Tried and Tested; Draggin’ Jeans Oilskins
Added on Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Tried and Tested; Draggin’ Jeans Oilskins
These Draggin’ Jeans Oilskins are made in Australia especially for bikers and feature a kevlar weave inside for crash protection, plus a treatment on the denim’s outer surface which makes it water-resistant.
I’ve been riding around in them for about a month and as you’d expect, it’s rained a few times. They aren’t waterproofs for sure, eventually leaking in heavy downpours, but they can withstand a short shower or two, making them ideal riding kit for summer use.
The kevlar lining adds a bit of warmth, but the Draggin’ Jeans definitely feel cooler than leather in warm sunshine, which is a bonus when you get off the bike and start walking around. You don’t creak as much either.
I find the Draggin Jeans more comfortable overall, plus I like the boot-cut fit, which means they slip over heavy motorcycle boots without any kerfuffle, unlike regular fit jeans.
Having seen the famous Draggin’ Jeans test video where a rider is literally dragged behind a moving motorcycle, I have no doubts over their crash protection, plus they have pre-formed slots in the knee areas if you want to add extra kevlar armour pieces.
The only downside is the price, which is £140, or about the same as a decent pair of leather jeans. If you ride all year round, then you end up choosing leathers at some point, which means that armoured/re-inforced jeans are an extra summer alternative.
My feeling is that the Draggin’ Jeans will last for some years, especially if you’re only wearing them in fair weather conditions. They feel riveted together. On that basis, £140 doesn’t seem too bad for maybe five years of light use.
alastairw
