7 of the Best New Mountain Bike Pants Ridden & Rated

The days of wearing heavy duty, repurposed moto pants for mountain biking have become a distant memory, and there's now a wide array of options out there designed for everything from rainy laps in the bike park to long pedal-fests. Over the last few months I've been putting seven of the latest mountain bike pants to the test, subjecting them to all of the elements of a Pacific Northwest spring. That means they saw more than their fair share of mud, lots of puddles, and some sunnier weather thrown into the mix.

For reference, I have a 32-inch waist and a 33-inch inseam, and tested a size medium or 32 for all of the pants featured below.

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Review Contents

• NF DP4
• Yeti Ridgway
• Specialized Gravity Pants
• DHaRCO Gravity Pants
• Sombrio Vanquish
• Nukeproof Blackline
• Rapha Trail Fast + Light
• Top Picks

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NF DP4 Pants

NF also added in a 'long' option for their medium and large sizes, which is what I tested. That adds 3” to the inseam length, bumping it up from 30” to 33”. That'll be a handy feature for lanky riders, and I'll admit it was nice to have pants that didn't feel like they'd shrunk in the wash. The waist closure remains the same, a big, stretchy elastic band that's reminiscent of the kidney belts that warehouse workers and weight lifters wear. It does the job, and the pants stayed securely in place on every ride. I did notice that my waist would get hotter and sweatier than it would with the other pants in this roundup – there's more material around the waist compared to the thinner, ratchet strap fit system found on the Yeti or Rapha pants. There's also no fly, so you'll need to pull the front of the pants down like you would with sweat pants for trailside pitstops.

The DP4's ended up being the pants I'd grab when it was a little cooler and wetter out, or for doing bike park / shuttle laps. They're comfortable and stretchy enough for extended pedaling, but they aren't the absolute airiest or lightest options out there. The flip side is that the fabric has held up extremely well – I've slid in the mud more than once, and ridden through plenty of branches and brambles and they're still looking good as new. They are one of the more expensive options on this list, but potential buyers should keep in mind that they're supporting a local business, not a mega-factory cranking out thousands of garments a day. NF also have a certified used gear section on their website for riders looking to save some money.

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Yeti Ridgway Pants

There are two hip pockets plus two zippered side pockets, all mesh-lined. I don't usually carry my keys in my pocket when I'm riding, but that mesh lining is a little more likely to snag and potentially tear than a solid-fabric lining, so it's worth a mention. Two snaps keep the pants securely closed, and the ratcheting waist straps do a great job at adjusting the fit. I wore a hip pack during most of my rides with these pants and didn't encounter any discomfort from the buckles, even though they're a little thicker than what's used on the Rapha pants.

There aren't any vents in the fabric itself, but the material is on the lighter side, and I was comfortable in temperatures up into the low 60's F (17 C). Technically those zippered side pockets could be opened up for a little extra airflow, although I didn't notice that making much of a difference. The fabric has survived plenty of muddy rides, and a few crashes, all without any rips or tears. The DWR coating isn't as effective as what's used on the NF pants; I'd say these are best suited for nicer weather, or at least times when actively raining. The saddle area is starting to show some discoloration due to the amount of grit that's been ground into it, but all the seams are holding strong, and I'd still say the overall durability is quite good.

It's worth mentioning again just how comfortable these pants are – I'd happily lounge around all day wearing these, something that can't be said for all of the other options on this list.

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Specialized Gravity Pants


There's just enough room for kneepads, and there's extra reinforcement around the knees for additional tear resistance. A panel of stretch fabric makes it easier to get the pants on and off, which may seem like a small detail, that is unless you've spent time struggling with Specialized's Trail Pants.

There are some downsides to Gravity Pant's race-focused design. For me, the fact that there aren't any pockets at all is unfortunate. Sure, racers should leave their keys and phones in the pits, but I don't have anyone following me around to hold my stuff, and it's nice to at least have a place to stash a card or cash for post-ride snacks. Another gripe has to do with the vent holes at the back of the pants. They're perfectly positioned in the line of fire for the mud and water that sprays off the rear tire, which means that whatever you're wearing under these pants will get a nice polka dot pattern of dirt by the end of the ride.

Vent holes aside, the Gravity pants do a good job of shedding moisture, and the fabric has held up very well so far. I'd put these pants in a similar category as the NF DP4 – the material has a similar feel, one that's not quite as soft and supple as the Rapha or Yeti pants, but also less likely to rip during a crash.

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DHaRCO Gravity Pants

I didn't have an trouble fitting an iPhone 12 Mini in the front pockets, but considering how large some phones have gotten it wouldn't hurt if they were a little deeper. Two snaps keep the zipper fly closed, and they're backed up with a swatch of velcro to ensure there aren't any wardrobe malfunctions. The waistband fit is adjusted via an elasticized velcro strap on each hip. They're lacking the silicone grippers that some other pants have to keep them from sliding down, but I found that the snugger fit around the hips kept this from being an issue.

Although the pants are tapered, the fabric around the ankle was a little baggier than most of the other pants reviewed here, with the exception of the Sombrio Vanquish pants. It's not enough to get caught in a chain, but I could hear it rubbing on the crankarm every once in a while.

