Gravitate Jeans
The main thing you need to know about Gravitate Jeans is that they are American made. That’s a big deal to some folks these days—and it will explain the price tag when I share it at the end of this review.
 WRN Editorial Assistant Amy Mortensen wears Gravitate Jeans, shown here in Indigo. The boot cut jeans have standard styling and a slimming shape. |  The back pockets have button closures, so items you store there are more likely to stay put while you’re riding. |
The denim in Gravitate Jeans is high quality and made of 98 percent cotton and 2 percent Lycra. I love this combination of fabric. The Lycra gives the cotton some stretch, which is important when sitting for long hours in the saddle.
What differentiates these jeans from a pair of Levis or any other jean not made specifically for motorcycle riding is the slightly higher rise in the back (as shown in the video) and a piece of stretchy fabric that runs the length of the legs, a signature of Gravitate Jeans.
Here you can see the panel of slightly darker, stretchy fabric that runs along the inside of the leg.The jeans hit just below the hip, which seems pretty standard for jeans these days. The front falls flat against the waist, so there’s no bunching there. I washed these like I would any other pair of jeans—inside out, warm water, tumble dry low—and they held up as expected.
Gravitate Jeans are available in waist sizes 27 to 34 and inseam sizes 32 and 34. I found they are true to size. Colors are Indigo and Black. Price is $124. Ahhh, I can hear the whining now! Yes, that’s high for a riding-specific jean that does not have any abrasion-resistant features. However, jeans that are 100 percent made in the United States cost more because labor costs in this country are higher. To that end, these are high-quality jeans with reinforced stitching and sturdy denim. Plus, the slimming boot cut flatters a woman’s figure. It’s evident that a lot of time went into getting the cut just right.
I hate to admit that jeans are the only type of pant I wear when riding on warm days. My leather chaps and leather pants make things too hot. Gravitate Jeans have replaced my Levis, Wranglers and Miss Me jeans when I’m riding long hours in the saddle. The stretchy fabric really keeps me comfortable overall. Visit
GravitateJeans.com for more information.
Icon Hella Heartbreaker Pants
When my Gravitate Jeans are dirty, I reach for my Icon Hella Heartbreaker pants, and vice versa. The Hella Heartbreakers are more comfortable than jeans lined with Kevlar and cost half the price.
 The Icon Hella Heartbreaker pants are boot cut with a “sport” fit, so they’re not as tight (or sexy) as the Gravitate Jeans. They hit at the hips and fall flat against the waist. |  Here you can see the higher rise in the back. The styling
of the pants is fairly basic. |
The knees are lined with Aramid, an abrasion-resistant fabric that has a soft, cotton-like feel to it. Unlike full-protection Kevlar-lined jeans, the Heartbreaker pants do not have additional protective panels in the crotch or thighs. The lack of extra fabric in those places makes the Heartbreaker jeans feel less thick and keeps the price down as well. Like I say in the video, the Hella Heartbreakers find some middle ground between bulky, Kevlar-lined riding jeans and flimsy, zero-protection jeans.
The Aramid fabric inside the jeans protects the knees. The pockets are lined in red.  The left back pocket is adorned with a subtle graphic
of wings on a spark plug and what looks like a black
etching of the number 13. |  A heart with “heartbreaker” stitched on it peeks out
from the right front pocket. |
I couldn’t find a tag on the jeans or on Icon’s Web site describing what fabric combination the Hella Heartbreaker pants are made of. It feels to me like a 98 percent cotton/2 percent Lycra mix, as there is a little stretch to the jeans. While the Hella Heartbreakers are definitely sturdy, the denim has a slightly thinner weave than the denim on the Gravitate Jeans.
Sizes for the Icon Hella Heartbreaker pants range from 0 to 14, with waist measurements ranging from 24 to 38 and inseam measurements from 31 to 33. Price is $84. I think it’s funny that, besides the size tag, the only label inside the pants reads, “Made in China.” Then, etched in black on the red pocket fabric right next to that label is the American flag and an outline of the United States. At least Icon is USA proud! Visit
RideIcon.com for more information.
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