Klim Dakar & Baja S4 pants review︱Cross Training Adventure

crosstrainingenduro.com Our Klim Baja pants review. Klim makes a bewildering array of adventure and enduro pants. We are planning a lot of long adventure rides internationally so we recently got the Klim Baja s4 jackets. But we made different decisions when it came to the pants. So this includes a Klim Dakar pants review too. Me? I ran with the matching Baja S4 pants. I already have existing pants with a lot of ventilation for summer riding. The Baja pants are Klim's mid-priced option for year-round adventure riding.... enough ventilation to cope with warm weather, but still work well in cooler conditions. Jeff opted for the Klim Dakar pants. These have more ventilation, a lighter fabric and a cheaper price. They are biased toward dual sport riding, light adventure riding, and even possibly some enduro riding. Many say Klim make the best adventure riding gear... After a few months of riding, we think both pants fit here on the spectrum between enduro and adventure. It's worth noting that the Dakar pants also have an in-the-boot option which makes them even better for enduro riding. So on with our Klim pants review. Why are the Baja pants more suited for adventure riding? Many don't even meet the basic A standard, if any at all. The Baja pants have ventilated stretch fabric in key areas. There is D30 armour around the hips and knees. This is rated to level 1 under the CE system. There is a zip which allows connection with Klim adventure jackets. You have adjustment at the waist and also the lower leg. It certainly puts them up there with the best adventure pants in our opinion. And why do they cost more? The materials are heavier and more abrasion-resistant. There is a mix of 750D and 1000D Cordura material which meets the AA rating under the CE system. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia... with occasional detours to places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Canada. Very few adventure pants meet this standard, not even the Klim Dakar pants. The Klim Dakar pants have similar features. Goat leather on the inside knee. Scotchlite reflective fabric for safety. Stretch fabric in key areas. And an added bonus is being able to open two long zippered vents for great ventilation in hot weather. So why the lower price? The 630D and 840D Cordura panels are still very abrasion-resistant but not enough to obtain a CE rating. This is one of our three channels, there's also a Cross Training Trials channel, and a Cross Training Enduro channel. All three are equally dodgy. We think the whole motorbike scene is getting too commercial. We like doing seriously critical reviews. There are pockets in the Klim Dakar pants for armour, but the D30 armour needs to be purchased separately. Before you buy the knee armour, check to see if it will sit properly! One owner felt the lighter materials used in recent designs are too light. But others disagreed and said the pants are as tough as ever but just lighter... and they still meet the tough AA rating of the CE standard. Quite a few riders pointed out the positioning of the pockets for knee armour don't work for everyone, and strap-on knee guards are the solution. This did apply for the Baja pants as well. Some riders find they buy the armour but it sits below or above the knee. The waist is adjustable, but there's no adjustment across the lower leg. Regular viewers will know we are always keen to find problems when we review products. But after several months the Klim Dakar pants and Klim Baja pants have proved to be flawless... so far. Extremely comfortable. The quality of construction is great. When a lot of cheap gear is coming from China nowadays, Klim is manufacturing most of their gear in Vietnam. Manufacturers make some really bad mistakes. and there is a lot of dodgy crap being sold out there. Instead of glowing dual sport reviews for kickbacks or free product, we will try to keep the buggers honest. So subscribe. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. So check out Cross Training Adventure. We wear knee braces, and there is plenty of room around the knees in this regard. As usual, I googled for problems and read owner comments on various forums for the Klim Dakar pants and Klim Baja pants. The Baja pants? Almost all owners raved about them. However, one complained and said he didn't think they were ventilated enough in really hot weather. This sounds more like a poor choice to me. Why didn't he buy the Klim Induction jacket instead? The Dakar pants. Again, almost all rave reviews. Do you use either of these pants? Let us know the good, the bad and the ugly. And remember we always post long-term comments in the pinned first comment of our reviews on KZbin.
Music "Joker" by Causmic
#crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #klimdakarpants
#klimbajapants

[@crosstrainingadventure]

