Altura’s Attack Xs are a beefed-up version of their Attack trousers, with the main difference being a roomier cut that enables you to wear pads underneath. They haven’t gone too crazy with this concept, though, so you won’t find the Attack Xs excessively baggy if you’re pad-free.
There aren’t many trousers as feature-packed as these, with a twin-popper fastening, adjustable waistband, zip fly, articulated knees, and a reinforced seat and drive-side leg. There are even drop-down flaps to extend the leg length by a useful couple of inches.
On paper, Altura’s React fabric is highly breathable and it puts up a decent account of itself. That said, it still wasn’t long before we experienced dampness spreading from the knees.
The textured inner face of the fabric stayed reasonably comfortable despite that moisture, though, and if you’re riding in the pads that the Attacks are designed to accommodate, you’re probably not too worried about sweaty legs. If you are, there’s a vent zip on each leg.
Obviously, these will let rain in, but the Attack Xs aren’t intended as a put on/take off overtrouser, so anything that extends its usefulness into dry conditions is sensible and welcome.