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We're sad to say it, but peak riding season here in the US already appears to be on its way out. Admittedly, we're feeling a little cheated here in Oregon, but that also means it's time to don the winter riding gear to stretch the riding season as far as possible.
Depending on the sort of gear you use for the peak riding months, you may already have everything you need to stay comfortable until spring rolls back around. If you know you need a little more warmth in your setup, however, this guide is for you.
Below we'll dive into our favorite pairs of winter motorcycle pants we've been testing and enjoying for the last two years. Before we get into the details, however, let's take a moment to clarify what makes any pair of riding pants winter-friendly.
Quick List of Winter Motorcycle Pants:
| Pants: | Summary: | Price |
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Klim Badlands Pro Pants
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One pair to rule them all: a hardcore laminated shell that works year-round. | CHECK PRICE |
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Dainese Springbok 3L
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Stylish, versatile, and bombproof. Our favorite three-layer riding pants. | CHECK PRICE |
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Alpinestars Andes V4 Drystar Pants
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Versatile laminated protection at a more approachable price. | CHECK PRICE |
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Bilt Storm 2 Waterproof Overpants
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A tragically overlooked option that's extra-easy on the wallet. |
CHECK PRICE |
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Dainese Tempest 3 D-Dry Pants
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A sub-$300 winter riding pant that's an ideal all-rounder for pavement. | CHECK PRICE |
What Makes Motorcycle Pants Work in the Cold?
There are only a handful of riding pants out there that are actually marketed as winter motorcycle pants. Here's what you want to look for to broaden your search without losing performance.
Windproof, Waterproof
"The first order of business is reliably shutting out the elements."
If you want a pair of motorcycle pants that work well in cold weather, your main focus should be protection from the elements. Both windproofing and waterproofing are important here, so we recommend buying a pair that comes with both included.
As far as wind protection goes, that rules out pants with any mesh whatsoever. Look for thick fabrics like high-denier Cordura or polyester, and avoid pants with lightweight stretch panels in the crotch or knees, as these allow too much cold air to flow through.
As for waterproofing, both 3L laminated fabrics and removable waterproof liners do the trick. Whatever works, but you need to ensure your winter motorcycle pants can reliably prevent cold water from wetting out the insulating layers underneath.
Insulation
"Layers are your friend: the more you have, the better they trap heat."
Speaking of which, a quick word on insulation. Most motorcycle pants in this genre will come with a removable thermal liner of some kind, which is nice to have in the coldest conditions. That being said, don't limit your search to pants with these liners.
Some of the best winter motorcycle pants we've ever used, like the Klim Badlands Pro, don't come with any thermal liner, and that's fine. As long as your pants protect against wind and water, they'll still work fine when paired with standalone insulation.
This is where high-quality insulating pieces like heavyweight merino wool or synthetic base layers come into play. Brands like Dainese and Alpinestars make great candidates, but many "outdoor" brands like Ibex and Smartwool fit the bill as well.
Ventilation
"It's better to have adjustable ventilation to some extent, especially if you'll be off-roading in the cold."
Last but not least, a word on ventilation. Air vents might not seem like a major priority in cold weather, but we recommend looking for riding pants with some degree of adjustable ventilation just the same.
Even when you're riding in bitter cold, when you're riding hard, you're going to sweat. Having a way to let some amount of cool air in and out of your motorcycle pants helps keep sweat at bay when things get extra active.
Just make sure any vents you have can be fully sealed off from cold air and precipitation as needed.
The Best Winter Motorcycle Pants We've Tested
Bearing those simple requirements in mind, we've got a few pairs of winter motorcycle pants we've tested recently that have knocked it out of the park. Here are our current favorites for riders of all kinds.
Klim Badlands Pro Pants
Out of all the winter motorcycle pants we've tested over the years, the Klim Badlands Pro is the one pair we keep coming back to. We've logged millions of miles over the last few iterations, and the latest version is by far the best yet.
This is the single most versatile, protective, and well-made pair of pants we've encountered. Three-layer Gore-Tex protection, premium fabrics throughout, zippers that never quit, and outstanding adjustable ventilation everywhere you look.
"Garrett puts the Klim Badlands pants to work on the Washington BDR."
The Badlands Pros work just as well in the middle of a summer downpour as they do in two feet of snow. We can't think of a single pair of winter riding pants that compares, save for Klim's own outrageously expensive Badlands Pro A3 pants.
Of course the standard Badlands Pro ain't cheap either at $800. They also don't come with insulation, meaning you'll have to buy additional wool/synthetic layers to stay comfortable in the cold. Still, they're the only pair you'll need all year for years to come.
