"Adventure" Cool-Air™ Mesh | Armored Motorcycle Riding Shorts

Q: What type of protection do these shorts offer me?
A: Our Cool-Air Mesh Armored Motorcycle Riding Shorts offer 5-points of protection for hips, tailbone and thighs (CE-Level 2 on hips.) Low-profile armor fits comfortably and hugs the vulnerable corners of your body. The armor stays in place and won’t move around. Elastic ribbing at the bottom of the leg prevents riding up.

Q: Will the fabric tear or rip when I put it on? It looks delicate.
A: No, this fabric should not tear or rip when putting it on. It is actually quite strong but lightweight. With just a little mindfulness, these shorts can last for decades and provide long-lasting protection. Just ask the 1000s who already own a pair. We always recommend putting on the shorts with care and be careful not to tug too quickly to avoid undue stress on the seams. We also recommend that you wash this garment often and do not leave salt residue from salty air or sweat on it for long periods of time. Like any fabric, the salts can eat away at the stretchiness of the material.

Q: Why would I choose the shorts instead of the full-length pants?
A: Our Cool-Air Mesh Motorcycle Riding Shorts have the exact same armor in the hip, thigh and tailbone as our original Cool-Air Armored Pants. They just stop above the knee. They are extremely popular for motocross and downhill mountain bike use where riders use separate, heavy-duty or specialty knee/shin guards. They are also great for road racers to wear underneath their leathers.

Other popular alternative uses reported by our customers have been snowboarding, skateboarding, historical reenactments, barefoot skiing and roller derby.

Note: Since these use the same armor as our Adventure Pants, you may wish to purchase a fully armored pair of the full-length pants and add a fabric shell in the shorts version for versatility in your Bohn Bodyguard System.

Q: Are the shorts abrasion-resistant?
A: The main design function of our Motorcycle Shorts is impact protection. While the armor pieces offer some abrasion resistance in a fall, the shorts are not reinforced with Kevlar® or Cordura®. Our goal with our shorts is to keep the armor right where you need it, if you need it. The armor stays snug to your body and won’t flop around like riding pants do.

Most of our customers wear our shorts with a pair of jeans or riding pants and find that those two alone provide plenty of protection in a crash. However, adding a pair of Kevlar® pants over these motorcycle shorts would be the perfect combination.

Q: Won’t these shorts be HOT?
A: By no means. These motorcycle shorts are actually quite cool. They are made of a very soft, stretchy mesh material that lets air pass right through to help keep you cool and comfortable.

We recommend you read the reviews to determine if these will work for you.

Q: Will they look bulky under my jeans?
A: No, not at all. Oftentimes, no one will ever know you are wearing them.

Q: Do these have a chamois lining?
A: There is no chamois lining but the mesh fabric is smooth and comfortable against the skin.

Q: Do I need to purchase a larger-sized pair of riding pants so these fit under them?
A: In our experience (and 1000s of others) you do not need to purchase a new pair of larger pants to fit over our motorcycle shorts. This is because the fit is streamlined and the armor conforms to the body to prevent additional bulk.

Q: Do I have to wear underwear with these?
A: That is a personal choice that we leave up to our customers, but most riders choose to wear undergarments with their Cool-Air shorts for cleanliness, hygiene and modesty reasons. Remember these shorts are somewhat “see-through”.

Q: Can I get them with a fly?
A: While our full-length pants are available with a fly opening, our shorts are currently only offered in the unisex (non-fly) style.

Q: What is the difference between your Adventure and Cool-Air Shorts?
A: The Adventure Shorts are made from a stretchy, mid-weight Lycra® fabric with a ventilated crotch panel. The Cool-Air Shorts are made entirely from a stretchy, lightweight elastic mesh material. Both types of shorts have tailbone, hip, and thigh armor. Adventure Shorts have consistently been popular among our all-season riders. The Cool-Air Shorts are popular for people who ride in very hot and humid climates.