CORRECTION At the end of the vid I mention the Dakar pants are now lighter but still meet the AA standard. This was meant to be the Baja pants. Do you know of comparable adventure riding gear that meets the AA rating under the CE certification system? Let us know the good, the bad and the price! Obviously the Klim is more expensive than most, but we are looking at top shelf gear for some big adventures coming up. But we want to know about budget options that are good quality too... LIFETIME WARRANTY? Some mistakenly believe this applies to all Klim gear. But it only applies to Klim's very expensive top bracket gear. www.klim.com/warranty OTHER AA RATED OPTIONS? Are you using comparable adventure riding gear that meets the AA rating under the CE certification system? And not just the armour. Is the material AA rated for abrasion resistance if you slide down the road? Other AA rated gear to look at: Rev'it Cayenne, Rev it Sand 4, Adventure Spec Mongolia jacket, RST Pro... WHY PAY SO MUCH? Regular viewers know I take a budget approach to everything when I can. But occasionally someone will say why do use expensive Klim gear and Gaerne SG12 boots? My approach is go cheap when I can. But spend money for quality gear when it matters. My Klim gear is AA rated so I won't need skin grafts if I slide down the road. If you check the other AA rated brands, they are all roughly the same price. Good protective fabric costs money. Boots? After two sets of multiple fractures in my lower legs, I won't go cheap on boots anymore. And a survey of hundreds of riders indicates Gaerne is the best... probably followed by Forma then Sidi. IS THERE A CHEAPER WAY TO GET AA PROTECTION? Not that I'm aware of. You could buy a cheap jacket and wear body armour underneath... an option I wasn't keen on. And if you want AA rated body armour it will cost a lot anyway. Cheap leather jackets will be AA rated and expensive double stitched ones will even be AAA rated. This might be okay if you ride in cool weather most of the time, but we are in the sub-tropics and need ventilated jackets most of the gear. Subscribe for weekly adventure & dual sport vids! English not your first language? Many subtitles... Safety & protective gear vids bit.ly/3BmKeGE Our dual sport & adv ride vids bit.ly/3HTdvvl Bike & product reviews bit.ly/3BrnVjq The more bizzare side! bit.ly/34ZschR The more philosophical side bit.ly/3v9nKYX Riding across Vietnam bit.ly/3pej9Rt DR650 project vids bit.ly/3gQEStP Check out our other channels too... Cross Training Enduro bit.ly/3Jncax4 Cross Training Trials bit.ly/3uUjwEm

[@G.Seguin]

Give a chance to a Rev'it Cayenne Pro or the newest model, the Cayenne 2. For me, best than Klim and not so over priced. Regards from Spain and Happy Holidays Season!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

@@G.Seguin Feliz navidad, Gerardo! I just checked, the Rev'it seems to be AA rated which is great. I checked the Australian prices and they seem to be the same price as the Klim Baja. Are they cheaper in Europe?

[@TheIdlesurfer]

Very pleased with my Dakar suit for riding in summer north European weather (UK & Ireland) and it copes with light rain. I wear soft compression armour and knee braces. The venting is good. I'm glad I went for lighter colour in the late spring/early autumn heat of Pyrenees and Portugal. It does need all the vents open in 30 degrees for us cold blooded northern Europeans.

[@someguy5035]

Always coming here for unbiased reviews.

[@mototrailz]

100% approved for the Dakar pants and jacket with strap on knee guards & separate body armor 👍 I had to replace them after 6 years only because i wanted the new style. Klim is the way to go nowadays.

[@melaniemarks6359]

I have 350 enduro (mild to medium) hours on my Klim Dakar pants. I put myself into tough situations and have fallen a lot and only have a small hole, finally, from several falls where my knee braces are. The fly zipper stopped functioning correctly a while back but, other than that, I've been very pleased with their performance. I wear POD knee braces underneath with no issue whatsoever. I got the OTB style but wish I would've gotten the ITB as I NEVER ride with them over the boot. I really appreciate that they're not made in China and will probably get another pair eventually. Thanks for your content and your commitment to providing riders with the best information in a very entertaining way. Y'all are great!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Great to hear they are working out for you, Melanie. I just checked my Baja pants all over and they are looking brand new still despite a lot of riding. Not cheap but a great long term investment!

