After 3 months of trying them out in all sorts of conditions, we’re ready to review the Riding Culture cargo pants.

A while ago, we reviewed the Pando Moto Jeans, designed for bikers who value style but don’t want to compromise on safety.

In the same vein, we decided to take a look at another pair of pants, with a more biker look it’s true, but which also offer a number of advantages. So here’s our full review of Riding Culture’s 2020 cargo pants.

For those who don’t know, Riding Culture is a more affordable sub-brand of the Rokker Company, a Swiss brand founded in St. Gallen that offers high-end clothing for bikers who care about their looks and don’t want to compromise on safety.

So is entry-level synonymous with lower quality? Not necessarily…

Are they worth the price? What do they have that the competition doesn’t? Let’s go to our detailed review

In a nutshell for our busy readers

Pros

Cons

Price especially if you find them on sale like we did (approx. 150 CHF/€) The pants fit fairly well, aren’t too tight and fall nicely Cargo pockets for your phone, wallet, etc. Real biker look Good finish for the price, with lots of nice little details Knee protection slots (included) Hip protection slots (not incl.) 2-years warranty

Our 2020-model was only guaranteed protection level A (the lowest CE level). It would appear that the new model is level AA. The zipper doesn’t look very hard-wearing. We’ll have to see how the trousers age. Less breathable than Pando jeans, for example. Less waterproof too Our example was produced in Vietnam. Which explains its more affordable price. It’s certainly not insurmountable, but we think it would be a good idea to at least encourage European production. No leg ventilation. We weren’t able to test the protection in real conditions and we’ll be knocking on wood to keep it that way 🙂

review pants riding cutlure

In details now

Style is important. But biker safety is even more important. And we’re always surprised to see how many motorcyclists ride in unsuitable clothing.

Many outfitters now offer products that combine safety and good looks without compromise.

And when it comes to choosing between normal trousers and those developed especially for bikers, well, the question is quickly answered, as someone else would say.

And while the main quality of the Pando Moto Jeans was that they were almost unnoticeable for typical biker jeans, we wanted to test something with a decidedly biker look.

So we naturally turned to another big player in the market, the Rokker Company, and their sub-brand Riding Culture, which offers urban clothing for adrenalin-seekers (MTB, skateboarding, motorcycling, etc.).

And we’ve selected the cargo pants in olive green (2020 model).

These trousers are made of :

• 80% cotton
• 13% polyamide
• 6% Dyneema, and
• 1% elastane,

This makes them fairly comfortable to wear, even if the fabric is still thick and ventilation is lacking, so they may not be the most suitable trousers for the warm season. But for the in-between seasons, especially in Switzerland, where the weather can be chilly/rainy, it might even be an advantage.

The trousers have some very nice details, and the cargo pockets can be an advantage for carrying your wallet or keys, for example. However, this can be a double-edged sword when it comes to safety. If you fall with a smartphone in your pocket, for example, there’s a greater risk of glass or metal penetrating your skin.

There are also internal pockets for knee and hip protectors. However, the trousers only come with knee protectors. For hip protectors, you’ll have to pay additionally.

review pants riding culture

In use…

The author of this article is lucky enough to have been able to test them for around 3 months. And here’s what he can tell you about them:

• Value for money: found at a retailer at 149CHF/€, it’s clear that given the level of performance, the price is unbeatable. The new model is advertised at 249CHF/€. More expensive, of course, but still more than fair.
• Fit: it’s a really good fit, close enough to the body without being too tight (see photos). Depending on your body type, this will be either an advantage or a disadvantage.
• Look: resolutely biker, but with lots of cool little details, like being able to add a lucky charm or logos on the left hem, on the back pocket, etc.
• Colour(s): When we visited the shop, these trousers were available in olive green, grey, beige/ochre and black. However, on the brand’s website and at retailers, they are now only available in olive green.
• Comfort: the fabric is quite thick. And it’s clear that they won’t be forgotten as quickly as the Pando Moto jeans. This relatively thick fabric could be a disadvantage in summer. But in between seasons, it will be an asset, especially in our latitudes. And given the cool/rainy start to the 2023 season that we’ve had, it’s been more of an advantage 😉
• Protection: CE-level A guaranteed. This makes it abrasion-resistant up to around 70km/h. So, for long road-trips, it might not be your best choice. For urban and suburban traffic, it will be more than sufficient. They come with knee protectors, and there’s the option of adding hip protectors (editor’s note: it seems that the 2023 model has CE level AA protection).
• Durability: we have a slight concern about the zip, which doesn’t look very durable. But maybe that’s just our impression! We’ll check again in a few months to make sure everything’s in order, and we’ll take the opportunity to see the impact of machine washing on their look.

test pantalons riding culture

review pants riding culture

What about safety?

On this point, we haven’t had the chance to test it in real-life conditions, and we’re knocking on wood to keep it that way.

But it’s clear that the best material against abrasion is still leather. It’s not for nothing that you’re obliged to wear a full leather suit if you’re going to ride on a racetrack. But leather also has its disadvantages: waterproofing, heat/no ventilation, weight, etc. You can’t have everything, and it’s up to you to define the specifications for your outfit.

As marked on the pant’s label, the 2020 model is only guaranteed CE-Level A and it would appear that the new model offers higher protection (Level AA).

And as I mentioned earlier, be careful what you put in your cargo pockets when you’re riding. Yes, in the event of a fall, you run the risk of ending up with extra material in your flesh. We recommend putting metal/glass objects either in the top case or in a tank bag, for example.

 

Any negative aspects?

As mentioned above, we’re a little worried about the durability of the zip. And it remains to be seen whether the colour will wash out in the long term.

And the fact that it only offers CE-level A protection may limit its range of action.

For a trip into town, or to work, if you’re not taking the motorway, why not. For a road-trip lasting several days, it’s up to you whether you want to focus on your looks or your safety.

If you’re riding in the middle of summer, the lack of leg ventilation may give you the feeling that your legs are nice and warm, especially with the heat generated by the engine. But in terms of safety, it’s definitely better than jeans with holes in them 😉 

Note that this brands carry different models, such as jeans or chinos. On the manufacturer’s website, the 2023 models are all advertised at 249CHF/€. 

We hope you find this test useful. Don’t hesitate to check out our BLOG for other motorcycle-related topics.

Ride on 

review pants riding culture

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