By Oscar Huckle

Published: Friday, 25 March 2022 at 12:00 am


Mountain bike trousers are an essential item when riding in cooler temperatures, fully covering your legs and providing warmth and protection from the elements.

Improvements have been made to the design of cycling trousers over the years, moving away from the original motocross-style of trousers that generally lacked breathability.

Modern mountain bike trousers – or pants, for our American readers – now feature cycling-specific cuts, are usually made from comfortable and breathable stretchy materials, and have ample space to wear knee pads underneath.

Here, we outline the best cycling trousers we have reviewed, as rated by our expert testers.

We also have a summary of the best waterproof mountain bike trousers if you’re riding in wetter weather. If you’re lucky enough to be riding in fairer climes, why not check out our roundup of the best mountain bike shorts?

The best cycling trousers in 2022, as rated by our expert testers

Specialized Trail Pant

5.0 out of 5 star rating
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The Specialized Trail Pants do a great job of balance comfort, coverage and protection, and work incredibly well on the bike.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media
  • Price: £110 / $135 / AU$200 / €120
  • Sizes: 28in, 30in, 32in, 34in, 36in, 38in
  • Excellent fit and trail-friendly design
  • Bags of comfort and proven durability

Specialized’s Trail Pants offer a superb fit with their VapoRise fabric offering welcome stretch. They feature three conveniently located zipped pockets and a ratchet buckle to tailor fit.

They also feature a water-repellent treatment for puddle splashes or light showers.

Our testers found them amongst the most comfortable trousers and their durability satisfies the high asking price, representing one of the best all-rounder trousers we have tested.