Pants. The bane of my existence. Riding pants are no different than everyday ones, in that it’s almost impossible to find ones that fit. I probably tried at least half a dozen pairs (purchased, tried, returned, repeat), before finding ones that are at least mostly great. Some were too big, some too small, and most, apparently made for giant 7’4” Amazon women.
I am fairly tall, at 5’7”, but I have short legs (30” inseam is my preference, on everyday pants). Add to that the fact that riding pants need extra length, and it was all aboard the struggle bus.
The current winners are two similar pairs of aramid-lined leggings by Alpinestars; the Banshee leggings (get ’em on Revzilla) and Iria leggings (also available on Revzilla). Overall fit and features are nearly identical, with just a few nuances to set them apart.
The Iria leggings feature cargo pockets and the main material they are constructed from is a bit lighter weight, with slightly thinner/less coverage in the aramid lining. They flow a bit more air, and are a bit better for warm weather.
The Banshee leggings look more like a normal pair of pants, are a thicker knit material, with more coverage on the aramid lining, and work better in cool weather.
I removed the included armor for fit and comfort (since they don’t give you quite as much mobility as normal pants, so I already walk like a robot in them).
I wear size 10 in normal pants. Since I workout regularly, I have large quads and calves, and a muscular/curvy build. I ended up getting an XL in these, though they do go up to 2XL for women with builds slightly larger than mine.
Pros
- They actually fit.
- Despite that I feel like an overstuffed sausage in them, they’re actually quite flattering in appearance, and I’m not mad at how they make my ass look.
- The Banshee Leggings in particular allow virtually no air to pass through them. The Iria Leggings are a bit cooler, especially below 60 degrees. As someone who is basically always cold, this is a (mostly) positive selling point.
- They can be bunched up or worn over shoes, and have a flip-up reflective strip on the back above the ankle if you roll up the cuffs.
- They have a lot of stretch in them.
- The wide, soft waistband is very comfortable.
- The cargo pockets on the Iria Leggings are a nice feature for carrying small items, keys, and whatnot.
- They provide great protection. However, you will still get bruises from large debris. Good news is, you’ll barely feel it when it happens.
Cons
- I feel a bit like a stuffed sausage in them. They’re snug, despite the stretchiness, and the waist tapers in a lot, and I’m not a big fan of that.
- Since I have a long torso, the rise on these is a bit too short for my comfort. They fall too low, both in the front and back. On shorter torsos, they’d be great, and would actually be a bit high-waisted.
- They’re cut long so they don’t ride up when seated on a bike, so they’re too long and bunchy at the cuffs to pass for cute, everyday pants.
- They block a lot of airflow, and become very hot in the summer. Prepare to sweat and to literally have to peel them off your body.
For another option, check out our review of the Street & Steel Women’s Leggings.
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