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The Best Leather Motorcycle Pants

Entry-Level

Priced under $300.

Street & Steel Heavy Duty Leather Chaps

Mid-Range

Priced $300 - $500.

Rev’It! Ignition 3 Pants

High-End

Priced $500+.

Rukka Aramos Leather Pants
Street & Steel Richmond 2 Leather Chaps

Key Specs

• 4 snaps on each leg bottom accommodate any style of boot

• Two hand warmer pockets

• Heavy Duty belt buckle on the front and lace up connections on the back.

Protection & Safety

• Heavy-duty leather provides a high level of abrasion resistance in the event of a slide compared to textile options or no motorcycle pants at all.

Motonation Revolver Perforated Leather Pants

Key Specs

• Perforated leather panels help to keep the rider cool in any condition

• Soft and pliable 1.2mm (non-impact) to 1.4mm (impact areas) matte leather construction for optimum protection, durability and comfort

• CE approved Level 1 knee protectors

• Pocket for optional hip armor (sold separately)

• Pre-curved legs for a perfect look and fit, and for maximum riding comfort

• Multiple stitched seam construction for maximum tear resistance

• YKK zippers with long leather zipper pulls

• Two front hand-warmer pockets

• Accordion leather-Spandex stretch panels are located above the knees and at the back for a non-binding fit

• Waist connection zippers for pant attachment, short and 360 degree

• Replaceable and adjustable knee pucks

• Hook and loop secured strap at the top of the main zipper

• Highly breathable elastic fabric in the waist, crotch, down to above the knee, and also behind the knee for maximum comfort

Protection & Safety

The abrasion protection of 1.4 mm leather can’t be denied, and at this price point, we’re impressed. Real riders are also impressed, as these have some of the best reviews we’ve seen for entry-level track apparel.

CE level 1 impact protection is included in the knees, but the hip armor pockets come empty, meaning you’ll have to purchase those separately.

The Motonation Revolver Pants include perforation throughout, making these pants appropriate for even warmer or more humid weather. The legs of these pants are pre-curved to make the sitting position more comfortable and less fatiguing.

Accordion leather-spandex stretch panels above both knees and the lower back help create increased mobility and a tailored feel. Knee sliders are included. These can be worn alone or zipped to any jacket with a short or 360 connection zipper, creating an instant entry-level track suit that doesn’t break the bank.

Icon Contra 2 Leather Overpants

Key Specs

• Premium leather and textile construction

• D3O removable hip and knee impact protectors

• Inseam zippers provide easy on/off

• Adjustable waist straps

• Reflective accents

• Certified according to FprEN 17902-4 Class A

Protection & Safety

• While many legwear options will leave it up to the rider to purchase hip armor separately, these pants come fully equipped with D3O impact protectors in both knee and hip areas—making these pants FprEN 17902-4 Class A safety certified

• Reflective patches will keep you visible in low-light riding situations

Key Specs

• Jean style

• Stretch panel above the knee

• Back stretch panel

• Two back pockets with design stitch detail

• Pre-curved knee detail for extra comfort in riding position

• 31″ inseam

Protection & Safety

• The First Manufacturing Smarty Pants are simple and contemporary, for a rider looking for great protection in town or on backroads. They are styled like jeans, but with pre-curved legs and stretch panels where it counts, creating a comfortable situation that helps to fight fatigue and restriction.

• Abrasion resistance is a step up from textile, and several steps up from a regular pair of jeans. These pants do not come with any impact protection, so an armored under layer is suggested and will need to be purchased separately.

REVIT Ignition 4 pants

Key Specs

• Outer shell: Leather cowhide main shell

• Waterproofing: detachable Hydratex waterproof layer

• Protection: CE certified to EN 17092-3:2020

• Visibility: Reflective panels at the top back and lower knee

• Adjustability: Adjustment straps

• Ventilation: Built-in ventilation panels

Protection & Safety

• Full cowhide leather on the important areas, along with plenty of mesh and ventilation will give you a pant that will keep you cool as well as give you excellent abrasion resistance, as is the case with the Ignition 4.

• Contains SEESMART RV30 CE-Level 1 hip armor & SEEFLEX RV14 CE-Level 2 knee armor

Alpinestars Missile V3 Pants

Key Specs

• Premium leather main chassis constructed from 1.3mm genuine bovine leather

• Accordion leather stretch zones above the knee offer improved flexibility

• Extended high rear waist construction provides greater overlap with a riding jacket

• Large stretch panels on the calf and crotch area for improved fit and feel

• Pre-curved leg construction helps reduce riding fatigue and improves fit

• Zippered ventilation for air cooling Jacket-to-pant connection zipper allows attachment to Alpinestars riding jackets to create a full suit

• Hook and loop ankle adjuster Internal mesh lining with stretch panel inserts work in conjunction with outer stretch zones for freedom of movement

Protection & Safety

• The main bovine leather component of the Alpinestars Missile V3 pants is internally reinforced in the seating area to offer added abrasion protection and durability

• Alpinestars GP-R knee protection, which is CE Level 1 certified, is included, and riders can opt to add replaceable sport knee sliders for extra impact and abrasion protection