PROS |
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CHECK PRICE:
Klim Badlands Pro Pants
SHOP RIDE ADVENTURES
REVZILLA | AMAZON
Dainese Springbok 3L Pants
If you're not opposed to shelling out for the good stuff but find the Klim pants above a bridge too far, we highly recommend checking out Dainese's Springbok pants. We've worn these everywhere from Patagonia to India, and they just plain work.
We dig the Spingboks because they're about $300 cheaper than our beloved Badlands Pros, yet even more versatile. They work great in warm weather, but also work in literal snow with the included rain and thermal liners zipped into place.
"Testing Dainese's Springbok 3L pants on a media trip through Patagonia." photo: Dainese
We also dig that between the premium suede knees, high-tech fabrics, and level 2 knee armor, the Springboks look and feel downright luxurious. They also sport Dainese's stretchy Mugello fabric in all the right places for added comfort.
Truth be told, our only drawback after a few years in the Springboks is that the three-layer system can be a bit inconvenient in rapidly changing weather. Still, they're an heirloom-quality product, and the bang for your buck is spot-on.
PROS |
CONS |
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CHECK PRICE:
Dainese Springbok 3L Pant
REVZILLA
Alpinestars Andes v4 Drystar Pants
Pound for pound, Alpinestars' Andes v4 Drystar pants might be the best bang for the buck you'll find for winter motorcycle pants. Our single favorite aspect of the Andes V3 is that you get premium laminated waterproofing for under $300.
That means no removable rain layer to fumble with, and full-time protection from cold air as well. We also dig that Alpinestars includes a full-length thermal liner for the money, which saves you from splurging on high-quality base layers.
"The Andes' laminated fabric and full-length thermal liner hold their own even at the highest elevations."
We've found that the Andes v4 also functions well in the shoulder seasons thanks to a pair of sizeable air vents on the thighs. Level two knee armor rounds out the package, earning these pants a standard class A CE certification.
Our biggest gripe with the Andes v4 is that they tend to run hot in the summer months, even with the liner removed and the vents wide open. We'll also note that while the vents get waterproof zippers, the storage pockets don't.
PROS |
CONS |
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CHECK PRICE:
Alpinestars Andes v4 Drystar Pants
REVZILLA | AMAZON
Bilt Storm 2 Waterproof Overpants
If you want a solid pair of winter motorcycle pants on a budget, the Bilt Storm 2 Waterproof Overpants might be the best-kept secret in the business. If we had to guess, we'd say people overlook them simply because they're poorly named.
We're not sure why Bilt decided to call these "Overpants," which implies they only work as an additional layer to your existing riding pants. No, the Storm 2s are fully waterproof, have armored knees, and rugged 1200D Oxford at the knees and seat.
"Bilt's Storm 2 pants can be worn by themselves or over existing gear."
We also dig the Storm 2 because despite its sub-$200 price point, Bilt also includes an insulated (and removable) liner for added warmth. Hell, they even threw in a pair of soft lined handwarmer pockets for the money.
Because the Storm 2 Overpants are, technically, meant to be worn over existing gear, they tend to run a size large. We'll also note that even without the liner, these pants don't breathe very well, so we'd only recommend them in temps below 50 degrees or so.
PROS |
CONS |
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CHECK PRICE:
Bilt Storm 2 Waterproof Overpants
REVZILLA
Dainese Tempest 3 D-Dry Pants
Last but not least, we've got the Dainese Tempest 3 D-Dry, a solid pair of winter-specific pants for all-purpose riding, touring, and commuting. These are a jack-of-all-trades winter riding pant that we'd recommend for anything shy of off-roading.
We dig that the Tempest 3 retails for under $300, but still gets the same premium material as Dainese's top-shelf options. That includes stretchy D-Stone fabric, a D-Dry laminated waterproof membrane, and flexible CE level 2 knee armor.
"The Tempest 3s are the ideal pants for winter road warriors."
As for warmth, Dainese includes a full-length thermal liner with the Tempest 3s that's one of the higher-quality ones we've seen. They also include zippable vents in the thighs for an added degree of ventilation.
Because the Tempest 3 are specifically designed as winter motorcycle pants, they aren't the most comfortable or breathable in good weather. That'll limit them to late fall through early spring, but the quality for the money is still a great value.
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CHECK PRICE:
Dainese Tempest 3 D-Dry
REVZILLA | AMAZON
Hello there rider, RIDE Team here and we hope you found the perfect pants for that cold weather riding! If you have a second we would like to thank you for your continued support on our blog. We appreciate that you enjoy human made content like ours. If you would like to support futher please subscribe on the right side bar so you don't miss any of our future posts. Thanks again and RIDE on!
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