Cortech Motorcycle Jeans Review
Although nothing beats leather for protection, a good pair of reinforced motorcycle jeans can get the job done on less-demanding rides. Cortech’s new The Primary motorcycle riding jeans offer far more protection than non-technical denim jeans, as well as being much more comfortable than leather pants.
The material used for The Primary jeans is a blend of heavy 13.5-ounce cotton (52 percent) reinforced with Cordura nylon (18 percent) and DuPont Kevlar aramid fiber (30 percent). That’s good enough to increase abrasion resistance at a claimed 500 percent over pure-cotton jeans, along with increased tear-resistance.
The Primary jeans offer no impact protection out of the box. However, Cortech will sell you optional knee (CE level 2) and hip (CE level 1) armor from SAS-TEC ($25/pair). We passed (probably foolishly) on the hip protection, while opting for the knee armor. Getting the positioning of the SAS-TEC knee guards, which are held in place with hook-and-loop, took a bit of experimentation over the six-inch range of placement. However, the knee guards did not stray once placed.
The combination of heavy cotton and generous Kevlar makes The Primary jeans from Cortech a three-season jean in hotter locales. They are great when the temperatures are below 80 degrees, and warm up considerably from there. The upside is that they’re quite comfortable on cold days, and they isolate your legs from engine heat better than most motorcycle riding jeans.
At $200 a pair, The Primary motorcycle riding jeans are priced competitively. They offer impressive protection and construction, and the styling won’t offend anyone. If you ride in cooler climes, or you have a motorcycle with a motor that throws off lots of heat, The Primary jeans by Cortech are a compelling offering in an increasingly crowded market.
Action photography by Kelly Callan
Cortech The Primary Jeans Fast Facts
- Sizes: 30-42” waist; all 32-inch length
- Color: Midnight Blue
- Cortech The Primary Jeans Price: $200 MSRP