Klim makes a bewildering array of adventure and enduro pants.
We are planning a lot of long adventure rides internationally.
So we recently got the Klim Baja s4 jackets.
But we made different decisions when it came to the pants.
Me? I ran with the matching Baja S4 pants.
I already have existing pants with a lot of ventilation for summer riding.
The Baja pants are Klim's mid-priced option for year-round adventure riding....
enough ventilation to cope with warm weather, but still work well in cooler conditions.
Jeff opted for the Dakar pants.
These have more ventilation, a lighter fabric and a cheaper price.
They are biased toward dual sport riding,
light adventure riding, and even possibly some enduro riding.
After a few months of riding, we think both pants fit
here on the spectrum between enduro and adventure.
It's worth noting that the Dakar pants also have an
in-the-boot option which makes them even better for enduro riding.
Why are the Baja pants more suited for adventure riding?
And why do they cost more?
The materials are heavier and more abrasion-resistant.
There is a mix of 750D and 1000D Cordura material which meets the AA rating under the CE system.
Very few adventure pants meet this standard.
Many don't even meet the basic A standard, if any at all.
The Baja pants have ventilated stretch fabric in key areas.
There is D30 armour around the hips and knees.
This is rated to level 1 under the CE system.
There is a zip which allows connection with Klim adventure jackets.
You have adjustment at the waist and also the lower leg.
The Dakar pants have similar features.
Goat leather on the inside knee.
Scotchlite reflective fabric for safety.
Stretch fabric in key areas.
And an added bonus is being able to open two long zippered vents
for great ventilation in hot weather.
So why the lower price?
The 630D and 840D Cordura panels are still very abrasion-resistant
but not enough to obtain a CE rating.
There are pockets for armour, but the D30 armour needs to be purchased separately.
Before you buy the knee armour, check to see if it will sit properly!
Some riders find they buy the armour but it sits below or above the knee.
The waist is adjustable, but there's no adjustment across the lower leg.
Regular viewers will know we are always keen to find problems when we review products.
But after several months both pants have proved to be flawless...
so far.
Extremely comfortable.
The quality of construction is great.
When a lot of cheap gear is coming from China nowadays,
Klim is manufacturing most of their gear in Vietnam.
We wear knee braces, and there is plenty of room around the knees in this regard.
As usual, I googled for problems and read owner comments on various forums.
The Baja pants?
Almost all owners raved about them.
However, one complained and said he didn't think they were ventilated enough in really hot weather.
This sounds more like a poor choice to me.
Why didn't he buy the Klim Induction jacket instead?
The Baja pants?
Again, almost all rave reviews.
One owner felt the lighter materials used in recent designs are too light.
But others disagreed and said the pants are as tough as ever but just lighter...
and they still meet the tough AA rating of the CE standard.
Quite a few riders pointed out the positioning of the pockets for knee armour
don't work for everyone, and strap-on knee guards are the solution.
This did apply for the Dakar pants as well.
Do you use either of these pants?
Let us know the good, the bad and the ugly.
And remember we always post long-term comments in the pinned first comment
of our reviews on Youtube.