Cycling to work has many benefits, not least of which is 'more time on the bike, but there is admittedly a lot of additional faff. Into a pannier or one of the best cycling backpacks has to go your laptop, lunch, change of clothes, and a towel and toiletries. If your co﷽mmute isn't too intense though you can easily ditch the change of clothes and ride in wearing some of the best cycling trousers instead.
Cycling trousers, as the name suggests, are designed for riding, but off the bike, they more or less resemble a normal pair of trousers (or pants, for our North American friends). They use materials with more stretch for better freedom of movement, are cut higher at the back🐓 so you ♚don't show off your rear end while riding, and are often water resistant too.
I've been testing a load over the winter - as I don't have a car I get around purely by bike, so these have taken me to and from the office, as well as to and from the pub, on errands, and just generally ꦡbecoming a part of my day to day life.
Quick List
1. Mission Workshop Signal Pants
The best fit, the best materials, the best finish, comfortable to rid▨e in and smart enough for most workplaces. If you can stomachꦡ the price these are nearly impossible to beat.
A little softer and more stretchy than the Signal, these are great for every dayꦦ, are brilliant for ridi♒ng or doing anything else active, and they come in a lovely range of earthy colours.
A ♏thinner material makes🌳 these lighter, and a vented gusset keeps them cool in the heat. You can usually pick them up cheaper than most cycling trousers and they are a bargain.
Cycling jeans are hard to do, but these from Vulpine are great. The cut is well done, and there is enough stret🐟ch to allow movement without them ever feeling like late 2000's jeggings.
Just as at home in the city as they are on bikepacking trips. The Rapha Explore Pants are superl🔯ight, resist spray, and will ꦓdry off the fastest of any on this list. After work gravel ride, anyone?
These are perfect for riding to the gym and, if I'm being honest, kic𝓡king about around the house, but they are cut for cycling and are far more breathable than any normal pair of sweatpants.
If I had to onl🎐y keep one pair of cycling trousers from this list it'd be the Mission Workshop Signal. The RRP is noticeably higher than the others, but the quality is also noticeably better.
The fit is perfect for a pair of cycling trousers - slim, ꦛbut not skinny. Let's be honest, skinny jeans have gone out of fashion, but these have a very neat silhouette that, especially in black or navy, could be worn in all but the smartest of workplace environments.
The material is a classic 4-way stretch softshell, but it's a little stiffer than that used on the (confusingly similar sounding) OrNot Mission pants or the Chrome Brannan. More abrasion resistant, and longer lasting, though a slightly less comfy feel ne♛xt to the skin.
The pockets, toꦚo, are excellent. The leg pocket is mirrored on the OrNot pants, but the main front pockets are deeper - You're not going to lose anything out of them while riding.
The only couple of downsides, besides the price, are a lack of reflec💧tive detailing and belt loops that are larger than usual, so slimmer belts don't work well. Though to be honest, I never see reflective details as anything more than a nice addition - good lights should do the job we༺ll, and it makes them smarter when you're actually at work.
Most Comfortable
(Image credit: Will Jones)
2. OrNot Mission Pants
Reasons to buy
+
Super comfy
+
Great fit
+
Zipped pockets
Reasons to avoid
-
Less smart looking
-
No DWR
The OrNot Miss🌌ion pants are in many ways very similar to the Miss🐻ion Workshop Signal. The fit is similar, and the pocket arrangement is also more or less identical, though one of the back pockets here has a zip, so if you are a back pocket valuables kinda person then these might suit you better. They're also a lot cheaper and have a reinforced gusset.
In truth, these are basically a viable option for best overall, especially if you value comfort - the material has a softer lining and is a little more stretchy. They are however slig☂htly less smart looking th𓄧an the Mission Workshop Signal, but if you are after a pair just to ride in and not to wear around the office too then these should absolutely be on your radar.
The lac💟k of DWR, plus the lighter colours generally mean they pick up stains a little more easily, but a decent set of mudguards should help this. They are a little thicker than both the Mission Workshop and Chrome options, too - Great for riding in colder weather, but it does make them a little hotter when the mercury rises.
For the visibility conscious, there are reflective details on the in𝓰side 🧔of the leg, which become visible when you roll your trouser leg up.
In short, if comfort trumps smart🐠ness then pick these.
Best Value
(Image credit: Will Jones)
3. Chrome Brannan Pants
Best Value
Reasons to buy
+
Great, looser fit
+
Articulated knees and vented gusset
+
Thinner material
Reasons to avoid
-
Only black
-
Feel less durable than others
While the RRP for the Branna is similar to the OrNot Mission, they pack a bit more in and are more frequently seen discounted, and so♓ re🐼present better value in my eyes.
Like the other two options above these are a classic softshell pair of pants, though in this case the knees are pre-articulated. This means these trousers are the best for actually riding in, though when wearing them off-bike t🌸hey hang a little differently, strangely being loose at the shin.
The reinforced gusset also has a pair of vents to help direct airflow into what can become a quite sweaty area in hot weather. This, combined with a slightly thin🐼ner material, makes them a great warmer-weather option.