[@davidrockwell9776]

I have a Dakar pant that is 6 years old with 400+ hours of enduro/ trail riding and I still use them. Bloody indestructible, I’ve since given up on all other brands. Btw I crash …a lot the pants are amazing. But it does seem my newer Dakar pants are wearing faster than the old ones. Don’t let the cost hold you back these pants pay for themselves in longevity.

[@PeterR0035]

Thank you so much for all your effort you put in the content you share freely here. It's cute, refreshing, authentic and interesting. Also glad I get to know you a bit via this way. Take care and have a wonderful 2023 !!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Cheers Peter, likewise!

[@pjakszentis]

I have used the Mojave pants in hot weather for about 60,000 km without functional problems. I just managed to rip the Mojave jersey this year, still a very high quality. Since this year I use Dakar OTB pants and a Dakar jacket mainly for adventure riding. They have also proven to be excellent in European 3-season conditions. I prefer robustness in combination with good ventilation and I ride with knee brace, protection shirt and neck brace. These KLIM products really convinced me.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Yep, I recently went Mojave for my enduro gear and it's great so far. Had a few abrasions thaat I was sure would tear the jersey but it's still fine... good wear considering how ventilated and light the material is.

[@allenhuling598]

Always appreciate your straightforward reviews! Ride safe!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Thanks, will do!

[@Redpatch]

I have a few year old pair of dakar pants with somewhere around 50000km adventure riding and 200+hrs enduro riding on them they have been fantastic! Comfortable, lightweight and have held up incredibly well through my abuse. Only problems are that I tore 1 button and the zipper off during a crash and at this point I have worn holes through the leather where the bike is gripped. Top notch stuff!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Good to hear, it's definitely where the initially high price can turn out to be good value in the long run. The leather inserts often seem to the be major wear point (even if it takes a long time). Quite a few riders find a local seamstress to sew in textile inserts instead.

[@WillieJohnRidesAgain]

I have the inside the boot pants you demoed and like those in the summer in the Deep South. I also have some Rev’It! A couple of cheaper HWK as well. If you use quality knee strap on they all work pretty well but I like the vents in the Klim.

[@JimJamJammer]

The Traverse to me is the ultimate option because it's tough and light. It doesn't come with armour that will only flop around on you so for that I have Leatt knee pads. The only thing that I miss with the traverse pant is another large thigh pocket (two cargo pockets would be nice). I hate the pop buttons and straps that some of the Klim pants have and prefer the velcro system as it works well for adjustability over the boot. No sweat!!! These pants have seen a kicking out here in Kenya and I recommend them...Highly!!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Arguably the quality of Klim gloves can vary, but to date it's good to see they've mostly kept up the quality standards with the rest of their gear.

[@SoThick]

This was very helpful as I am in need of riding pants and knew I wanted to go with klim but didn't know which one to save up for.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Glad the vid helped! We found the website info wasn't that clear about what suited what so we thought this vid might clear it up a bit for potential buyers.

[@paulbartsch1223]

I’ve gone for the Klum Mojave pants because they have more airflow which is needed in North Queensland. I wear armour underneath. If it’s cold or wet I put Mosko Rak pants over the top.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I'm using the Mojave pants for dirt riding, Paul. Great ventilation and not falling apart (yet) like every other brand I've tried over the years.

[@russpaton8877]

Run the Carlsbad pant for Adventure and cold weather dualsport. They are over boot and for over my Obious Knee braces and my Fox Instinct Boot. I have the Baja in boot pant (fits iver onious as well) and love them for riding in the south USA desert states (winter /spring) and Summer dualsport in BC. No critique on either pants

[@soilsmanadv6673]

The S4 has adjustable pockets for the knee pads. You have to turn the pants inside out to see how to adjust them!

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Yep. I'm well over six foot and just can't get enough adjustment out of them. My brother is six foot and says they work well.

