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Waterproof Cycling Trouser Recommendations

(14 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by MeepMeep
  • Latest reply from MeepMeep
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. MeepMeep
    Member

    Morning all.

    I'm looking into waterproof cycling trousers as a present for Mr MeepMeep. I've had a quick mosey at the usual online suspects but I know from dealing with waterproof items for game sports that brands can vary dramatically in quality, particularly with heavy use.

    I'm not overly concerned about price at this stage - I'd be more interested in quality - and do intend to pop into one of the shops around Edinburgh in the next month or so. In the meantime, is anyone able to point me in the direction of brands you've used and been pleased with, or you've heard good things about? Similarly, any tips on brands to avoid?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. amir
    Member

    I have some gore paclite trousers. They seem to work well when the weather is awful

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. crowriver
    Member

    The problem with any waterproof trouser is breathability in cold, wet and mucky conditions, eg. the average commute in November in Scotland.

    I've yet to find any that don't have issues with condensation inside the trouser leaving clothes damp after, for example going up a steep hill. Maybe that's because I don't fancy coughing up 80 quid or more on goretex.

    After all, most days it doesn't rain enough to get you really soaked. On the rare occasions that it does, a bit of (momentary) dampness inside a non-gore trouser is not such a big problem, if the mud, road spray and heavy rain is kept out...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. SRD
    Moderator

    Thread from me about waterproof trousers this summer. I'm quite happy with what i went with, but there are suggestions from others too.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. amir
    Member

    I generally only wear the overtriusers when its raining or snowing hard and also cold or cool. I don't use them in the summer.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I found it was so cold last winter that I didn't ever wear waterproofs, as none of the snow was melting when it landed. Most of the wetness came from working up a sweat inside the 5 or 6 layers that were needed to keep warm!

    The other option that I have seen - and I don't even know what they are called - is something I could only describe as a "leg apron"! they cover the top/front/aide of leg to protect from rain coming in that way, but they are open at the back and strap around to fit. This of course only would work with a mudguard to keep the worst of the rain at bay coming up from behind / underneath.

    They look like a compromise and doubt if they'd offer much protection from the spray thrown up by cars and particularly buses and lorries as they barrel past.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. SRD
    Moderator

    don't know if other winter weight lycra tights are similar, but mine have water/wind resistance in front, with normal lycra at the back for breathability - kinda like the things k'nik mentions, but built in.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. crowriver
    Member

    Following on from kaputnik's comments, I sometimes find overtrousers useful when there's a really biting, cold wind (not unheard of in Edinburgh). Although there can be the issue of condensation, they are great at keeping wind chill off your legs. If it's very cold but still, it's thermals under some slightly thicker than normal trousers for me...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I have a winter jacket with what SRD describes water/windstopper fabric on the front and shoulders, dense fleece elsewhere

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I once bought some waterproof baggy shorts, wore them once and never again as I disliked the noise of the fabric rubbing, disliked the feeling of the fabric and disliked that I still got wet, regardless!

    The one time they were useful was on the Cross-border 100 ride this time last year. It was lashing down, so I quickly sawed them off into something approximating a waterproof hotpant, and they did a grand job of keeping my bum dry. Once the rain died down and sun came out, I left the remains in a bin somewhere near Duns.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. PS
    Member

    "they cover the top/front/aide of leg to protect from rain coming in that way, but they are open at the back and strap around to fit."

    Kind of like cycling chaps? Never seen these, but they do sound like a decent idea.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. D_Monkey
    Member

    I bought the dhb Perpetual trousers from Wiggle a month or so ago (right after the mad rain - which conveniently stopped the day they arrived...), and find them to be very good quality. However, they have a tendency for the waist to get pulled down by the leg action of fast cycling, and you end up sauntering bow legged like a cowboy when getting off the bike. As has also been noted above, the swishing noise they generate becomes rather distracting after a while, and to be honest I haven't really worn them much since purchase, as I would rather cycle in 'traveling trousers' and pull on my work ones when I get there.

    : edit for quick link :
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-perpetual-waterproof-trousers-2011/

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. crowriver
    Member

    These upper leg coverings are called 'rain legs' I believe. Handy if a sudden shower descends I suppose.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. MeepMeep
    Member

    Brilliant, thanks for all of your suggestions. It'll give me something to go on for the time being.

    SRD: I remember reading your post at the time but I don't remember seeing it when I was having a quick search of the forum yesterday using the search function. I obviously wasn't using the right keywords!

    Posted 12 years ago #

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