While the material also features a DWR coating to help a light shower bead off, it does feဣel less sturdy than both the OrNot and Mission Workshop options, but if you're not absolutely murderous on your trousers then it shouldn't be much of a concern; they are hardly flimsy bꦦy any measure.
If you value extra features or are buying a pair predominantly to ride in, then these are the on🌳es to pick... as long as you like black.
Best Cycling Jeans
(Image credit: Will Jones)
4. Vulpine Opus Jeans
Reasons to buy
+
Slim, without being skinny
+
Subtle reflective details
+
Very high rear waist
Reasons to avoid
-
Sizes up large
Cycling jeans✅ are a hard one to do well, which is why so few people make them. These Opus jeans from Vulpine are very good, even against normal jeans, but with cycling features packed in they're a winner.
The fit is prime cycling trousers, with the highest rear waist of the lot - if you're riding in an aggressive position rest assured 💝you're not going to be showing anyone your bottom. The knees, like the Brannan pants, are😼 also articulated, and the stretch denim is stretchy enough that it allows movement, without losing that sturdy 'denim' feeling that is key.
The reflectivꦐe details are subtle too, hidden away in pocket piping. There are no zipped pockets, so be sure your valuables are safe, but the pockets themselves are deep and well-positioned so as not to interfere.
My main gripe was really with the fit - These size a little large, so if you're between sizes go a size down. Also, if you've got bigger legs or want a wider lℱeg just for the look of it then Vulpine has the Opus jean, which has all the same features in a looser fit.
Lightweight Option
(Image credit: Will Jones)
5. Rapha Explore Pant
Reasons to buy
+
Superlight and quick-drying
+
Integrated belt
+
Cut for riding
Reasons to avoid
-
Perhaps too 'techy' for the office
Rapha's Explore Pant is designed as a gravelly/mtb pair of cycling trousers, but I've taken to using them around the city far more than I have on the trails. If you want to add a splash of gorpcore aesthetic to your city riding then these are a great shout, as you get the style but with the added benefits of a pair of trousers des🃏igned for riding.
The mai🐠n reason I love these is the fact that they are feathery-light. This means💛 they stay cool even if it is warm, and dry out super quick if they get wet too - I've worn them over a set of tights in winter, and on their own in warm weather.
There are no rear pockets, but I never use them when r♌iding anyway as they lack the security and you end up sitting on your keys if you're not careful, to make up for it there are a pair of side pockets that extend around the back of your thighs so you don't have anything on the front.
Lastly, you needn't worry about a belt - they have a built-in lightweight one that's far less obtrusive when you're riding than a standard buckle, and the en🎐d of each leg also features a cinch tab so yo🌊u don't get them caught in your drivetrain.
Cycling Sweatpants
(Image credit: Will Jones)
6. Altura Grid Softshell Pants
Reasons to buy
+
Hugely comfy
+
Breathable but cosy
Reasons to avoid
-
Too casual for most offices
Altura markets these as a 'softshell' pair of cycling trousers, but don't be fooled; these are sweatpants, just cut for cycling. They be♓ar no real resemblance to the first three options on thi෴s list, which are actual softshell pants.
While they aren't what they claim to be, they have found a place in my life nonetheless, and are a particular favour﷽ite for when I ride to the gym. Also, I just wear them around the house too, as I would with any other sweatpants.
I wouldn't want to wear these to the office, or for extended riding, as despite the grid fleece being more breathable than normal sweatpants they are still warm. There's also a DWR, but I wouldn't want to spend any time in a downpo💮ur.
The tapered leg and high rear waist, plus some reflective details make them far better on the bike than any 🏅other sweatpants I've ridden in, but I'd say these are perfect for riding to the gym and not a great deal else. Still worthy of shouting about for that, as on some days I happily work out in them too, but unless you work in an extremely casual workplace you may look like you're wearing pyjamas at your desk.
How to choose
Most cycling trou♑sers, whether you're using them for commuting or just zooming around the city for fun, have a few things in common; a higher waist at the back, more secure pockets, and stretchy materials. Beyond that, things diverge, so it's only natural to have a few questions - I've tried my best to answer the common ones below.
How should cycling pants fit?
Basically, they should fit like normal trousers, but the waist will be higher at the back to preserve one's modesty. The cut of cycling trousers will invariably be slim, as baggy trousers ಌflap and are more prone tꦏo getting caught in chainrings.
The leg length also tends to✅ be longer, in the expectation that you'll roll them up, though this isn't universal.
Are cycling trousers waterproof?
Waterproof cycling trousers are a different product entirely, akin to a waterproof jacket. With 'normal' cycling trousers none are waterproof, but many offer a durable water-repellent (DWR) coating that causes light rain to b♈ead off. If it's heavy rain though, you'll want proper overtrousers.
Do I have to roll one leg up when I cycle?
No, but it helps - Rolling one leg up, the driveside 🔯one, a few times keeps it out of the way of your chainring, which can cause anything from dirty marks through to actually ripping your trouser leg if you aren't careful.
Many cycling pants also feature reflective patc⛎hes inside the lining that are only visible when you roll one leg up.
Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He’s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the standard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He’s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn’t ever ride indoors he’s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collec✨tion of bikes is a real smorgasborꦆd, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines.
