Riding Pants Styles
Types of Motorcycle Pants: Leather, Textile, Jeans and What to Wear
The main types of motorcycle pants compared: leather riding pants, leather jeans, textile, riding jeans and leggings, plus what each is called and built for.
There are four main types of motorcycle pants: leather riding pants, textile riding pants, riding jeans, and stretch riding leggings, which MCN lists under women's riding pants. Leather pants split again into armored touring or sport pants and leather jeans made for the bike and the street. Chaps are often lumped in, but they have no seat, so they are a leg cover worn over pants, not pants.
This hub gives a short answer for each style question and links to the full guide.
The types side by side
| Type | Usual material | What it's built for | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leather riding pants | Cowhide, cut for the seated position | Sport, track and touring; sliders and a jacket zip are common | Knee and hip armor, connection zip |
| Leather jeans | Cowhide in a five-pocket jeans cut | Riding and daily wear | Usually no sliders; check for armor |
| Textile pants | Nylon such as Cordura, Kevlar blends, often a waterproof liner | All-weather commuting and touring; vents, thermal liner | Membrane, vents, liner |
| Riding jeans | Denim combined with polymers | Casual riding that looks like jeans | Rated abrasion layer, armor pockets |
| Riding leggings | Stretch fabric | Comfort and an easy fit (listed under women's pants) | Lining and armor |
| Chaps | Leather, no seat, worn over jeans | Wind and cold on long rides | No armor on the store's chaps |
What riding pants are called
In the US the general word is "pants"; in Southern British English it is "trousers", and "pants" there means underwear. So the same item is sold as riding pants, motorcycle trousers or, for leather suits and their two-piece halves, "leathers". "Breeches" and "jodhpurs" are horse-riding pants.
The full list of names, and how to tell the motorcycle and horse meanings apart, is in what motorcycle riding pants are called.
Leather riding pants vs leather jeans
Both are cowhide, but they are built for different days. At Leather Collection, the touring pants carry removable knee and hip armor and replaceable knee sliders, while the leather jeans are cut for a jeans look and daily wear. The store's own five-pocket FAQ says many riders wear leather jeans on the bike, but that pair is not a race pant with sliders.
The difference is easiest to see on the inside: lining, armor pockets and seams. See what motorcycle leather pants look like inside.
Leather pants for men
Yes, men wear leather trousers, on and off the bike. Leather Collection's men's range runs from classic straight-leg and five-pocket jeans styles to riding and police pants cut for time on the bike. The thinner hides feel light for daily wear and the thicker ones suit riding.
What to look for, and how a riding pair differs from a fashion pair, is in can men wear leather trousers.
Picking a style for how you ride
Match the type to the riding. MCN puts it this way: all-weather commuters lean toward textile pants with waterproofing and thermal liners, fair-weather riders toward riding jeans, and track riders toward leathers. A full style-by-use guide is planned at motorcycle riding pants styles and their uses.
Two things sit outside style. Armor, CE classes and what AA or AAA mean are covered in riding pants protection, armor and ratings. Size, stretch and seated length are in the motorcycle pants sizing and fit guide. If you're weighing chaps instead of full pants, start with the guide to motorcycle leather chaps.
Where to see leather styles
Both kinds sit in one range, Leather Collection leather motorcycle pants: touring pants with armor and leather jeans. Each pair has a polyester mesh lining, YKK zips and a plain or milled cowhide finish. Every pair can be made in a custom size.
Related guides
- Once you know the style, how to choose motorcycle riding pants covers the criteria we judge pants on.
FAQ
What are motorcycle pants made of?
Mostly leather or engineered textiles. Leather riding pants are usually cowhide; protective leather is thicker and stiffer than fashion leather. Textile pants use high-denier nylon such as Cordura, Kevlar or blends, often with a waterproof liner. Riding jeans combine denim with polymers for abrasion resistance.
What is the difference between AA and AAA motorcycle gear?
Both are EN 17092 garment classes; AAA sets the highest requirements. For trousers, only class AAA treats the seat as a high-risk zone. The protection hub linked above explains every class.
Motorcycle Leather Pant Editorial Team
Motorcycle Leather Pant articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.