[@fabienpics]

Hi, I just bought the Dakar in the boots pant, may 2024 Canada. And no more pocket for Put some D30 hip protection. I 'm a little bit disappointed , the pants are great but with take this pocket off.....

[@clemoniii]

Been using Dakar for years, In the Boot and over. Earlier meteors are more durable! However, the latest version worked fine during ADV bike training week in Moab, and used both on a week of Enduro riding in Thailand last month. When paired with knee braces they are great. Also use them for dual sport events (Singletrack on light race bikes). Use the Baja S4 on the GS850 because it's a pig and mostly ridden on roads (asphalt, gravel & Jeep trail). S4 is a bit warmer, but WAY more abrasion protection! Wouldn't even consider the S4 on a true technical terrain ride, too heavy and hot. I'm scared of cars on the street, so I recently added HeLite vest, and will probably add S4 Jacket this spring.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I'd agree, Clinton. The S4 is way better for a slide down the road but too hot for true dirt riding.

[@clemoniii]

@Cross Training Adventure I wish I'd had time and $$ to visit with the pink tuto crowd last month. Had a blast in your hemisphere, but sure would have enjoyed Australian beef more than all the"rabbit food" with "hell fire oil" poured all over it! If y'all ever seek a guide through Northern Thailand, Grace is out there nearly every day scouting singletrack, Laos and Cambodia too. Best part was my non-riding wife saying this was possibly her best vacation ever.

[@robertmalone731]

Dakar over boot pants with D30 L2. Love the setup - ride mountain area near Banff Canada.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

We did some dirt riding near there years ago, Robert. The adventure riding must be amazing...

[@harryfritter8266]

I made some riding chaps from a set of sheepskin seat covers from an old car. They are adjustable and have straps along the back of the legs. I love them so much that I made a vest from the remaining skins. I get made fun of a lot, like one guy calls me baaarap. But they wear like iron and are windproof and warm. Plus when I wear this fake sword across my back and glued one sheep horn on the right side of my helmet, it seems everyone gets out of my way on the trail

[@crosstrainingadventure]

That's a great idea! 😂

[@willmcgregor7184]

I have worn Dakar pants for a few years. The fit was much better for me than any other. Are there a lot of over weight ridrers? 🌞 Other brands were Enormous

[@TheIdlesurfer]

Depends on brand I think. Klim 34" waist fits me perfectly, large in Alpinestar trousers and Revit is random for trousers. At 183 cm I'm in 32" waist and 31" inside leg, despite being 34 X 33 in everything. Large Klim jacket fits but is very relaxed in the waist, Alpinestar XL fits tailored. I think there is an American cut, which is larger in the belly and a more cinched European cut, especially pronounced in Alpinestar.

[@danielkramer8586]

Regarding the Dakar pants, you wrote, " But others disagreed and said the pants are as tough as ever but just lighter... and they still meet the tough AA rating of the CE standard". This contradicts what you said earlier: "The 630D and 840D Cordura panels are still very abrasion-resistant but not enough to obtain a CE rating." Am I missing something here?

[@crosstrainingadventure]

My mistake Daniel... "The 630D and 840D Cordura panels are still very abrasion-resistant but not enough to obtain a CE rating" was meant to refer to the Dakar pants. I've put a correction the vid.

[@Boonus18]

I have the Dakar pants (2019 model). Holding up great after 3 seasons of dual sport riding. Only complaint is the velcro at the bottom is starting to wear out. I think they fixed this with the newer version by adding a snap button.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I wonder if they had a production run with crap quality velcro back then? I did read on forums about complaints back then but the majority of riders had zero issues...

[@Boonus18]

@@crosstrainingadventure Maybe. I think it's just what happens to all velcro. After several hundred open/closes it eventually just wears out. Nothing a good seamstress couldn't fix!

[@jameshind6644]

I have the baja and mojave pants. The baja are more an autumn/winter pant as they get to hot in summer for me. The mojave is my go to pant for summer. light and well ventilated.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Personally I've been finding the Baja pants are fine for up to 30C days, James... but I'd probably swing over the my enduro Mojave pants for the really hot days despite less protection from a slide down the bitumen.

