Best Commuter Pants / Cycling Trousers
#1
Best Commuter Pants / Cycling Trousers
Hey all,
I'm looking to replace a pair of Chrome Industries 5 Pocket Madrona Pants. These are the best pants I've ever owned. Unfortunately, Chrome is either sold out or not making them anymore. They just have the Brannan Pants now.
Looking for suggestions. Thanks!
I'm looking to replace a pair of Chrome Industries 5 Pocket Madrona Pants. These are the best pants I've ever owned. Unfortunately, Chrome is either sold out or not making them anymore. They just have the Brannan Pants now.
Looking for suggestions. Thanks!
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#2
Cyclist
I don’t know if they are the “best”, but I really like the SWRVE trousers. They come in three different weights and a couple of different cuts - regular fit and slim fit. I’ve been really happy with mine along with the other SWRVE products I’ve tried. They seem well made and hold up really well from my experience.
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#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
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Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
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I wish Dockers would return and make their 1990s pants again. Trim at the waist, a little bag around the crotch and becoming trim again for the lower leg. Heavy enough cotton to hold up well on a bike but not the hot prisons of jeans. Best decent looking pants for the bike I've ever had. And they made them for a good, long run. (Good thing too. I wear 32-34s and I never saw more than one pair for sale in one place. Often none. Probably my fault. I just look when I happen to be in the store. Never researched when they put out new stock or awaited the morning opening of the doors.)
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#4
Junior Member
I wish Dockers would return and make their 1990s pants again. Trim at the waist, a little bag around the crotch and becoming trim again for the lower leg. Heavy enough cotton to hold up well on a bike but not the hot prisons of jeans. Best decent looking pants for the bike I've ever had. And they made them for a good, long run. (Good thing too. I wear 32-34s and I never saw more than one pair for sale in one place. Often none. Probably my fault. I just look when I happen to be in the store. Never researched when they put out new stock or awaited the morning opening of the doors.)
SO I suggest checking out your local Goodwill.
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#7
I don’t know if they are the “best”, but I really like the SWRVE trousers. They come in three different weights and a couple of different cuts - regular fit and slim fit. I’ve been really happy with mine along with the other SWRVE products I’ve tried. They seem well made and hold up really well from my experience.
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#9
Senior Member
My pants of choice are actually Carhardtt factory seconds. Affordable. Very, very tough. Excellent range of available sizes. Great pockets. I don't change my pants at work. When they get ratty, I have a reliable source of pants to get dirty in.
#10
Full Member
I have a few Lucky 410’s with different specific fabrics and they all have been comfy, just breathable enough, surprisingly seem to wick sweat a fair degree, and totally saddleproof over 20k miles.
Some of their cuts are weird & tight on the thighs. The fabric is so good that I don’t care. They aren’t made for biking, but they’re darn good for it from 70°F down to longjohns weather.
Some of their cuts are weird & tight on the thighs. The fabric is so good that I don’t care. They aren’t made for biking, but they’re darn good for it from 70°F down to longjohns weather.
#11
Senior Member
I think the Brannon pants are excellent. I tried one pair after I wore out my Madrones, and immediately ordered a second pair.
Marc
Marc
#13
Cyclist
#14
#15
#16
Is Levi's still making their 511 commuter jeans, heard a lot of good things when they came out...otherwise I'd just stick to buying second hand/cheap jeans or pants just for cycling purposes, it avoids saddle shaped wear on your "serious adult job pants" :-)
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Right where I'm supposed to be
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Bikes: Franklin Frames Custom, Rivendell Bombadil
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The "best" is any pants that fit comfortable and non-restricting while riding in whatever position you ride without a plumbers butt display.
#19
I have found the Wrangler All Terrain Gear pants to be inexpensive (less than $30), comfortable, and durable (96% Nylon, 4% Spandex) for cycle commuting. I really appreciate the narrow cuffs to ensure that they don't get caught in the chain.
#20
Full Member
Carhartt all day. My specific flavor of choice is the double knee work pant because that's just what I wear as my standard everyday pant. Roll them up in the summer, leave them down in the winter and put a velcro strap around the ankle to keep it out of the chain. Bonus points for being thick enough to provide protection in the off chance that you take a dive off the bike in an accident. I've tested that too, at about 20mph.
#21
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Delaware USA
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For your consideration. I LOVE these pants and they're water resistant. Ostroy Podium Pants with patch that says, "Pretty Okay at Bikes".
https://ostroy.com/products/podium-p...waAt_vEALw_wcB
https://ostroy.com/products/podium-p...waAt_vEALw_wcB
#22
Senior Member
Another vote on these. These are becoming my go-to biking pants. They also look completely normal off the bike, because they're not made as bike pants.
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#23
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
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Have you guys tried Rivendell's MUSA pants? I've heard good things.
#24
Senior Member
I have a pair of MUSA pants, and I like the aforementioned Wrangler ATG pants better, mostly due to fit: the MUSA pants are quite baggy, and the newer versions are shorter and even baggier. Not great for tall and skinny me. The ATG pants fit much better for 32x34 me.
The front pockets on the MUSA pants are better, super deep so my phone is super secure but still easy to get to. The Wrangler's pockets are a bit tighter.
The Wrangler pants look more normal--I could pack them as travel pants, for instance. The Riv pants looks... less ordinary.
The front pockets on the MUSA pants are better, super deep so my phone is super secure but still easy to get to. The Wrangler's pockets are a bit tighter.
The Wrangler pants look more normal--I could pack them as travel pants, for instance. The Riv pants looks... less ordinary.
#25
Commuter
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: SE Wisconsin, USA
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I don't know about "best", as who really tries them all?
For me, the ones that work out great are breathable, waterproof overpants. When I get to work and they're dirty, it doesn't matter. I just take them off. Wash them once a week or two. If you get the cheap ones, you'll need to use a broccoli rubber band around the right cuff to keep it off of the chain.
They're too hot of course for summer, but in summer, I just wear whatever pants I'll wear at work and tuck the right cuff into the sock.
I will point out that not having fenders on your commuter bike is a non-starter, if you want your pants to look decent at work.
For me, the ones that work out great are breathable, waterproof overpants. When I get to work and they're dirty, it doesn't matter. I just take them off. Wash them once a week or two. If you get the cheap ones, you'll need to use a broccoli rubber band around the right cuff to keep it off of the chain.
They're too hot of course for summer, but in summer, I just wear whatever pants I'll wear at work and tuck the right cuff into the sock.
I will point out that not having fenders on your commuter bike is a non-starter, if you want your pants to look decent at work.
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