The 10 Best Mountain Bike Pants of 2023
By: Colin Edwards: Bike Buyer | June 9, 2023
Mountain bike pants, or “trousers'' as the brits call them, have always been a core piece of riding apparel. But, historically, they’ve been mostly the domain of downhill racers and freeriders. They were bulky, heavy garments, modeled after motocross pants, and not comfortable enough for pedaling or all-day rides. Luckily, in the last few years, that’s been changing. More brands have been experimenting with lighter fabrics, slimmer cuts, and thoughtful features on their riding pants. The result is a market that’s saturated with great options for everyone from casual trail riders to hardcore enduro racers.
New This Year:
The best mountain bike pants give you a little more protection and coverage than shorts, perfect for wet rides, or overgrown trails. But they’re designed to move easily as you pedal, and breathe well as you sweat. Every pant on the market has a slightly different list of strengths and weaknesses, so we’ve put this list together to help you choose. Looking for a super light pant for summer riding? We’ve got that. Looking for something weatherproof? You’re covered on this list, literally. So give riding pants a try, your knees and calves will thank you.
This Year's Best Mountain Biking Pants:
evo Bike Pants
We needed comfortable pants to protect our legs on raucous bike rides without overheating or holding us back, so we spent time in the lab and created the evo Bike Pants. Laser-cut perforations help you vent heat after huge climbs, convenient pockets make storing your essentials easy, and zippered ankles add livability when adjusting your wardrobe with shoes on. The ankle cuffs are even reinforced to hold up to the wear and tear of your mountainous lifestyle. Pedal on!
| Original Price | Material | Fit |
| $169.95 | Schoeller Fabric with ecorepel® BIO Durable Water Repellent (DWR) Finish | Tapered Calves |
Wild Rye x Juliana Freyah Pants - Women's
Riding bikes built for women by women, wearing pants built for women by women?! Say no more! The Wild Rye x Juliana Freyah Pants embody female empowerment with a fit and functionality that caters solely to lady shredders. With a 4-way stretch fabric and stretchy knee panels with extra room to accommodate kneepads, the Freyah Pants are the ultimate riding apparel that you'll find yourself wearing more often than not.
| Original Price | Material | Fit |
| $199.00 | Signature DuraStretch 4-Way Stretch Fabric – 88% Nylon / 12% Spandex | Straight Fit |
Patagonia Dirt Roamer Storm Pants
Bike season never ends - if you have the right protection, that is. The Patagonia Dirt Roamer Storm Pants are lightweight, packable, and fully waterproof and breathable for comfort through the wettest, muddiest rides. With an MTB specific fit and stretch, not even the heaviest storms will discourage you from one more lap.
| Original Price | Material | Fit |
| $299.00 | Recycled Nylon | Regular Fit |
Patagonia Dirt Roamer Storm Pants - Women's
Bike season never ends - if you have the right protection, that is. The Patagonia Dirt Roamer Storm Pants are lightweight, packable, and fully waterproof and breathable for comfort through the wettest, muddiest rides. With an MTB specific fit and stretch, not even the heaviest storms will discourage you from one more lap.
| Original Price | Material | Fit |
| $299.00 | Recycled Nylon | Regular Fit |
Rapha Trail Lightweight Pants
We don't want to overinflate this, but the Rapha Trail Lightweight Pants quite simply get 'er done on the trail! Made from a 4-way stretch woven fabric that's been finished with a DWR treatment, the Trail Lightweight Pants provide the length protection of mountain bike pants with the lightweight breathability of your favorite bike shorts.
| Original Price | Material | Fit |
| $150.00 | Nylon & Elastane | Adjustable Waistband |
Five Ten Trail X Pants
Aside from the increased insulation properties, there's something about peeling riding pants off to reveal clean legs after a muddy ride that's second to none. Five Ten Trail X Pants achieve this and are great performers on the bike. They're tapered down to their high ankles, keeping your cuffs out of your chain and from snagging on trail surprises.
| Original Price | Material | Fit |
| $90.00 | 4-Way Stretch Woven Dobby Fabric | 7/8 Length |
Troy Lee Designs Skyline Pants
Troy Lee Designs Skyline Pants are already best sellers, and with new upgrades that's not going to change any time soon. These are faves for their slim-but-not-too-tight fit, durability, and breathability. All day, all year: for all but the hottest days or sweatiest rides, these are the pants to choose. Modern, sleek, and protective!
| Original Price | Material | Fit |
| $139.99 | Recycled Polyester / Spandex | Velcro Waist Adjusters |
Dakine Thrillium Pants
The Dakine Thrillium Bike Pants live up to their name. Designed for the thrill of enduro and downhill riding, these baggy but tapered pants offer full lower body protection that accommodates pads and includes zippers so your legs can breath. Articulating stretch panels and a perforated waist and thigh mean you'll be moving and grooving all day long.
