Some people seek the comfort of shelters and install indoor sports shoes or Peloton as soon as the breeze hits in the cold months. Others walked on the empty road with new joy. The cold weather does not have to keep you away from your bicycle. As the saying goes, there is no bad weather, only inappropriate equipment. This is where the winter cycling pants come in.
When you wear the best winter cycling pants, the biting wind, cold temperature and bad weather will not affect whether you are riding or not. Until recently, there were not many choices for winter cycling pants.
You can wear a tight bib under the rain pants to provide additional weather protection; wear soft shell pants suitable for hiking or backcountry skiing; or pair motorcycle pants or DH pants over shorts or fleece tights.
Now, almost every great bicycle clothing brand produces winter cycling pants suitable for road, gravel, off-road and commuting. From elastic lightweight soft shell pants that are most suitable for dirt roads to tear-resistant, motorcycle-style pants that can be placed on knee pads and armor, there is always one with your name printed on it.
One of the lightest mountain bike pants. Pack them for travel when you are unsure about the weather or terrain. These trousers are made of four-way stretch nylon with abrasion-resistant stretch Cordura nylon at the knees, which can resist rock debris and thorny thorns without feeling hot, humid or restrained. The seamless, gusseted crotch and ventilation panels prevent chafing and saddle hot spots, while allowing you to move freely-even if you need to hike in terrain that cannot be ridden. The waist ratchet is inserted into the body without digging holes, and the ankle cuffs are easy to enter and exit but block debris. The match is tailored to fit, but not tight. Last but not least, one pocket can hold mobile phones and snacks.
OMW is designed for cycling in winter, not for all seasons, but for cold weather. As the heaviest and warmest trousers we have tested, the waterproof and windproof soft shell has a detachable internal boot legging that prevents snow from entering when the powder is immersed deeper. Zip and snap ankles are suitable for winter cycling shoes with or without leggings. Five zippered handbags, leg pockets and hip pockets can hold everything you need: fuel, phone, spare battery and hand warmer. If you are sweating in cold weather, the zippered leg vents can prevent things from getting wet. There is also a sewn-in adjustable waistband on the front of the double-snap buckle, which can secure the pants to any layer worn underneath. The gray color scheme has a bright and contrasting red belt; minimalists should choose an all-black color scheme.
Polartec Alpha insulation is shocking because of its weight. It has the best breathability during exercise and will not sweat during cold high-output activities (such as cycling in winter), but it will keep you warm. The trousers feature Alpha panels on the abdomen, front of the thighs, and waist, and are made of a water-repellent, moisture-wicking shell fabric. Although there is an elastic waistband, there is a ratchet closure system to adjust the fit. We have tested these on a brisk but warm autumn day and clipped them to woolen leggings in the thick winter. In both cases, Flexair Pro Fire can adjust the temperature to make you comfortable throughout the day. The zipper handbag doubles as a vent, while the semi-elastic cuffs seal the body heat. Bonus: there is room for knee pads.
Gravelleurs, commuters and wanderers like these pants as much as mountain bikers among us. Tailor-made and flexible, they won't become slack within a few hours of cycling, they look good after riding and can be worn out for dinner. In fact, some days we commute to work and then keep these all day long. The sliding lock button can remain closed even when going uphill, and the reflective highlights on the ankles will sparkle when worn in the city. We like this fabric: 4-way stretch nylon elastic fiber milled in butter Italy, which is biodegradable.
We like Trail Pant's deep front pocket and ratchet belt buckle. They are sturdy enough to handle trails, but they must be trimmed to not look motorcycles. They are light, elastic and soft-warmer than they look, but breathable thanks to laser-cut inner thigh vents. The pockets can comfortably hold the mobile phone, and the spacious side pockets can also hold the mobile phone. The elastic cuffs are not easy to put on and take off (we had to turn the trousers over to take them off), but they are excellent at preventing dirt and debris. Although the trousers stretch on the knees and the seat, the waist belt does not, so they will not slip off even if they are worn for a few days.
If you don't like handbags, Gorewear's C5 bib may be your winter trump card. They look like any other winter leggings, but their role is far more than just the eye. The Windstopper cups and the spray-resistant fabric on the inner thighs significantly improve cold weather comfort when worn alone on road tasks or under any of the other pants in this review. Reflective, slim, designed for road cycling or stacking, the hot material is toasted, and the high front of the shorts minimizes exposure in the event of leakage. Piercing on the back prevents sweat from accumulating. Wear these under Gorewear's Gore-Tex Paclite pants ($200) during heavy rain.
The tailoring is loose and height adjustable, with four-way stretch and DWR processing, it feels like hiking pants suitable for multidisciplinary use. Adjustable shoulder straps at the waist and oversized pockets on the front and thighs. The waist and thighs are loosely cut and gradually extend down to the calves to prevent the trousers from being hooked. If you are going to bring a pair of pants for bicycle packaging, this is it. Bonus: Each pair comes with a crash replacement.
Adjustable at any time, the gravel/mountain bike/commuter Launch Trail pants are suitable for all seasons and comfortably resist nettles, thorns, bugs and poison ivy. Made of DWR-treated four-way elastic Cordura, immediately with water droplets. Double zipper thigh pockets keep the equipment snug but not in the way, and the Velcro waist adjustment allows you to fine-tune the fit of the road or trail even while riding.
Dakine's Thrillium is specially designed for refreshing autumn days on trails and cable cars. It is made of low-impact, durable fabric with perforations on the abdomen and waist. Some favorite specifications: the ribbed belt above the knee provides a lot of benefits when worn with the knee pad; the fabric is soft and fits the skin, but will not tear when rolling; the built-in waist belt supports the buttoned waist. The spacious hand warmer pockets are also deep enough to hold cell phones and snacks comfortably. There is an extra large pocket at the lower thigh.
Tasco's Scout MTB pants are cut from environmentally friendly Repreve shell fabric, a four-way stretch polyester spandex blend fabric made from recycled plastic bottles. The shell fabric has enough protection and warmth in winter, but it is not too hot for elevator shredding in spring and autumn (the pants even have a park pass ring). Our advice: wear suede shorts when riding in the cold autumn and full-length leggings when winter comes. When wearing trousers on a padded or extra winter layer, the internal waist adjustment provides extra space. Two oversized thigh pockets double as vents. Before you turn on your phone to ride, please double check whether your phone is inside.
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