Cargo pants look like the obvious pick for a rider: roomy, comfortable and full of pockets. Whether cargo pants for motorcycle riding work in practice depends on the cut, not the name. Everyday cargos are made for walking, while a riding cargo trouser is made for a bent knee, a seat and a footpeg. This guide explains the difference and what to check before you buy.
Are Cargo Pants for Motorcycle Riding a Good Idea?
It depends which cargo pants you mean. A pair from a high street or workwear shop will get you to the end of the road, and plenty of people ride a short hop in them. But they are cut for standing and walking, and a bike shows up four weak spots quickly:
- Loose legs. Baggy fabric flaps in the wind and can catch on a footpeg or brush the chain.
- Big bellows pockets. A flap closed by a press stud sits proud of the leg and can swing open when you lean.
- Soft cotton twill. It is comfortable, but it is not woven for riding, and it soaks up rain and sweat.
- A walking cut. There is little room at the knee and seat, so the fabric pulls and the waist gaps when you lean forward.
A riding cargo trouser keeps the look and fixes each of those on purpose.
What Makes a Cargo Cut Work on a Bike
Four details separate a riding cargo from the everyday kind, and you can check all four on a product page or in a shop.
- Stretch where you bend. Real stretch lets the knee and seat move as you sit instead of pulling tight. The RoadVault cargo trousers use 4-way stretch for freedom of movement in the seated position.
- Pockets that lie flat and close. Look for pockets cut to sit against the thigh and closed with a zip or a flap, rather than loose bags of fabric.
- A hem that adjusts. An adjustable ankle cuff lets the leg settle over the boot, so nothing hangs near the chain. If a hem does brush it, our guide to getting chain lube out of trousers covers the clean-up.
- Air when you need it. Zipped vent panels open in traffic and close again on an open road, and the RoadVault is vented for summer riding.
Together, those four details decide whether a cargo pair is comfortable for a full day on the bike, or only for the walk to the shop.
How to Check the Fit Before You Ride
Try cargo trousers the way you will ride in them. Sit on the bike, or on a chair with your knees bent to the same angle, and run through this list:
- Knee and seat. The fabric should not pull tight across the knee or ride up the back of the thigh.
- Waist. Lean forward and check there is no gap at the back. Loaded pockets pull the waistband down, so decide whether you need a belt or braces, as our guide to motorcycle trouser braces explains.
- Pockets. Fill them as you would on a ride and check they still lie flat and do not press into your thigh.
- Hem and boot. The hem should sit over the boot with nothing hanging loose.
Do the check in the boots you ride in, because boot height changes where the hem lands.
Which Cargo Cut Suits You?
Cargo is a range, not one style. At one end is the full cargo with big thigh pockets, which is the RoadVault above, in men's and women's fits. In the middle, the Sentinel riding trousers have a straight leg and a cargo pocket, in black, olive, grey or sand, in a Nyco fabric that is light, breathable and holds its shape. At the other end, the Redback riding jeans add cargo-style pockets to stretch denim with a breathable mesh lining, in three leg lengths.
Off the bike, the RoadVault passes for an ordinary pair of cargos and the Redback for dark jeans. Our guide to casual motorcycle trousers shows how to wear them away from the bike.
Common Questions
Can you wear normal cargo pants on a motorcycle?
You can, but everyday cargos are cut for walking. Baggy legs and loose pocket flaps catch the wind and can snag on the footpeg, and soft cotton is not woven for riding. A riding cargo adds stretch, closed pockets and an adjustable hem.
What is the difference between cargo pants and cargo motorcycle trousers?
The pocket look is the same. Cargo motorcycle trousers add stretch where you bend, pockets that lie flat and close, an ankle cuff that adjusts over the boot and, on some pairs, vents for warm days.
Should cargo trousers for riding be loose or fitted?
Close, not tight. You want room to bend a knee and lean forward, with as little spare fabric as possible to catch the wind or a footpeg. Check the fit sitting down, as above.
From the range
Two more cargo-style cuts to look at
NORDRYK Sentinel — Motorcycle Trousers
A straight leg with a cargo pocket and a strap at each hem, in black, olive, grey or sand.
See the Sentinel →
NORDRYK Redback — Motorcycle Jeans
Stretch denim with cargo-style pockets and a breathable mesh lining, in black or blue.
See the Redback →