While there are perforations for venting they don't allow much cool air to pass through, which makes these pants better suited to colder months compared to many race pants on the market. Seams are an obvious weak point in any waterproof fabric, so they are often sealed and taped internally to try to stop water getting in.

layer main body fabric that is waterproof, windproof, and breathable. To bump up the moisture protection, theseThe Troy Lee Designs Resist trousers are made of a stretchy, eco-friendly fabric that’s very breathable and copes well with rain, with taped seams to keep out water.

So the first aspect of price that we’re going to look at is the price of Fox Racing Ranger 3L Water Trousers. But, due to how tight the ankle cuff is and the limited give in the elasticated panel, they’re not the easiest to get on and off.In terms of performance, the shape, cut and fit of the Rangers most closely compares to the Specialized Trail pants.

For a brand based in sun-kissed southern California, Troy Lee has nailed the winter trouser brief with its new Resist pant. It fits well (although you may need to size down as the fit is generous at the waist) with plenty of mobility, so it doesn’t actually feel like you are wearing a waterproof pant. In terms of waterproof resistance, we found Ridge is very effective against both splashes and sustained rain and keeps you bone dry inside, but the dull soft-shell fabric doesn’t quite bead water or shrug off muddy splashes as readily as a more traditional waterproof trouser, such as the 100% Hydromatic or Troy Lee Designs Resist, and can get heavier than some fabrics as a result. The Thunder Pants are constructed from Gore-Tex Pro 3L fabric so they are properly waterproof and breathe well, meaning you can wear them if there is just a threat of rain too. Finally, the seat is armored with 70D weight fabric and 30D on the inside of the legs to stop gritty saddles from wearing holes in your pants. While there’s no denying that the Rangers are great on the bike, they’re not perfect for a number of reasons. The Paclite trousers kept us dry, not wetting through for the entire test period, but ventilation is an issue. Ian Linton / Immediate MediaSimilarly you’ll also want to spend some time looking at the features too. Again the table above, listing the features will give you a really good overview. However you should think about the sort of features that you’d expect when buying new Pants – Cycle. It’s worth writing a list of the “must-have” features so that you don’t end up compromising and missing some important features, or alternatively end up buying an unnecessarily high specced product. While the price is higher than the Endura MT500 or Fox Ranger pants, this is offset by an included repair kit and free crash repair service. Overall, these are quality riding pants that fit great, feel comfortable and work in a range of conditions. The Water Vapour Transmission rating (WVTR) measures how breathable materials are, by testing how much water vapour can travel through the material in given conditions. The higher the rating, the more effective it will be at keeping you comfortable during higher-intensity riding. Taking more of a traditional fit, these pants offer some serious poor weather protection with great breathability.

Manufacturers describe their garments as having two or three layers, but what does this mean? A two-layer fabric is made up of an outer face fabric bonded to the waterproof membrane. Inside may be a hanging mesh liner to protect the inner membrane. On a 2.5 layer, the mesh liner is replaced with a micro (or half) layer, which is either bonded or printed onto the membrane. The legs taper nicely, so they don’t flap around even when wet or muddy, but still leave enough room to wear knee pads underneath.Fox clothing is known as one of the most stylish brands on the market, and its current outerwear collection enhances this quality with some serious technical know-how, whatever the weather throws at you. Without a doubt, the most important part of a waterproof MTB pant is its ability to keep you dry regardless of how frequent the puddle splash is or how heavy the downpour is. Waterproofing is measured by how many vertical millimeters of water are supported by an inch circle of fabric over 24 hours without leaking. The fabric needs to support a minimum of 1,500mm but some fabrics will be rated at 50k plus and, as a rule, the higher the fabric rating the more waterproof the whole product is. But, in the real world, regardless of how good the technology is said to be, no set of pants is totally waterproof and if you’re out for prolonged periods of time in torrential conditions you will get wet. But with the best waterproof MTB pants, it’s just a case of how long this is before the water does begin to seep through. Are the best waterproof MTB pants breathable? There’s ample space for knee pads, and tapering at the calves means they don’t flap in the wind. Elastic ankle cuffs stop water splashing upwards and the legs from riding up. If you can’t put a price on staying warm and dry, the phenomenally expensive POC Consort MTB Dungaree could be the waterproof mountain bike solution for you. The first thing is material. Looking at what Fox Racing Ranger 3L Water Trousers is made of will give you a really good idea of the quality overall. Take a look at the specs above and you should be able to see the material. It’s then up to you to decide if it meets your expectation.