Protective Shorts & Pants

Protective Shorts are the Bottom Line in Comfort and Safety

MotoGP riders have been wearing body armour under their leathers since the mid 1990s. Like all great ideas, what you see on the racetrack eventually finds its way onto the street. Protective shorts, also known as padded motorcycle shorts, are a great way of protecting the hip, thigh and tailbone. Thanks to hi-tech materials, protective shorts are thin enough to wear under your choice of outerwear from leathers to abrasion-resistant jeans. When choosing a pair of hip protector pants, there are some features to look for to ensure they're as comfortable as they are safe. Material that breathes and wicks moisture away from the body is a must. For this reason, a high degree of elasticity is necessary. Some protective shorts have a high lycra content. This composition says manufacturers compress the muscles to reduce strength-sapping lactic acid build-up. While some motorcycle padded shorts feature removable tail bone pads, other styles offer extended thigh protection. In which case, the shorts extend downward to the lower shin. Elasticated waistbands allow for ease of movement. When ordering though, check out the manufacturer's size guide. You will notice that some use waist size while others consider weight.