Trilobite Parado motorcycle jeans | No need to stretch the budget for comfortable, practical jeans

Whilst most manufacturers approach riding denim as a low profile option, these Trilobite Parado motorcycle jeans are unashamedly bike gear. Designed in the Czech republic and manufactured in Pakistan, they’re certified to CE AA standard and come with level 2 armour for hips and knees. I’ve worn them on a wide variety of journeys over the past 8 months and they’ve proved to be a reliable bit of kit whatever the situation. 

Are the Parado jeans comfortable?

Comfort is where the Parado excel, which is down to the stretch woven into the denim, a large flexible crotch panel and accordion panels at the lower back and above the knee. They’re soft and flexible, with a little extra padding in the seat thanks to a large Kevlar reinforced panel.

One of their more unique features, when it comes to riding jeans anyway, is the zippable ventilation port on each thigh. These counteract denim’s natural resistance to airflow, providing an outlet that will not only keep you cool, but also help them dry out from the inside should you get caught in a summer shower. The crotch panel too is highly breathable.

I’ve worn the Parado all day on more occasions than I can remember, from the daily commute to a 2,000 mile tour around the Emerald Isle, and they feel great to wear both on and off the bike. The jeans on test are the slim fit version, and they come up exactly true to size.

Are the Trilobite Parado jeans practical?

The Parado are as practical as any pair of denim jeans, perhaps even more so with the built-in flexibility. The knee armour doesn’t get snagged on your toes when you’re putting them on, as can happen with some jeans, and they slide off easily without turning inside out when being removed. Trilobite favour the traditional five-pocket design, each of which is fully functioning.

Do the Parado Jeans Look the part?

A pair of CE certified denim riding jeans can be a low-profile option for many people, a way of wearing bike kit without looking like you’re wearing bike kit. But that’s not at all the case with the Parado, which really do look like biker wear, and I for one really like their technical hybrid styling.

From the accordion stretch panels to the multi-section construction, they look designed to do a job, and the washed-out lived-in light colour makes it appear that they’ve been doing it for some time.     

Are the Parado jeans good quality?

Despite being soft, stretchy and pliable, the Parado feel suitably durable, with tough seams and a sturdy construction. Zips are top notch YKK, and all rivets appear well finished and secure. Waterproofing isn’t a feature of the Parado, however the large zippable ventilation ports on the thighs ship enough air to help them dry out from the inside should they get soaked through. These have been drenched on numerous occasions and washed several times, without any negative effect at all.

Do the Parado jeans offer good protection?

In terms of protection the Parado are certified to CE standard prEN17092, earning a AA for impact, abrasion and tear resistance, plus seam strength and the numerous other tests that this standard subjects them to. For the most part, construction is 11.5 oz cotton denim with a 2% Elastane mix for stretch, and a generous Kevlar aramid fibre lining on the seat and knees. CE level 2 SAS-TEC armour is included for knee and hip.

The knee armour sits snugly in a fabric holder, which slips into a pocket where it can be adjusted vertically on a large Velcro panel for a custom fit. Although it provides the upper level in protection, I have swapped out the hip armour for level 1 D3O Ghost armour, as the slimline design is more comfortable and doesn’t have that ‘child bearing hip’ aesthetic. 

Although I’ve not tried them in a slide myself, I have, by chance, met someone who has – and was still wearing them. They showed some wear on the hem and small wear patch on the knee, which indicated that they’re certainly tough enough for at least a brief encounter with tarmac.

Are the Parado jeans good value for money?

At just under £200 the Parado jeans offer good value for money, but the fact that Trilobite put their money where their mouth is with their ‘Crash Program’ greatly enhances this. In essence they will exchange any of their clothing damaged in an accident with brand new items, provided it’s shipped to their HQ for inspection and analysis.

Trilobite Parado rivals

So what’s the verdict?

The Trilobite Parado jeans are something a little different to the mainstream, and in terms of functionality and comfort score full marks. The look won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you think of them as an alternative to textile or leather jeans, rather than bike kit in disguise, they can certainly hold their own.

Having worn them for thousands of miles I would happily spend my own money on them, or better still throw in a few extra quid and trade up to the new CE AAA version, offering a higher level of protection.

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