I'd place the Gravity pants in the all-rounder category – they can easily serve as a race pant one weekend, and then be used for general riding the next. The slightly thicker fabric and lack of vents does make them better suited for cooler temperatures if you're planning on heading out on a long pedalfest – they're not as airy as the Rapha Summer pants, but they'll also more likely to survive an encounter with the ground.

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Sombrio Vanquish Pants

Zippered pockets are located on each hip, and the left pocket has an elastic cord for attaching a bike park pass. The pockets are mesh lined, so it's best to avoid carrying items that can snag on that material – try not to walk around with pockets full of partially opened paper clips if you can help it.

I didn't get along that well with the baggy fit (keep in mind that I'm shaped more like a bean pole than a wine barrel). I wore these on a handful of drizzly rides, and once the fabric started to get soaked the extra material was even more noticeable. Another gripe has to do with the velcro waist addjusters. They're functional, but the adjuster tab is pretty thick, and would hang up on my hip pack – a thinner material would make this less likely to occur.

The final sticking point is the price – at $206.99 they're the most expensive option on this list, and they're not even locally made, at least not if you live somewhere other than Cambodia. At that price I'd expect every detail to be perfect, and hope for features that elevated them above all the rest. That's not the case, and while they do what they're supposed to, they're lacking a defining element that would help justify the cost.

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Nukeproof Blackline Pants

The Blacklines are on the lighter side of the scale too, in a similar camp as the Rapha and Yeti pants. That means they can withstand slightly lighter temperatures without getting too stifling. You'll want to be careful with keys in the mesh lined pockets, but that feature also means that opening the zipper on each hip does allow a little more air to flow.

The fit system is a little more basic than the ratcheting strap or cam-style buckle found on some of the higher-end options, and the fabric doesn't feel quite as high quality as what Rapha or Dharco are using, but for half the price of those more expensive options these are a very good deal.

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Rapha Trail Fast + Light Pants

Two small snaps secure the waist band above the zippered fly. At the bottom of the pants and elastic cuff makes it easy to get them on and off. On the whole, the pants are very well made, with all the little details taken care of – it's clear that someone spent some time considering the design of these pants, rather than just pointing to a picture in a catalog and calling it good.

On the trail, these pants do work very well when the mercury climbs – they could come in handy on rides where extra protection from poison oak, brambles, or the sun is needed. Of course, there's a certain point on the thermometer when it's probably time to put the pants away and pull on some shorts, but these pants, along with the Yeti Ridgway pants, do stay cool longer than the heavier duty option in this test. Like the Ridgway pants, the thinner fabric doesn't ward off rain showers as well as something like the NF Pants, but it will withstand a light drizzle without immediately soaking through. They're not the first pants I'd grab for rainy winter rides, but for most other conditions they're extremely comfortable and breathable.

The lighter fabric has proven to be impressively tough – I've had a couple slide outs, and they've had a fair bit of mud and grit ground into them without any rips or tears. If they do happen to rip, a repair kit is supplied with the pants. As an added bonus, if the repairs are outside the scope of a rider's sewing skills, Rapha offers free repairs for the life of the product.

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Top Picks

Warm weather: Rapha Fast + Light. I know, I know, there's a certain temperature where pants stop making sense. However, for riders who are dealing with poison oak or other trailside nuisances, these pants are ideal. They're also close to the top of my list for all-day comfort - I'd happily grab them for a mega mission without thinking twice. The included repair kit and lifetime repair services are nice touches too.

Comfort: Yeti Ridgway. This was a tough one, since almost all of these pants ended up being a pretty good fit for my dimensions. The Ridgway's have a relaxed fit in the right places, and when I wore them I felt more like I was wearing a pair of crazy comfortable track pants rather than some sort of technical mountain bike apparel. Some of the more form-fitting options didn't lend themselves as well to lounging, while these ones feel like they were designed almost specifically for that purpose.

Durability / adverse conditions: NF DP4. THe DP4 pants ended up being the ones I grabbed the most for drizzly shuttle days, bike park laps, or any time when I cared more about having more fabric between me and the ground rather than the lightest fabric possible. Yes, they get a little toasty on warmer days, especially around the waist band, but they're a solid choice for a good portion of the year in the Pacific Northest or similar climates.

Race day: DHaRCO Gravity Pants. This was a tough one. Race pants tend to be slimmer fitting, free of too many extra features. However, in the end it was an extra feature that tipped my hand - the fact that the DHaRCO pants have a pocket would make me pick them over the Specialized Gravity pants. I do really like the fit and finish of Specialized's Gravity pants, but not having a spot to hold anything at all is a tough sell, at least for me.

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Why aren't my pants on this list?
I'm convinced the number of MTB pants on the market is at an all-time high, and as I was putting together this review more and more options kept showing up. I had to draw the line somewhere, especially as the weather teeters on the brink of being too warm for pants. If you'd like to read about other options, this round-up from last year is another good resource, and includes options from Fox, POC, TLD, and others.

How about buying a pair of cheap synthetic hiking pants from a thrift store and calling it good? That's a totally valid option too. One thing to consider is that some non-bike-specific pants will be a little baggier around the cuffs, and may require some tailoring to make them fit and function as well as the ones featured here. Basic sewing skills aren't that hard to develop, though, and they can save you money that can be spent on important things like mid-ride snacks.

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Title image: Sara Kempner