A performance-oriented pant created from technical fabric for cycling and snow sports can run $100-$200. Over the last few years, I’ve accumulated a collection of activewear pants for cycling, skiing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. That said, I’m always looking to expand my collection with pants with more pockets, comfort, warmth, etc., scanning every REI sale (and others) for close-out deals.
After repeatedly seeing Amazon recommend a number of generic cycling and softshell winter pants, I decided to take one for the team and ordered a few pairs up so we could get a real-world look at these budget outdoor pants to see how they stack up to trusted well known brands. Among my consideration: fabrics, fit, quality of construction/durability, and features.
Things to consider
If you spend time reading a lot of the reviews, a common weak point of generic pants found on Amazon is the snap closures. There are a good amount of failure reports, and truth be told, I’ve encountered failing snaps with name-brand cycling pants and shorts. While snaps can be replaced, having to repair clothing can be a pain, especially if you haven’t had it that long. In addition, it negates the cost savings of buying a generic pant. That said, it’s hit or miss. For winter active pants, a drawstring waist can be a good option as it makes dialing fit in at the waist easy, and bodes well for long-term durability. I find a drawstring essentially defines these pants as technical joggers as opposed to trousers. While both are great depending on your activity, in the backcountry I generally prefer trousers with zipper pockets for carrying items, and have a preference for pants with a zipper thigh pocket for a phone carry.
Fit & Sizing
Before diving in, for context, I’m 5’10” and currently weigh 170 lbs. Depending on my weight and time of year, I wear size 31″-32″ pants. In Levis 511 (indigo) I wear 31″-31″. I’m close to the sample size, but it should be noted that many fit models for fashion photography wearing a medium sample size are 5’11”-6’1″ with a longer 32″ or 33″ inseam and 32″ waist, which makes the pants drape better in photos (than on me).
BALEAF Mountain Bike Pants — $47.00
Of all the cycling pants I saw on Amazon, the “BALEAF Men’s Mountain Bike Pants Cycling Pants Hiking Running Gear Bicycle Biking Water Resistant Light Weight” (yes that is the full name as listed on Amazon… basically all the words) looked like the best budget option for an MTB riding pant.
Not only did it fit my personal requirements in terms of feature set, fabrics, and a tapered leg fit, it also features two pockets on the thighs that are secured with zippers. These bits elevate it above quite a few of the name-brand cycling pants I already have in rotation in my book.
Also importantly, I didn’t see any branding that would identify it as a budget Amazon pant.
Details
- Size ordered: Small (based on Amazon recommended data)
- 4-way stretch fabric with DWR coating
- Fabric content 85% Nylon, 15% Spandex
- Zipper closure
- Subtle reflective elements
- Available in 3x colors: Black, Blue, Gray
- