Decisions, Decisions...

[Heywood]

With Aerostitch offering 25% off, I'm having a tough time deciding between a pair of RC pants or Darien, not interested in full suit. Owners of either please chime in.
I ride about 13,000 mi/year, year round in temperatures from ~30*F in winter mornings to afternoons of 70*. I mainly commute (Versys), all highway, but also take a couple 1000 mile trips each year. Light sprinkle doesn't bother me but if it's truly raining I take the truck (2 days only so far this year). Current pants are Tourmaster Caliber 2. While I like them enough, the side zips are infuriating and I spend several minutes wrestling on each side un-catching the zip from the internal storm flap. If the MP 1000D Cordura pants were waterproof w/o a liner they would be a major success.
I'm looking for pants that will keep me warm enough on the 40 minute a.m. ride with minimal layering and be comfortable enough to spend all day in. I use MP mesh pants when temps heat up here in the valley so these aren't year round wear, just when the temps are too cold for mesh gear.
The zip on/off feature of the RC's is appealing, my MP mesh are like this and I love it. Extra reinforcement is also nice with the RC's but the appearance / fit of the Darien is calling for around town/commute. Arrrrgh!
Ok enough rambling, what say you?

 

[boney]

My roadcrafter pants are made to zip to a roadcradter jacket. It has a zipper half all the way around the top seam.

The Darien pants, if I'm not mistaken, are full side zip on the out seam, with a storm flap. They will be more water resistant than the RC pants which zip on the inseam and still require you to step through them.

The RC pants are a bit more fitted, the Darien a bit looser.

If I were to buy a stand alone pair of pants, I'd get the Darien. Only because they're not specifically designed to be part of a suit.

 

[295566]

Why do you not want a full suit?

 

[fubar929]

I would think the zipper that sticks out the top of the Roadcrafter pants would be annoying if it weren't zipped to a Roadcrafter jacket. You might also consider the AD1 pants. Aerostich says the Darien fits like khakis, while the AD1 fits like a pair of jeans. Personally, I think you'd be crazy not to buy a 1-piece suit...

 

[RVFRick]

I would think the zipper that sticks out the top of the Roadcrafter pants would be annoying if it weren't zipped to a Roadcrafter jacket. You might also consider the AD1 pants. Aerostich says the Darien fits like khakis, while the AD1 fits like a pair of jeans. Personally, I think you'd be crazy not to buy a 1-piece suit...

Good advice from the man that let me try his stich for fit. I am now an Aerostich convert. My Roadcrafter Classic one-piece is versatile, practical and protective. Though I understand it may not be for everyone. I'm now 50:50 between usage of leathers and Stich. Used to be 80:20.

 

[bikeama]

I have a Darin jacket and pants. Wear the Jacket 100% of the time, I have a Hi-Vis light. Pants are great with full zips on the outside of each leg. I like being able to just take the jacket off when I get to a restaurant for lunch.

But I am tempted at 25% off to get an R3 light. I had a one-piece classic for a few months but it was just too hot with the linning in the valley.

 

[Heywood]

Why do you not want a full suit?

I like the versatility of Jacket and pants and I really like my jackets and mesh MP pants.

 

[Heywood]

I would think the zipper that sticks out the top of the Roadcrafter pants would be annoying if it weren't zipped to a Roadcrafter jacket. You might also consider the AD1 pants. Aerostich says the Darien fits like khakis, while the AD1 fits like a pair of jeans. Personally, I think you'd be crazy not to buy a 1-piece suit...

From what I can tell from the AS website is that the AD1 pants are a different material than the RC and Darien. Their site states the AD1's are HT denier and are either 500 or 600 weight depending on what page you look at. The RC and Darien are 500D Cordura. While 25% is a good deal cost is still a factor as another reason against the full suit.

 

[Quahog]

I have a pair of the Darrien and the AD1 light pants and I love them both.

I wore the AD1 pants on a long trip last June through the Pacific Northwest and Canada. I hit every kind of weather imaginable, including snow, sleet, and rain, with temperatures ranging from a low of 35 degrees to a high of 100+ degrees and they performed flawlessly. Throughout my trip I wore them over an ECWCS base layer long pant and I was comfortable in every kind of weather.

They fit great and are very comfortable.

 

[Beanzy]

If you're on the thin side, check out the REV'IT! Tornado 3 Pants -- come with a waterproof liner that keeps in the warmth. With an RC or Darien, you have to wear long johns to stay warm.

I liked the Rev'it pants I wore with my RC jacket. Plus the pants are stylish instead of bulky ugly like the RC and Darien pants.

