Five of the best... motorcycle trousers for short legs

Only one of the first 13 reviewers docked a star from these slim-fitting denim jeans, which are lined at the seat, hips and knees with genuine Kevlar abrasion-resistant material. There’s knee armour to the basic Level 1 of CE, which is height-adjustable to get the right coverage, and pockets for optional knee armour (add £17-£20). They’re available in blue or black and waist sizes 30in-44in, with all those sizes having 30in as the short leg option. Overall, they meet the basic A grade within the CE safety standard.

The first 10 customers to review Oxford’s waterproof textile jeans all gave perfect marks, which is a great start. The Hinterland jeans use Oxford’s Dry2Dry membrane, which is laminated to the nylon outer shell for better waterproofing and faster drying. It also means opening the zip vents lets a lot of air through (remember to close them in the rain, though). The short leg option is for 30in inside legs, and that is the same across the whole range of waist sizes.

Only four reviewers out of the first 56 gave these denim jeans less than five stars, which is quite some record. Two things scream out of the reviews… these jeans are very stretchy, and also so generous in their sizing that it’s best to order a size smaller than you would normally. The protection is integrated into the denim rather than sitting as a separate liner and there’s hip and knee armour that’s certified to the higher Level 2 of CE. The 30in short leg option covers all waist sizes from 30in up to 44in.

Of the first 77 riders to post a review of these adventure-touring textile jeans, only five gave less than five stars. They’re the matching trousers for RST’s popular adventure jacket and they have a combined thermal/waterproof liner that can be taken out in one piece. They’re laden with vents for strong airflow and have knee armour that meets the higher Level 2 within CE. Waist sizes range from 30in to 44in and all of them have a short leg that’s 30in. They also have a respected Recommended tag from product magazine RiDE.

These denim jeans meet the basic Level A of the CE standard and are made from Cordura Stretch denim, providing some all-round abrasion resistance that’s backed up by Kevlar patches inside the knees and seat for extra protection. Buyers praise the comfort and the discrete looks, saying these jeans don’t stand out as bike gear. That’s helped by the clever way the supplied knee armour lives in a zipped pocket that can be accessed while you’re still wearing the jeans. They come in black or blue denim and all waist sizes from 30-44in have the short-leg option at 30in inside leg.