installation.
Where To Buy
2. Dainese Misano Leather Pants
Specification
Material | D-Skin 2.0 leather, S1 bi-elastic fabric, Nanofeel liner with Silver ion treatment |
Design | Pre-curved leg construction |
Size | 44-60 |
Weight | |
Strap | Yes |
Features
- Inserts in elasticated fabric.
- Suit to boot fastening system.
- Microelastic elasticated inserts.
- Interchangeable knee sliders.
- Seamless thermoformed soft inserts.
Don’t let the less cool name fool you. These pants are built to keep you safe. The tough build is constructed with the same D-skin 2.0 leather, S1 bi-elastic fabric and nanofeel silver ion antimicrobial line as the high-end Dainese D-Air Misano Race Suit.
It has double calf zippers and a suit-to-boot fastening system complete race-level ergonomics.
It doesn’t have the same long list of features that the Alpinestars Missile v2 Airflow Pants have, but nonetheless, it’s a really solid and well-built pair of pants that will keep you safe.
PROS
- Pants certified to CE – Cat. II – 89/686/EEC Directive.
- Pro-Shape soft protectors certified to Standard EN 1621.1 on hips.
- Jacket-trousers fastening system
CONS
- Less value overall than the first pick
These pants are built solid and will last you. They aren’t flashy but they’re comfortable and durable so worth the look.
Where To Buy
3. Street & Steel Heavy Duty Chaps
Specification
Material | High-quality leather |
Design | Chaps |
Size | 2xs – 5xL |
Weight | |
Strap | No |
Features
- Full-length side zippers ensure ease of entry and egress
- Multi-snap leg bottoms accommodate any style of boot
- Adjustable brass buckle belt in front with leather cord adjustment in the back allow easy fit
- Removable liner for winter or summer use
These chaps are more akin to what you might see in western, rather than need for speed. They’re very simple to put on and take off over any pair of jeans that you own. They are made from excellent leather that’s smooth to touch.
This option certainly has the least amount of protection, but they are nonetheless a good option for those looking for something on the more casual side of the spectrum.
PROS
- Comfortable
- Easy to slip on
CONS
- Less protection
- No special features
If you’re looking for something that looks cool and doesn’t carry too much weight or protection, this is your pick.
Where To Buy
4. Icon Contra 2 Leather Overpants
Specification
Material | Premium leather and textile |
Design | Overpant |
Size | SM – 4XL |
Weight | |
Strap | No |
Features
- D3O removable hip and knee impact protectors
- Inseam zippers provide easy on/off
- Adjustable waist straps
- Certified according to FprEN 17902-4 Class A
The Icon contra 2 leather overpants are pretty iconic, you could say. These overpants combine high-performance features with pure motorcycle styling. The leather overpants merge the abrasion resistance of premium-grade cowhide with the comfort of textile.
That results in a really well-balanced riding pant. You’re able to zip it to the contra 2 leather jacket to keep your gear locked down. The chassis is coupled with 3-position D3O knee impact protectors and hip armor, making the pants pretty tough.
Inseam zippers make for an easy on and off process, and the adjustable waist straps allow for a fine-tuned overpant fit.
PROS
- Reflective accents
- Overpant is convient and protective.
CONS
- No strap
- Well-balanced but not great
These overpants are good. We won’t say they’re great or exceptional but for the value, they’re about as good as you get.
Where To Buy
5. Rev’It! Ignition 3 Pants
Specification
Material | leather |
Design | Rider pants |
Size | 50 – 54 |
Weight | |
Strap | No |
Features
- Monaco Performance cowhide, dynax mesh, PWR|shell 500D stretch, wax polyester, Lorica
- reflective
- ventilation panels
- stretch lips, stretch panels, short and long connection zippers, adjustable protector pockets, hook-and-snap front closure, calf zippers
- slit pockets
Finally back to the cool names. These pants bring the airflow of mesh with the abrasion resistance of leather together. The result is a combination that doesn’t compromise much.
CE level 2 armor at the knees and CE level 1 armor at the hips protect your body.
A removable hydratex liner provides waterproofing whenever needed. You only need to remove the liner to get maximum airflow while also enjoying the protection of leather.
PROS
- Waterproofing
- Removable liner
- Adjustment straps
CONS
- Don’t connect with Rev’it! Suspenders
- No strap
Overall, you’ll be well off with this pair. They go for a bit much for what you get but it’ll give you decent comfort and protection.
Where To Buy
Conclusion
So that’s our top 5 list! We hope that you’ve found the pair of leather motorcycle pants of your dreams in this bunch. We’re at least positive that you’ll be able to look amazing. But on the off chance that you’re still wondering what you should choose, then we have you covered.
Our number one spot was given to the Alpinestars Missile v2 Airflow Pants for a really good reason! These pants are of the highest build quality, have the most features and all of that is at a good value, so we hope to see you give them a shot.
With that said, it’s the end of the article, we wish you all the safety, comfort and style on your next ride!