Final up to date:
Assessment Abstract
If you happen to’re in search of the primary takeaways from this evaluation, right here’s my abstract of the Pando Moto Desert Cargo Bike Pants:
Construct & Supplies
- Constructed from 12oz CE AA-rated Cordura® stretch denim with built-in Coolmax® fibers for breathability
- Slim cargo styling with eight pockets, sitting flat and never cumbersome
- Low-profile exterior armor entry for simple elimination and adjustment
- Reflective tape hidden inside cuffs for added night time visibility
- Sturdy triple-stitched seams and strengthened stress factors
- Matte black snaps and durable zippers present consideration to element
- Design & High quality Ranking: 100%
Measurement & Match
- True to dimension with a slim however not skinny match
- Comfortable waist without having for a belt, legs are fitted but enable pure motion
- Knee protectors have two top positions for exact placement
- Slim the place it counts, roomy the place wanted, with zero restriction
- Measurement & Match Ranking: 100%
Consolation
- Cordura® stretch material gives wonderful flexibility and breathability
- Snug for all-day put on with no chafing, stiffness, or sore spots
- Coolmax® wicks moisture and helps regulate temperature on heat rides
- Tender seat space makes lengthy rides really feel easy
- Consolation Ranking: 100%
Safety
- Outfitted with SAS-TEC TripleFlex CE Degree 1 armor in hips and knees
- Slim, versatile armor barely noticeable throughout motion
- 12oz Cordura® denim balances abrasion resistance and luxury
- Lacks tailbone armor pocket (minor disadvantage)
- Appropriate for city, every day commuting, and informal weekend rides
- Reflective cuffs improve low-light visibility
- Safety Ranking: 80%
Worth for Cash
- Priced at $318 USD, a premium possibility with sturdy options for city riders
- Nice stability of favor, consolation, and safety for every day use
- Not your best option for riders looking for most armor or the best safety stage
- Worth & Options Ranking: 80%
Pando Moto Desert Cargo Bike Pants
In the case of motorbike gear, I’ve all the time believed pants are the toughest factor to get proper. You need them to look regular off the bike, really feel snug sufficient for every day put on, and nonetheless supply actual safety if issues go sideways. Earlier this season, I acquired the possibility to journey within the Klim Okay Forty 3 denims, which nailed the stability of refined styling and CE-rated security. I wished to see what else was on the market, particularly for days once I’d slightly have extra pockets and a barely extra rugged look.
That’s what led me to the Pando Moto Desert Cargo pants. They promise CE AA-rated single-layer Cordura® stretch denim, built-in Coolmax® for breathability on heat rides, and a slim cargo minimize that works whether or not you’re within the metropolis or headed out on the backroads for an extended journey via nature.
Curious in the event that they’d substitute my go-to denims, I took them on every day commutes, errands, and longer weekend rides to see how they carry out if you really stay in them.
If you happen to’re on the hunt for a newbie bike, try our listing of Bike Newbies: Examine Out These 10 Newbie Bikes for 2025 too.
Construct & Supplies: Rugged, Fashionable, and Considerate
Unboxing the Pando Moto Desert Cargo pants, the very first thing I seen was how they don’t appear to be typical motorbike gear. As an alternative of the stiff, armored really feel you get from different driving denims, the 12oz Cordura® stretch denim feels tender within the hand and virtually unnoticeable whereas sporting. The added Coolmax® fibers woven into the material trace that these pants are made for riders who don’t simply head out as soon as per week however really stay of their gear.
The cargo styling isn’t cumbersome or overly tactical. Pockets sit flat towards the legs, and triple-stitched seams add sturdiness with out including further visible weight. Which was a aid since I used to be involved they may look awkward when worn, however that’s not the case in any respect. Matte black snaps, sturdy zippers, and chain-stitched reinforcements round stress factors present that Pando actually paid consideration to the main points.