Q: I am in between sizes, how do I know which one to choose?
A: Great question. If you are in-between sizes or you are having trouble fitting into our size chart, give us a call 704-663-0351 or email us at bohn@bohnarmor.com. We are more than happy to help. Indicate your waist, inseam, height and weight if you would like.

Another option: Oftentimes, customers will order one size fully armored and then a fabric shell in another size and return the fabric shell of the one that does not fit. This saves time and money in the long run should you order the wrong size.

We do ask that you contact us via telephone or email to request an RMA number and let us know which size you are sending back.  This helps to expedite your return within our facility.

I want to order for a friend, but I am unsure of their size.

If you are ordering for a friend, give us a call – 704-663-0351. We can help size that person or you can always opt for a gift certificate.

Lycra and Mesh Shirts, Pants and Shorts Instructions: 

Follow the steps below to ensure long-lasting wear and care:

1. Pull the fabric back on the armor pockets to remove the armor. (Note: failure to remove armor may cause damage to the fabric shell.)
2. Wash fabric shells on a low-temperature setting and gentle cycle or hand wash. Do not dry clean!
   White Summer Mesh shirts must be washed with white clothes only or by hand. Discoloration due to washing with colored garments, leaving sunscreen on the garment too long or stains are not warrantied. 
3. We recommend using an activewear detergent when laundering your garments to maintain the integrity of the stretch in the fabric.
4. Do not wash Bohn fabric shells with items that have Velcro®, hooks or accessories that could catch and snag the fabric or with garments that have not been washed before. 
5. Dry shells at a low temperature or best to just hang them dry.
6. We recommend removing the armor from your Bohn gear from time to time to clean it as detergent residue, salt (including body salt) and moisture can stick to it and could negatively affect the armor.
7. Armor pieces should NOT be placed in the washing machine or dryer, but may be wiped clean with a damp cloth if they become soiled.  
8. When dry, reinsert the armor pieces into their respective pockets and pull the pocket flaps into place. This ensures the armor will stay in the proper position.

Please NOTE:

• Our garments are made with Lycra® and must be washed regularly. Salt air and sweat left on the garment can break down the Lycra® in the garment so it is imperative that they be washed regularly and not stored for long periods of time with salt or sweat on them.
• Also, pilling can occur if the garment is consistently rubbing against something that agitates the garment (i.e., tag, plastic, loose seam, etc.), so please be certain you do not have an overgarment that could agitate the fabric. If you start seeing pilling, turn your jeans, pants, or jacket inside out and feel for the item that is rubbing on your garment.

**Lack of care, pilling of garments, rips, tears, or lingering smells are not covered under our warranty.

With proper care, our garments can last years. We wish you many years of riding protection!

Cleaning:
We recommend removing the armor from your Bohn gear from time to time to clean it as detergent residue, salt (including body salt) and moisture can stick to it and negatively affect the armor.

Armor pieces should NOT be placed in the washing machine or dryer, but may be wiped clean with a damp cloth if they become soiled.

Temperature:
We recommend storing your protectors in temperatures above 60 degrees. Extreme temperatures will not affect the effectiveness of the protector, but extreme cold in addition to stress on the protector (ie. bending of the armor when cold) can cause the pieces to crack.

A such, do not stress the protectors in extremely cold weather conditions. (For example, leaving pieces in a cold garage and then putting them on can cause armor with articulation to crack at the articulation points.)

Just use good judgment when wearing the protectors and try your best to keep them against your warm body. DO NOT use frozen protectors–bring them inside to warm up and then use.

Warranty:
Limb armor, like your helmet, has an expiration date typically 5-10 years from manufacture.

If you have Bohn armor that is 5-10 years old and is "crumbling", you need to replace it. If only one piece is crumbling, the other pieces are sure to follow. This means your armor has expired and all pieces should be replaced as they were likely manufactured at the same time.

Cracking of Level 2 armor pieces is not warrantied as this means one of two things:

• The armor placement is incorrect on your body (see proper placement graphic below).
  OR
• It has been subjected to cold extreme temperatures and then bent or used while frozen or cold.

If your protector is affected and you are confident that you have taken care of your protector, please give us a call.

Armor Installation

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