Velocio Trail Access pants review

Velocio is best known for high-end road and gravel clothing, but the brand is no stranger to the world of mountain biking, having dipped its toe into off-road apparel in the past.

For 2023, Velocio has expanded its mountain bike clothing offering, including the new Trail Access pants, which are available in female- and male-specific cuts.

The asking price is lofty for a pair of pants that are more than likely going to come into contact with the dirt from time to time, but the quality of construction, cut, fit and comfort help to justify the cost.

So, how do Velocio's Trail Access pants compare to the best mountain bike pants?

Velocio Trail Access pants construction details

The Trail Access pants come in a staggering eight sizes, from XS all the way up to 4XL.

I opted for the size small (I have a 30in waist), which have a 30in inseam.

Unlike many brands, Velocio doesn’t offer any kind of integrated waist adjustment on the Trail Access pants, stating that every adjuster it tried on rival pants fell short in terms of performance.

Instead, the Trail Access pants feature belt hooks and come supplied with a stretchy Arcade Ridge belt.

This gives a massive range of adjustment, doesn’t need to be removed for washing and provides more even tension around the waist compared to more traditional elasticated Velcro tabs that cinch fabric up in more concentrated areas.

Velocio has used two stretch-woven Cordura fabrics in these pants. There’s double-weave ripstop material used at the knees, lower legs and through the seat of the trousers, because these areas are deemed to suffer the most when it comes to wear and tear.

Velocio uses a C0 DWR coating (no PFCs or PFA chemicals are used) to add some water-resistance and bolster the pants' do-it-all credentials.

Two rearward-facing thigh pockets enable you to stash smaller essentials. Both of these are zipped for improved security.

Velocio Trail Access pants performance

After slipping the Trail Access pants on and closing the sliding popper and zipped fly, the fit around the waist without the belt buckle felt pretty accurate.

I rode in these without the belt (although it comes as standard, Velocio forgot to send me one) for a couple of days and was reasonably impressed.

However, with the belt in place and done up, things felt far more secure. There’s plenty of stretch in the belt, but it still holds the waist of the pants exactly where you want it.

The belt buckle belt doesn’t dig in, either, even when sat down climbing steep inclines hunched over the handlebar.

I’m something of a sceptic when it comes to using a belt on riding trousers, but the combination of the Velocio pants and Arcade belt has done a good job of winning me over.

The lower legs taper nicely below the knee, though there’s still ample room to fit pads in underneath if you wish. The cut around the hips means although the fit is quite close, it’s by no means restrictive.

With knee pads underneath, the Trail Access pants still articulate very well when pedalling and, despite their tailored fit, don’t tug the pads down, even after long sweaty days on the trail. They feel light and comortable, too.

After a number of wet rides, the seat of my trousers has discoloured ever so slightly, but it’s not off-putting.

The water-resistant treatment helps to fend off splashes, but get a proper soaking and they will let water in. However, it’s handy in lighter rain showers or when bashing through trails riddled with puddles.

Finally, the rear-facing thigh pockets are well-positioned and work well. Even with a bulky set of keys stowed inside, the positioning means the contents stay tucked away towards the rear of your thigh and are held securely while riding.

I found myself having to check nothing had fallen out on a couple of occasions because I couldn’t feel the contents banging on my leg.

How do the Velocio Trail Access pants compare?

The Rapha Trail Pants, while still pricey, are a touch cheaper than the Velocios.

The Rapha pants have more pockets, too, with additional hand pockets on the hips. However, that's not a major issue for me.

That’s because the Velocio pockets are well-positioned and work well on the bike. That’s all I really need.

Both are comfortable to wear, although I’d say the Velocios feel lighter, a touch thinner and cooler.

They also offer a slightly better cut – if you want a tighter fit, check out the Rapha Trail Lightweight pants – with more tapering down towards the ankle.

This helps in wet conditions where baggier trousers, once waterlogged, can flap about a bit more when pedalling.

Velocio Trail Access pants bottom line

The Velocio Trail Access pants are expensive, but more than make up for that with a great fit, helped by the inclusion of the stretchy Arcade belt.

The shaping and cut work well on the bike, with or without knee pads, and the well-positioned pockets have proved useful on every ride.