Wearing
special motorcycle pants is a good idea for safety reasons, but not
always practical nor fun. Many riders prefer to ride with their jeans or
normal trousers, but they offer no protection at all from accidents or
the elements.
That's where
chaps
come in. Chaps are, usually leather, a protective layer that you wrap
around your trousers. Since the chaps are made out of thick material, by
wrapping them around your trousers, you will protect your legs from
road-rash in case you go off your motorcycle unexpected, and they will
protect you from the elements (rain, sun) or bugs.
Chaps are
made from different materials:
- Leather
- Denim
- Nylon
By far the best choice is
leather. Leather by nature protects you, while giving you flexibility.
Differences in
Chaps
Chaps do not really come in gender specific versions, for obvious
reasons, but apart from the materials used, there can be
differences.
The biggest differences you may want to note, depending on your
preferences are:
- Pockets, zipped
or velcro'd (deep pockets are a plus)
- Braids & fringes
- Lined (if you plan to use it in the cold weather, lined is a
good idea), preferably removable
- Weather proof
Measuring for Chaps
If you plan to buy chaps on-line, you will need to do some homework
first.
1
Put on a
typical trouser you would want to wear on a motorcycle ride, often
jeans. Make sure the jeans are not too tight.
2
Using a
measuring tape, preferably a fabric or tailor one, measure your
waist. Write the width down on a piece of paper.
3
Now
measure the biggest part of your thigh and write that down. If you
want to be comfortable in your chap, you might want to add an inch
or two to your measure.
4
For the
next part, you light need some help. Measure the inside seam, from
crotch to your ankle, while standing straight. Write that down.
5
When
comparing your measures with the store's sizing tables, never use
store sizes that are smaller,.
