I presume you're talking about riding a motorcycle and not a horse. If I'm mistaken, please feel free to ignore me.
I would like to advocate against chaps.
They are certainly better against abrasion injuries than jeans, and they have the advantage of being easy to remove once you're at your destination, but a significant portion of many motorcycle accidents is impact related. I strongly recommend getting some kind of garment which has CE rated impact armor at the knees and hips.
As far as riding boots go, get something which will prevent your ankle from going in the wrong direction under impact. Where the wrong direction is defined as something like "sideways".
Good gear is expensive, but living the rest of your life with crippling injuries is worse. If you'd like to ask, I'm sure my friend unixronin will back that up.
Thanks for the note re: chaps. The reason I'm interested in those is for the ease of removal - I've been riding the bike to work in jeans and would like better protection than that. I'd figured I could throw chaps in a backpack along with boots.
For weekend riding beyond commuting, I'm certainly interested in getting something more protective.
Do you have a tip on where I can find out more about my safety gear options? Particularly for the commuting situation?
If you'll forgive my saying so, the problem with doing something "easy but not quite as good" for commuting is that you're going to spend most of your time doing it.
There are things called "overpants" which are pretty much exactly what the sound like. A full set of pants, with zipout legs, so you can take them off when you get to work. And it is likely that there are models available with armor.
Also, check out a company called Aerostich. They make full coverall type riding gear which is easy to get in and out of, and designed to be easy to remove even by paramedics after an accident, without much movement. Which means they don't have to cut your fancy clothes off you with the paramedic shears.
See what Joe Rocket has available. I was wearing a Joe Rocket jacket when I had my tumble and smash, and I have nothing but praise for them.
www.motorcycle.com is a good source for info. They're a pay site, but it's like, $12 a year.
Johnson Leathers in SF makes amazing stuff, but it's very much not cheap. Really great armor,
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I would like to advocate against chaps.
They are certainly better against abrasion injuries than jeans, and they have the advantage of being easy to remove once you're at your destination, but a significant portion of many motorcycle accidents is impact related. I strongly recommend getting some kind of garment which has CE rated impact armor at the knees and hips.
As far as riding boots go, get something which will prevent your ankle from going in the wrong direction under impact. Where the wrong direction is defined as something like "sideways".
Good gear is expensive, but living the rest of your life with crippling injuries is worse. If you'd like to ask, I'm sure my friend unixronin will back that up.
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Thanks for the note re: chaps. The reason I'm interested in those is for the ease of removal - I've been riding the bike to work in jeans and would like better protection than that. I'd figured I could throw chaps in a backpack along with boots.
For weekend riding beyond commuting, I'm certainly interested in getting something more protective.
Do you have a tip on where I can find out more about my safety gear options? Particularly for the commuting situation?
Thanks!
Reply
There are things called "overpants" which are pretty much exactly what the sound like. A full set of pants, with zipout legs, so you can take them off when you get to work. And it is likely that there are models available with armor.
Also, check out a company called Aerostich. They make full coverall type riding gear which is easy to get in and out of, and designed to be easy to remove even by paramedics after an accident, without much movement. Which means they don't have to cut your fancy clothes off you with the paramedic shears.
See what Joe Rocket has available. I was wearing a Joe Rocket jacket when I had my tumble and smash, and I have nothing but praise for them.
www.motorcycle.com is a good source for info. They're a pay site, but it's like, $12 a year.
Johnson Leathers in SF makes amazing stuff, but it's very much not cheap. Really great armor,
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Where are you going for boots?
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Thanks for the dishes, though. ;)
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