Have you ever ridden your mountain bike in a Polar Vortex? I have. The temperature was -15°F (about -26°C) and I rolled through six inches of dry, powdery snow, mostly just to prove to myself that it could be done, but also so I could see how it felt. The verdict? Mostly pleasant, with the right clothing.
A lot of mountain bikers have a low temperature cutoff for riding. For me, it’s generally 20°F, which can often feel even lower with the wind chill. That’s solidly below freezing and beyond the comfort range of most mountain bike pants, the majority of which are vented and better suited to shoulder season riding or summer bike park days at altitude*.
Though ski pants make for a decent cold-weather riding choice, they often lack a bike-specific fit that moves well on the bike, not to mention features like tapered leg cuffs that stay clear of your drivetrain. Sadly, there just aren’t many choices when it comes to proper, insulated mountain bike pants. Some that we’ve tested and loved in the past — like the 45NRTH Naughtvind pants — are currently being phased out. A representative for the brand tells me they’re moving away from the category and there’s no plan to replace them in the near term.
The select mountain bike pants below cover a wide range of cold weather conditions, and can be paired with other garments for just the right level of protection. Whether riding on snow, or well below zero, over the years we’ve found these are the MTB pants that keep us warm on the coldest winter days.
Endura MT500 Freezing Point MTB Trousers
Cold-weather tester: Matt Miller
The Endura MT500 Freezing Point pants are aptly named. In his review of the pants, Matt Miller said he found them to work best at temperatures between 25° and 35°F, which is just above and below freezing. With strategically placed Primaloft Gold Active Insulation material and waterproof panels, these are designed to keep you warm and dry without overheating.
“The pants feel durable, especially with abrasion-resistant ankles, and they are slim to avoid interference with cranks and chains,” Miller wrote. “The venting on the trousers is a nice touch for some air conditioning when you’re pedaling hard on chilly days.”
The Endura MT500 Freezing point pants are compatible with Endura Clickfast padded liners, sold separately.
Buy from Endura for about $200.
Fox Defend Fire pants
Cold-weather tester: Lindsay Warner
Fox mountain bike pants are a popular choice, and with good reason. We love the quality construction, excellent on-bike fit, and style Fox delivers, and the Fox Defend Fire pants are designed for riding in some of the most extreme conditions.
Starting at the outside, a durable water repellant (DWR) coating makes the Fox Defend Fire pants a good choice for riding in snowy conditions. More importantly for cold-weather riding, they’re insulated with Polartec® Alpha® material and are comfortable riding in temperatures well below freezing.
“The Fox Defend Fire pant was warm enough that I could wear just bib shorts underneath—even down to single digits,” Lindsay Warner wrote in her review.
Featuring reinforced knee panels and a tapered leg with a zip cuff, these are designed for riding hard all winter long. Available in waist sizes from 28 to 40 with proportional inseam measurements.
Buy them from Fox Racing for about $200.
Ibex Woolies tech bottom
Cold-weather tester: Jeff Barber
As I said earlier, most mountain bike pants won’t cut it for riding on the coldest days.
*Unless you wear another layer with them.
Growing up in the South, I never owned anything warmer than a pair of blue jeans. But I did have “long johns,” essentially long, thick cotton underwear with a waffle pattern that could be worn underneath a pair of pants.
By now you’ve surely been told that cotton is not a good choice for biking in winter because once it gets wet from sweat or the environment, it provides little to no insulating value. Wool, on the other hand, does a much better job.
The Ibex Woolies tech bottoms are a more technical take on the long john concept, and they essentially transform your favorite riding pants into winter riding pants. We’ve tested plenty of pants that claim to be winter MTB pants, like the Club Ride Fat Jacks, but found they only work on the coldest days when paired with a thermal layer underneath.
Priced at just over $100, these aren’t cheap, though they are less expensive than the dedicated winter MTB pants we like. However, you don’t have to spend that much on a technical baselayer; REI has several great options priced around the $50 mark.
Buy from Ibex for around $105.
Pearl Izumi Summit AmFIB Alpha Pants
Cold-weather tester: Jeff Barber
The Pearl Izumi AmFIB mountain bike pants are my go-to for frozen mountain bike rides. They’re easily comfortable in the 20s (-5°C) and could probably go even lower, if only I were willing. While previous versions of the pant were made with a thicker, neoprene-like material, the latest AmFIB Alpha pants get even more technical with Polartec Alpha Direct insulation that’s less bulky, making it easier to move around on the bike. And they’re still the warmest pant that Pearl Izumi makes.
In addition to being insulated, the pants feature a PFAS-free DWR coating for protection against snow and mud. The tapered legs feature a long zipper for a tight, wind-blocked fit that stays out of the way of the pedals and drivetrain. I found the waist is pretty much true to size, and if not, the built-in adjustable belt offers a lot of room to adjust the fit.
Buy from Pearl Izumi for about $190.
Velocio Thermal Utility Bib Tight
Cold-weather tester: Jeff Barber
Another option for extending the season is a pair of insulated tights like the Velocio Thermal Utility Bib tight. I usually wear these underneath a pair of regular mountain bike pants on the longest, coldest days in the saddle since they include a built-in chamois. I’ve also had good luck with Pearl Izumi thermal tights, but the Velocios are a cut above with a more premium fit and a higher quality chamois. They’re also the softest tights I own.
One key feature not to be overlooked is the bib design, which ensures your lower back is covered at all times, even as your jacket starts to ride up or your outer pants slide down. Velocio says the thermal bib tights feature a DWR coating, so you could wear them without a pair of outer pants if you like. The tights even feature big, stretchy pockets on either side for warming hands or stashing small items.
Buy from Velocio for about $280.
We’re always on the lookout for warm mountain bike pants for riding on the coldest days of the year. Which ones are your go-to? Tell us in the comments below!
2 Comments
16 hours ago
The softshell exterior is rugged and weather resistant without holding in too much moisture, and the Polartec Alpha is so cozy and breathable that it covers temps from above to well below freezing.
Not sure if they still make the bib, but it has a nice pocket on the low back to keep a bottle from freezing. They also have two zippered drop in pockest on each side that keep my phone warm and not banging on my leg each pedal stroke.
My only complaint was that the suspenders would slide off my wimpy shoulders at times, but a jerry rigged sternum strap solved that problem.
I highly recomend them, and they are still going strong after quite a few rides.
1 minute ago