What riding pants/overpants do you recommend?

Motoandy

Joined
Jul 17, 2008
Messages
16
Location
Myrtle Beach
First off let me say that I do way more reading than posting, and this site is awesome. A ton of great tips from you guys.

Now, I need your help. What type of riding pants do you recommend for hot/humid weather. I have a trip out west planned for next August with a group of friends. In 07' we rode 8,126 miles in 16 days and it was hot for about 7, 850 miles of it. I am looking for pants(mesh perhaps) that I can slip on over shorts. Essentially I am trying to find the balance of being cool, as well as pertected. I understand that you can't get the best of both worlds, [however, I am looking for the "best" balance. Thanks for your help.
 
I use the Fieldsheer 4 Seasons. I'm really happy so far. I've used them from 32? (liner in) to 115?. If you are in uber hot (above 110? or so) conditions, I recommend light pants or at least knee high socks, which I have started using. To protect from the 150? or so coming up off the pavement.

I really do like them, they use hard armour and a workable positioning system. I have added a pair of suspenders, to keep them up to my gizzard.
 
I use FirstGear "Mesh-Tex 2.0" Mesh Pants for summer riding. Click that link and you'll see that they can be had really cheap while the sale lasts. I like the fact that they're available in short and tall sizes. Most aren't.

Foe me, nothing less than mesh will do. When I met Andy Goldfine and he asked me why I wasn't wearing a 'Stich (It was in the context of the conversation - he wasn't being a dick), I said that if he had one in mesh I'd buy it yesterday. He gave no indication that they were working on it.
 
The wife and I have Tourmaster Flex pants. Quilted liners, rain liners, removable fabric covers and mesh pants at the base level.

I've tried riding in 4 different formats in the heat of summer with the basic mesh pants: 1-with shorts, 2- with moisture wicking athletic pants, 3 - in my underwear and 4 - in denim jeans.

The only comfort I can find from the heat is with a pair of jeans under the mesh pants. This minimizes the heat that affects my legs but leaves me cool & comfortable. Every other way transmits too much heat to my legs and privates. On days over the mid 80's, if I'm feeling hot, I soak down the jeans from mid-thigh on down with water. The evaporative cooling keeps me comfortable and the cotton stays wet longer than other materials. I've stayed very comfortable this way in temps of mid-high 90's with high humidity. Wear a moisture wicking shirt and soak it down for added cooling.

See my posts regarding the Ebay Insulation Kit and the Adjustable Windshield Brackets for more heat riding solutions. I'm naturally hot blooded and I usually require more cooling so I've had to experiment to get comfortable. I can say I've ridden comfortably in the mid 90's with my AST jacket using these methods. I never thought I could be so comfortable on a bike in such hot, humid weather.

Hope this helps prepare for your trip.
 
Motoport Kevlar Ultra II Air Mesh pants. http://www.motoport.com/Home
Top of the line protection --- flows a lot of air to your body. Keeps me reasonably cool during our hot Georgia summers. I really like my pants/jacket.
Downsides: pricey, somewhat bulky until broken in, and not water resistant/proof (mesh) factory liner must be worn under the mesh (a pain) so wouldn't recommend the liner.
Rgds,
Terry
 
First Gear HT Air overpants....had them for two years and they are holdinig up well. Zippers up both sides...easy on/off.
 
UNTMatt said:
+1

I've tried the mesh and keep going back to standard overpants in hot weather. Mesh is good when it is a comfortable temp for the rider outside but in high temps, your sweat evaporates too fast and it feels like your legs are in front of a blow dryer.
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Exactly. I wore the Dariens in Death Valley at 123 degrees. If I'd had mesh pants on I would have roasted. Conditions permitting, you can open up the side zippers on the Dariens if you need air.
 
I like the Tour Master Flex, but my bottom line is any thing that is flexible. Something that you can remove panels and expose the mesh, and can double as rain gear............ While it is true that the mesh is not as protective as non-mesh..... If you don't wear them they don't protect jack.............
 
UNTMatt said:
+1

I've tried the mesh and keep going back to standard overpants in hot weather. Mesh is good when it is a comfortable temp for the rider outside but in high temps, your sweat evaporates too fast and it feels like your legs are in front of a blow dryer.
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That's a problem I've never had. And not because I've not ridden in the heat.

