I remember it well. June 2019, Leogang, World Cup downhill. Loïc Bruni won. But if it weren't about the time on the clock, but it was a “People Choice” would have been, then Johannes von Klebelsberg would undoubtedly have scored highly.
Review destroyer downhill jeans
He stood out by qualifying as an unknown name in 16th (!) and finishing 31st on race day. We do not see many top drivers and privateers in the Redbull live feed. This time yes. And Johannes was immediately nicknamed “the denim destroyer”, because he actually did his race run in jeans. It just looked even more stylish and casual, while he delivered an unprecedented performance.
Of course Johannes has always been a fast racer, who has been on the podium many times in his home country Italy. Recently an advertisement from his company popped up Destroyer. With… you guessed it: biking jeans!
Time to test it out
According to Johannes, jeans are ideal for mountain biking. Large, plenty of pockets and they won't simply tear in the event of a fall or if your flat pedal gets caught in them. Jeans are actually perfect downhill pants, as long as they are stretchy jeans.
And that is also our experience after driving it for several months. Sustainable, functional (because: lots of pockets and you don't have to change clothes if you go straight from the office to the pump track, for example) and it gives a touch of urban flair.
For this review we received the Destroyer DH1 en Destroyer DH2. Last fall, the brand already introduced a second version of the jeans. We'll dive into the differences in a moment.
Review destroyer downhill jeans
The riding jeans are made of high-quality denim and have a casual look with reinforced stitching and reinforced parts, making them resistant to falls.
Even the fit is comfortable and certainly does not restrict you. The pants are not too stiff and have a nice 4D stretch, so that your knee protectors also fit well underneath, without the pants pulling too much. And it is nice that it is not "just" a pair of jeans like all the others in your closet, but really a well-thought-out mountain bike pants. Witness the ratchet closure instead of a button and the superdry denim fabric so that your pants also dry reasonably quickly after sweating (or riding through mud puddles).
Driving test and crash test…
In bike parks you see many downhillers riding in long pants all year round. When's the last time you saw a DH World Cup rider in shorts? I can't remember. We actually only ride with long trousers when the temperature requires it. So from 15 degrees we prefer to ride in shorts.
But I have been wearing these Destroyer jeans for a bit longer than just in autumn and winter. The denim material is surprisingly breathable, even during longer enduro rides. In addition, the fabric has proven to resist tears and abrasions. In Finale Ligure I had a good crash, where my knee was even scraped under my knee pad. The knee pad stayed in place (and did its job). But the pants show no damage or chafing at all, not even loose seams.
I especially appreciate the reinforced knees and seat of the pants. Places where most mountain bike pants quickly show wear. Probably has the denim destroyer It's really right that jeans are actually very suitable bike pants.
It hasn't been weekly, but I have also worn the jeans more often as a daily wear. The classic denim look fits seamlessly from mountain bike adventures to your office environment or workshop. And that time that I could jump from the office chair onto the bike for a pump track lap in the same clothes felt really cool. Just like your Levi's or Diesel jeans, the pants have something brand-recognizable. For the Destroyer jeans this is the red pocket edge. Nice to spot in the city, in your local (bicycle) café.
DH1 vs DH2
What about those two models? Well, the choice is easy. Do you want classic light jeans? Then there is the DH1. Do you want black jeans? Then it is the DH2.
The DH2 has a few extras, such as: a zipper on the left pocket (handy if you really don't want to lose your phone on the trail), a small pocket for a lift pass, just a little more space and more reinforcement on the knees for your knee pads. to cope well.
Ready to see how Snowflake works?
We are fans of the trousers. “Work less, ride more“ is getting even closer, now that clothing for work and cycling also overlaps. It's just a good product. Sometimes I have to look for which clothing pile I put the pants in (normal clothing vs. cycling clothing).
