Spada Ronin AAA Jeans review | They're great value, safe and stylish. What more could you want?

4 out of 5

Raw Indigo Jeans

from Sportsbike Shop
£159.99 View offer
Updated: 11 November 2024

I associate Spada with stylish, fashionable riding gear, so I was very surprised to see these AAA jeans sitting at the cheaper end of the market, gazumping Oxford Products’ excellent Original Approved line-up. I simply had to test them. To do so, I’ve ridden in most jeans-suitable conditions, including high summer and the occasional rainstorm.

Expert rating:

4.0
Tried and tested by Gareth Evans for 3 months/1200 miles.

Pros

  • AAA safety rating and level 2 armour
  • Attractively styled with neat design touches
  • Robust build quality

Cons

  • Tight for their size
  • Thick fabric is hot in summer
  • Only one colour option
  • Comfort
    3.0
  • Practicality
    4.0
  • Looks
    5.0
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Protection
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0
  • Verdict
    4.0
Construction: Denim enhanced with Cordura and elastane
Type: Denim riding jeans
CE rating garment: AAA
Armour: Level 2 four-piece protective, adjustable, vented
  • Removable, adjustable armour
  • Classic pocket configuration
  • Zip fly
  • Available in regular and short leg

How comfortable are the Spada Ronin Jeans?

These are not the comfiest AAA motorcycle jeans I’ve ever worn. They’re made of very thick Denim reinforced with Cordura and elastane, but this is hot in summer and fairly inflexible, which means they can pinch around the knees when riding sportsbikes. And furthermore, they’re very tight fitting for their size. I wear plenty of other brands of jeans in a 34 waist with no problem, but these are tight around the bum and thighs, making the pockets hard to access.

They did withstand a sudden downpour well, however, and crucially they feel safe to wear thanks to their strong construction. They’re available in regular and short leg sizes, but only one colour.

Are the Spada Ronin Indigo Jeans practical?

Apart from the stiff fabric, these jeans are exactly what I’d expect them to be from a practicality standpoint. They have a classic pocket configuration – two at the front with a coin pocket in the left, and two at the back – so there’s not a huge amount to dislike. I would say that the armour does take a bit of wrestling to get into the inner pockets, though.

Spada Raw Indigo Jeans

How do the Spada Ronin Jeans look?

I reckon these jeans look fantastic. The ‘tobacco’ coloured stitching is first rate with double-layered patching around the pockets, the design is smart and reserved, and they’re packaged beautifully. Even the armour looks great, despite the fact it’s hidden.

Are the Spada Ronin Jeans good quality?

It doesn’t take more than a few moments with these jeans to understand that they’re built to an incredibly high quality.

Spada Raw Indigo Jeans

Protection and ratings on the Spada Ronin Jeans

These jeans are CE rated AAA, which is the top level of protection for motorcycling garments. They have removable, adjustable level 2 TetraHex armour on knees and hips, and this is activated by body heat and vented for additional comfort.

Are the Spada Ronin Jeans good value for money?

These are at the cheaper end of the AAA jeans market, weighing in a tenner less expensive than Oxford’s Original Approved items, which I awarded five stars in a previous review thanks to their superior comfort levels.

Other jeans at a similar price that you might consider include the RST X Kevlar Tech Pro Aramid Fibre at £189.99 and Bull-it’s Covert Evo Covec, which are the same price.

Expert rating:

4.0
Tested by Adam Binnie for seven months and 1,000 miles

"Keenly priced and well-specced, these AAA-rated and level two armoured jeans are a great all rounder if you’re looking for a bit of extra protection from your riding denim.
Accordion panels massively improve the flexibility of the tougher material on the bike, but consequently reduce how stealthy they look off of it."

"If you’re after a casual look that works for meet ups and chip runs then they’re perfect. If you want something you can keep wearing in smarter settings (after commuting to work, for example) then they might look a bit too bikey."

"Other than that I've got few complaints - they're a no-brainer on more casual rides where I'm not wearing full leathers and are as good looking as they are easy to ride in."

Read Adam's full RST X Kevlar Tech Pro jeans review

Pros

  • High levels or protection
  • Flexible and easy to ride in
  • Great fit and material quality

Cons

  • Not very stealthy
  • Comfort
    4.0
  • Practicality
    3.0
  • Looks
    3.0
  • Quality
    4.0
  • Protection
    5.0
  • Value
    4.0
  • Overall
    4.2
Construction Cordura and Kevlar
Type Denim riding jeans
CE rating garment AAA
Armour Level two knee and hip
  • AAA abrasion rating
  • Level two armour
  • Accordion stretch panels
  • High waistline
Price: £99.99 (was £189.99)
Tried and tested by Michael Neeves for two years and 10,000 miles

"Bull-it’s latest jeans have new pockets to keep knee armour more snugly in place and denim that retains its stretchiness for longer through wash cycles. They still offer the highest level of abrasion protection (AAA), like the old Coverts, and have CE knee and hip armour, so it feels like riding in more than ‘just’ jeans. Reassuringly thick, robust, and showerproof."

Read Michael's full review Bull-it Covert Evo jeans

Pros

  • They're showerproof
  • They look great
  • Have not faded after several washes

Cons

  • None I cant think of
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0
Construction Covec high-performance AA stretch denim
Type Jeans
CE rating AAA
Armour Level 2 hip and knee
  • Covec "LITE" Reinforcement panels at High impact zones giving AAA rating
  • CE hip and knee armour included as standard
  • Water resistant finish
  • Adjustable protector pockets

Expert rating:

4.0
Tried and tested by Gareth Evans for 3 months/1200 miles.

Pros

  • AAA safety rating and level 2 armour
  • Attractively styled with neat design touches
  • Robust build quality

Cons

  • Tight for their size
  • Thick fabric is hot in summer
  • Only one colour option
  • Comfort
    3.0
  • Practicality
    4.0
  • Looks
    5.0
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Protection
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0
  • Verdict
    4.0
Construction: Denim enhanced with Cordura and elastane
Type: Denim riding jeans
CE rating garment: AAA
Armour: Level 2 four-piece protective, adjustable, vented
  • Removable, adjustable armour
  • Classic pocket configuration
  • Zip fly
  • Available in regular and short leg

Spada Ronin AAA jeans – the bottom line

These jeans are a fantastic way to look great and stay safe for not much money. Just make sure they fit properly and will be comfy for the riding you do. If you’re ordering online, I’d suggest you pick a retailer with a good returns policy just in case…

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