Pando Moto Commando & Skin review | Armoured protective base-layers

Date reviewed: February 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £359.99 & £199.99 | pandomoto.com

The Pando Moto Commando jacket and Skin UH 03 trousers on review here are protective base-layers that not only keep their armour in the ideal place on your body, they also offer high levels of abrasion resistance, meaning they can be worn entirely on their own, or with your everyday kit for the style you want. I’ve been wearing them on a BMW R1250GS and Zontes ZT350-T to find out if they’re worth buying…

Pros & Cons

Construction & Fit

Thanks to its Cordura mesh shell and ‘Balistex’ stretch material in the key impact areas, the Pando Moto Commando jacket is incredibly breathable and weighs only 1.64kg.

The idea is that you can wear it on its own, with a tee-shirt underneath if you’re a little more modest (I’d recommend a technical top), or as part of a layered approach. As I write this, I have my favourite Carhartt hoody over the top, and it’s extremely comfortable.

Of course, you could easily wear this with a waterproof jacket, or something heavier-weight for thermal protection, while knowing that the armour is in the right place and far less likely to move around that it would in a more loose-fitting motorcycle jacket.

Straps at the hands stop the arms pulling up in a crash (though they stay down well anyway), and the hem has two bands of silicone beading to help prevent the back riding up, though this wouldn’t stop it in a slide so I’d have liked to have seen some belt loops here that could be clipped on for added protection.

The trousers are also made of Balistex, and while there’s no Cordura mesh in these, they’re still extremely breathable.

There are loops at the feet to keep the legs pulled down (not that they feel like they’d pull up), and there’s a drawstring at the waist to get a snug fit, though be careful this doesn’t get pulled through the holes and lost in the hem. It knots on the inside, which perhaps makes more sense to avoid it dangling out of your trousers, but I can’t help thinking there might have been a better solution, like a Velcro belt system perhaps. Really though, the elastication is so good it’s perhaps unnecessary to have anything.

I have size L trousers, which fit my 5’10” height, 34” waist, 32” inside leg great, but I went for the XL jacket. While not overly baggy, I do wonder if I should have chosen the size L, as the amount of stretch in this is impressive and it’d have been a more secure and snug fit on my 44” chest. However, my waist is pushing it (for now), and if the hem gets pulled too hard it can pop some stitching along the bottom edge. It’s not structural, but even as a minor cosmetic point, it’d be good to see this area tweaked so the stitching can stretch with the elasticated hem.

Protection and certification

Starting with the Pando Moto Commando jacket, this is rated AAA under EN17092, which means it’s passed the requirements for the highest levels of abrasion resistance, seam strength and tear resistance under the current standard.

It’s important to stress that it doesn’t mean it’s as protective as good-quality leather. EN17092 sets a minimum requirement, and decent leather can way outperform the abrasion resistance required, but it’s no less impressive to see something so lightweight and wearable achieving such a great result.

Pando Moto makes some bold claims about the so-called ‘slide distance’ and ‘sliding time’ achieved by its kit, but I’d recommend these are disregarded as the EN17092 test apparatus (the Darmstadt machine) cannot directly reflect real life. The concrete surface of the Darmstadt machine has been shown to be more than four times less abrasive than the surface-dressed roads that most of us ride in the UK, so it’s important to understand that CE certification is a repeatable lab test that allows buyers to better compare products. It’s not a guarantee of measured crash resistance on the road.

AAA is fantastic to find in a textile jacket, and Pando Moto has included large D3O Level 2 (the highest level of impact protection) protectors at the shoulders and elbows, which are also certified to T- and T+, meaning they retains their performance at -10°C and +40°C.

I’m very impressed with the size of the amour fitted, so combined with the fact it’s well positioned, it should stay where you need it and protect the right bits if the worst happens. Armour not only makes a significant difference to the level of impact injury that could be sustained, it also absorbs impact abrasion energy as it hits the road, adding to the abrasion resistance.

The back protector is an optional extra at £39, though surprisingly it’s not D3O. It’s Level 2, and made of three layers of dense foam that can twist and bend easily. It’s quite hard and relatively thick, so not great to lean back against when sat I a chair, but it’s a standard size so you could choose something else if you wanted; I found a D3O Viper back protector fitted great, so it’s surprising that Pando Moto didn’t stick with the same brand throughout.

It’s amazing to think that wearing this jacket under even a cheap, lightweight waterproof jacket would still offer AAA and Level 2 protection, but that’s what material technology can achieve. If only Pando Moto had also provided pockets for chest protection.

In this pic I’m fully protected, yet still wearing ‘normal’ clothes thanks to the Pando Moto gear underneath.

The Pando Moto Skin UH 03 trousers I have on review are only rated to level AA. Under a pair of heavier jeans they’d potentially combine to provide a good level of protection, but I’d definitely suggest spending the £50 more and getting the UH AAA version, which while I haven’t tested, does appear to be a similar construction and will offer higher levels of safety. It’s important to note also that ONLY under AAA does the bum get the same level of key-impact-area protection as the knees and hips.

Were it not for the labels, you’d be forgiven for thinking the trousers were from a different brand as there’s no large D3O armour here. The SAS-TEC TripleFlex is still Level 2, but it’s not tested at the lower and higher temperatures, and it’s also relatively small.