Different togs for different bods, I guess.
 
I know what you guys mean by the hot air cooking you when you have a mesh pants or jacket on. I wear a mesh jacket, but when it gets really hot I put on a evaporative vest under it. Best $40 I EVER spent! Check out www.ridecool.com as one of these vests can really cool you down. The year before I got one I let myself get over heated and didn't hydrate enough. That was bad and it could have been worse! :( One word on any pants or jacket. Stay away from BLACK! (I was a newbe when I bought my first riding pants.) Go with silver or one of the day-glow colors.
 
When it gets really hot, the mesh jacket goes and I wear a long sleeve wet cotton shirt under a jacket with some venting (but not mesh). But I still wear the mesh pants....
 
DixieFlyer said:
Motoport Kevlar Ultra II Air Mesh pants. http://www.motoport.com/Home
Top of the line protection --- flows a lot of air to your body. Keeps me reasonably cool during our hot Georgia summers. I really like my pants/jacket.
Downsides: pricey, somewhat bulky until broken in, and not water resistant/proof (mesh) factory liner must be worn under the mesh (a pain) so wouldn't recommend the liner.
Rgds,
Terry
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+ 1 on Motoport! I wear the gear in the stifling humidity of central/south Florida and used the same gear to tour Newfoundland & Labrador. Quality stuff with longevity & safety in their design.
 
+1 on Motorport!!

I've worn the Air Mesh Kevlar Pant almost daily for about a year in the Sacramento, CA summer and winter (heat and rain). I love them. They are comfortable, dry quickly and very easy to get in and out of. I purchased the rain liner and have used it only a couple times mainly for the cold protection.

Sizing is not an issue as they are custom made for you.

They are guarenteed for seven years and will be replaced free if they are not able to be repair after a crash. The material is a kevlar blend material. there is not any poly of any type in the pants.

I wore them on a 3500 mile trip this last couple weeks through the nevada desert, Montana, Canada and Pacific North west. Got caught in a terrible thunderstorm east side of Flat Head lake and was completely drenched. The pants dried overnigt, my cortech mesh jacket took a couple days.

they are pricey but worth every cent. I put mine in the dryer with a tennis ball to "break them in" quicker.

Give them a call and talk to Wayne. He is the owner and will gladly chat with you about your needs.
 
Joe Rocket Alter Ego. Mesh panel, good armour. Wind/Rain liner with side zippers and velcro. I wear a cool max type longjohn made by Oxford to handle the heat. Works for me! Marty
 
M&M Take2 said:
Joe Rocket Alter Ego. Mesh panel, good armour. Wind/Rain liner with side zippers and velcro. I wear a cool max type longjohn made by Oxford to handle the heat. Works for me! Marty
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+1 on the Alter Ego. So far, so good. I use boxers and Monkey Butt for assistance (bordering TMI, sorry) and a long sleeve Drifire shirt. Very thin and keeps me from feeling sticky from sweat.
 
I wear Langlitz Leathers goatskin pants and a Firstgear mesh jacket.
If it cools off too much, I don my Gerbing's jacket liner.
I get real sweaty in my pants but prefer the protection of the leather.
The pants are lined and I wear microfiber skivvies, with no raised seams.
 
AeroStich Darien light pants, they are a bit pricey, but the quality is excellent. I don't ride in very hot conditions, and wear jeans under them most of the time.
 
I like the same system, mesh over jeans, except I have Joe Rockets.
 
I wear Cycleport Stretch Kevlar pants and jacket. They are comfortable (for me) in 100 plus temperature without high humidity. Haven't been in high humidity so can't say if they work as well or better than mesh. I have the Quad armor which makes them bulky. I run a cable through them and lock them to the ST when leaving the bike. The stretch kevlar is very soft day one but requires air flow to keep cool in high heat. My wind shield is usually at the lowest setting in high heat. I would like to reduce wind noise but doing so reduces air flow and brings on the heat inside my jacket. My pants have not been a problem.

I've rode 8 hours in 100 to 106 degree weather on several days without a problem. I have a cooling vest should I need it.

The gear is very expensive and not for everyone.
 
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