Leg/feet protection

[iandunn]

I'm just starting to get into riding and am in the process of buying all the gear and a bike. I've already picked up a Kilimanjaro from a coworker for cheap, and gotten a pair of Gericke leather gloves for winter. I haven't gotten a helmet yet, but I will soon. I wasn't planning on buying pants or boots, but ashman's post about his roommate's crash has me reconsidering.

As for leg protection, I don't want to buy special pants or anything b/c a lot of the time I'll be using the bike to ride to school and work. I've heard a little about special pants that you wear under your pants that have knee and hip protection. Can anyone point out a few things l ike that? Or are there other alternatives? Maybe knee pads that will protect you in a crash, but won't show underneath jeans?

As for boots, I just don't like wearing boots in general. Are there any other alternatives that will protect my ankles while wearing regular shoes, but not look silly?

Also, I live in Ohio, so ventilation and insulation are concerns.


Thanks,
Ian

[Dima26]

Check newenough.com for some jeans with protection. I ride to work too and I plan to wear Joe Rocket stage 1 textile pants. However, I will change the pants for meetings. About the boots. I did not like the idea of boots, especially in Alabama. I tried several on and found this one:
http://www.newenough.com/icon_super_duty_boots_page.htm

They are very comfortable for every day riding. I am not sure how good they are in a crash (I hope I will never find that out, knock on wood) but they surely feel like a pair of nike's. I have a spare pair of ordinary shoes in my office but sometimes I do not change the boots and wear them all day long .

[indestructibleman]

i wear joe rocket phoenix pants.  they slip on over regular pants so you can take them off when you get where you're going.  they've got decent padding.

if you're someplace cooler, the joe rocket ballistic pants will offer more protection.  you should also look at fieldsheer stuff.

anyway, my recommendation is for something you can slip on over whatever you want to wear.  armored jeans are great, but do you want to have to wear that one or two pairs of jeans everytime you go riding?

cheers,
will

[scratch]

Overpants and hiking boots, or the Icon boots. For overpants look into Fieldsheer Carbolex overpants ($50, I have personally tested at a 70mph meeting with Mr. Asphalt) and other pants by Fieldsheer; FirstGear for overpants with armor (about $139, but can't remember model), TourMaster overpants (usually have better Denier texile pants) or the Joe Rocket.

Happy surfing and shopping!

[sys49152]

FirstGear for overpants with armor (about $139, but can't remember model)..

I think Scratch might be referring to these :

http://www.newenough.com/firstgear_ht_overpants_page.htm

I just had mine delivered, and they're great.  I order the CE armor for the knees (although by default the pants come with dual density armor).  They're good to throw over your regular pants, they're 100% waterproof and have a zip-out lining for added warmth when the weather starts getting nasty.

If you do decide to get these, be careful of the size.  I'm probably a size 31, so I ordered the 32's.. and I find them a bit baggy.

[cay]

I went with a pair of Fieldsheer Carbolex Overpants.  They're cheap at around $USD 50, waterproof, and slip on easily over a pair of dresspants or jeans.  Now that it's gotten cooler, I'm wearing them every ride.

[iandunn]

I found a couple of suits you can wear under jeans that have hip, knee and shin armor:

Bohn Bodyguard Armored Pants
Bohn Adventure Pants

Has anyone had any experience with these? Or, are there other things out there like this?

[Gofer]

Checkout newenough.com and go to the miscellaneous section, then to body armor. Icon makes a few things(such as shin/knee armor for wearing under pants).

Hope this helps.

[Cal Price]

I bought helmet first, law requires it and started using 100% waterproof HiViz gear that I have for work. I soon discovered that 100% waterproof on "ordinary" clothing actually means fairly waterproof for about fiteen minutes on a bike so I go a propper all-weather jacket, I also have a couple of leathers. Next thing was boots and finally a padded overtrouser but we all have different priority. Apart from the standard advice "Buy the best you can afford and stop looking" The thing is to set you priorities and make sure the stuff fits propperly and you find it easy to get in and out of it. If it's a perforemance, one of these days you will skip the gear and that's when life catches you out.
On the board at the moment there are a couple of accounts of accidents, one sadly fatal, where it appears the motorist failed to see the bike. Maybe they were not looking, who knows.  In any traffic situation the biker is the most vulnerable party so make it as easy as you can for people to see you. HiViz wherever possible. The most common thing on police statements after car-bike accidents is "I never saw him"

[cummuterguy]

I wear teknic leather "thunder" pants and a teknic 'lightning" jacket, I have a nice set of gloves with armoured knuckles, and I wear Alpinestars web 'waterproof' riding boots.
The pants are useable as overpants as well, so when I have to go someplace that armoured leather pants wouldn't be an appropriate fashion, i just wear regular pants or shorts underneath, and change when I get there. only problem with that, is I have to carry another pair of shoes to match, but I just toss them in my backpack.
HiViz is a good idea, I haven't done that yet, but I may decide to, I did however deliberately choose a brightly colored jacket unstead of basic black, just to heighten my visiblilty.
Good luck with your new bike, and if nobody has mentioned it yet, TAKE THE MSF!!! very worth it!!

[Roadstergal]

I know it might seems silly to gear up just to hop to work/school, but... One block away from my work, going not quite the speed limit, I was t-boned, highsided and slid.  Take the time to put on overpants and boots, as well as helmet, jacket and gloves - my two cents.

[iandunn]

I got a pair of Bohn Armored pants and I don't like 'em at all. I wear a 32-34 in boxers/jeans so I got the medium, and they're a little tight (holidays and all) but fit ok in the waist, but they're about a foot too long (I'm 5'7, so I expected them to be a little too long, but they're way too long). Their claim about not being able to be seen under jeans is mostly true to my surprise (they're slightly visible around the knees), but they're not comfortable at all. I had to push to even make a 120 degree angle w/ my knees when I sat down. I'm gonna return them and probably get a pair of HT overpaints instead. If it weren't for the length and the discomfort they would be great.

[werase643]

i think draggin jeans are in order....  http://www.dragginjeans.com/

[Dom]

Those armored under suits look like they might get a little sweaty and itchy if you tried to wear them all day under your jeans.

[Vball24]

Scratch,

Question on the Fieldsheer Carbolex overpants.  How did they hold up during your fall?  Is there any armor in them?  Any other suggestions for overpants?  Thanks.

[scratch]

They held up amazingly well! Be sure to wear full length jeans underneath, though. They do not have armor, however.

http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11184&highlight=carbolex

I would suggest FirstGear's HT overpants. I haven't tried them, but they will be my next set, someday, as I already replaced my previous set with another set of Carbolex.

There are quite a few more suggestions in the replies to this thread.