The best cycling trousers are comfortable and technical enough to ride in, but still look acceptable or even blend in completely in the office or the pub.
We’ve reviewed a range of cycling trousers to see how they perform on the bike and test their cycling-specific features. We’ve also considered how they’d fit in once we’ve locked up the bike.
Some would pass in an office, while others would be better suited to a skate park or a more casual environment.
We’ve worn a selection of cycling trousers on the bike, assessing their fit, features and comfort.
Here’s our pick of the best cycling trousers that will do double-duty as off-bike pants and you can jump to our buyer's guide to find out more.
Best cycling trousers 2024
Chrome Industries Brannan Pants
- £154 / $130 / €166 as tested
- Hard-wearing, wind and water-resistant fabric
- Stylish looks off the bike
Chrome’s commuter pants are well designed for riding, with articulated knees for comfort, and don’t look baggy.
The trousers look good off the bike too and are available in two leg lengths. The low cut to the waistband necessitates a belt though.
The Brannan pants are made from a wind-resistant fabric that’s also water-resistant and DWR-coated, so they’re a good option for commuting in iffy conditions. The fabric is hard-wearing as well.
Altura All Roads Repel Pants
- £90 as tested
- Subtle reflective details
- Feature-rich design
As with much of Altura’s clothing, the All Roads Repel Pants include large reflective areas, to up your on-road visibility.
At the same time, they’re colour-matched and subtle enough so you won’t look out of place at the office, although the style is more outdoorsy than much of the competition.
There’s plenty of stretch and a high waist for comfortable on-bike use and the tapered legs shouldn’t get wrapped around your chainrings. The rip-stop nylon fabric is DWR coated, so it should also fend off light rain.
Endura Hummvee Trousers
- £69.99 / $72.99 / €89.99 as tested
- Well-designed with plenty of features
- A bit too outdoorsy for all-day wear
Endura’s Hummvee trousers have quite a relaxed cut – you could add thermals underneath for cold rides.
There are anchor points for Endura’s Clickfast padded liner, which is a useful addition because the thicker fabric in the seat tends to crease between you and the saddle.
Zips on the legs make the Hummvees easy to get on and off over shoes and a Velcro strap helps keep them out of your drivetrain. But although they’re great for the commute, you might not want to wear them all day.
Santini Terranova Active Trousers
- £90 as tested
- Good on-bike fit
- Wind protection and breathability, but no water resistance
We were impressed with the fit of Santini’s trousers, with a comfortable waistband and a high cut to the rear. The ankles are wide enough to pull over boots but can be gathered in to avoid chain rub. They’d look smart enough for office wear too.
Although breathable, there’s adequate wind protection. But with no DWR coating, the fabric wets out quickly, so they’re not the best for wet commutes.
Also consider…
These cycling trousers were also reviewed favourably, but didn’t quite make the cut.
Castelli Milano pants
- £120 / $99.99 / €109.95 as tested
- Slender on-bike fit
- No DWR or weather protection, but lightweight fabric dries quickly
Castelli makes the Milano pants out of lightweight fabric, with a tapered fit and a waistline that rises towards the back and darts at the knee, making for good on-bike fit.
Ankle zips help with getting them on and off, and there’s an embroidered Castelli logo and reflective Castelli wordmark, making for a style that’s somewhere between casual and cycling-specific.
They’re comfortable to ride in, although there’s little weather protection and the fabric is not DWR coated. This means it wets out in the rain, but the light weight leads to quick drying.
Maap Transit Phase pants
- £120 / $155 / €138 / AU$185 as tested
- Street-style looks and comfortable baggy fit
- Five pockets
The MAAP Transit Phase pants have a skater style, with drawstring ankle cuffs and a loose fit. This streetwear look makes them great for casual use, but may not work in more formal office settings.
The cut makes them comfortable on the bike, they’re made from robust DWR-coated fabric and there’s a total of five pockets, two with zippers on the front, a thigh pocket for a phone and two at the rear.
Madison Zenith 4 Season DWR
- £99.99 as tested
- Plenty of technical details, including thigh vents
- Good fit and adjustability
Although designed for mountain bikers, these Madison trousers are a good commuter option as well.
There are plenty of technical details, including thigh vents, a waterproof seat and knees, and taped seams, although the look may be rather recreational for a formal office.
We were impressed by the fit and adjustability, with a high back to avoid gaps, although there are few reflectives for night-time commuting.
