Don’t ride wet trails.
That’s good general advice, but that’s not to say we’ll never ride in the rain. Maybe you live in a wet location like the Pacific Northwest or the UK, and some of your trails are designed for wet-weather riding. Or maybe you’re sending private trails at a bike park like Windrock. Maybe you’re out on a big ride and a storm pops up.
In any of these situations, a quality pair of waterproof bike pants is a nice item to have. If you’re riding in cool to cold conditions, rain pants serve to keep you both warm and dry. And even on warmer days, rainproof pants can help prevent soggy saddle sores and chafing from the gritty paste that gets kicked up along the way.
Dedicated waterproof bike pants aren’t cheap — our picks range in price from $120 to $325 (!) — but they do pack important features like breathable fabrics, tapered leg cuffs, and comfortable on-bike fits. If you don’t ride in wet conditions often, you may find a simple pair of nylon overpants to be a good choice, which we’ll discuss below.
Waterproof pants are constructed using the same materials that go into rain jackets, with similar construction that includes fully taped seams inside and a durable water repellant (DWR) coating on the outside. More expensive waterproof bike pants feature a three-layer construction that’s generally thinner, lighter, and more durable than those that employ a two- or 2.5-layer design.
Finally, keep in mind that while the pants below are marketed as waterproof/rain pants, they are a good option for riding in snowy conditions as well.
7 Mesh Grit Pants
Reviewer: Gerow
In the squishy wet PNW, 7Mesh gear is a benchmark. Their gear costs a little more, and riders who can afford it know it’s worth the coin. The brand’s attention to detail rings clear throughout their product line, and for rain riding there’s arguably no better option.
The Grit pants come in one color and six sizes. As with most waterproof gear, pockets are few and simple, but the two zippered pockets in these pants leave space for a phone and a few snacks. If it’s cold enough to wear these pants (50° F / 10° C and below), I’ll wear a pack to hold other layers and backup gloves, so pockets aren’t of top importance.
I’ve only tested one pair of pants that are more rain-ready than these, and that pair is also made by 7Mesh. Given their aquatic aversion, the 7 Mesh Grit pants don’t breathe amazingly. 7Mesh definitely put some effort toward airflow, but holding water out while expelling sweat is too much to ask from a fabric. We get one or the other, and they chose the important direction. Your kneepads will get a bit sweaty in these trousers, but you’ll also stay warm as long as you keep moving.
The fabric feels tough enough to take some tumbles and last a few seasons. In the interest of longevity, I plan to Knickwax these at the end of the season so they are ready for the slop of 2025.
Buy from 7mesh for $270 and Backcountry for $299.
Endura Hummvee Transit Waterproof Trouser
Reviewer: Jeff Barber
Endura offers a few different options when it comes to waterproof bike pants, and the Humvee Transit pants are one of the brand’s top sellers. Priced at about $120, this 2.5-layer rain pant doesn’t skimp on bike-specific features like adjustable leg openings to keep cuffs from getting snagged, reflective accents on the sides and rear, and a shape that moves well on the bike without getting hung up on the saddle. The fit is quite generous around the knees, offering plenty of room for pads.
On the bike, the Endura Humvee Transit Waterproof Trousers breathe surprisingly well. Still, if you’re pushing hard or riding in warm weather, you will sweat sooner rather than later. Some waterproof bike pants feature zippered hand pockets that double as ventilation, but these do not. In fact, the Humvees have exactly zero pockets. To get pockets, you’ll need to upgrade to a more expensive pair of Endura pants, like the $250 MT500 Waterproof Bib Pant.
Off the bike, the Humvee rain pants are noisy, and feel plasticky. After a wet ride in these, I’m ready to take them off immediately and get into some dry clothes.
The elastic and drawstring waist is as simple as it is comfortable. I’m 6’3″ tall, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the 32in inseam on the size medium pants almost reaches the top of my shoe. Consider ordering a size up if you plan to wear these over a pair of shorts or another pair of pants. Compatible with Endura Clickfast liner shorts.
Buy from Endura for $119.99
Patagonia Dirt Roamer Storm Pants
Reviewer: Jaimeelee Palma
The Patagonia Dirt Roamer Storm Pants are designed for MTB riders who aren’t afraid of the cold, wet, rainy winter weather conditions. These women’s mountain bike pants are very lightweight, breathable, and are designed to keep you riding through the wettest of conditions. They are fully waterproof to keep rain, snow, and cold temperatures out, while also providing breathability and a comfortable fit utilizing their H2No fabrics.
The Dirt Roamers feature an MTB-specific OppoSet® waistband that allows for a fine-tuned fit without getting in the way of hip packs. It is a sleek design on the right of the button clasp, almost unnoticeable at first glance. The waist adjuster can be pulled to make the fit snugger, and there is a small clasp to pull in order to release and relax the waistband.
The material is midweight and very breathable, and it’s made with 100% recycled Nylon. There’s a soft-knit backer to eliminate clamminess against the skin, that also keeps legs cool and helps control body temperature.
A nice feature is the (almost) knee-high zipper that lets you open up the ankle openings and be able to pull the pants on and off without removing shoes or knee pads. Or, you can unzip the ankle cuffs for maximum ventilation!
Overall, these are very flexible and allow for unhindered movement, making them a great choice for all-day winter riding.
The Dirt Roamer pants are almost perfect; the only thing that was off for me was the sizing. I followed the sizing guide which led me to get a large, which ended up being way too big and loose on me. These pants fall under their regular fit -“Neither slim nor oversized. Regular-fitting technical garments may be worn over heavier midlayers.”
Buy from Patagonia for $299
Rapha Trail Gore-Tex Pants
Reviewer: Matt Miller
Rapha’s Trail Gore-Tex pants have a similar look and feel to their trail lightweight pants, they just add heavy wet weather protection with the Gore-Tex fabric and name. They have fully taped seams and mud resistance, two pockets up front and can be worn with knee pads.
The Trail Gore-Tex pants fit well for my average, 5’8″, extra medium build. They are just the right amount of baggy and not too tight either. There is room for knee pads. The one thing that makes them feel quite different is that the Gore-Tex material doesn’t like to flex a lot. It’s a pretty rigid material, however it is comfortable, and they have a reasonable amount of breathability considering their strength against moisture. This isn’t the cheapest rain pant out there, but if you need something that fits and feels great and doesn’t get steamy during rainy rides, the Rapha Trail Gore-Tex pants check the box.
Unfortunately for US readers, the Rapha Trail Gore-Tex pants are not currently available for purchase. A note on the website says, “Please note – This product is currently being reworked and is unavailable for purchase in the US. Any orders placed will be cancelled.”
Buy from Rapha for $325
More wet weather pants
Singletracks has also tested waterproof pants from Showers Pass, including the premium three-layer Refuge pants. Unfortunately, these are showing limited availability right now, so consider the brand’s Timberline waterproof pants instead.
Gorewear Women’s trail pants had been a good option, but have been discontinued. And the Gore Endure pants on the men’s side are unavailable to buyers in California and New York, presumably because they do not comply with new PFAS regulations.
Finally, if you don’t plan to do a lot of wet-weather riding, an inexpensive pair of overpants like these from Columbia can be a good option. They aren’t breathable or designed specifically for cycling, but they will keep your legs and shorts dry on the occasional rainy day ride.
Have you found a pair of waterproof mountain bike pants that works well for you? Tell us about them in the comments below!
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