Endura MT500 Burner Pants review

The MT500 Burner mountain bike trousers from Endura are claimed to offer “downhill durability” and pack in some great rider-friendly features to make life on the trails more comfortable.

Endura says the MT500 pants were created using all the lessons learned from the development of the race kit designed for the Atherton race team.

This latest iteration sees a change to the fit and cut, along with a revised closure compared to the previous version.

Endura MT500 Burner Pants details and specifications

The latest MT500 Burner Pants offer a far more tailored and tapered fit when compared to the Endura SingleTrack II trousers I reviewed earlier in the year. They also have far fewer features.

Endura has constructed the MT500 Burners from a four-way stretch fabric in a bid to ensure movement is as free and easy as possible while riding. The seat panel, however, is made from a tougher fabric in order to boost durability.

Alongside the two, svelte, elasticated Velcro tabs that help alter fit around the waist, there’s also a ratchet buckle, which adds even more adjustment (some brands will just use a ratchet buckle for waist adjustment, as Specialized does with its Trail Pants).

This, too, is elasticated (though only slightly) in order to offer a little extra give and comfort. The idea here is to keep the waist tight but with scope to expand and contract slightly, depending on whether you’re sat down or stood up on the bike.

Like the SingleTrack II trousers, the size-small MT500 Burners have a 31in inseam, but aren’t as broad or baggy, especially lower down the leg.

There’s silicone print on the inner side of the waistband to help them grip onto your short liner or underwear and prevent them drooping when seated. Endura has also made them compatible with its ‘Clickfast’ liners, which thanks to a popper can attach directly to the inside of the MT500 Burners.

Two zipped hip pockets provide ample storage for essentials.

Endura, a company that has been working hard on its eco-friendly credentials for years, uses a PFC-free, non-toxic, durable water repellent (DWR) coating on the MT500 Burners in a bid to help keep your legs a little drier.

If that’s not enough, it also offers a 90-day satisfaction guarantee, enabling you to return these pants to the store you purchased them from (with proof of purchase) for a full refund.

My size-small MT500 Burner pants weighed 390g.

If you’re not a fan of the bright blue/purple colour, there are Paprika and good old plain black options too.

How we tested the Endura MT500 Burner pants

I tested the Endura MT500 Burner pants riding familiar trails in the South West of England and South Wales.

In a bid to get the best possible gauge on performance, I wore them in a range of temperatures and weather conditions, ranging from mild, early autumnal days with dusty trails, through to colder rides when the rain poured relentlessly.

As ever, to really pick up on details, I tested them back-to-back with a number of my favourite riding pants (Specialized Trail, Rapha Trail and Nukeproof Blackline) to see how well they compared.

Endura MT500 Burner Pants performance

Tailoring the fit

The MT500 Burner pants fit incredibly well around the upper legs and waist. Thanks in part to the stretch from the fabric and raised rear of the waist, I had zero issues with them shifting about or drooping while riding.

It helps that the Velcro adjuster tabs and ratchet buckle give you the ability to fine-tune how they fit around the waist, which is impressive. Thanks to that little bit of elasticated give, they’re never uncomfortable, either, especially when shifting from standing on the pedals to sitting back down and leaning forward when attacking a steep climb.

The legs taper sufficiently to keep the bulk of the fabric sitting snug enough to prevent any excess material from riding up and rubbing on the cranks as you pedal. They also worked well over all the knee pads I tried them with.

Because the MT500 Burners are slimmer than some rival pants, you don’t get issues with them bunching heavily at the ankles – something that’s a real plus when they’re soaking wet.

That said, I’d rather the legs were an inch shorter on the smaller sizes and maybe even a little tighter at the lower leg, though I'm being picky here (and do have rather short legs for my 172cm height).

Temperature check

On milder days, the MT500 Burners aren’t the lightest or breeziest pants I’ve tried (they're certainly not as breathable as the Rapha Trail Lightweight pants or the Specialized Trail Pants), so they can feel warmer than some, but not uncomfortably so. I could still ride comfortably without overheating or getting unpleasantly sweaty, but these are probably better suited to days when the sun isn’t blazing down.

When the weather turned, the DWR coating didn’t do a great job of keeping my legs dry, even when brand new and unwashed. These aren’t waterproof trousers though, so I’m not expecting my legs to stay completely dry. However, other trousers I’ve tested do a better job of beading water off during lighter rain showers.

I’m more than happy to accept getting wet legs if it means forgoing any unpleasant chemicals that can harm the planet, though.

Quality kit

Impressively, the MT500 Burners have held up well against all the usual scuffs and scrapes, and the seat panel remains completely unscathed, despite being buzzed numerous times by my rear 29in wheels.

Even though the legs are reasonably tapered, there’s still enough stretch at the ankle cuff to make getting them on and off extremely easy – handy when you’re changing hurriedly on a damp, cold day.

The two zipped hip pockets work really well on the bike. They’re big enough to house a phone or wallet, but not so voluminous that the contents will go shifting about all over the place as you turn the pedals.

How do the Endura MT500 Burner Pants compare to others?

I compared the MT500 Burner pants to my regular go-to trousers, which include the Specialized Trail pants, Rapha Trail pants and Nukeproof Blackline pants.

Of these three, I’d say the MT500 Burners are most closely matched to the Rapha Trail pants. They feel similar in terms of breathability and thickness (the Rapha Trails are just 20g lighter).

While the DWR coating on the Rapha Trails does a really impressive job of warding off lighter rain showers and puddle splashes, it’s worth remembering that this diminishes over time and with more washes, so shouldn’t sway any buying decisions.

The MT500 Burners are a touch cooler to wear on milder days, though, so I’d argue these are a little more well-rounded.

Endura MT500 Burner Pants bottom line

The Endura MT500 Burner Pants offer a great fit and some really useful rider-friendly features. They’re very comfortable, and the shaping of the legs and the quality of the overall construction is impressive.

For my sizing, I’d prefer them to be a little shorter, but it’s by no means a deal breaker.

The DWR coating isn’t as effective as some, but they’re still thick enough to prevent your legs from feeling frozen once they're soaked through. While they’re best suited to dryer, cooler days, I’d still consider the MT500 Burners decent all-rounders.

At £100, they’re reasonably priced too, especially when you consider the 90-day satisfaction guarantee, Endura’s eco credentials and the top-notch construction.