How to Check Riding Pants Armor Pockets and Sizing Before Your First Ride

Check riding pants before the first ride in five steps: read the armor markings, take the armor out and look at it, put the pants on over your riding layers, sit in your riding position to see where the knee and hip armor lands, then move around and look for pinching or slipping. If the armor slides down or rides up when you sit, the pants are probably the wrong size or the pocket is in the wrong position.

This page is part of our riding pants protection guide. It is a short pre-ride checklist; the linked pages explain each problem in depth.

Key takeaways- Armor only works when it stays over the area it was designed to cover.- Check the fit seated, not only standing, because that is where you ride.- Never force armor into a pocket it was not designed for.- A fit problem often shows up as armor that slides down or rides up.

The five-minute check at a glance

Step 1: Read the markings

Look inside the pants for the garment label and on the armor itself for its level. The two are separate: the armor's level (EN 1621) is not the same as the garment's EN 17092 class (AAA, AA or A). Check the level marked on a protector before you rely on it.

Our riding pants protection guide explains the two standards. If you cannot find a marking, ask the maker or seller about the exact pair rather than assuming.

Step 2: Take out the armor and look at it

Pull the armor from the knee and hip pockets, where the pants have removable armor. Impact protection in riding pants is usually at the knees and hips, typically in removable pockets.

Look for cracks, hardening or deformation, and replace armor that has been through an accident impact. Service life differs by maker, so follow the armor's own instructions.

Put it back and check that it fits the pocket. If you are swapping in different armor, check the maker's instructions for pocket compatibility and sizing, and never force armor into a pocket not designed for it.

Step 3: Put them on and check waist and thighs

Wear what you ride in. The waist should feel snug, the pants should follow the leg smoothly at the hips, knees and ankles, and there should be no pinching or pulling at the thighs or knees with the knees bent. Do not hold your breath or suck in your stomach, because your stomach and thighs expand when you sit.

Sources describe the waist differently: one fitting guide measures it around the belly button, while Leather Collection's chart measures about 5 cm (2 in) below the navel. Use the definition printed on the chart for the pants you own. For size-chart help see how to read a motorcycle pants size chart.

Step 4: Sit in riding position and check the armor

Sit on the bike, or on a chair at seat height with your feet where the pegs would be. Then look at the knees and the hips.

• Knees. Knee armor belongs over the kneecap while you are seated. Another maker describes it as starting just above the knee and extending slightly down the shin. Either way, it should not sit below the joint.
• Hips. Hip and tailbone armor should sit snugly without poking into you, and coverage matters more than absolute comfort. We did not find a source that names an exact landmark for hip armor height, so use the maker's fit notes and the seated check.
• Slide test. If the armor slides down or rides up when you sit, the pants may be too large or too small. Loose pants can let armor rotate, and tight pants can pull it high when you sit.

If the pants have pockets with adjustment positions, use them: taller riders often need the armor lowered and shorter riders may need it raised. Take the pants off to move the armor, then sit again. The full knee procedure is in knee armor keeps moving or sits too low.

Step 5: Check length and move around

Seated, the hem should still reach the top of your boot; take the longer length if you are between two. Pants that ride up when seated suggest a longer pair. If yours creep up, see how to keep motorcycle pants from riding up.

Stand and sit a few times and bend your knees. Armor should stay put through all of it. For a longer look at length, see how long motorcycle pants should be when seated.

After the first ride

Check again at your first stop, because a position that felt right in the garage may move on the road. Check the protectors after any later crash, even a low-speed tip-over.

What this check does not tell you

A fit check shows where the armor sits. It does not show how well it protects. Whether you need pants at all is a separate question, covered in do you need riding pants. How pants compare with jeans or chaps is covered in riding jeans vs leather pants and chaps vs riding pants.

Where to read more about armor

For what a CE armor label means and how to check armor, see Leather Collection's guide to CE armor and why it matters. Ask the seller about the exact pair you are considering before you rely on any rating.

FAQ

How do I tell if riding pants fit correctly?

Sit in riding position and check four things: the waist is snug, nothing pinches at the thighs or knees, the hem still covers your boot top, and the armor stays over the knee and hip.

How do I measure my inseam for motorcycle pants?

Measure it seated, as if on the bike, so the hem still reaches the top of your boot, and take the longer length if you fall between two.

Should riding pants be tight or loose?

Neither extreme. Loose pants can let armor rotate away from the joint, and tight pants can pull it high when you sit.