One standout function is the exterior knee armor zip pocket. It’s surprisingly low profile however makes eradicating or adjusting the armor easy, one thing I by no means thought I’d care about till I attempted it. Earlier than this, I all the time needed to flip my pants inside out to take the knee armor out earlier than washing, which was a problem. Right here, it’s genuinely simple. Even the hip armor slides out and in easily and is straightforward to entry.
Flip up the cuffs and also you’ll discover reflective tape neatly tucked away, including a contact of visibility for night time rides with out loudly saying “motorbike gear” throughout the day. Branding is tastefully minimal, with only a small black leather-based patch on the again, nothing flashy.
In complete, there are eight pockets: two commonplace entrance pockets, one massive button pocket on the left leg, one massive zipper pocket with two small button pockets on the appropriate leg, and two pockets on the again. There’s undoubtedly no scarcity of storage right here. Lastly, there’s a useful key loop, good for riders like me who are likely to misplace their keys off the bike.
General, the Desert Cargo pants really feel thoughtfully constructed: rugged sufficient for actual driving, fashionable sufficient for every day put on, and with a design that quietly blends perform and magnificence with out shouting about it.
Design & High quality: 100%
Discovering the Proper Match and Measurement
Ordering driving pants on-line generally is a little bit of a chance. I’ve needed to return pairs that didn’t match proper, dimension up or down relying on the model, and even had my fiancée hem a number of that had been simply method too lengthy out of the field. Whether or not it’s outsized cuts or armor placement throwing issues off, it’s hardly ever a easy course of.
This time round, I made a decision to go along with my true dimension, 32×32, regardless that the product web page talked about a slim match. I used to be actually slightly nervous. I hate when “slim match” seems to imply “skinny denims,” particularly for driving gear. However to my shock, that wasn’t the case in any respect.
The match is spot on. The waist feels cosy however not tight, I may even put on them with no belt, and the legs strike that candy spot between fitted and relaxed. They’ve acquired a slim minimize, however it nonetheless manages to really feel barely free and dishevelled in a great way. There’s zero restriction once I transfer round, and the Cordura® stretch denim helps the whole lot flex naturally on and off the bike.
The knee protectors have two top positions, so you may regulate them to take a seat precisely the place they need to. For the reason that pockets are accessed externally, making adjustments is fast and painless.
If you happen to’ve had sizing points with driving pants previously, this pair may shock you. They’re slim the place it counts, roomy the place you want it, and genuinely snug from the primary put on.
If cargo pants aren’t your cup of tea, try a evaluation on Klims Straight Leg Match Using Jean KLIM Okay Fifty 2 Denims “Legs In” Assessment
Measurement & Match: 100%
Consolation that Lasts All Day
I’ve ridden in loads of totally different pants through the years, and luxury is normally the place a lot of them fall brief. Whether or not it’s stiff material, awkward seams, or armor that digs in, one thing all the time appears to get in the way in which. That’s not the case with the Pando Moto Desert Cargo pants.
These are genuinely a number of the most snug driving pants I’ve worn. The Cordura® stretch denim makes an enormous distinction. They transfer with you, not towards you, whether or not you’re crouching, throwing a leg over the bike, or strolling round at a cease. There’s no pinching, no stiffness, and nothing that restricts your movement.
They’re additionally surprisingly breathable. I’ve worn them on longer rides and through hotter days, and so they handle to remain cool with out feeling skinny or flimsy. The addition of Coolmax® clearly does its job, serving to to wick away moisture and regulate temperature. I by no means felt overly sizzling or like I used to be suffocating in heavy gear.
Even after numerous hours within the saddle, I’ve had zero points with discomfort. No chafing, no sore spots, and no have to continually regulate issues on the bike. The seat space is tender sufficient that you just neglect you’re even sporting driving pants, which says so much.
What I like most is that they don’t really feel like a compromise. You get stable safety, real-world sturdiness, and all-day consolation wrapped into one package deal. These are the sort of pants you may journey in, hand around in, and carry on all day with out dashing to vary out of them.
