We’ve kept a close eye on Saint since they first hit the scene roughly a decade ago. The Australian gear company’s catalog has grown steadily over the years, but one product has remained core to their brand—riding jeans that are both stylish and protective.
Saint’s approach is to use high-tech fabrics with abrasion resistance baked in, producing single-layer garments rather than stacking regular denim over Kevlar. It makes their riding pants not only comfortable, but also stealthy enough to pass for casual wear. I’ve owned, worn, and ridden in several pairs of Saint motorcycle jeans, and they’ve all scored high.
The new Saint Unbreakable Coretec jeans epitomize this approach. At $385 [US] or $549 [Australian], Saint’s new premium denim is their most expensive—but it’s also their most protective, achieving a AAA CE safety rating. Saint sent me a pair in my regular size to see if they live up to the hype.
The Saint Unbreakable Coretec jeans get their name from the fabric that they employ; Coretec. It’s a composite material that uses a lycra core for flexibility, with an outer layer made of recycled cotton. Those two are woven together with UHMWPE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene)—a tough material that’s notable for its high tensile strength, impact resistance, and low friction coefficient.
In the real world, that translates to a 14 oz denim that has the weighty vibe of selvage denim, but is less rigid, with a soft, brushed feel. I picked the Saint Unbreakable Coretec jeans in Saint’s straight fit (there’s a skinny option too), in my regular size, and they fit perfectly—with the caveat that they’re pretty long.
My size 40 jeans have an inseam of 35”, so turning them up is mandatory. Fit-wise, Saint’s straight cut sits loose without being overly baggy. The extra breathing room, plus the flexibility of the Coretec fabric, makes them supremely comfortable—both on and off the bike.
Ultra-thin D30 Ghost armor sits at the hips and the knees, offering CE Level 1 protection while being barely noticeable. That’s less protection than the Level 2 items in some of Saint’s other jeans, but the tradeoff is that the armor is light and malleable enough to be barely noticeable—without hurting the product’s overall AAA rating.
The pads are tucked into pockets made from a soft fabric that’s gentle against your skin, which is a boon for long days in the saddle. The knee pads were a little low for me on my first outing with the Unbreakable Coretec jeans—but I soon realized that there are two height options inside their pockets. A quick adjustment, and they’re now perfectly placed.
Aesthetically, the Saint Unbreakable Coretec jeans hit all the right notes. The denim is a dark, solid black—which should break in nicely if my other Saint jeans are any indication. There’s nothing fancy happening with the trimmings either—you get a standard five-pocket layout, with a few orange stitching highlights and minimal branding.
The only thing missing is a small detail that Saint has added to their Engineered model; a reflective strip inside the leg that reveals itself when you turn up the cuffs. It’s a small consideration, but it’s a great way to crank the safety aspect of these jeans up a notch. I’d add that the hefty denim seems like it’d feel toasty in extreme temperatures—but I haven’t worn them on a hot enough day to say for sure… yet.
Those notes aside, the Saint Unbreakable Coretec jeans’ biggest selling points are really style and comfort. I’m guilty of skimping on gear when it makes me feel constricted or when it makes me look like a squid. The fact that these jeans do neither, means that I’ll keep reaching for them, ride after ride.
Saint | Images by Wes Reyneke
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