Rapha Explore pants
- £130 / $158 / €150 as tested
- Lightweight fabric is DWR coated and dries quickly
- Hidden drawcords to cinch in ankles
Made from very lightweight fabric, the Rapha Explore pants have a cycling-friendly tapered cut and a hidden elastic drawstring at the ankle, making them suitable for the office too.
There’s DWR water repellency and if the pants get wet they dry quickly. The light, stretchy fabric leads to pocket sag if you load them up though and you’ll probably want to wear thermals underneath on colder rides.
Troy Lee Designs Skyline pants
- £139.99 / $119 / €159.99 as tested
- Well-designed technical riding trousers
- Logo and knee vents may not work well in an office
Another MTB garment pressed into commuter duties, the Troy Lee Skyline trousers are made of recycled fabric with elastane for stretch, a mesh-like wicking interior finish and a mesh rear waistline panel.
They look good off the bike, although the large reflective wordmark on the left thigh and array of circular vents on the knees may put them out of bounds for all-day wear in an office.
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Cycling trousers buyer’s guide
How should cycling trousers fit?
Your cycling trousers should fit comfortably when on the bike. That means a cut designed for the slightly bent and stretched position cyclists adopt when riding. A fabric with built-in stretch can help, so look for elastane content.
As with the best cycling shorts without bibs, the main feature that will increase ride comfort is a raised rear to the waistband, which will help prevent your cycling trousers slipping down and you presenting a builder’s bum. It will also be more comfortable in the riding position.
Overlap at the front of the waistband isn’t so significant, although a pair of cycling trousers with enough of a front rise can also help keep you warmer.
Often, cycling trousers have adjusters for the waistband to ensure a close, comfortable fit, while belt loops can be handy.
A standard seam under the crotch will result in a four-way join between the fabric panels, which may prove uncomfortable when sitting in the saddle.
Trousers designed for cycling often have a diamond gusset here to reposition the seam and reduce its bulk.
You also need enough room for your thighs and knee joints to move while cycling, without the trousers looking too baggy off the bike. A looser fit might enable you to add a baselayer underneath if it’s cold out.
But conversely, look for a tighter fit at the calves and ankles and possibly some way of tightening the fit even more when riding.
You don’t want a lot of extra fabric here, which could snag in the chainring and get torn, snarl your gears or rub against the chain.
The alternative is a style designed to be turned up at the ankle cuff to keep it away from the drivetrain when riding.
It’s helpful if there are multiple leg lengths available for each waist size, so you can choose one without too much excess material that could get caught in your chain.
How waterproof should cycling trousers be?
Sooner or later, you’ll probably wear your cycling trousers in the rain or on wet roads. A DWR (durable water resistant) treatment to the fabric can help repel light rain, but you’re still likely to get wet – unless you invest in fully waterproof overtrousers.
If your cycling trousers get wet, how quickly they dry becomes important, particularly if you have to wear them for an extended period once you stop. Cotton isn’t a good choice, because it takes a long time to dry out and feels cold and clammy until it does.
Polyester or other synthetic fabrics are much better in this regard; they should absorb less water, dry out more easily and be warmer while they do so.
What other features should I look for in cycling trousers?
Temperature control is important when cycling to work. Too much warmth and you’ll be sweaty when you reach your destination on warmer days.
Conversely, a thin fabric may be chilly once summer has passed.
A degree of windproofing or a closer weave may help on cooler rides. Choose your cycling trousers depending on the weather you expect to use them in most.
You may want to wear your cycling trousers with padded liner shorts or padded underwear to increase ride comfort, so room for these is useful.
Wear in the seat and strain on its seams may shorten the life of your cycling trousers, so extra-thick fabric and double or triple stitching here may add longevity.
A waterproof fabric panel in the seat is handy if you don’t have mudguards.
As with the best waterproof cycling jackets, reflective elements are useful to increase your visibility to other road users when riding in the dark or low-light conditions.
They may be built into the trousers, in the form of reflective stitching or hidden from view until you turn up the leg cuff.
Zipped pockets are helpful to avoid wallets or other items falling out as you ride. A waterproof pocket will help protect a phone.
Finally, if you work in an office environment, you probably won't want to look like a cyclist who’s just got off your bike. A degree of style will help.
MTB trousers
If you're looking for more cycling trouser options, or want something a bit more technical, check out our guide to the best mountain bike trousers.
