Stylish denim that incorporates both all-over abrasion protection and body armor in the knees and hips? Such an item would be the holy grail of casual motorcycle apparel. Made from a Cordura/denim/CoolMax weave, are these jeans finally it? We find out in this Rev’It Lombard Jeans review.

The Gear

You know the eternal problem with jeans and motorcycles. We all like to ride in them, but regular jeans offer zero protection and dedicated riding jeans typically look like the kind of thing President Obama would wear — they’re ugly. Adding abrasion protection has also typically meant inserting a second layer of heavy Kevlar, which makes the jeans stiff, hot and uncomfortable.

Rev’It Lombard Jeans Tag

Rev’It aims to address all those problems with these new Lombard jeans. Finished in a contemporary “raw denim”, they’re cut slim and straight (not skinny) and don’t go overboard with ugly logos or crazy stitching or other design features we simply don’t need. Aside from a single line of same-color stitching above the knees and below the butt, there’s simply no telling them apart from any other pair of contemporary, premium jeans.

Until you look inside, where there are pockets for both knee and hip armor and an additional layer of thin, soft and breathable Cordura in the seat and knees for additional abrasion protection. They come with CE-approved Knox Lite knee armor as standard, while $25 SAS-Tech hip protectors are sold separately. Both items are slim and light.

Rev’It Lombard jeans turned inside out to show internal construction.

The jeans themselves are constructed from a novel blend of the usual cotton threads, supplemented by strands of Cordura for strength and abrasion resistance as well as CoolMax to add breathability and sweat wicking to help keep you cool in hot weather. There’s no Lycra in the mix, but some stretch is built into that weave, so the Lombards to move with you and don’t constrict movement.

While they fit and look like a normal pair of nice jeans when you’re walking around, there’s a significantly gusseted crotch which frees your legs to move unimpeded and which adds strength. Thanks to it, lifting your leg over the high seat of a sport or ADV bike is no problem.

Rev’It Lombard Jeans

Seams are also triple-stitched to make them stronger; they shouldn’t burst in a crash, as is a problem with single or double stitched denim.

Lastly, a strip of reflective ScotchLite is sewn into the bottom hem on the outside of the leg. You just turn up the jeans to achieve some additional nighttime visibility.

Continue Reading: Rev’It Lombard Jeans Review >>

The Good

They look good. Even this OCD aesthete is totally happy with their design.

They fit well. As in they look like something a stylish young man in 2014 would wear normally, regardless of their on-bike functionality.

They’re flexible and comfortable from the first wear, stretching and moving with your body to facilitate freedom of movement.

While they’re never going to be as safe as a proper pair of leather or textile riding pants, they should do a pretty decent job of adding protection at city speeds.

They fit true-to-size in both inseam and waist measurements.

Rev’It Lombard Jeans

The Bad

This 30x32 size — the closest they had in the press department — is a little too short for me. I typically wear a 34-inch inseam. Hence the lack of shots of me wearing them; they make me look like Steve Urkel.

At a price of $270, the Lombards carry quite a premium over regular denim.

The knees are cut to work and look good without armor, so adding it adds bulk in that area and does make them fit very tightly through the knees while in a sport riding position. I actually prefer this arrangement as I don’t want jeans to sacrifice style, but it’s something to keep in mind. Presumably, the hip armor would do the same.

Some…larger gentlemen have complained of a tight fit in large sizes.

Rev’It Lombard Jeans

The Verdict

The Lombards are the real deal. Significant all-over protection, real on-bike comfort and solid armor options combined with genuinely credible looks. These are the jeans you and I have been waiting for. Take care choosing the correct size and order these with confidence.

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