[@DirtyDovi]

Great video Wayne! I had no clue that Klim's Dakar pants also came in an in-boot version.. Cool. I never thought I'd own any of their gear [due to their $$$] but lucked out on Scamazon, and scored 2 pair. 1 black & 1 white. Love em'! I usually wear a pair of Leatt 3DF 6.0 Impact Pants underneath them [when off-roading] and w/ the extra padding/protection, it ads hours and hours to to my overall ride[s] 🤘 Sam -

[@crosstrainingadventure]

If I find out who Wayne is I'll be sure to pass on your regards. 😁 Definitely worth waiting for discounted gear!

[@DirtyDovi]

@@crosstrainingadventure- Hahaha Total Derp-Moment! I was clicking back n' forth between your channel and Wayne Dowsent aka Artist Wayne's channel, and my illiteracy must have kicked in.. Damn American educational system!🤘🤣 So that I don't do it again - [Because I know I've posted This before I'll just say it again here] [Klim related] Klim's Nac-Pak is also a Great product and another product of theirs that I would personally Highly Recommend! 👍 Sam -

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Interesting! We don't seem to get that Nac-pack model here in Australia. www.klim.com/Nac-Pak-3319-005 I'm using the more expensive Arsenal backpack which has been great so far. www.klim.com/Arsenal-15-Backpack-3553-000?quantity=1&color=778

[@DirtyDovi]

@@crosstrainingadventure Ah, bummer.. I'm surprise they don't offer that 1 in Oz.. As a rider and photographer, I like to use mine for all of my smaller gear on / off the bike.. The "Arsenal" - Great choice! I was looking at that model as well, but just went smaller.. Liking the Nac so much, I thought about still grabbing the Arsenal eventually.. "Great so far" - coming from you - says a Lot. I'll most definitely keep it on my short-list! Thank you for the info & feedback! Sam - PS: Whichever pack ya go with - I really like the type of buckle/clasp that they use! They're sooo efficient when opening/closing them with gloves on! Well thought of, and well executed design for sure.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

If you do go for the Arsenal eventually, check the pinned first comment on the review vid, Sam. If we find problems in the long term we always post them there.

[@Crazycarlos]

I prefer not to wear pants at all on hot days, ya can't beat the feeling of fresh air flowing over your sweaty tackle 😅

[@matthew5660]

Would you consider klim dakar for a spring weather ? Some roads and green lanes most probably..and later on this year a TET trip

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Spring weather in which country though, Matt? Or what latitude/temperatures?

[@matthew5660]

@@crosstrainingadventure I will ride not less then 15 Celsius..going to Tunisia in a phew weeks but I wil ride in Europe mostly

[@MrHumpo75]

Im doing a trip with Elwood to cape York in October riding DRZ 400. I always ride with adventure gear on my trips mainly the Badlands. Do you think that the S4 pants will be too hot for the Cape trip, temps will be around 30 Deg during the day.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Dakar are definitely better ventilated but I even find them a bit warm when it hits 30 or higher... and I think that's only because they couldn't go too ventilated and still achieve an AA rating for sliding down the bitumen. You might find yourself cooking a bit in the S4 pants?

[@Advcrazy]

Thanks for the comparison. Big help! But early in the videos you said the Dakar pants don’t have a CEcrating, and at the end you said they have a AA rating. Was this a mistake or do the new Dakar pants have a AA rating?

[@crosstrainingadventure]

My mistake, but there was an annotation in the video at the relevant time point with a correction. There was also a correction in the pinned first comment. Maybe those aren't visible if you watched the vid on your phone? Not sure... The 2023 Dakar definitely weren't AA rated but can accept D30 armour inserts if bought separately.

[@Advcrazy]

@@crosstrainingadventure thanks for clarifying. I was listening to the video whilst making dinner for the misses trying to get in the good books so she doesn’t freak about me buying the Bakker jacket and pants, as well as Enduro S4 that I was about to order 😅

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Could you pass it off as the latest in dinner outfits... wear it to a fancy restaurant with her?

