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Rapha Men’s Trail Pants

Sizes: XS – XXL (28 – 40in) | Rating: 9/10

Pros: Quality fabric. Comfortable, relaxed fit. Nice range of features. Excellent pockets.

Cons: Might not be tight enough for some riders. More expensive than some options.

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 fabric is think with four-way stretch plus a DWR coating to ward off drizzle and splashes. Inside, a soft facing feels good against bare skin. Sizing is true to size with a generous cut but without being baggy, and waist adjusters allow you to customise the fit, plus belt loops mean you can add a belt if you want.. A tapered leg plus elasticated hems makes getting them on and off easy.

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.

Read our full review of the Rapha Men’s Trail Pants

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Leatt MTB Enduro Pants 3.0 V22

Sizes: S – XXL | Rating: 9/10

Pros: Good value. Not too tight. Decent ventilation. Sturdy waistband adjustment. DWR treatment.

Cons: Not the tidiest stitching. Pockets are a bit deep.

Leatt has done a great job with the inspiringly-named MTB Enduro Pants 3.0 V22. They’re excellent value, the cut is tapered and slim without being skin-tight and restrictive, and there are a smattering of useful features, such as numerous ventilation holes and five storage pockets. The backside is reinforced and boasts a waterproof coating for protection from the odd puddle.
Read our full review of the Leatt MTB Enduro Pants 3.0 V22

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Troy Lee Designs Sprint Ultra

Sizes: 30, 32, 34, 36, 38in | Rating: 10/10

Pros: Superlight and great freeedom of movement. Chain protector panel.

Cons: Ultra expensive. Only one pocket.

The Sprint Ultra is also lighter weight than the old Sprint simply because Troy Lee has ditched the mesh liner, but to retain the durability there’s an abrasive resistant material in the seat area and a cowhide leather patch on the ankle to stop chain wear – it’s the only trouser to get this feature. With its excellent venting and superb fit the Sprint Ultra is a great trail trouser, that’s also durable enough for downhill use – a jack of all trades and master of some then. At £175 it is pricey and we really struggled with that, but this is easily the best on test and in that regard it’s definitely worth it.

Read our full test review of Troy Lee Designs Sprint Ultra

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Endura MT500 Burner Pant II

Sizes: S-XXXL (31-43in) | Rating: 9/10

Pros: Great value. Four-way stretch fabric. Ratchet waist closure is secure. Zip pockets.

Cons: Not the trendiest brand.

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. On the outside edge you also get a little bit of 3D moulded knee protection – it’s a bit of a token gesture, especially when you have a full pad underneath, but it’s better than bare skin. That said, the 500 Burner Pant II is also a great trouser for just riding trails – it fits well, the breathability is good, the fabric is harder wearing than the rival Specialized Demo Pro pant, and it is better value.

Read our full test review of the Endura MT500 Burner Pant II

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IXS Trigger Pants

Sizes: XS-XXXL (28-41in) | Rating: 8/10

Pros: Comfortable material. Quick-drying.

Cons: Cut is a bit odd, with tight legs and baggy bum.

The material is lightweight, dries incredibly quickly and feels great next to the skin. It’s not the most durable though, and there’s a lack of reinforcement in the knees, seat or driveside ankle area, so one hard smash on gravel and you could go through it. The Trigger hasn’t cut up though, despite lots of riding through brambles and the dense undergrowth. To keep the trouser stable there’s some silicone print on the inside of the waist and two Velcro adjusters. Despite the extra volume in the rear, the Trigger is probably the most comfortable trouser on test. The Trigger feels great to ride in, especially in warmer conditions.

Read our full test review of the IXS Trigger Pants

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The best waterproof mountain bike trousers/pants:

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Fox Ranger 3L Water Pant

Sizes: 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40in | Rating: 10/10

Pros: Great on-bike comfort. Decent waterproofing. Stylish.

Cons: Nothing of note.

You might not be able to tell from the pictures but the Fox Ranger 3L Water Pant doesn’t have that typical nylon trouser construction, it’s more of a soft shell. The face fabric contains a high percentage of Spandex, which means it has a four-way stretch ability, is less noisy and, in our opinion, way more comfortable. But don’t let that imply this trouser is less effective at keeping you dry because it’s actually really good. It uses Truseal, a three-layer fabric that features a membrane middle layer to boost wicking and waterproofness. We don’t have any figures but during tests we’ve found it breathes as good as the Endura MT500 pant and is close in terms of waterproofness.

Combine performance, comfort, fit and the price and you have the best on test – totally recommended.

Read our full review of the Fox Ranger 3L Waterproof pant

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Troy Lee Designs Resist Pant

Sizes: 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40in | Rating: 9/10

Pros: Nice stretchy fabric. Good cut. Useful pockets.

Cons: Premium brand means a premium price. Ankle cuffs can be quite tight when removing over wet socks.

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 fact we’d happily wear these on cool spring and autumn days, even when it wasn’t raining. Zipped hip pockets and well-placed reinforced panels add to the practicality. Only the price washes a little of the lustre away.

Read our full test review of the Troy Lee Resist pant

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100% Hydromatic Pant

Sizes: 28-38in | Waterproof rating: 10k | Breathability rating: 10k | Rating: 9/10

Pros: Excellent waterproofing. Goldilocks fit – neither too tight nor too baggy. Breathable.

Cons: Waistband is too loose.

This 100% waterproof trouser uses a 2.5-layer fabric with a little bit of stretch and is rated 10k for both breathability and waterproofness. While it’s true that other quality riding trousers with a DWR coating that keep you dry-ish in less severe conditions can be had for half the money, the Hydromatics are priced in line with other fully winterised equivalents. As such, they are genuinely waterproof and can handle full days in horrible conditions.

Read our full test review of the 100% Hydromatic Pant

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Know your mountain bike trousers:

We’ve tested a whole load of mountain bike pants, and all of the ones we’ve selected below have scored highly enough to make our list of the very best out there. They’ll all get the job done, but it’s worth bearing in mind that the more expensive options will be a bit more durable and comfortable to wear.

Waterproofness

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. The membrane is the bit that keeps you dry and Gore-Tex is the most common brand.

All waterproof fabrics are rated for waterproofness and anything over 10,000mm is pretty watertight in normal conditions. Breathability is also rated – look for the MVTR (Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate) figure. Above 20,000g/m²/24hr means good breathability.

Fabric construction

Manufacturers describe their garments as having three two or layers but what does this mean? A two-layer fabric is made up of an outer face fabric bonded to the waterproof membrane, usually with a mesh liner hanging inside. 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. A three-layer garment has the membrane sandwiched between two Nylon layers.

Vents

To be honest, on legs, vents are generally unnecessary but some of the pants here do have them.

Adjustment

Adjustable cuffs and hems stop water getting in but also help regulate airflow the inside of the garment. To reduce weight, Velcro cuffs and ankles are often replaced with simple elasticated band.

Pockets

Pockets are handy on the trousers but a waterproof zip is a must if you intend stashing a phone down low.

Zip

On waterproof trousers look for a baffle gutter behind the fly to stop water ingress.