VIATERRA AUSTIN RIDING JEANS

THEY AREN’T AS CUMBERSOME, OR HEAVY AS MY REGULAR RIDING PANTS

as tested www.viaterragear.com

RIDING JEANS ARE PROBABLY THE best thing invented after sliced bread. They offer a good blend of comfort and ease, and they are slightly easier on the eyes than proper riding pants. That said, these are best used for your short casual rides or short commutes. I would still recommend proper riding pants for long-distance riding. ViaTerra Austins can be easily mistaken for a regular pair of jeans, but behind the denim, you find SasTec level 2 armour for your knees and hips; which is optional on many riding pants, so two thumbs up to ViaTerra. These SasTec pads are quite thin but don’t mistake their thinness for their inability to absorb impacts. And that’s what makes this pair so versatile – from grocery runs to office commutes. The latter only if your workplace allows for casual wear. I have been wearing them since the day I got my hands on them. They aren’t as cumbersome, or heavy as my regular riding pants. These are easy to use, and the five-pocket layout offers familiar convenience.

You will find the usual giveaways of a well-made pair of jeans on these – bar tacks, riveted stress points, YKK zippers, denim blend of cotton, polyester, and spandex. Priced at `5,999, these are slightly more expensive than a pair of regular jeans but when you consider the added safety layers, these make a very strong case for themselves. And now you have a reason to be safe anywhere you go. Being a pair of riding jeans, these don’t have a zipper at the back to connect it to a jacket. Apart from that there’s nothing really to fault these pants, especially for the price they command. Waterproofing? Now you might be asking for a tad too much. ⌧

(@soham_mayekar)