Troy Lee Designs Skyline Chill review: MTB trousers that keep you warm but lack one useful detail

Troy Lee Designs Skyline Chill trousers details

The bulk of the garment is built from a fleece-backed stretch material, covering the upper-leg, backside and shins.

This material traps warm air, while the outer skin of the fabric has some wind-cheating properties to keep the warmth in.

At the back of the calves, a thinner, non-fleece material ensures the trousers don’t overheat, maintaining versatility in a wider range of conditions.

A Teflon-branded beading treatment is provided on the outer skin of the fabric, to ward off splashes, but it’s important to note these aren’t marketed as waterproof trousers.

Troy Lee Designs offers the Skyline Chill trousers in an impressive seven sizes, from 30 to 38in, but note there’s only one leg length per size.

The waistband has silicone grippers at the back, as well as a pair of Velcro tabs to cinch it in. At the front, a generously sized popper and zipped fly help with getting the trousers on and off.

Two pockets sit at the side of the thigh, with the zippers featuring a longer than usual string zip pull that's handy when wearing MTB gloves.

The multi-panel design is built with knee pads in mind.

Troy Lee Designs Skyline Chill trousers performance

The Skyline Chill trousers perform well in appropriate conditions.

The insulation offered by the fleece-backed material, and the more windproof outer keeps cold chills away from your legs effectively, while maintaining warmth on the bike – and in the car park afterwards.

The inner material feels soft against the skin, further adding to the feeling of warmth provided.

While many insulated trousers can feel stuffy when pedalling, the Skyline Chill pants avoid this. The uninsulated panels behind the calves prevent you getting overly sweaty, however additional vents would help further.

I tested the trousers predominantly in temperatures just above and below 0ºC and was happy riding all day in them on non-assisted bikes.

However, the trousers started to get too warm on higher-tempo rides when the temperature approached double figures. Comfort levels will be rider-specific, though.

I can see why the brand is also aiming these trousers at riders of electric mountain bikes. On lower-intensity rides, they prevented me feeling the chill, especially while waiting at the top of climbs for riding companions.

The water repellency has thus far proved effective. These trousers will shrug off splashes, but not full-on rainfall. When the trousers wet out, unlike lighter fabrics, they don’t feel like cling film.

The fit is accurate, and in general very good. The Velcro tabs at the waist don’t offer the most adjustment, but the waist sizing feels accurate and there are plenty of size options to choose from. The silicone gripper certainly adds some security there.

At the back, the waistband is high, but could be higher to offer a little more warmth around the kidneys and lower back. That said, the trousers never felt as though they were falling down, even when coated in mud.

Although they're thicker than most mountain bike trousers, there’s still a little stretch in the material. This boosts comfort when pedalling because there’s less tug on the legs, and knee pads especially.

Trail riders should have no issues fitting skinnier knee pads under the trousers and pedalling all day. However, if you’re a heavier rider who wears more protective and bulkier knee pads, you might wish for a little more space around the knee.

That aside, I was impressed by the fit around the thigh, knee and lower leg.

The finishing touches, such as the larger zip pulls on the generously sized thigh pockets, are appreciated. The stud popper at the waist held strong throughout testing and reflective details are never a bad thing.

However, for trousers aimed at cold, damp winter conditions, I'd like to see an ankle zipper.

This would make getting the garment off easier without spreading muck to your socks, and with less stretching and pulling of the material to get it over the heel.

Troy Lee Designs Skyline Chill trousers bottom line

Trail and enduro riders, assisted or not, will likely feel the benefit of a decent pair of warm riding trousers when temperatures plummet – unless you run especially hot.

The Skyline Chill trousers fit the bill nicely, with only a few missing features.

On the trail, the cut, material and finish add up to make them a great winter option.

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