Bull-it Heron Ladies Slim Jeans review - These have become my go-to jeans for good reason

4 out of 5

Bull-it Heron Jeans

from Sportsbike Shop
£174.99 View offer
Published: 14 October 2024

I’m pretty confident in saying that almost every motorcycle rider these days will have a pair of motorcycle jeans in their wardrobe. We want a pair of comfortable jeans that we can wear all day if needed, fit us properly but most importantly will keep us safe. Not an easy ask.

These Bull-it jeans appealed to me for their short leg option and understated appearance. Looking at the images from Bull-it they appeared to be kit with a proper ladies fit , so I wanted to give them a go and see how they would stack up.

Expert rating:

4.0
Tried and tested by Charlotte King for four months and 1,300 miles

Pros

  • They are incredibly comfortable
  • They look like normal jeans
  • The fit is nice and flattering and true to size

Cons

  • Not AAA rated
  • Comfort
    5.0
  • Practicality
    4.0
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Looks
    5.0
  • Protection
    4.0
  • Value
    4.0
  • Verdict
    4.0
Construction Single layer
CE rating AA
Armour Level 1 knee and hip
  • Mid-rise fit
  • High-vis reflective tape to aid in low light conditions
  • Twin silver shank, rivets and YKK zip
  • Classic five pocket design
  • Three leg length options

How comfortable are The Bull-it Heron Jeans?

I opted for a ladies size 10 with a short leg as I’m usually between an 8 and a 10 in trousers, they fit well, if not a tiny bit loose. From the first wear they have been exceptionally comfortable thanks to the wider waist band, which sits nicely across your lower belly just below the navel, so you don’t find yourself being squeezed out over the top. The bottom of the jeans fit nicely inside my boots, without an argument with boot closure zips. The fit is flattering, with tailoring around the hips and bum areas; it feels like they have really thought about women’s bodies when designing these and not just tried to modify a male variant.

As a pair of single layer jeans, the lack of mesh lining also means that you don’t end up hopping about after getting tangled up when pulling them on and off. They have been so comfortable that on occasion I have worn these jeans for a full day in the office to save on space in my bag where a change of clothes would usually be required.

Bull-it Heron Slim fit jeans

 How practical are the Bull-it Heron Jeans?

They are a nice balance of warm and cool so I have worn them in weather ranging from 33 degrees to 12 degrees, performing well throughout and I think with a thermal base layer they could be worn on milder winter days too. They are not waterproof jeans, but you don’t really expect any with a pair of jeans, so waterproof over trousers would be required if there is a chance of a rain shower. There is also no connection zip for connecting to a jacket so if you’re not careful you could end up with your lower back on show, not ideal as bare skin will be no skin if you are unfortunate enough to meet the tarmac at speed.

Being a classic looking pair of jeans they work well on any bike and with almost any motorcycle jacket, for this reason they have been my go to choice all spring and summer, being worn to bike meets, commuting and any other rides I’ve needed to go on. I have been caught in a few light rain showers in these jeans and they keep the water out for a short while if the rain isn’t heavy, before you end up with a soggy bottom. The traditional five pocket design is ideal for when you get off the bike as there is space for your earplugs, mobile phone and keys.

Bull-it RE ZERO armour

Are they good quality?

They still look new after being worn for pretty much every ride that I have been on this season, with all stitching remaining strong and the fabric showing no signs of discolouration or wear so far. When caught in a heavy rain shower, they did not leave any dye transfer onto my legs which sometimes happens with others. The buttons feel substantial, although there is a spare included should one manage to work itself loose.

Do the Bull-it Heron Jeans look good?

I really like the look of these jeans, the fabric has a small amount of stretch and the single layer design means they feel and look pretty much exactly like regular jeans do; the low profile hip and knee protection being barely noticeable as it’s flexible and discreetly thin. I’ve actually been asked why I don’t wear motorcycle trousers while wearing them because someone was convinced that they were in fact just casual jeans.

Bull-it Heron jeans embroidered logo

What protection do the Bull-it Heron Jeans provide?

With a CE safety rating of AA they offer a good amount of abrasive protection with level 1 D3O hip and knee protection. This makes them a good option for most road riding, however a AAA rating would give me more piece of mind. But I’m picking, for the sort of road riding that most people tend to do in jeans, they are a great choice.

Are they good value for money?

In terms of the price, at £175 pounds, they aren’t a cheap item, however if you look at similar jeans like the Roadskin Taranis at £179.99 they are fairly on par, however the Taranis jeans are a AAA rated pair of jeans. Or the Alpinestars Banshee leggings at £180 with only an A rating. I would say these are not bad value and worth the expense.

Expert rating:

4.0
Tested by Saffron Wilson for 11 months and 2,343 miles

"I think a lot of us have that pair of jeans which require a little bit of wearing after they’ve been washed to get them comfortable again, and as long as I made sure to pull them up to my waist rather than my stomach then they fit great – but every shape is different and many reviews say that they fit them perfectly no matter what. But once you’ve worn them in a touch, the slightly stretchy material makes you forget that you’re wearing a pair of motorcycle jeans, on and off the bike, and the single layer means they aren’t hot or heavy."

