While Rapha might be a brand more often associated with road cycling, its trail mountain bike range is impressive, and we found these offered comparable performance to the Troy Lee Skyline trousers during testing. The lower legs are really quite close-fitting and despite the elasticated panel at the rear of the ankle cuff, there’s not masses of give, which can make getting them on and off a little tricky (especially when balancing on one foot, caked in mud, in the rain while getting changed in a trail-centre car park). Complete your weather-resistant outfit by pairing your trousers with a good waterproof mountain bike jacket, and keep your face clear of mud by popping the best mudguards you can find on your bike. Please be patient with us as we need to receive this confirmation from the suppliers before we can process your request for a replacement/refund. Especially when setting yourself a budget, or when trying to understand just how much you could spend on Pants – Cycle.

Adjustable cuffs and hems stop water getting in but also help regulate airflow the inside of the garment. We’d always recommend getting a waterproof MTB pant with pockets as they’re very useful for phones, car keys and other essentials, even when getting ready to ride. The tapered leg prevents snagging or flapping while the easy-to-adjust race ratchet closure keeps the pants firmly in place as you get rowdy. We recycle these boxes from bikes that we get sent to do our best to help the environment, so don’t worry if the box on your door has a different branding to what you expected. Some waterproof trousers are designed to be worn over your normal riding trousers, with full-length zips for ease of getting on and off, and a slightly looser fit so you can layer up underneath.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. This trouser was developed with the help from the Athertons, so it has a bit of a gravity focus in terms of the cut, and extra room at the knees for pads. He originally started out designing and building trail center routes, but soon moved to specializing in MTB photography and product testing.

Keep reading to see our most recommended options for this winter season, and skip to the bottom if you need help with what to look for when choosing waterproof MTB pants. They also work well with knee pads, and although the tapered legs are quite snug, I managed to get bulky downhill-style pads underneath without any fuss. Yes, they’ve lasted throughout the nearly year-long test period and despite the lightweight construction, the material has proven itself to be robust enough to handle scrapes and knocks without issue. 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. To keep the trouser stable there’s some silicone print on the inside of the waist and two Velcro adjusters.

A typical UK woodland rider, for instance, may wish to prioritise wet weather protection and not be so concerned with cold temperatures or wind chill.

Within each of the three categories (Water, Fire, Wind) there is a comprehensive range of apparel, from high-tech garments with fancy fabrics and an athletic cut through to simpler, classic pieces with a more casual look. Once damp (we’ll come on to waterproof performance), they were still comfortable against our skin and didn’t cause knee pads to fall down. Expert reviews – In the cycle industry there are loads of really reliable trusted resources for expert reviews. None of the trousers here are fully waterproof, but this coating helps ward off trail splatter and also makes the trouser easier to clean.

The fact they're finished with water-resistant hand pockets means precious electrics will be kept safe during disgusting conditions. Riding trousers/pants have become more and more popular for mountain biking in recent years, with summer options now lighter, more breathable and less restrictive, while waterproof winter trousers make a lot of sense for keeping you warm and dry in muddy conditions. This is featured on all Fox pants and not only does it keep any flapping material out of the chain it also stops it sagging down at the bottom, which is not a good look. Larger items such as a smartphone did fit but caused the crotch area to bunch up, although this didn’t affect comfort. Most quality waterproof trousers are built from a laminate fabric, which consists of a waterproof/breathable membrane which is either sandwiched between two nylon layers or stuck to the inside of one.