Dual Review: Scorpion Covert Jeans & Alpinestars Comp Pro Shorts
This gear review is a long time coming for many ways. My gear review page has yet to have any content added to it though I do have several pieces of gear to go over. I'm doing the dual review because I got these two pieces of gear to work together as they are complimentary.
I'll start with my Scorpion Covert Kevlar Jeans. I'd been thinking of getting some kevlar riding jeans for my around town rides. For my long distance rides I gear up in a two-piece textile riding suit. For just running errands around town or going out to dinner with the guys, the jeans are the way to go. These in particular are very low key and can easily pass as regular pants. A funny thing about that, I wore them to a bike night at the local dealer. There was a Scorpion dealer truck there with catalogs to thumb through. The guys at the truck struck up a conversation and it kind of went like this:
Scorpion Guy 1 - "So you like Scorpion gear?"
Me - "Yeah actually. I love the Covert Jeans." (vaguely pointing to my pants)
Scorpion Guy 2 - "Oh wow, I didn't even notice that you had them."
Me - "That's exactly why I like them."
Let's just do a good vs. bad before I get to some relevant pics:
Good Bad
Low key, not squid gear Thick and hot in warmer weather
Comfortable and easy break--in Knee armor pockets not so hot
Affordable at just over $100 Hip armor pockets a weird size
Very good kevlar coverage
Some points need some extra input. The low key factor is important as I didn't want to walk around in jeans that look like I'm trying to be a trailer park rap star. The added kevlar makes the jeans feel like sweat pants in warm weather. The knee armor pockets are just not right for me. I tried several knee pads in the pockets and all of them ended up in the wrong spot once I mounted the bike. I will be getting knee pads to take car of that. The kevlar coverage is outstanding. On the front it goes from the waist band to over the knee. In the back it goes from the waist band to just above the back of the knee. Other brands I've checked had much less kevlar.
Here are some pretty bad pics, because no one wants to see me as a model:
The kevlar lining on the back side. It doesn't go as low as the front. The black at the bottom of the photo is a mesh liner that starts where the kevlar ends all the way to the pant cuff.
Next up are my brand new (just got them yesterday) Alpinestars Comp Pro Padded Shorts. One of the bad points of the Scorpion jeans was both the knee and hip armor pocket size and placement. I got the shorts due the vivid memory of pics of my buddy's butt cheek after his t-bone accident. Needless to say padded shorts became topic of conversation in my riding circle. This review won't be long as I haven't ridden with them yet, but I did try them on under my Scorpion jeans. They fit great and will definitely enhance the protection factor of the combined jeans/shorts combo. They run a bit small according to the inter web reviews so I got extra large. I'm 6' 1" and weigh 206 lbs. with a 34" inseam. My Scorpion jeans are waist size 36". They look very vented with the mesh and should flow enough air to not broil my important bits.
Good Bad
Not bulky Foam pads are not CE rated
Comfortable and unobtrusive
Affordable at just over $60
Very good pad coverage
I got my from Revzilla and with their 'Zilla cash deal (like a point card or airline miles) I was able to get $15 off the price bringing the total to $45. The pads cover the hips, tailbone and butt cheeks to outer thigh. The pads are foam so they won't help much in a big get off, but will be good in a slide situation when combined with the kevlar jeans. I will be wearing them in a ride this weekend and will be able to comment on the mounted comfort.
Hopefully you get some value out of this review. I will edit this post later with notes on how they feel when riding after this weekend. Coming soon will be my review of my one piece leather race suit. Stay tuned!
November 3, 2015 Update: I have worn the Alpinestars shorts now for two, 200 mile rides. Once under my leathers and once under my Scorpion jeans. They are great and don't feel too bulky or restrictive. They are more comfortable under my leathers than under my jeans. My jeans have a lot of material at the waistband and the gather around the hip pads making things a bit snug, but not uncomfortable. I feel more protected even though they are not full CE rated pads. Try them if you'd like a bit more protection for you ride.