"Compared to the standard armour, the Rheon knee armour isn’t bulky or infringing, so you don’t look ridiculous walking around at your destination either."

"Boasted as AAA rated, you can’t get any more protective motorcycling kit by official standards. With Kevlar fibres woven into the fabric, they’ve got you covered for abrasion, and come with level 2 armour in the knees and hips."

Read Saffron's full Roadskin Taranis Elite Jeans review

Pros

  • Just as comfortable as regular jeans
  • Look just like regular jeans, so great for both on and off the bike
  • Deep pockets
  • Flattering fit
  • Sturdy construction

Cons

  • Fit wasn’t amazing for my body shape
  • Slightly more pricey
  • Comfort
    3.0
  • Practicality
    5.0
  • Looks
    5.0
  • Quality
    4.0
  • Protection
    5.0
  • Value
    4.0
  • Verdict
    4.0
Construction 48% Cotton, 26.8% Kevlar®, 19.4% PE, 3.2% Cordura, 2.6% Lycra
Type Denim riding jeans
CE Rating AAA
Armour CE level 2 knee and hip
  • Triple-stitched on main seams
  • High and low pockets for knee armour to create the correct fit
  • Higher rear waistband for draft-free comfort and discretion!
  • Whole garment AAA rated - not just the material
  • Single-layer
  • Super-light mesh lining
  • Roadskin® angel wing motif detailing to both rear pockets
  • Double belt loops for attaching top layers – eg our Maximite hoodie
  • Zip fastening
  • Designed to fit over motorcycle boots
  • Available in 3 different leg lengths: 27" (PETITE) 29" (REGULAR) 31" (LONG)
  • Sizes 8-16
Price: £180.49 (was £189.99)
Tested by Saffron Wilson for 1,800 miles

"Alpinestars Banshee leggings are excellent quality and fit extremely well. They are thick, so are suitable for riding in typically cool British weather, but they might leave you too warm on summer days and when you are walking around off the bike."

They are a tight fit, which makes them look spectacular, but you will have to wrestle to get them on, but once they are on they’re as comfy as can be."

"With a CE rating of A they only claim to provide crash protection during low-speed urban riding, so bear this in mind as more protective (AA) leggings are available. That said, Level 1 knee armour is included, and there are pockets if you wanted to add additional hip armour, but the fabric itself is so thick, it manages to withstand exhaust scalding without too much bother, so the leggings feel very reassuring. All in all," a great alternative to jeans for women, and I’ve really become a motorcycle leggings fan since."

Read the full Alpinestars Banshee Leggings review

Pros

  • Keeps you warm in cooler weather
  • There's no denying that they look great
  • There are pockets both on the front and back
  • Comfortable to walk around in when off the bike

Cons

  • Can be a mission to get on
  • Gets hot when the weather warms up
  • Not really a negative, but CE certified level A crash protection is suitable for low-speed urban riding, not high speeds on a motorway
  • Comfort
    3.0
  • Practicality
    3.0
  • Looks
    4.0
  • Quality
    4.0
  • Protection
    3.0
  • Value
    3.0
  • Overall Verdict
    4.0
Construction Stretch fabric shell construction for close anatomical fit
Type Stretch accordion on knee area to increase comfort on the bike
CE Rating Garment Replaceable foam hip pad inserts for comfort (Alpinestars Level 1 CE-certified Nucleon hip protector available as accessory upgrade)
Armour Level 1 CE-certified knee protectors for class-leading protection
  • Optimized for women riders, the Banshee Leggings offer a figure-hugging
    fit thanks to an anatomical stretch fabric main shell, as well as
    incorporating a full aramid fiber lining and slim-profiled CE-certified knee
    protection

So what’s the overall verdict?

These jeans have been my go to for good reason, I can easily spend hours wearing them without really being aware that I’m not in normal jeans. They look so much like regular jeans that you don’t look out of place anywhere when you are off the bike, making them so usable. The only thing as mentioned above that I would change about these jeans is the AA safety rating. Make them AAA and they would be as close to perfect as ladies motorcycle jeans can get for me.

Expert rating:

4.0
Tried and tested by Charlotte King for four months and 1,300 miles

Pros

  • They are incredibly comfortable
  • They look like normal jeans
  • The fit is nice and flattering and true to size

Cons

  • Not AAA rated
  • Comfort
    5.0
  • Practicality
    4.0
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Looks
    5.0
  • Protection
    4.0
  • Value
    4.0
  • Verdict
    4.0
Construction Single layer
CE rating AA
Armour Level 1 knee and hip
  • Mid-rise fit
  • High-vis reflective tape to aid in low light conditions
  • Twin silver shank, rivets and YKK zip
  • Classic five pocket design
  • Three leg length options

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