At the hips it’s Type B (which is the larger template) armour, but not very big. More disappointingly though, it’s the same protectors at the knees. In this position they’re considered Type A, which is the smaller size and fairly inadequate really for good coverage, only just covering the knee. The pockets here do have two positions, which helps get them set correctly when sat on the bike, but I’d have much preferred to see some larger armour here that has a pre-defined cup to better hold its place on the knee.

From April 21 2018, all new motorcycle clothing is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). To meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. For more information on the new laws, click here.

Pockets

There are no pockets on the Pando Moto Commando jacket or the Skin trousers. If worn as base-layers this won’t matter, but in peak summer the jacket in particular would make a great standalone, so I’ll certainly miss having at least one pocket for my wallet / phone / keys.

Of course, this is where the MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) straps on the belly could come in. Choose anything from a zipped medic’s pouch to a triple M16/M4 mag pouch that could allow you to carry up to 180 rounds in six mags. Or a pair of frag grenades. Or both as there’s plenty of space.

There’s loads of choice if you want to arm yourself or you’re into cosplay (or airsoft), but for any normal motorcyclist the pouches available will be quite limited, and they’ll still likely have quite a wannabe-SAS vibe. Here’s a link to some of the MOLLE pouch options you have, or Pando Moto offers its own ‘Pouch Black’ for €39.00, with two pockets and the ability to be fixed on either horizontally or vertically.

Appreciation of the style of any motorcycle kit is entirely personal. I think the MOLLE loops do spoil the Pando Moto jacket a little, but that’s offset by the impressive levels of protection. I’m looking forward to making more use of it in the summer, but if there was the option of it with a pocket or two instead of the loops, I can’t help thinking that might be popular.

Fastening

The jacket has just one zip – the main chest fastener – and it’s a quality YKK with a plastic-covered puller.

The trousers can be cinched up tighter with a cord (a bit like pyjama bottoms), but it’s not needed on my belly. While I’d like to see belt loops to attach the jacket to jeans, the overall fit is good with plenty of give.

Adjustment

There’s no adjustment on the Pando Moto jacket or trousers, but the degree of stretch is impressive. As long as you get the size suited to you, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Ventilation

Given the mesh and material construction of both the Pando Moto Commando jacket and Skin trousers, it’s no surprise to find that the ventilation is superb.

Balistex is described as ‘highly heat-conductive fabric’ and it certainly does feel very cool against the skin.

The back-protector could make it a bit hotter on the rear, but it’s great to find 3D mesh here to help air flow more easily.

Ultimately, I’ve been reviewing this gear over winter, but it’ll really come into its own later in the year…

Warmth

While mesh jackets are a bad choice in winter, as a base-layer this kit can help trap air to keep you warm, as long as you have other (including wind-proof) layers on too. It’s another thing to put on, which every day commuters might find frustrating, but if you’re a less frequent rider – or it becomes your core riding gear – it really can work well with an almost limitless range of other kit… and not just motorcycle-specific.

Waterproofing

You don’t need to ask about the waterproofing of a mesh jacket, and highly breathable base-layer trousers, do you? What’s worth knowing though is that it doesn’t seem to absorb water, so if you do get caught in the rain, you’ll very quickly dry out.

Cleaning

Both the Pando Moto Commando jacket and Skin trousers should be handwashed at 30°C with the armour removed. Don’t tumble-dry or iron them either. The hand-wash cycle on the washing machine should be fine.

Three alternatives to the Pando Moto armoured base-layers

We’re seeing more products like this as manufacturers get to grips with new materials and the EN17092 test requirements. Here are some others to consider

• Bowtex Elite £349.99 (jacket) & £289.99 (trousers) | The most obvious competitor to the Pando Moto Range, the Bowtex is AAA-rated and despite not being mesh, it’s as breathable as the Pando Moto (but without the MOLLE loops). It’s got SAS-TEC Level 2 protectors throughout that are – I think – too small (they’re the same as in the Pando Moto trousers), and the optional back protector is very narrow, but there is the option of Level 1 chest protectors here. Check out the full review of the Bowtex Elite here.

• Knox Honister, £379.99 | The Honsiter was so close to being a great product, but the poorly-designed neck ruins it. AAA-rated, it comes with Knox’s own Level 2 armour, though do check the protectors as they can get damaged, especially when cold. It’s a good length and feels much less likely to pull up in a slide, but while it’s part of Knox’s layered clothing system, it’s more bulky than the Pando Moto and Bowtex offerings. Read the full review of the Knox Honsiter here.

• Knox Urbane Pro, £259.99 | A much better design in some ways than the Honister, but sadly only AA-rated, this is still a good jacket that’s great in hot weather. It’s still bulkier than the competition – so more of a stand-alone summer product – and it has the same armour that we’ve seen tear, but this is still what I tended to wear most in the summer of 2024. Read the full review of the Knox Urbane Pro here.

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the textiles we’ve tested here  and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.

Pando Moto Commando jacket and Skin trousers review: Verdict

Given the great range of very keenly-priced AAA-rated motorcycle jeans on the market, I find the Pando Moto Skin trousers to be less tempting a proposition. Having said that, the AAA version under a pair of normal jeans could work great for a lot of people.

It’s the Pando Moto Commando jacket that really works though, thanks to its excellent-sized Level 2 D3O armour and the comfortable, lightweight fit. Honestly, I’d prefer it without the MOLLE loops, and a pocket would be great, but as an impressively abrasion-resistant armoured top it definitely comes recommended.

If you’d like to chat about this article or anything else biking related, join us and thousands of other riders at the Bennetts BikeSocial Facebook page.