Bike pants not suitable for the occasion, or are you looking for a new pair of jeans to wear on your cycling commute?
If so, you’re in luck!
We’ve put together a list of the best bike jeans available today.
Whether you’re looking for a casual pair of jeans or something more performance-oriented, we’ve got you covered.
Our top-rated jeans are the DUER Performance Denim Relaxed Fit Jeans, which address most imaginable challenges that denim poses for bike riders.
We’ll also tell you what to look for in the best jeans for cycling so you can shop with confidence.
Keep reading to learn more!
Top 9 Best Bike Jeans For Cycling
In the list below, there are cycling jeans for all genders and budgets.
These are all great choices if you want a casual look on your ride into work.
1. DUER Performance Denim Relaxed Fit Jeans (best overall)
- For: Men
- Pockets: 3 front, 2 rear
- Good for: Lightness, strength, stretch, wicking, odor control
DUER Performance Denim Relaxed Fit Jeans boast a raft of features that make them perfect for bike commuting.
They’re 30% lighter and 30% stronger than regular jeans as well as having 5x the stretch.
Like most good cycling jeans, these jeans provide extra room in the thighs and knees to allow for movement.
They have a gusset in the seat that also enables more motion than standard jeans.
With their 28% COOLMAX polyester content, these cycling jeans are efficient in wicking moisture away from the body.
They also benefit from Silvadur™ antimicrobial silver ion treatment for effective odor neutralization.
2. Van Denride Amsterdam Slim Cycling Jeans
- For: Men
- Pockets: 2 front, 2 rear
- Good for: stretchable, thermal insulation, breathable, waterproof, reflective detail
Few cycling jeans are as “technical” as the stylish Van Denride Amsterdam Slim Cycling Jeans.
They’re made in Spain from a high-performance Tejidos Royo fabric that is essentially waterproof (10,000 mm water column), warm, and yet breathable.
Features in these jeans include a large loop for carrying U-locks, 3M reflective detailing in the turn-up leg ends, and a secure pocket for your smartphone.
Considering how tailor-made these stylish jeans are for cycling and your bike commutes, they offer great value for money.
3. prAna Bridger Men’s Performance Jeans
- For: Men
- Pockets: 3 front, 2 rear
- Good for: stretchable, durable, slim fit, organic cotton, color choice
The stretchy prAna Bridger Men’s Performance Jeans are ideal go-to commuting and work jeans.
They’re ethically made with a material that’s 75% organic cotton, and they contain that all-important 2% Spandex content for free movement.
These jeans are available in a wide range of colors, too, so you needn’t stick to the same old hue!
How about Embark Brown or Indie Blue?
For a reasonable price, you get a stylish, functional pair of jeans.
4. Levi’s 511 Slim Men’s Jeans
- For: Men
- Pockets: 3 front, 2 rear
- Good for: high-stretch denim, slim fit, sustainable manufacturing
Though they’re not cycling-specific jeans, Levi’s 511 Slim Jeans are made with a 1% elastane content for stretchability that helps you move on a bike or on foot.
And, well, they’re iconic 511s that you can ride in!
In addition to Levi’s partnership with the Better Cotton Initiative to promote better worldwide cotton farming, these jeans are made with Water<Less technology.
That means 96% less water is used in the finishing process.
These jeans have a classic 5-pocket style and feature a zip fly.
They come in a wide variety of colors.
5. Lee Performance Series Extreme Motion Athletic Fit Men’s Jeans
- For: Men
- Pockets: 3 front, 2 rear
- Good for: stretch fabric, flex waistband
Comfort and flexibility are the hallmarks of Lee Extreme Motion Athletic Fit Men’s Jeans.
They feature a flexible waistband that doesn’t bind to your waist, and that’s a good thing if you’re carrying some stubborn ballast around the midriff.
Aside from the flex waistband, the 2% elastane content in these jeans contributes to their “performance stretch’ for walking, biking, or other activities.
These stylish Lee jeans have a classic 5-pocket design, meaning two pockets front and rear and the extra watch pocket at the front.
They’re also available in a choice of colors.
6. Levi’s Athletic-Fit Men’s 541 Jeans
- For: Men
- Pockets: 3 front, 2 rear
- Good for: extra room in seat & thigh, All Seasons Technology, tapered legs
Especially good for keen cyclists with well-developed quads, Levi’s Athletic-Fit Men’s 541 Jeans give you that casual look you might want for a commute.
All Seasons technology in some versions of athletic-fit 541 jeans makes them equally comfortable on warm and cold days alike.
This tech utilizes a hollow fiber in the denim that uses air as insulation.
You can also find this model of jean made with eco-friendly Water<Less technology (as previously discussed).
Choose from the many colors and fabric compositions available if you want specific Levi’s features!
7. Pearl Izumi Rove Cycling Jeans
- For: Men, Women
- Pockets: 3 front, 2 rear
- Good for: PI Dry technology, organic materials, zippered pocket
Pearl Izumi is a respected cycling brand known for bike clothing, and the Rove Cycling Jeans uphold that reputation.
They’re comfortable to wear on the bike thanks to features like a forward-placed inseam and a four-way stretch material.
A great feature of these jeans is their use of Pearl Izumi’s PI Dry technology, a long-lasting water repellent.
