Firstgear Mesh Tex Pants
4.5
5
13
13
Order big, good summer pants
As others suggested, I ordered a size up, and am glad I did. Once the pants broke in (week of daily commuting) they were very comfortable. Temps under about 55 (F), were a bit cold, temps from 55-80 have been perfect for these pants. Haven't had a chance to experience super warm weather yet.
Knee pads seem to have a very small sweet spot where they fit and stay in place (in relation to you and the bike), while not being uncomfortable. This is my first pair of riding pants though, so maybe all knee pads are like this.
Would recommend
April 30, 2013
Great for the South
This is a quality pair of pants with great features and a wonderful airflow. I live in the southern mountain area, so our temps can vary quite a bit through the day, but it can get HOT. These pants keep me on the bike. I wear light jogging shorts under them & that works well to keep everything cool. The pockets are wonderful! I can keep my phone and wallet in the front, and they go down far enough on my thighs to not restrict air or movement.
I use these for the summer, and then switch to my Joe Rocket Alter Ego 3 season pants for the rest of the year.
They don't have a liner ( I use over-the-pants rain gear for that), so they don't have an inner zipper to mess with. I was able to get the 34x34 mens and have the waist made smaller so that I could get the length I need. If you need to have your pants altered, these are easy.
I've used them for one season, put about 8K miles on them and they're still fresh as a daisy. I highly recommend these pants.
December 8, 2012
Firstgear Mesh Tex Pants - Great Textile Pants
I really wanted the "Spidi NL5 Mesh Men's Textile Pants", bought them and had to return them. No way would they ever fit in any size, same way with "Dainese" pants, and "X-Trousers NAMIB ll". So I would say Firstgear was my last choice, but they had short sizes. Wow I'm really surprised, they look good and they're very well made! Very happy with them.
September 14, 2012
Odd Things Are Afoot at Firstgear
Being on the cusp of most companies' regular sizes, I ordered a tall size as well as the regular. What I received were two very different pairs of pants, despite both being labeled as Mesh Tex Pants not only on the bags in which they came but also on the tags sewn into the pants themselves.
The regular had thick and substantial foam armor in adjustable pockets for the knees and also in the hip. The tall, however, came with very thin (0.25") and spongy "armor" in the knees, in non-adjustable pockets, and hips.
Much less consequentially, the overall styling (pocket, logo, venting placement) was different from the regular to the tall.
I suspect that this is a manufacturing variance from regular to tall, but why? Taller people need less protection and don't need it adjustable? I say "suspect" because I emailed Firstgear 7-10 days ago and have not heard back from them. Before that, I tried calling them multiple times, but the number they so proudly emblazon on their pieces and call attention to in their product videos goes straight to voicemail every time. Frustrating.
Despite all this, the pants seem squarely in the decent range. I wish that even the regular had better armor (in fact, I cannibalized some hard plastic armor from an old pair of pants) and these are some of the more minimalist pants I've come across. Ventilation should be on par with jeans or a smidge better, but I can't say I've ridden in anything above 85° in them yet.
July 2, 2012
SIZE TO FIT
I want to clarify waist size for this product. I wear a size 32 waist wrangler jean. I ordered the 32 waist first gear mesh and they fit perfect for summer riding. I also ordered the 34 waist first gear mesh and I am able to wear my wranglers under them for fall and cold weather riding. This product is excellent and true to size. 6/6/2012
June 6, 2012
Very high quality
Luckily, I haven't gone down in these. They seem to have armor and tougher material in all the right places, though, based on the research I've done on leg injuries (and discussions with an ER nurse friend). They ventilate well, yet they also work surprisingly well over a pair of pants on a cooler day. I ordered one size up (normally wear a 34", ordered a 36") because I plan to wear them over shorts in the summer. They fit perfectly and have a very comfortable waist. Abundant pockets. They have the dork factor of motorcycle pants off the bike, but they definitely look less dorky than some I've seen. I am 6'2", 205 pounds. The 36"W x Tall fit absolutely perfectly over a pair of pants or shorts.
May 7, 2012
Nice looking, nice fitting pants with good ventilation.
One of the best features of these pants is how they look and fit. Unlike many motorcycle pants that bag and sag and make you feel like you are wearing a sack full of lumpy armour, these pants fit almost like your favorite jeans and look great. Even though they are made of mesh, they feel strong and substantial -- very well put together. Air flow through them is, of course, limited by any wind protection (fairing) your bike may have. I ride a BMW K1200GT sport-touring bike, and the pants have been comfortable in the mid-90's weather we have had in Phoenix so far this year. The knee area, which points most prominently into the windstream, is covered with a solid (not mesh) nylon panel that blocks air flow, so ventilation is, for the most part, limited to the shin and thigh areas. Because there is plenty of room in the knees, I'm not completely confident that the knee armour would stay centered over the knee in the event of a crash but I have no intention of testing that. These pants ride high on the waist, not down on the hips where you would wear jeans, so take into account your belly when you are ordering your size. I wear a size 32 waist in jeans, but a size 34 in these pants fits perfectly. Unless you have a very flat abdomen, order an inch or two larger in the waist than you would wear in hip-hugging jeans.
April 30, 2012
Excellent protection with ample ventilation. Surprisingly comfortable.
This product does exactly what it is meant to do: keep your skin covered in case you get into an “oh no” moment on your bike and keep you cool enough while your legs are covered on warm / hot days. This product is exactly as described. Buy with confidence! Order the same size you would normally wear.
April 16, 2012
Firstgear Women's Mesh Tex Pants
$170.96
Firstgear HT Air Overpants
$224.95
Tour Master Venture Air Pants
$175.49
Joe Rocket Phoenix 3.0 Pants
$134.99
Olympia Recon 3 Mesh Pants
$179.99
REV'IT! Airwave Pants
$199.99
Olympia Renegade Pants
$179.99
