The best motorcycle riding pants for most riders are the Alpinestars Andes V4 Drystar: waterproof, armored and comfortable for commuting and touring. Adventure riders who want the best should look at the Klim Badlands Pro A3, and if you’d rather look like you’re wearing normal jeans, the Alpinestars Copper v3 are the riding jeans to get.
We picked current 2026 textile pants, mesh pants, overpants and riding jeans, replacing the discontinued Sand 3, Tornado 3, Andes v2 and Kathmandu from our older list. Match your pants to your jacket with our best motorcycle jackets.
Quick picks
- Alpinestars Andes V4 Drystar Pants: best overall
- Klim Badlands Pro A3 Pants: best premium adventure pants
- REV’IT! Sand 5 H2O Pants: best mid-range adventure pants
- Dainese Carve Master 3 Gore-Tex Pants: best touring pants
- REV’IT! Tornado 4 H2O Pants: best hot-weather adventure pants
- Klim Induction Pants: best mesh pants
- Alpinestars Copper v3 Jeans: best riding jeans
- Tourmaster Evo Overpants: best overpants for commuting
Motorcycle riding pants compared
| Pants | Type | Waterproof | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpinestars Andes V4 Drystar | Textile | Yes | All-round | $$ |
| Klim Badlands Pro A3 | Textile | Yes, Gore-Tex Pro | Adventure | $$$$ |
| REV’IT! Sand 5 H2O | Textile | Yes, liner | Adventure | $$$ |
| Dainese Carve Master 3 Gore-Tex | Textile | Yes, Gore-Tex | Touring | $$$ |
| REV’IT! Tornado 4 H2O | Textile/mesh | Yes, liner | Hot weather ADV | $$ |
| Klim Induction | Mesh | No | Summer | $$ |
| Alpinestars Copper v3 | Riding jeans | No | City riding | $ |
| Tourmaster Evo Overpants | Overpants | Yes | Commuting | $$ |
The best motorcycle riding pants for 2026
1. Alpinestars Andes V4 Drystar Pants: best overall
The Andes V4 pants match the jacket of the same name: a Drystar waterproof membrane, a removable thermal liner and CE knee armor, with pockets for hip armor. They zip to the Andes jacket for a full suit.
Pros
- Waterproof and warm
- CE knee armor
- Great value
Cons
- Hip armor sold separately
- Warm in summer
2. Klim Badlands Pro A3 Pants: best premium adventure pants
The Badlands Pro A3 pants use a laminated Gore-Tex Pro shell and D3O armor, with big vents for hot days. They are made for riders who cover big miles in every kind of weather.
Pros
- Laminated Gore-Tex Pro
- D3O armor
- Excellent venting
Cons
- Very expensive
- Bulky off the bike
3. REV’IT! Sand 5 H2O Pants: best mid-range adventure pants
The Sand 5 H2O pants have removable waterproof and thermal liners, good venting and CE armor. They pair with the Sand 5 jacket for a complete ADV suit.
Pros
- Versatile layering
- Good venting
- Fair price
Cons
- Liner waterproofing
- Hip armor extra
4. Dainese Carve Master 3 Gore-Tex Pants: best touring pants
The Carve Master 3 pants use Gore-Tex for waterproofing and have Dainese armor. They are built for road touring in mixed weather.
Pros
- Gore-Tex waterproofing
- Dainese build quality
- Comfortable for long days
Cons
- Expensive
- Sporty fit can run small
5. REV’IT! Tornado 4 H2O Pants: best hot-weather adventure pants
The Tornado 4 H2O pants have large mesh panels for airflow plus a removable waterproof liner, so they work in hot weather and on wet days.
Pros
- Great airflow
- Waterproof liner included
- Good value
Cons
- Liner waterproofing
- Less warm in cold weather
6. Klim Induction Pants: best mesh pants
The Induction pants keep you cool in summer, with mesh panels and tougher material in the crash zones. They pair with the Induction jacket.
Pros
- Excellent airflow
- Tough material in slide zones
- Comfortable
Cons
- Not waterproof
- Pricey for summer pants
7. Alpinestars Copper v3 Jeans: best riding jeans
If you ride in the city and want to look normal off the bike, the Copper v3 look like regular jeans but have abrasion-resistant reinforcement and CE knee armor.
See more options, including the REV’IT! Lombard 3, in our beginner gear guide.
Pros
- Look like normal jeans
- Knee armor included
- Low price
Cons
- Less protection than textile pants
- Not waterproof
8. Tourmaster Evo Overpants: best overpants for commuting
Overpants go over your work trousers and come off when you arrive. The Evo overpants are waterproof and have side zips so you can put them on with boots on. See more in our overpants for commuting.
Pros
- Wear over normal trousers
- Waterproof
- Easy on and off
Cons
- Baggy fit
- Armor is basic
How to choose motorcycle riding pants
Protection
Look for CE armor at the knees, and ideally hips, plus an EN 17092 rating for abrasion. Our guide to motorcycle armor explains the levels.
Type of pants
Textile pants are the most versatile. Mesh is for hot weather. Riding jeans look normal off the bike, and overpants go over your clothes for commuting.
Waterproofing
Laminated Gore-Tex keeps water on the outside. Liner-style waterproofing costs less but the outer gets wet. Read our tips on riding in the rain.
Fit
Try pants on in a riding position: the knee armor should sit over your knees when you’re bent, and the legs should be long enough to cover your boots.
FAQ
Do I need motorcycle pants?
Yes. Your legs and hips often hit the ground in a crash, and regular jeans wear through quickly.
Are riding jeans as safe as textile pants?
Good riding jeans with CE armor protect well, but textile and leather pants usually offer more abrasion resistance.
Can I wear overpants over jeans?
Yes, that’s what they are designed for. Make sure they have armor and fit over your clothes.
Should my pants zip to my jacket?
It is a good idea: a zip stops the jacket riding up in a slide. Most brands only zip to their own jackets.
How tight should riding pants be?
Snug enough that the armor stays in place, but loose enough to move and add a base layer in winter.
Verdict
Buy the Alpinestars Andes V4 Drystar pants for all-round riding, the Klim Badlands Pro A3 for serious adventure touring, or the Alpinestars Copper v3 jeans if you ride in town. Finish your kit with our best motorcycle gloves.
