- This topic has 6 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by eternal05.
Hood motorcycle jeans update
-
AuthorPosts
-
March 26, 2010 at 11:00 pm #3807eternal05Participant
Hey guys,
Way back when, Sean_D had suggested that I try Hood motorcycle jeans, made in the UK. School finally finished for me, and so I made my order and have since had a chance to try them out.
First off, let me point out that this is an expensive option for Americans. For one, you get screwed on the exchange rate, and after that you have to pay for shipping across the Atlantic.
That said, the quality of these jeans is exceptional. I’ve tried Shift riding jeans and Draggin’ Jeans, and these Hood jeans inspire FAR more confidence. First off, rather than relying on thick denim, Hood jeans are made from thick denim lined with a kevlar-like anti-abrasion polymer. They are MUCH thicker than any other motorcycle jean I’ve tried, and the coverage of para-aramid (the anti-abrasion lining) is much better than the competition.
One warning I will offer is that the fit is incredibly snug. These jeans are not “American style” baggy, staying tight all the way down the leg. Wou will want to order a tad large, especially if you have muscular/big legs. I would also highly recommend going up at least 2″ from your normal waist size, not because they won’t fit you standing up, but because the fabric is so thick that, the minute you get into riding position, you will lose all mobility in your hips as the fabric tightens up. I’m hoping that they stretch more as I use them, but right now they’re not super comfortable in the hip/waist area when riding a sportbike. They’re much more comfortable on the DR-Z, which has a much more upright/relaxed riding position. Hence the suggestion to order a bit large.
If you plan to buy their optional removable armor, I would recommend taking that into account in your sizing choice as well. The hip armor will pad your “effective” waist, and from my experience, their sizing does NOT take armor into account.
Another thing I’d say is that, especially if you’re riding a bike where your knees bend a lot in riding position, get a longer inseam than you would normally get in a normal jean. I usually have a 34-35″ inseam depending on manufacturer, and I ordered a 36″ jean. It’s a bit long when I’m standing up, but in riding position it’s perfect. My 34″-inseam Shift jeans ride up like crazy when I’m on the bike. They ride up so much, in fact, that they sometimes clear the tops of my full-height riding boots. Can’t have that.
So, worth the price? To me, absolutely. This is by far the best-fitting lower-body gear I’ve worn, and I’ve tried it all: overpants, textile pants, leather pants, motorcycle jeans, etc. Let me know if you have any questions.
March 26, 2010 at 11:50 pm #25216eonParticipantGlad you found something you like as it seems like it has been a long search.
Did the company remove VAT for you (aka sales tax)? In the UK that runs at 17.5% so that would be a hefty savings. When I order from Amazon.co.uk they remove VAT automatically and on books and dvd’s that usually works out to be about the cost of the shipping.
March 27, 2010 at 1:23 am #25218Sean_DParticipantFirst I am glad you are overall happy with the Hood Jeans. I hate to recommend something and then have the buyer not be happy, particularly when they aren’t the cheapest option out there. Not as expensive as their sister company Kyrano Jeans though http://www.kyrano-uk.com/html/mens_jean.html . Kyrano Jeans are lined from waist to hem with Aramid, but cost is US $222.
As Eon mentions, they should have removed the VAT for you, but even with that removed they are more expensive than Shift, Draggin etc. I think Draggin Jeans are are maybe $25-30 less?
My previous experience with Hood Jeans was with the Concept 6 (or C-6) as they also call them. They have removed them from their site as they apparently have some sort of deal with the Aramid supplier to provide that model for wholesale, but they do still have a stock of Concept 6 jeans in house. You need to call to order them though. I have since ordered a pair of the K7 and I do find those to be more snug fitting than the Concept 6 jean. The K7 looks more the casual jean part without the stitching across the knees, but it does seem to fit a little more snug than the C-6. Maybe its the woven vs. knitted para- aramid that makes a difference here. The C-6 uses knitted which is teri-cloth like. It likely stretches and gives a little more.
The hip armor does feel very snug the first 3 or 4 times you wear the jean, but over time it molds well to the hip and you find you don’t really notice it. If you have only worn them a couple of times you will find it feels bulky and odd at first.
Also, if you are not happy with the fit they are good about exchanging them for the next size up. I am not too sure about after you have worn them, but they are a small family owned business and nice to deal with. I would suggest emailing Julie to see if there is anything she can do for you. You may be able to exchange them up a size if you like, but of course that means losing some money on shipping.
March 28, 2010 at 4:27 am #25233owlieParticipantThanks for the feed back & buying tips. It is on my list to get some leg protection for this year, but I haven’t found it yet…
March 28, 2010 at 6:26 am #25234BenParticipantHey Eternal do you live in the UK? I’d be interesting in reviewing these jeans, they seem pretty badass.
Ben
March 28, 2010 at 10:31 pm #25248eternal05ParticipantI had to import them, hence the high price. They’re definitely worth reviewing though. If you can’t get them (Hood) to send you a demo, or if you don’t want to shell out $$$, I can throw a review of my own your way.
March 28, 2010 at 10:35 pm #25249eternal05ParticipantThough I think I’ll probably try out some of the other cuts if I end up really liking these. I was thinking about exchanging them, but honestly, for another $50 round-trip, it’s really not worth it to me. For now I’m content to lose a little gut and keep the tight size
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.