 

[Heywood]

I have a pair of the Darrien and the AD1 light pants and I love them both.

I wore the AD1 pants on a long trip last June through the Pacific Northwest and Canada. I hit every kind of weather imaginable, including snow, sleet, and rain, with temperatures ranging from a low of 35 degrees to a high of 100+ degrees and they performed flawlessly. Throughout my trip I wore them over an ECWCS base layer long pant and I was comfortable in every kind of weather.

They fit great and are very comfortable.

So having both, is the material the same between the pants or is the AD1 different? I initially had the AD1's in the mix but not knowing what HT material is they were eliminated. The AD1's are full length side zip too, correct? Why did you take the AD1's and not the Darien's on the trip?

Thanks all for the responses, talking this through is helping.

 

[Heywood]

If you're on the thin side, check out the REV'IT! Tornado 3 Pants -- come with a waterproof liner that keeps in the warmth. With an RC or Darien, you have to wear long johns to stay warm.

I liked the Rev'it pants I wore with my RC jacket. Plus the pants are stylish instead of bulky ugly like the RC and Darien pants.

Thanks, I looked at their jacket at one point but I'm not on the thin side and I'd have to use a liner with the pants, if did that I'd do the MP pants.

 

[ST Guy]

Darien!

 

[Beanzy]

Thanks, I looked at their jacket at one point but I'm not on the thin side and I'd have to use a liner with the pants, if did that I'd do the MP pants.

Just checked. Their pants come in all sizes, from skinny to really big, from short to too tall.

Even on cold days, as I recall, I didn't always wear the liners. The pants are super. But then again, I had two pairs of Cayennes. Even in one serious get-off, the pants held up remarkably well. But the RC jacket took a couple of rips from the metal thingee in the upper left pocket. That's why I was not too impressed with the RC jacket material-- not road rash proof.

 

[Heywood]

I have a Darin jacket and pants. Wear the Jacket 100% of the time, I have a Hi-Vis light. Pants are great with full zips on the outside of each leg. I like being able to just take the jacket off when I get to a restaurant for lunch.

But I am tempted at 25% off to get an R3 light. I had a one-piece classic for a few months but it was just too hot with the linning in the valley.

Bill, I just noticed the zippers on the Darien pants seem like they work in reverse of what I think they should. They disconnect at the bottom of the pant and zip up? How do keep them up when you're trying to put them on when both sides are unzipped? lol

 

[bikeama]

Bill, I just noticed the zippers on the Darien pants seem like they work in reverse of what I think they should. They disconnect at the bottom of the pant and zip up? How do keep them up when you're trying to put them on when both sides are unzipped? lol

They zip closed from the top to the bottom.

About 8 Inched of velcro on the top for the flap over the zipper keeps you from unzipping all the way. There is a snap at the bottom if you want to be sure the zipper does not come up (open), I never use the snap and have not had a problem. Easy to put the pants on with boots on.

 

[Heywood]

They zip closed from the top to the bottom.

About 8 Inched of velcro on the top for the flap over the zipper keeps you from unzipping all the way. There is a snap at the bottom if you want to be sure the zipper does not come up (open), I never use the snap and have not had a problem. Easy to put the pants on with boots on.

Thanks! The pics on the website are confusing. I'm kicking myself now for not going to the pop-up event in Vacaville :mad

 

[bergmen]

I have a pair of the Darrien and the AD1 light pants and I love them both.

I wore the AD1 pants on a long trip last June through the Pacific Northwest and Canada. I hit every kind of weather imaginable, including snow, sleet, and rain, with temperatures ranging from a low of 35 degrees to a high of 100+ degrees and they performed flawlessly. Throughout my trip I wore them over an ECWCS base layer long pant and I was comfortable in every kind of weather.

They fit great and are very comfortable.

I agree on the AD1 pants. They are absolutely fantastic in all weather, I don't even know they are there (no discomfort). I did find that I had to order them one size larger in the waist than my jeans. My first pair was the same size (40") and were an SOB to get on and were not that comfortable. Sold them after one ride and bought a pair of 42". Perfect.

Dan

 

[davidji]

My roadcrafter pants are made to zip to a roadcradter jacket. It has a zipper half all the way around the top seam.

Yeah. I was interested in a RC 2-piece until I realized the trousers don't really stay up on their own. They do have a suspenders setup for it if you weren't wearing it with an RC jacket. But it doesn't seem like something you'd buy except as part of a 2-piece Roadcrafter suit.

 

[Whammy]

Whammy says to go for broke and get it all!
You can close this thread now :teeth