Macna Alpine Motorcycle Pants

Twisted Throttle is the exclusive American dealer for Macna’s innovative line of textile, adventure-oriented riding gear. As I’m the “Pants Guy” around the office, on came the responsibility of giving the Macna Alpine motorcycle pants a thorough, several month test.

My first and main concern with any riding apparel is how well a design will perform in a fall or crash. The Alpine’s overall build quality appears rugged enough to insulate from an otherwise nasty case of road rash. And I give them an A+ for knee and shin protection (and comfort). The knees are double-armored with external padding as well as internal moveable knee/shin guards. Further, the moveable shields do something I’ve rarely seen before—they stay put! The pants also come equipped with soft hip pads that can easily be replaced with firmer material, and external thigh panels that can also be fitted with impact armor (but at the loss of their venting ability).

As Macna’s Alpine pants are all-weather, they’re a little bulky, even without the separate rain membrane and thermo liner. But, I’ve ridden in these pants for several thousand miles, on extremely hot and cold, rainy conditions, and they remained very comfortable and dry. The three layers allow you to dial in whatever is necessary for the climate or conditions ahead. Due to the excellent venting systems, the big surprise is how cool they can feel on a hot ride. The downside is the usual issue when all three layers are combined—it may look a little like a snow suit, although it sure is warm. I’ve worn them in rain with and without the waterproof liner. Without the liner the pants feel a little damp in hard rain conditions, but shed water and dry out very quickly. And, oddly enough, even with both liners, the Alpine pants are really easy to get into and out of.

I LOVE the waist buckle—it’s quick, secure and durable. And, another feature I like is the detachable suspenders. Suspenders are much more comfortable than a belt for long-distance riding, and when it rains there’s less chance of “floating underwear.”  MSRP: $299.99 TwistedThrottle.com