There’s nothing like putting over 1,700 miles on some off-road gear to get a feel for how it works. the rise The Dakar Collection is a jacket / jersey / gloves / pants set at a competitive price designed for off-road driving. I grabbed the Dakar pants and the Dakar jersey before setting off to an epic 2022 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure Trip, and here’s what I found out.
Klim Dakar pants
The best thing about the Klim Dakar Pants is that they go over the boots. In the 1980s, gaiters were the only thing keeping dirt off your off-road boots.
It took the anti-establishment villains of freestyle motocross to bring the design to its current popularity. At the forefront of the style revolution were the LBZ Freeride pants. Developed in the 1990s for motocross and freeriding, the LBZ pants lacked pockets and other functions for real off-road use.
Jump forward to the 2020s and the Klim Dakar overtrousers offer the practical functions of storage space, protection and ventilation. The latest version of the Dakar pants is stronger, more stretchy and leaves more air than previous editions.
After eight days and almost 1,800 test kilometers, the Klim Dakar pants have proven to be functional both in warm southwest summer temperatures with their ventilation and in wet monsoons. Although not waterproof, the Dakar pants kept me dry and comfortable.
The Dakar trouser frame is made of 630D Cordura thread, with abrasion-resistant 840D Cordura in the knee and seat area. Goatskin is used on the inner knees for support and protection. The inner knee is made of 600D material to withstand the wear and tear of the knee brace. There is also a moisture wicking lining.
Breathable stretch woven inserts are located at the back of the waist, above the knees, on the back of the legs and in the crotch. This makes the Klim Dakar pants flexible enough to cope with the various body movements in the terrain. The silicone waistband and adjustable hip straps ensure the necessary fit when walking around.
So that the Dakar pants can adapt to different weather conditions, the front of the thighs have large ventilation slots with zippers that you can open with gloves. While they’re not waterproof as mentioned, they keep me dry thanks to Klims Durable Water Repellent treatment which causes the pants to give off water.
Zippered storage pockets sit next to the long ventilation zippers on each leg and wrap around the sides of the hips. They’re roughly the perfect size for a wallet and aren’t big enough to bounce around.
The highly flexible Klim D3O armor was developed for bags with pockets in the hips and knees and sold separately. I prefer my own knee protection, which I wear on my shins and held in my boot. You can billow boots up to your knees, but the wide Klim Dakar trouser cuff slips over when you move around. The knees are adjustable with Velcro and buttons. I prefer the latter.
Climbing the Dakar jersey
The Dakar jersey is designed for hot weather with open mesh on the sides from armpit to waist. This is an advantage for tough drivers who use a chest protector, a hydration pack. You want all the airflow you can get.
The hard-wearing construction of the Dakar jersey consists largely of lightweight mesh with different weaves. The mesh keeps you cool and the materials stretch for the rider’s freedom of movement.
The elbows are made of low profile foam that I’d rather keep under hard plastic guards, or you can wear it over them.
There’s also a silicone print on the back end so it stays tucked in your pants. The stretch cuff keeps it on the wrist. The neck has a comfortable, slight V-opening with a narrow trim to prevent chafing.
A zip pocket on the left shoulder is used to stow small, light items.
I usually wear jackets without chest protection even in hot weather. The Klim Dakar jersey would go well with the Dakar jacket and its detachable sleeves. I wore the Klim Traverse Jacket during testing in the hot states of New Mexico and Arizona in the summer, but it was monsoon season. Warm temperatures quickly dried the wet equipment between passing rain cells.
Klim Dakar pants and jersey
With ventilation in the pants and mesh in the jersey, the Dakar clothing is ready for the heat of the Sahara, which rally drivers cross from Paris to Dakar every year. The deserts of the southwestern United States can rival the Sahara for summer inhospitableness. The Klim Dakar pants and jersey comfortably took me through a journey that would have been brutal without the right equipment.
Klim Dakar Pants Brief Facts
Sizes
Normal, 30-42
Large, 32-38
Colours
black
Monument gray
Flashy gasoline
Klim Dakar pants Price: $ 230 MSRP
Brief facts about the Klim jersey
Sizes
SM – 3X
Colours
Ice blue
Metallic black
Metallic gecko
Metallic sage
Red stone
Flashy gasoline
Vibrant blue
Klim jersey Price: $ 80 MSRP
Klim Dakar pants and jersey review photo gallery
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