A quality pair of mountain bike pants is more versatile than you might think. In fact, you just might get more use out of them than a favorite pair of baggy shorts.
All of the pants tested below are a good choice for spring and fall shoulder season rides, but that’s not all. Mountain bike pants provide extra protection in the event of a crash, plus they block sunburn and poison oak on summer rides too. Each of these provides a bike-specific fit and features that you’ll appreciate for trail and enduro rides.
Club Ride Spoke Tech Pants
- Price: $149.95
- Buy from Club Ride
Saddled deep in the “wear anytime” camp of mountain bike clothing, the Club Ride Spoke Tech pants from Club Ride are a notable cozy piece for fall and spring riding. These trousers are available in two colors (Gumwall shown), five waist sizes, and two lengths to suit as many bodies as possible.
The waistband for these trousers includes a built-in adjustable belt for pre- and post-dinner pedaling. I typically wear a size 31” or 32” pant with a 31” inseam, and the 32 x 30” pair tested fit fantastically. The legs are a touch roomier than some MTB pants I’ve worn, leaving space for whatever padding and protection you choose to layer underneath. The fit and overall look is notably similar to classic hiking or trekking pants, with wider ankle cuffs that quickly collected chain grease.
Fabric on the Spoke Tech pants is light enough to wear on a shoulder season ride, while not so light that you’ll worry about ripping them in a tumble. My comfortable temperature range for these pants falls between 50 and 65° Fahrenheit (10-18° C) and I would only recommend them for dry trails as there is no waterproofing to speak of.
With as many pockets as a pair of jeans and one extra zippered pouch, the Spoke Tech pants provide ample storage. I prefer to stuff pockets instead of a bag on rides under three hours, and these pockets offer all the space I need.
For chamois-free folks, Club Ride added a swatch of fabric that smooths out the internal seams, leaving a magic carpet for your skin or skivvies to rest against.
DFYRS Coffindodger AC Park Pants
- Price: $183
- Buy from DFYRS
We can all agree that gravity riding can be dangerous. Wicked dangerous. Coffindodger is an apt and catchy product name for folks who love to push traction limits. The DFYRS Coffindodger AC Park Pants are a tough pair of trousers designed with durability atop the “needs” list. The brand backs that up with a 40% off crash-replacement price to refresh your pair should you hit the deck.
Coffindodgers come in four colors and six sizes, each of which can be adjusted roughly three inches at the waistband. Silicone grip inside that waistband keeps the pants in place, and a series of holes on the thigh provide a bit of breathability where it counts. These are “park” pants, so two hip-pockets is all ya get. The tighter DH-race cut in the legs keeps fabric out of your drivetrain and it looks fast to boot. Despite the tighter fit, there is ample space for kneepads underneath.
Built with a waterproof booty to catch the rear-tire-stripe and vents on the frontal thigh, these pants are comfortable in various weather conditions. For chairlift laps, they should do the trick no matter the conditions. For muscle-assisted laps, I am comfortable wearing this pair between 40 and 65° Fahrenheit (4-18° C).
These are some of the best built and most comfortable riding pants I’ve tried in years. They may cost a little more, but they should last long enough to be worth the outlay.
Yeti Ridgeway Pants
- Price: $170 (on sale for $70 at time of publication)
- Buy from Yeti
No need to ride a Yeti if you buy these pants. The branding is subdued and would look good with whatever bike you like. The Yeti Ridgeway pants come in black or tan with five waistband sizes and 31” inseams. Yeti does have other pants with longer inseams for taller riders.
Race-fit is a good way to describe these trousers, cut with tighter ankles to prevent drivetrain interference. Zippers at the ankle make it easier to slide them over kneepads before the ride. The material is comfortable and breathable for daylong riding and a grippy silicone stripe on the inner-lumbar keeps the waist in place while you pedal.
With two open hand pockets and a second pair of zippered hip pockets, these could appropriately be called “enduro pants.” The fabric is light enough to cover your calves in nearly any weather and offers enough storage for a massive snack cache. The water-repellent finish is sufficient in a light rain or on muddy rides but it won’t do much in a proper storm.
Yeti’s other trouser models include a lumbar pocket on the waistband which can be an irritating place to pack anything. I was happy to see them forego that pouch on this pair.
What are your favorite pants for mountain biking?
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