[@paulburns4806]

I have latitude jacket, Baja S4 Jacket( bother summer Jackes, bother excellent, Marrakesh pants, armour, belt loops very flexible and cool. Will be buying winter gear soon, Klim Carlsbad jacket

[@darrenoconnor3402]

Can anyone tell me how these compare to the Carlsbad pants? I'm doing my first offroad trip, I have a Carlsbad suit...I've bought full Leatt armour, and am taking the D30 out of the suit. On hot days I'll wear a jersey and Carlsbad pants. Should that be okay or should I be looking at the Baja, or Dakar pant? Thanks in advance.

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I haven't used them Darren but I did a lot of reading up about the Klim range first. Generally it sounds like the Carlsbad is for much colder climates. It wouldn't suit our sub-tropical climate here. I've always found the ventilated jacket is the critical part of getting cooler compared to the pants, so maybe stick with the Carlsbad if you aren't overheating?

[@darrenoconnor3402]

@@crosstrainingadventure Sage advice, thank you very much for the reply. I'll stick with the Carlsbad and see how they fair. I'm in that analysis paralysis stage of planning and thought F*CK! I've to buy more gear. 🤦😄

[@orphanoforbit7588]

I've heard they're not waterproof. Does anyone know if they are??

[@crosstrainingadventure]

Definitely not.

[@danielkramer8586]

Wondering if Cross Training Adventure or anybody else that has experience with Klim pants can chime in. I've read many reviews where people have complained that the sizing on the Marrakesh pants is way oversized and they had to order a size smaller and shorter. What has been your experience with Klim sizing. Is it spot on, inconsistent, oversized, undersized or ??? I see that some, if not all, of their clothing is made in Bangladesh. The same is true, or at least was true for Olympia Sports, as well, and I read the same reports of pants being oversized and recommendations to order a size down. Again, what's your experience?

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I'm not sure if we even get hte Marrakesh pants here down under, Daniel. The sizing seems fine in Dakar and Baja. Most of their gear is made in Vietnam nowadays.

[@danielkramer8586]

@@crosstrainingadventure Maybe the complaints center around those that aren't used to wearing loose-fitting protective motorcycle gear that allows the user to wear clothing underneath.

[@leeroykelly781]

How does the Klim Dakar compare with the Alpinestar Andes?

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I haven't used any Alpinestar stuff for a while. Our recent survey seemed to show their boot quality has been dropping over the years, not sure about their textiles.

[@leeroykelly781]

@@crosstrainingadventure I do believe that it's important to do a survey regarding jackets and pants. Especially Klim vs Alpinestar

[@leeroykelly781]

@@crosstrainingadventure Also, if you were to do that survey suggestion, also perhaps ask around about this other (and I believe more recent) company called “HWK,” they have “budget” options for jackets and pants for under $100 USD. Part of their mission statement is to make motorcycling more *accessible* price wise. “HWK Moto is a motorcycle apparel company created by motorcyclists, for motorcyclists. After paying unrealistically high prices for motorcycle gear, HWK Founder and former CEO Muhammad Lucman had a desire to make motorcycle apparel affordable” The prices are tempting but I’m still skeptical, especially considering that I’m looking at getting a pair of Klim Dakar pants.

[@f3vermonkey318]

I prefer not to wear pants I like to wear a banana hammock and knee braces

[@OlmanEg]

Why spend $250+ on pants? They can not make your riding better. But you feel better knowing you have spent a shit ton of money on gear. ??? My $20 denim jeans work great. Never a tear while riding, and also by my experience they will slide on blacktop for about 50ft before teaing 😁

[@SimonBrisbane]

This is a motorbike channel, not scooter. Now run along with your steely denim 😜

[@OlmanEg]

@@SimonBrisbane 😁

[@crosstrainingadventure]

I assume you are joking? But if you aren't you can see tests that show how quickly denim wears through. It's nowhere near a AA rating, but definitely better than nothing. I'm all for the cheap options myself, but skin grafts versus $250+ pants? I'll fork out for the pants!