With autumn here and winter approaching, your lighter-weight riding jeans return to the closet, and it’s time for something warmer. The Joe Rocket Anthem jeans are an excellent choice for tackling the cooler riding days of the year.
Joe Rocket Anthem jeans are undoubtedly comfortable. They use 12-ounce stretch denim—98/2 polyester/elastane—that manages to feel more like jeans than leggings. There’s also an accordion panel at the back yoke to ensure the flexibility needed to be comfortable on everything from a sport bike to a cruiser.
Aramid fiber is used on the front and back, from the waist to below the knees. This full coverage should keep abrasion injuries at bay—we don’t crash-test them.
We would feel better if the Anthem jeans had a CE certification rating. Without that rating, the protection level falls into the “trust us” category. Fortunately, Joe Rocket has a good reputation, so we feel confident riding in them. Impact protection for the knees and hips does have the CE stamp of approval—at the highest Level 2, which gives us peace of mind.
The Aramid fiber that protects your legs and posterior, also keeps your legs warm. The Joe Rocket Anthem jeans are not something we pull out of the closet in the summer; the Joe Rocket Accelerator jeans flow much more air and are the hot ticket for higher temperatures. This is being written in November, so it’s time to slip on the Anthem jeans for rides around town and out into the hinterlands. These are versatile jeans for casual sport riding, cruising, and touring.
Joe Rocket gave the Anthem jeans a relaxed fit—comfortable without looking sloppy. Sizing is traditional. The knee and hip protection is soft and pliable, so you don’t even notice they’re there. The five-pocket design is timeless and functional—the watch pocket is deep, and the others standard depth. There’s a button with a Rocket icon—nice touch— above the easily operated YKK zipper. There are also thin zippers at the knees to remove the knee protection—don’t do that unless you won’t be riding.
Joe Rocket recommends hand-washing the Anthem jeans in cold water with the armor removed, rinsing carefully (no soaking), gently squeezing to get most of the water out, and line drying. We toss them in with our regular jeans and line-dry them; after a couple of years, they don’t seem any worse for wear.
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Motorcycle-specific riding jeans are always a great choice in the summertime. They look good and feel good. Many pass too much air to be comfortable in the winter, and that’s where the Joe Rocket Anthem jeans come in. While not marketed as cool-weather riding jeans, that’s exactly what they are—save them until the thermometer reads below 70. When it does, you’ll consider the $150 well spent, and you’ll look as good as the Anthem jeans feel.
Photography by Kelly Callan
Joe Rocket Anthem Jeans Fast Facts
- Sizes: Regular, 30-42; Short, 30-38
- Armor: CE Level2 hips and knees
- Color: Blue Denim
Joe Rocket Anthem Jeans Price: $150/pair MSRP
Joe Rocket Anthem Jeans Review Photo Gallery
