Cycling to work has many benefiﷺts, 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 commute 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 b👍ike, they more or less resemble a normal pair of trousers (or pants, for our North Ameri൲can 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 purel🌺y 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 becoming 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 ride in and smart enough for mo♋st workplaces. If you can stomach the price these are nearly impossible to beat.
A little softer and more stretchy than the Signal, these are great for every day, are brilliant for riding or doing anything else active, and they come in a lovely ran💜ge of earthy colours.
A thinner material m🍸akes these lighter, and a vented gusset keeps them cool in th⛄e 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 stretch 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 Ra♍pha Explore Pants are superlight, resist spray, and will dry 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, kicking about around the house, but they ar🔯e cut for cycling and are far more breathable tha🅷n any normal pair of sweatpants.
If I had to only keep one pair of cycling trous𝓰ers 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 p🐟air of cycling trousers - slim, but 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 Misไsion pants or the Chrome Brannan. More abraওsion resistant, and longer lasting, though a slightly less comfy feel next to the skin.
The pockets, too, 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 outꦫ of them while riding.
The only couple of downsides, besides the price, are a lack of reflective 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 anyꦦthing more than a nice a🅘ddition - good lights should do the job well, 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 Mission pants are in many ways very similar to the Mission Workshop Signal. The fit is similar, and the pocket arran🤡gement 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 slightly less smart looking than the Mission Workshop Signal, but if you are after a pair just to ride in and not to we♉ar around the office too then these should absolutely be on your radar.
The lack 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 t♑hicker 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 inside of the leg,𝓰 which become♕ visible when you roll your trouser leg up.
In short, if 🔯comfort trumps smartness 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 Mi🅺ssion, they pack a bit more in and are more f꧒requently seen discounted, and so represent better value in my eyes.
Like t🐓he other two options above these are a classic softshell pair of pan𒅌ts, 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 they 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 thinner 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 feel 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 by any measure.
If you value ext𝓀ra features or are buying a pair predominantly to ride in, then these are the ♌ones 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 articꦿulated, and the stretch denim is stretchy enough that it allows movement, without losing that sturdy 'denim' feeling that is key.
The reflective details are subtle too, hidden away in pocket piping. There are no zipped pꦆockets, 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 leg just for the look of it𝐆 then Vulpine has the Opus jean, which has all the same fe𓂃atures in a looser fit.
Lightweight Option
(Image credit: Will Jones)
5. Rapha Explore Pant
Reasons to buy
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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 go🔥rpcore aes𒈔thetic 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 designed for riding.
The main 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 tight𒁃s in winter, and on their own in warm weather.
There are no rear pockets, but I never use them when riding 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 pa🍎ir of side pocket🦄s that extend around the back of your thighs so you don't have anything on the front.
Lastly, you needn𒁃'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 end of each leg also features a cinch tab so you 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
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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 bear no real resemblance to the first three options on this 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 favourite for when I ride to the gym. Also, I just wear them around the house too, as🐼 I would witಞh 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 dow😼npour.
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 aboutꩲ 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 trousers, 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 l🌱ike normal trousers, but the waist will be higher at the back to preserve one's modesty. The cut of cycling trousers will invariably be sl🎀im, as baggy trousers flap and are more prone to 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.&ꦯnbsp;
Are cycling trousers waterproof?
Waterproof cycling trousers are a different product entirely, akin to a waterproof jacket. With 'normal' cycling trousers none are൩ waterproof, but many offer a durable water-repellent (DWR) coating that causes light rain to bead 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 actua🔯lly ripping your trouser leg if you aren't careful.
Many cycling pants also feature reflecti🌸ve patches inside the lining that are only v🌃isible 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 collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-sty💮le steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines.
