CYA: Best Motorcycle Overpants

Mesh panels on your thighs, lower legs and back of legs are designed for cooling airflow, while accordion zones above the knees give greater flexibility. Multi-fabric shell construction, with a high rear waist gives greater overlap with the riding jacket, where there’s also a zipper for attaching to A’stars jackets. Pre-curved legs provide more comfort on your bike. Level 1 CE certified Alpinestars Bio Armor protectors protect your knees; hip pads are optional. A long zippered gusset running from knee to hook-and-loop ankle closure at the ankle makes these pants easy to get off and on.

If you’re looking for warm and dry, Scorpion doesn’t call these Seattle for nothing. These fully waterproof pants have full-length side zippers for easy in- and egress, and include a removable thermal liner (which also has a full length zipper). Those urethane coated YKK zippers are two-way, and so can also provide ventilation. Construction is of 600D Polyester, with 1680D Nylon abrasion zones with reinforced safety stitching on all critical seams, armored with large Sas-Tec body protection systems including the knees.

Klim says its new pants are bringing you fourth-generation technology for the “ultimate global riding experience,” as well they should for the not insignificant buy-in. The main material is Gore-Tex 3-Layer Pro Shell – which is guaranteed waterproof and with excellent abrasion and tear resistance. There’s a moisture-wicking internal mesh liner, and enough ventilation to flow plenty of air when that’s called for. The latest knee and hip pads exceed proposed new CE2 standards, and there’s an “Extreme Impact” coccyx pad along with other padding. These pants aren’t fooling around. Wear them to work or to the Dakar Rally.

You don’t have to spend a fortune if your main goal is to stay warm and dry. ToadSkinz Reflective Pants are constructed from a new hybrid ToadSkinz fabric, which is claimed and even guaranteed to be windproof, waterproof and breathable. Micro-porous film combined with a non-woven inner layer see to all that, while oversized, zippered leg openings provide easy on and off. You also get heat-resistant inner leg liners and articulated knees, and reflective piping and boot strips for visibility.

Andy Goldfine claims his company invented this type of textile pants 35 years ago, that his are the only ones made in America (Duluth, MN), and are also the only ones available in tons of sizes and offering custom-fit alterations. Among Aerostich’s pantalonial offerings are the AD1 Light, a nylon, Gore-Tex unlined jeans-cut pant with full-length rainproof side zippers for easy on and off along with rain and windproofness. Front pockets have hook and loop secured flaps to keep you from losing things, in addition to a couple larger zippered pockets. Double fabric in the seat for greater protection, along with excellent TF3 or TF6 knee armor and optional hip pads. Perfect, Aerostich claims, for dual-sport, adventure, touring and daily riding.

Your Contra 2 Leather Overpant combines  premium-grade cowhide with  textile utility, resulting in an excellent balance of abrasion resistance, breathability, comfort and style. Removable D3O knee impact protectors and hip armor protect your vital joints, while inseam zippers make getting these pants on and off over your regular clothes (or not) a quick and easy proposition. Adjustable waist straps snug up as needed. Reflective trim boosts your visibility in low-light conditions. Zips to Icon’s Contra 2 jacket if desired.

When it comes to riding in inclement weather, nobody’s been at it longer than BMW. Long side zippers make these pants easy to get into, and once there BMW Climate Membrane keeps out wind and rain while still allowing your lower bod to breathe. These are made of  an abrasion-resistant polyamide and elastane blend in a tailored, stretchy unisex design. CE-rated NPL protectors on the knees safeguard against impacts; optional NP2 protectors slip into the hip armor pockets if desired. Reflective print at the bottom spells out BMW Motorrad to add a little sophistication to your increased safety.