Fox Ranger Pants Review: Best for All-Around MTB Trail Riding

Ahh, summertime. The air is warm, the dirt is dusty, and the sun is glaring. It’s the perfect time to don a pair of black mountain bike pants, eh? For some, yes. For some, no. It depends on the climate, or climate variability, the breathability of the pants, and maybe proximity to lift-accessible terrain.

These Fox Ranger pants are a solid choice for all-around trail riding though, and will give your legs some added protection if gravity riding is your forte, or you like to keep chain scuffs and dust off the calves.

Fox Ranger Pants

• Price: $100
• Available at Amazon and other online retailers.

Fox’s new Ranger mountain bike pants are made for everyday trail riding or light gravity riding, with their Defend pants as a more aggressive gravity option, or the FlexAirs as a lighter, more breathable option.

The Fox Ranger pants have a slim, athletic fit to reduce snagging, and an adjustable, built-in belt. They are pretty basic, with two pockets, and a zippered stash pocket/vent. The pants are made from mostly polyamide nylon, with a little bit of polyester and elastane. The Fox Rangers come in black, khaki, blue, and olive with sizes ranging 28-38.

They have a sturdy feel and like the description says, a nice slim fit. The ankles come up pretty high, which is a nice benefit to keep them out of the chainring, and the crotch is pretty high up too to avoid snags on the saddle. As far as mountain bike pants go, they are a dead simple and relatively affordable option that should do the trick for most anyone.

Since they are a black pant, I would love to have another vented pocket on the right side, or even a small zippered vent. My other nitpick is the adjustable belt. It’s awkward to use, and I’ve since bound it up somehow, so that the buckles are stuck and out of reach. The pants fit true to size so I’m not reliant on the belt for adjustment, but it’s not a very good design and I’ll probably just cut the strap off. A touch of silicone on the inside of the pants would also be nice.

The pants do work well otherwise, and are fairly breathable, but most people will want to skip them on the hottest summer days, unless you’re riding the bike park all day. Don’t forget the knee pads. Since the cuffs are elastic, put the pads on before the pants.

Pros and Cons of the Fox Ranger Pants

Pros

• Slim and tailored fit; not bulky
• Affordable

Cons

• Adjustable belt needs improvement
• Needs more vents for breathability

Bottom Line

The Fox Ranger pants are ideal for mountain bikers who want a great, fitted, simple, affordable pant option.

• Price: $100
• Available at Amazon and other online retailers.