Thanks to a very breathable, four-way stretch fabric with water-repellent coating on the uppers, the Endura MT500 Spray trousers fend off a great deal of filth. The gusset panel is a sturdy waterproof softshell affair, with the joining seams covered with waterproof tape to ensure moisture can't creep in easily.
With improved breathability over traditional waterproof trousers you feel much less like a cellophane-wrapped microwave meal when you work hard as well, and zipped thigh vents help too.
In really heavy rain the uppers do wet out, but they don't get too clammy or clingy. The cut is superb, with a heavily tapered leg that allows just enough space for a slim pad at the knee, while avoiding excessive flaps of fabric that will only rub against cranks and chainrings.
One small niggle is that despite the legs having zipped expanders, they're still quite hard to put on while wearing shoes. Seeing as they're really for wearing in wintry conditions rather than pulling on and off as the weather turns, that's perhaps not such an issue.
The elasticated waist gets Velcro adjusters for fit, while silicone grippers on the hip effectively prevent slippage. They're compatible with Endura's button-in ClickFast liners. There's a three-quarter leg version available too (as well as shorts), which we like, but we're starting to appreciate full coverage for the protection it offers against wet whipping ferns and the like.