The founder of the Australian riding gear company Saint had a clear goal. He wanted to create motorcycle jeans that looked and wore like high-end streetwear but were engineered to withstand the punishment of a motorcycle accident. To do this he sourced some of the latest tech fabrics in the market and set about combining them with denim. His efforts resulted in a fabric they call ‘Unbreakable Denim‘ which in some applications is 15 times stronger than steel. The jeans are slash, burst, and incredibly abrasion resistant and, just as he’d planned, they look and wear great.
With such an impressive offering it should come as no surprise that Saint’s Unbreakable jeans aren’t cheap. Unfortunately, this means some riders may consider them out of their budget. Luckily the Saint crew have recognised this issue and to solve it they’ve created the new Engineered Armoured riding jeans.
The Saint Engineered Armoured Jeans
The Saint Engineered Armoured Motorcycle Jeans are the brand’s new entry-level offering. Designed to deliver the best of both worlds, they promise quality and safety at an affordable price. At a touch under $197 USD ($299 AUD), they are around $130 USD cheaper than Saint’s range-topping single-layer Dyneema enhanced Unbreakable Jeans.
The big difference between the Saint Engineered Jeans and their Unbreakable siblings is in the material they are constructed from. Rather than the Dyneema you’ll find in Saint’s Unbreakable Jeans (and the tethers they use to secure Astronauts to the outside of space shuttles!) Saint has integrated Nylon into their Engineered denim. Although not nearly as strong as Dyneema the Nylon improves the denim’s abrasion resistance to make it around 20% tougher than standard denim. While this may not seem like much the real benefit comes from the inclusion of armour in the jean’s price tag. Within pockets sewn to the inside of the Engineered jeans, you’ll find removable hip and knee armour which in combination with the Nylon infused denim has resulted in these jeans earning a CE Class AA garment safety certification.
Engineered Armoured Jeans features
The Engineered jeans come in either a straight or slim cut and any colour as long as it’s black. Along with their protective properties, the Engineered Armoured Jeans boast a range of functional features aimed explicitly at riders. These include the addition of elastane into the denim weave which provides plenty of stretch while in a riding position and the comfort needed to make them all day wearable. On the inside of each leg, you’ll find a reflective detail that can be exposed by rolling the cuff up for added nighttime visibility. An embroidered Saint winged emblem over the rear right pocket is a stylish addition to the design and is also reflective and there’s an embossed leather patch on the waistband similar to designer jeans. The double stitching on all of the jean’s seams improves burst resistance. And the waist of the Engineered Armoured jeans is tailored to stay up when in a seated position, keeping your kidneys and butt crack covered.
Engineered Armoured Jeans Review
For the purpose of this review, I acquired a pair of Saint Engineered Slim Fit Armoured Jeans. Make no mistake, when it comes to the fit, these are slim-fit jeans and I’d even say they’re skinny. Because of the tight fit, the armour on the knees made the knee area quite tight in a seated position. I usually wear a 32 and the waist on my pair was also tight with the armour in so to avoid both these issues I’d recommend ordering a size up. If tight-fitting jeans aren’t your thing, Saint also offers a straight-fit alternative in the Engineered series.
From the outside, these jeans look almost identical to regular jeans. The only exception is the stitching above and below each knee that holds the armour pockets in place. The black finish of the denim is excellent and the denim itself is soft and offers plenty of stretch. Branding is limited to an embroidered winged emblem on the back right pocket, a leather patch on the waist, and another emblem on the waist button. The jeans use a classic 5-pocket design with a zippered fly. As for length, Saint tend to manufacture their jeans long. My pair are a 32 waist and 34 leg so to take up the excess I rolled the cuffs. This may not be a look that appeals to everyone but I’m fine with it.
On the inside of the Engineered jeans, you’ll find pockets for housing the armour. The pockets are made from a soft breathable fabric and have a velcro fastener to keep the armour in. The knee armour pockets also feature some adjustability but I found the armour to sit well straight out of the box.
When the jeans are on the armour is evident to both the wearer and observers but in both cases only mildly. Without the armour no one would think you’re wearing motorcycle jeans and even with it in they still probably wouldn’t notice which is what makes this kind of riding gear so appealing.
On the bike, the Engineered Armoured Jeans are very comfortable. Going a size up would have made the experience of riding in them even more enjoyable for me, but I will continue to ride in this pair without any complaints. The Saint Engineered Armoured jeans are a solid new offering for the brand. They promise a basic level of certified protection at an affordable price point and they’re the ideal companion for urban commuters or weekend cruisers. And the combination of streetwear good looks and comfort make them ideal for all-day wear.
