Best Motorcycle Chaps: Wrap Your Legs in Leather

Full leather chaps cover your entire leg from the top of your leg down to your ankle or even the bottom of your boots. They have zippers or snaps that extend the entire length of your leg so that you can easily take them on and off. You’ll find the leather quality to vary, but they’re typically made from cow or buffalo hide. The vast majority of chaps are black, but you can find brown too. 

Half chaps extend from just below the knee to your ankle or the bottom of your boots. They can zipper, snap, or lace up. They give you the same level of protection on the bottom half of your legs without being as hot as wearing full chaps. They also take up less room in your saddlebag if you plan to take them off and stow them away. 

You can find chaps in other materials if leather isn’t your taste or style. Ballistic nylon is a common material that will provide you with protection. They may not be as warm as leather options. There are also vinyl options that are lower cost and quality. These look like imitation leather. 

These are soft milled leather chaps that have 1.2 to 1.3 mm thick leather. They have two zippered pockets, one on either side. The bottoms of the chaps are left unfinished so you can trim them to the perfect length.

There are four snaps on the bottom that allow you to get that perfect fit over your boots. Then the zippered pockets make stowing away small items easy and keep them within reach.

Unfortunately, the legs of these chaps tend to run small. This means you’ll need to size up. The pockets can also be awkward if you try to use them when you also have items in your pants pockets.

The leather of these chaps is quite thick, and they are trimmed with silver-toned hardware. Down the side of each leg is braided leather detailing to give them a bit of extra flair.

These chaps are fully lined, which adds to their warmth and comfort. They also have small pockets on the front of them for storing small items. The front has a buckle closure, and the back has a lacing adjustment.

Unfortunately, the pockets don’t have a zipper closure. This makes them unsecured, and you risk whatever you put into them falling out. You’ll also need to size up because these chaps run small. 

These chaps are made from premium cowhide leather and use top-notch stitching to hold them together. There is one front pocket for storing small items. The legs have braided detailing down the outside of the leg. At the bottom of each leg are four snaps.

The premium cowhide leather is high-quality and is highly protective. The braid on the outside makes them beautiful and more stylish than plain chaps. The buckle on the front makes them adjustable.

The leather used to make these chaps make them stiff, and you’ll need a longer break-in period than other chaps. The size chart is also inaccurate, which will make buying the right size a challenge.

The Milwaukee Leather Zippered Chaps are a high-quality pair of chaps that are both functional and protective. 

If you’re on a budget, the Hot Leathers Heavyweight Leather Chaps offer safety and affordability.

Getting chaps in the right size is tricky because they need to fit over the motorcycle pants you intend to wear while riding. This means the sizing will be bigger than your standard clothing. You also need to check each model’s size chart; they all differ. To help with sizing, look for chaps that are adjustable. This will help you get a custom fit. Plan to trim the bottom of your chaps to the right length. This is normal. 

Better quality leather is more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. It’s easier to break in and will conform to your body better. There are also chaps made out of materials other than leather. Look for highly durable materials that are abrasion-resistant. Check the zippers for durability. The zippers will be under stress, so they need to be strong. 

Look for additional features in your chaps. A common one is zippered pockets. This is nice because chaps block the access to your pants pockets, which makes accessing your items virtually impossible while wearing chaps. You should also look for accents like lacing and buckled straps. These allow for custom adjustments.