Consolation: 100%
Safety With out the Bulk
For a pair of pants that really feel this snug and breathable, the Desert Cargo pants supply spectacular safety. They arrive with SAS-TEC TripleFlex CE Degree 1 armor in each the hips and knees, and immediately I seen how slim and versatile the pads are. They’re barely noticeable when strolling round or transferring on the bike, which is precisely what you need from on a regular basis driving gear.
The pants themselves are constructed from 12oz Cordura® stretch denim, and whereas that’s a contact lighter than what you’d discover in additional heavy-duty driving denims, they’re nonetheless CE AA-rated below EN 17092-3. That places them in a stable center floor for cover, providing real-world abrasion resistance with out feeling such as you’re sporting stiff, tactical gear.
One considerate element I actually admire is the reflective materials hidden contained in the cuffs. You gained’t discover it except you flip the hem up, however it provides an additional little bit of visibility for night time rides or low-light conditions, one thing that’s simple to miss in casual-looking gear.
If I had one nitpick, it could be the lack of a tailbone armor pocket. It’s not a deal-breaker, however contemplating how properly the whole lot else is built-in, having that further possibility would’ve been a welcome addition.
No, these gained’t provide the similar armored tank-like really feel as heavyweight pants loaded with CE Degree 2 pads and strengthened panels, however that’s not likely what they’re going for. These are constructed for city driving, every day commutes, and informal weekend rides the place consolation and magnificence matter simply as a lot as safety. And in that class, they do a fantastic job.
Safety: 80%
Function-Wealthy, However at a Value
There’s no query the Pando Moto Desert Cargo pants are a feature-rich, thoughtfully designed pair of driving pants. From the CE AA-rated Cordura® stretch denim to the included SAS-TEC armor, exterior armor entry, reflective detailing, and useful cargo pocket structure, there’s so much packed into one pair.
They’re additionally extraordinarily versatile. Whether or not you’re commuting, working errands, or heading out for an off-the-cuff journey, these pants match proper in with out trying misplaced. The consolation is great, and the styling is low profile sufficient that you could possibly simply put on all of them day with out feeling such as you’re in full-on moto gear.
At $318 USD, they’re undoubtedly on the costly aspect. And whereas they do supply real-world safety, they aren’t probably the most heavy-duty pants on the market. There’s no tailbone armor, and CE Degree 1 is ok for every day driving however gained’t supply the identical peace of thoughts as extra aggressive, strengthened choices.
So is it definitely worth the value? In case your driving model leans extra towards city commutes, every day put on, and light-weight weekend use, then sure, they’re a fantastic funding for gear that appears good, feels nice, and nonetheless retains you protected. However in the event you’re purchasing with protection-to-price ratio in thoughts, there could also be higher worth choices on the market.
Worth for Cash: 80%
Remaining Rating – 92%
Execs:
- Sturdy 12oz Cordura® stretch denim with CE AA-rated safety
- Breathable Coolmax® fibers assist regulate temperature
- Slim cargo design with eight useful pockets
- Straightforward exterior entry to knee and hip armor for fast elimination/adjustment
- Snug match true to dimension with good flexibility and no restriction
- Reflective tape discreetly built-in for higher night time visibility
- Considerate building with strengthened seams and high quality {hardware}
- Snug for all-day put on with no chafing or stiffness
Cons:
- No tailbone armor pocket, limiting full influence safety
- CE Degree 1 armor gives good however not most safety
- Barely expensive at $318 USD, might not match all budgets
Specs
- Producer: Pando Moto
- Value: $318
- Colours: Black, Khaki
- Sizes Out there: 30 x 30, 30 x 32, 31 x 30, 31 x 32, 32 x 30, 32 x 32, 32 x 34, 33 x 30, 33 x 32, 33 x 34, 34 x 30, 34 x 32, 34 x 34, 36 x 32, 36 x 34, 38 x 32
- Assessment Interval: June-August 2025