| Original Price | Material | Fit |
| $169.95 | Nylon / Spandex | Gravity Fit |
Fox Ranger Pants - Women's
The Fox Ranger Pants may look great around town, but it's on the bike that they really shine. The lightweight, stretch fabric moves with you but won't snag thanks to the slim, tapered leg that leaves enough room for knee pads. The zippered pockets keep valuables and snacks secure, so you can finish the rowdiest downhills with your limbs and belongings intact.
| Original Price | Material | Fit |
| $119.95 | Lightweight Technical Stretch Fabric | Slim and Tapered |
Endura MT500 Burner Pants
These are the pants the Athertons wear. Say no more. When the fastest family in mountain biking is involved in designing your trousers, you're in good hands (and great pants). The Endura MT500 Burner Pants are tight-fitting DH pants with extra stretch and protection at the knees, made for the gnarliest DH tracks in existence. Got get it!
| Original Price | Material | Fit |
| $149.99 | Elastane, Neoprene, Nylon | Slim Fit |
Learn More With Our Other Bike Guides:
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose
- Mountain Bikes - Size and Fit Guide
- Mountain Bikes - How to Get Started Mountain Biking
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose a Wheel Size
- Mountain Bikes - Suspension Basics
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose a Mountian Bike Dropper Post
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose MTB Handlebars
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose MTB Pedals
- Mountain Bikes - How to Change Bike Pedals
- Mountain Bikes - How to Clean
- Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed SRAM Brakes
- Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed Shimano Brakes
- Mountain Bikes - How to Convert to Tubeless Tires
- Mountain Bikes - How to Replace Internal Cable Housing
- Mountain Bikes - How to Adjust Your Rear Derailleur
- Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed a RockShox Reverb Seatpost
- Mountain Bikes - How to Service Fox and RockShox Fork Lowers
- Mountain Biking - What to Bring Mountain Biking
- Mountain Biking - What to Wear Mountain Biking
- Mountain Biking - How to Choose Knee Pads
- Bikes - Size and Fit Guide
- Gravel Bikes - How To Get Started Gravel Biking
- eBikes - Classes, Features & More
- eBikes - Where to Ride eBikes
- Bike Accessories - Helmet Size & Fit Guide
- Bike Accessories - How to Choose Bike Shoes
- Bikes - How to Choose Bike Tires
- Bikes - How to Change Bike Pedals
- Bikes - How to Repair & Replace a Bike Chain
- Bikes - How to Choose Accessories
- Bikes - Urban Riding Tips
- Travel & Destination Guides - Where to Mountain Bike
Learn About our Favorite Bike Gear:
The Best Women's Mountain Bikes
The Best Electric Mountain Bikes
The Best Mountain Bikes for Beginners
The Best Mountain Bikes Under $3,000
The Best Trail Bikes
The Best Enduro Bikes
The Best Gravel Bikes
The Best Mountain Bike Helmets
The Best Full Face MTB Helmets
The Best Mountain Bike Knee Pads
The Best Mountain Bike Elbow Pads
The Best Mountain Bike Shorts
The Best Women's Bike Shorts
The Best Mountain Bike Pants
The Best Mountain Bike Jerseys
The Best Mountain Bike Accessories
The Best Value Mountain Bike Helmets
The Best Dropper Posts
The Best Mountain Bike Forks
The Best Mountain Bike Stems
The Best Padded Mountain Bike Shorts
The Best Mountain Bikes Handlebars
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The Best Clipless Mountain Bike Shoes
The Best Flat Pedal MTB Bike Shoes
The Best Mountain Bike Tires
The Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedals
The Best Bike Racks
The Best Bike Glasses
The Best Bike Goggles
The Best Women's Mountain Bike Jerseys
The Best Tailgate Bike Pads
The Best Bike Trainers
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The Best Clipless MTB Pedals
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The Best Mountain Bike Saddles
The Best MTB Wheels
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The Best Mountain Bike Seat Bags
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The Selection Process:
Our bike buyer has an endless amount of knowledge on all things bike stemming from years of experience in the bike industry in tandem with their countless hours out on the dirt, gravel, and tarmac. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Colin Edwards
Meet Colin Edwards, evo's in-house Bike Buyer and mountain biking aficionado. With 15+ years of e-commerce buying experience under his belt, Colin is the go-to guy for all things related to "Riding Dirt." He's worked across various categories, including bike, snowboard, travel, climbing, and surfing, giving him the know-how to recognize and select top-notch mountain biking products for evo's customers.
Colin's been shredding trails since he was a kid, starting on his trusty hardtail Trek 800 Sport. Born and raised in Utah, he recently made the move to Bellingham, WA with his partner, Kenz. Colin's real-world biking experience, combined with his background in product trends, relationship building, and sales analysis, makes him an invaluable asset to the evo team.
When he's not busy handpicking the raddest gear, you'll find Colin ripping through PNW trails or hunting for the world's best dirt. And when the snow falls, he's all about snowboarding. Colin also loves trail running and exploring the PNW's stunning landscape with his two dogs and Kenz.
With Colin's expertise and passion fueling evo's mountain biking selection, you can trust that his recommendations are spot-on and tailored to the evo community's adventurous spirit.