Dainese Charger Jeans

We measured a sampling of these jeans of different waist sizes and lengths and find they are much like other jeans you’d buy these days. They are just a bit “vanity” sized in the waist. Across the size run, the actual measured waist is just about 2” larger than the stated size which is typical vanity sizing. And of course these are denim and may shrink just a tad too. The jeans have the Pro-Shape hip protectors already installed in the pants. The hip armor is quite thin and flexible and I don’t think they make a difference in the size choice of jeans. So my overall advice would be to buy the waist size you normally wear in jeans; you’ll likely find a fit. If you aren’t sure whether your jeans are vanity sized like I’m describing, then either measure your waist where your normal jeans ride or measure your favorite pair of jeans to verify. You’ll probably find that you measure out a bit bigger than your normal jeans size and also the waist of your favorite jeans measures out an inch or two bigger than their stated size. If so, you will be on track following my advice.

The inseam lengths measured out to be generous. In the smaller jeans, the inseam of about 33”, the mid-sized jeans were about 34.5” and the larger jeans topped out at about 36”. Again, the jeans will probably shrink a bit, but even so, these inseam measurements are generous. The pant legs are a simple design and could be hemmed or rolled up.

Need help measuring? Get it here.

The Dainese Charger jeans seem to have just about every feature I’ve seen in other models of Dainese jeans. The protection package is very robust and the fit is standard.

The overall fit of these jeans is standard… not skinny and not baggy. The legs taper to a straight cut. The fly and waist close with buttons. The overall look of these jeans is the closest to a traditional riding pant than any of the other jeans I’ve seen from Dainese. The expansion panel in the crotch is made of stretchy material often found in riding jackets and suits and the armor inserts through exterior zippers just above the knee, but otherwise they look like standard jeans with patch pockets in back and hand pockets in front. The denim in these pants is a bit less “washed” than most others and they just a bit of a shine to them.

The armor installed in the knee pocket is their “E1 protector” armor. This armor is pretty robust and gives more protection and coverage than the thin/flexible Pro-Shape style found in many of their jeans. You might see the armor through the denim when you sit, but it works well with the overall look and gives more confidence. If you look at these pants on the inside, you can see the yellow Aramid woven into the denim and there is a strip of Kevlar fabric in the seat. The pants are equipped with the Pro-Shape hip armor already, so there is nothing else to buy.

For those that want the comfort of a jean, but want something more robust and like the styling to be more “motorcyclist”, then I think you’ll like this model. The MSRP is a bit more than the others, but consider that both knee armor and hip armor are included. :: Paul, 07-31-19

Dainese says: Dainese’s new top denim riding pant, the Charger offers incredible protection for a jean thanks to the fabric woven with aramid fiber yarn, coming not only with rigid protection at the knee but also Pro-Shape soft armor at the hips. There are DuPont™ Kevlar® internal reinforcements, and just like Dainese’s leather race suits, the Charger features comfortable S1 bi-elastic fabric at the crotch.