It’s said to last for the lifetime of the product.
Other useful features of the Pearl Izumi Rove Cycling Jeans include BioViz reflective elements to help you stay visible in failing light, and a zippered watch pocket for stowing small valuables.
8. Mission Workshop The Mission Cycling Jeans
CHECK PRICE AT MISSION WORKSHOP
- For: Men
- Pockets: 3 front, 2 rear
- Good for: extreme 4-way stretch, wicking, breathable, water repellent, soft
Perhaps the most expensive jeans on this list but certainly among the coolest, The Mission Cycling Jeans are exactly what you need for stylish rides into work.
As good as they look, there’s a lot of technical stuff going on beneath the surface (and on it).
The jeans are made with a stretch-woven fabric by Mectex M.I.S. at a mill near Lake Como.
They tick the “Italian-made” box so often linked with quality. And high-quality they are.
The extreme 4-way stretch capability does not diminish their strength or durability.
For those that like to push themselves on a bike, even on commutes, you’ll be glad of the breathability and wicking qualities of these jeans.
You won’t be slow-cooked in them.
Neither will you be soaked in rainfall, thanks to their water-repellant DWR finish.
9. Vulpine Omnia Men’s Indigo Cycling Jean
- For: Men
- Pockets: 3 front, 2 rear
- Good for: extreme 4-way stretch, wicking, breathable, water repellent, soft
Despite their casual looks, the Vulpine Omnia Men’s Indigo Cycling Jeans are anything but carefree in their design.
They’re loaded with cycling-specific features that will help make bike commutes comfortable and fun.
Made from 11.2oz raw denim with a relaxed cut, the Omnia jeans look as good off the bike as they do on it.
Functionally, a 2% elastane content provides a certain amount of give, and there are knee darts (extra material at the knees) for free movement.
Also adding to comfort is the raised rear waistband, so you don’t expose your back to the cold whilst riding.
A diamond gusset makes your ride more comfortable, too, and reduces stresses on the material.
What Features Make For Good Cycling Jeans?
Before World War Two, denim jeans were valued mainly for their durability and were so tough they had to be “broken in”.
Today, the fabrics used in making jeans are more technical and sophisticated, so all kinds of qualities are possible.
Stretch & Stretchability
Stretch jeans typically include 1 to 3% of elastane (or Spandex or Lycra) in the material.
This quality alone makes them better suited to cycling, though you’ll need other features if you want to maximize durability and comfort.
You have to be careful not to wash such jeans at high temperatures, as this will kill their elasticity.
As well, buying tight-fitting jeans is a way of pre-empting a little permanent stretch (known as “bagging out”) and ending up with a perfect fit.
Some cycling jeans use a 4-way stretch fabric that recovers its shape well and may not require you to err on the tight side.
Gussets & Knee Darts (Articulated Knees)
Other features that help with comfort and improve durability include gussets and knee darts.
Gussets are a diamond-shaped piece of material in the crotch area that avoids the discomfort of four seams meeting tightly together.
Knee darts are extra material in the knee that provides space for your knees to occupy when bent.
Back Rise & Binding
The waist area is important in cycling jeans, especially if you’re leaning forward on a bike.
A low front and a flexible waist band prevent the jeans from cutting into your waist as you ride (aka binding).
At the rear of the jeans, a slightly higher cut known as “back rise” helps keep you covered as you lean forward.
Reinforcement & Padding
Reinforced pockets and patches are quite common on the seat of cycling jeans.
Naturally, this is the area where material is likely to wear out the fastest.
In rare instances, jeans may have a thin chamois sewn into their interior seat area for extra padding.
Reflective Details
Many cycling jeans are made with reflective details, often sited on the rolled-up cuffs above the ankles.
Speaking of cuffs on jeans: they’re an effective way to avoid the material getting caught or soiled by the chain.
However, they’re not always necessary on slim tapered jeans, where there isn’t much material to snag.
Wicking & Breathability
Materials that wick moisture and breathe are desirable if you’ll be pedaling frantically to work, especially in summer.
But then you might go for shorts?
It’s the inclusion of materials other than cotton that allow wicking and will help jeans to dry quickly after rainfall (polyester, for instance).
Durability
Cycling jeans are bound to wear down with repeated use, but some materials are abrasion-resistant and have a vastly longer expected lifespan than regular denim.
One such example is the Cordura material used in Swrve jeans.
Video: About Cordura Jeans
Cycling Jeans FAQs
Here are a few commonly asked questions on the topic of cycling jeans:
Can You Ride A Bicycle In A Pair Of Jeans?
You can ride a bicycle in any jeans, though regular non-stretch jeans may restrict your movement and even make it hard to mount or dismount the bike.
Are Cycling Jeans Water Resistant?
Some cycling jeans are robustly water resistant, but many aren’t.
Even when they aren’t, cycling-specific jeans should be much quicker drying than standard 100% cotton jeans.
Read more: Waterproof bike pants reviewed
What Else Are Cycling Jeans Good For?
You can do anything in cycling jeans that you might in regular jeans, though you may prefer to keep them for biking days to preserve their lifespan.
Are Cycling Jeans Going To Wear Out With Lots Of Bike Riding?
Undoubtedly they will wear out, but some cycling jeans are made with ultra-durable materials that could last you for many years.
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