• Fully CE-certified to CE – Category II EN17092 standards – AA class

Compatible with Alpinestars Tech-Air 10 Airbag system

Dainese Delta 3 Perforated Leather Pants

Key Specs

• S1 bi-elastic fabric

• Tutu cowhide leather with perforated cooling zones

• Double calf zip

• Elasticated inserts

• Hips adjustment

• Inserts in elasticated fabric

• Jacket-pants fastening system

• Pant-to-boot fastening system

• Nanofeel liner with Silver ion treatment

• Interchangeable knee sliders

• Reflective inserts

Protection & Safety

• Composite protectors certified to EN 1621.1 Standard on knees

• Pants certified to CE – Cat. II – 89/686/EEC Directive

• Soft protectors certified to EN 1621.1 standard Level 2 on hips

Dainese Delta 4 Leather Pants

Key Specs

• S1 bi-elastic fabric

• Tutu cowhide leather with perforated cooling zones

• Double calf zip

• Elasticated inserts

• Jacket-pants fastening system allowing for a 2-piece suit

• Nanofeel liner with Silver ion treatment

• Replaceable RSS 4.0 knee sliders

• Reflective inserts

Protection & Safety

• Composite knee protectors & soft hip protectors certified to EN 1621.1

• Pants certified to EN 17092 AA

REV'IT! Apex Pants

Key Specs

• Monaco performance cowhide outer shell

• Partial ventilation on the upper and lower legs

• Hook and snap front closure

• Upper zipper for attachment to a jacket

Protection & Safety

• Seeflex CE level 2 protection at the knee

• Seesmart CE Level 1, type B hip protector insert (RV30)

• Tailbone protection

• Dual comp knee slider, type A

Rukka Aramen Pants

Key Specs

• Breathable, wind and waterproof 3-layer fully perforated aniline calf leather Corium+ Platinum laminate

• Detachable thermal liner

• Belt loops

• Gusseted bottoms with zippers

• Connection zipper for trousers

• Stretch panels above the knees and at back

• Two pockets outside with zippers

Protection & Safety

• Rukka D3O LP1 knee/shin and hip protectors, CE Level 1 EN 1621-1 2012, are included in these pants

• Rukka suspenders, which are sold separately, can also be added for additional comfort and security when stretching your legs after a long ride

• Warranty is valid for five years from the date of purchase against faults in material or workmanship

What are the advantages of leather motorcycle pants?

The biggest benefit of leather pants is the innate abrasion resistance from motorcycle-grade leather, usually 1.0mm or thicker. They are very good at heat retention if you are going to be riding in colder weather. Leather is naturally water resistant, and with some treatments can become fully waterproof. Leather is also one of the most durable materials motorcycle protective equipment can be made from,

Are chaps viable for everyday riding, or only for cruisers & Western style riding?

Leather chaps are very commonly associated with cruisers, they can be used for other styles of riding. The caveat is that chaps do not come with built in armor, and are designed specifically to protect the upper and lower legs from abrasion. Because the rider is closer to the ground on a cruiser and has less of a distance to fall, that is why chaps are mostly seen on cruisers.

Can I use leather motorcycle pants in other styles of riding, including dual sport?

Leather motorcycle pants are highly cross-compatible with other street styles of riding. While they may offer excellent protection, leather pants are often not suitable for off-road use, due to both their weight and reduced ventilation compared to proper motocross, enduro, and/or off-road pants.

What are the major differences between leather and textile motorcycle pants?

Leather pants offer very good abrasion resistance and, if styled so, can offer a very classic look for the neo-retro and cafe racer crowd. Textile pants offer superior ventilation, are on the average lighter, and if designed with a membrane or zip out liner, offer better waterproofing than leather without the pants degrading after extended exposure

What are some disadvantages of leather motorcycle pants?

The biggest disadvantage of leather motorcycle pants is that they don’t breathe very well, hence why many pants either have mesh panels or micro-perforations. As well, if the leather is not treated for waterproofing, extended exposure to water can soak into the fibers behind the top grains, and can take a day or two to fully dry out. Repeated, extended exposure to water in this way can cause those fibers to start degrading, lessening the effectiveness of the abrasion resistance of the leather.

How should leather motorcycle pants fit?

That depends on the application, but in general motorcycle pants should be snug but not tight. If you can’t lift your leg to swing it over your motorcycle, then the pants are too tight. Race-grade leather pants will often come with “slide pucks” on the outside of the knee, and these pants should fit rather tight so that they do not get moved while cornering on a track.

Is it worthwhile buying the matching jacket to my leather pants to make a leather suit?

Very much so. In fact, many riders will shop specifically to find pants that match their jacket, or buy both the jacket and pants at the same time. The advantage to a full leather zip-together suit is that you literally have neck to ankle protection. Another reason many riders get full suits is that many track days require you to have a high quality zip together leather suit, or a full one-piece leather race suit.

Are leather motorcycle pants safer than other types of pants or armored base layers?

In general, if you can wear leather while riding your motorcycle, it is often regarded as the safest material to ride in. That said, textile pants are very quickly catching up, and sometimes superseding leather in terms of abrasion resistance. Armored base layers are also a bit of gamble if they are your only armoring, and it is better to combine an armored base layer with a high quality pair of motorcycle pants.