Have a Seat, Let's Talk About Motocross Pants
Did you find it hard to make a choice the last time you went shopping for dirt bike pants? Chances are, you did if you knew what questions to ask and what criteria to look for. Manufacturers do a good job of trying to satisfy all comers and throw a few off tracks by using flashy colors as sales points or inferring that wearing theirs will improve your game automatically. Don't be fooled. Size is the jumping off point – that much is a given. After finding your rack, here are some other considerations.
Motocross Safety is Key
Resistance to abrasion is key if you are a very aggressive rider and tend to eat dirt more often than others. The same thing for ruggedness. When trying them on, be sure the padding or other protective measures work for you. If you add other protection that affects the fit, keep that in mind. Finally, carefully check the quality of the material.
It seems like once or twice a year, a new “miracle fabric” will make its appearance on the sports apparel market. Each one addresses a particular concern or two, giving you more choices. Some have become standards in dirt bike pants, particularly leather. Leather offers great protection and is long lasting; these are things we learned historically from the cowboys. Kevlar, developed by DuPont, is the strongest material. It might be expensive, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Finally we have Cordura. It's rugged and cooler than leather, but it's not very forgiving.
Whichever material you favor, you still need to have extra protective pads. These are commonly located on your hips and/or your knees. There are two configurations to consider. If you add your own pads, you'll need pants that have compartments to accommodate them. If you want to buy pants that have them already encapsulated in the pants, ask the salesperson for panels.
Look for a Good Fit after You Satisfy Safety
A good fit for comfort is incredibly important. When you race or practice, you want to concentrate on your form and technique, not squirming around and straining. You have to strike a balance here. You want a fit that's tight, yet forgiving; that's the winning combination.
Spandex fits that criteria, but it's not very practical on the dirt because it offers minimal protection by itself. By far a better choice is a product called Spandura, a marriage of Spandex and Cordura. The end product eases the particular drawback of each.
Another solution for unforgiving fabrics is the integration of stretch panels at strategic spots. This strategy maintains the abrasive resistance while allowing a full range of motion.
What kind of environment do you ride in? It may be that your gear fits in a single functionality profile. But what if you need different protection in different environments? Look for gear that allows you to add and remove protective gear at will.
Shopping Smart for Durability
Although high quality motocross pants are expensive, this really is a case of getting what you pay for. Since you don't want to shell out the money too often, remember that the devil is in the details. Reject anything with single stitched seams. Double is good but triple is better still, especially in the knee area and on your butt. Triple up in these areas and your britches will take the abuse.
The Importance of Ventilation
There's a trade-off between the safety factor of motocross pants and the comfort that adequate ventilation provides. Lack of ventilation generates heat which is both uncomfortable and impedes performance.
One solution that materials such as Cordura and Spandex utilize is incorporating special panels that allow for air circulation where it won't compromise resistance to abrasion.
Are You Stylin'?
So, should you neglect style when selecting your pants? No! Window dressing is all part of the game. It wows the audience (hopefully including the sponsorship scouts) and might even intimidate the competition. One thing to consider is to make sure the colors you choose are compatible with your ride. It's a lot easier to change your pants than your bike!
And consider this; some pants have the legs zippered to the top part so you can convert them into shorts in a jiffy when you're just hanging out. This way they can serve double duty and you won't have to hunt up a private place to change clothes.
Dirt Bike Pants for Your Kids
Many families make motocross a family activity. This puts the parent in charge of making sure the kids wear safe pants. Kids, as you know, are more likely to go for flash. Just apply the same logic to helping the kids select their pants as you do when you select yours. Just buy them a bit larger to leave room for expansion. You may have quit growing, but they might have a bit more to go.
A Couple of More Details
Just to make life a bit easier, think of a couple more things in addition to the ones that we've already covered above. For example, keep organization in mind. It's always nice to have a few pockets to stash the bare necessities. Also, as you make your selections, keep the overall weight in mind. Remember, be safe but be light on your feet. Or wheels, as it were.
In conclusion, just as with anything else, don't jump at the first pair of pants that catches your eye. Shop around and make sure you follow the above guidelines. And then go out and make your mark.