OXFORD ORIGINAL APPROVED DENIM JEANS
At first glance, the Oxford Original Approved Denim Jeans might not look like much. Aside from a line of stitching above the knee, they look like they could be a set of normal fashion jeans. That’s a good thing. But are they up to the job of keeping you safe should the worst happen? Thankfully, I’ve not had the chance to see how well they hold up, but Oxford claim they’ll stay intact if you have a spill up to 45mph. And I believe it; they feel reassuringly solid.
That could be because they’re constructed from a single layer of Oxford’s own Armourlite material. It’s essentially a highly durable denim, which has been weaved with polyamide fibres. It’s strong stuff. Despite that, there’s a bit of stretch to them and as a result I’ve found them as durable and comfortable as my go-to set of Levis. There’s also some clever quick dry technology built in, which works to both soak up sweat and increase water repellency. They’re not waterproof. I’ve worn them in some pretty awful weather and have definitely got wet. But I can attest that they are quick to dry.
They also come equipped with Ce-approved knee and hip armour to protect your joints in an impact. Offering a decent spread of protection due to their size, it’s actually quite surprising how little you notice them when you’re off the bike. I’ve spent long days walking around in these jeans in perfect comfort.
The fit’s good – I opted for the Straight Leg version – although you do have to be careful not to catch the knee pouch with your foot when you’re putting them on. If you just jammed your foot through, I’m fairly sure you’d end up ripping the knee holder. I’ve had a couple of tentative moments, hopping around trying to wiggle my foot through. Not ideal, but then again it’s not a problem exclusive to these jeans.
Putting that very minor criticism aside, these are an excellent pair of jeans for the money.