Blue
I'll start with my Scorpion Covert Kevlar Jeans. I'd been thinking of getting some kevlar riding jeans for my around town rides. For my long distance rides I gear up in a two-piece textile riding suit. For just running errands around town or going out to dinner with the guys, the jeans are the way to go. These in particular are very low key and can easily pass as regular pants. A funny thing about that, I wore them to a bike night at the local dealer. There was a Scorpion dealer truck there with catalogs to thumb through. The guys at the truck struck up a conversation and it kind of went like this:
Scorpion Guy 1 - "So you like Scorpion gear?"
Me - "Yeah actually. I love the Covert Jeans." (vaguely pointing to my pants)
Scorpion Guy 2 - "Oh wow, I didn't even notice that you had them."
Me - "That's exactly why I like them."
Let's just do a good vs. bad before I get to some relevant pics:
Good Bad
Low key, not squid gear Thick and hot in warmer weather
Comfortable and easy break--in Knee armor pockets not so hot
Affordable at just over $100 Hip armor pockets a weird size
Very good kevlar coverage
Some points need some extra input. The low key factor is important as I didn't want to walk around in jeans that look like I'm trying to be a trailer park rap star. The added kevlar makes the jeans feel like sweat pants in warm weather. The knee armor pockets are just not right for me. I tried several knee pads in the pockets and all of them ended up in the wrong spot once I mounted the bike. I will be getting knee pads to take car of that. The kevlar coverage is outstanding. On the front it goes from the waist band to over the knee. In the back it goes from the waist band to just above the back of the knee. Other brands I've checked had much less kevlar.
Here are some pretty bad pics, because no one wants to see me as a model:
The outside back pocket, looks like normal jeans right?
The kevlar lining on the front side of the pants and the useless (to me at least) knee armor pockets.
The kevlar lining on the back side. It doesn't go as low as the front. The black at the bottom of the photo is a mesh liner that starts where the kevlar ends all the way to the pant cuff.
Next up are my brand new (just got them yesterday) Alpinestars Comp Pro Padded Shorts. One of the bad points of the Scorpion jeans was both the knee and hip armor pocket size and placement. I got the shorts due the vivid memory of pics of my buddy's butt cheek after his t-bone accident. Needless to say padded shorts became topic of conversation in my riding circle. This review won't be long as I haven't ridden with them yet, but I did try them on under my Scorpion jeans. They fit great and will definitely enhance the protection factor of the combined jeans/shorts combo. They run a bit small according to the inter web reviews so I got extra large. I'm 6' 1" and weigh 206 lbs. with a 34" inseam. My Scorpion jeans are waist size 36". They look very vented with the mesh and should flow enough air to not broil my important bits.
Good Bad
Not bulky Foam pads are not CE rated
Comfortable and unobtrusive
Affordable at just over $60
Very good pad coverage
I got my from Revzilla and with their 'Zilla cash deal (like a point card or airline miles) I was able to get $15 off the price bringing the total to $45. The pads cover the hips, tailbone and butt cheeks to outer thigh. The pads are foam so they won't help much in a big get off, but will be good in a slide situation when combined with the kevlar jeans. I will be wearing them in a ride this weekend and will be able to comment on the mounted comfort.
The far of the shorts showing the tailbone, butt cheek and upper edge of the hip padding.
A slightly oblique view to see how the padding covers the full butt cheek and outer thigh.
Hopefully you get some value out of this review. I will edit this post later with notes on how they feel when riding after this weekend. Coming soon will be my review of my one piece leather race suit. Stay tuned!
November 3, 2015 Update: I have worn the Alpinestars shorts now for two, 200 mile rides. Once under my leathers and once under my Scorpion jeans. They are great and don't feel too bulky or restrictive. They are more comfortable under my leathers than under my jeans. My jeans have a lot of material at the waistband and the gather around the hip pads making things a bit snug, but not uncomfortable. I feel more protected even though they are not full CE rated pads. Try them if you'd like a bit more protection for you ride.
Blue
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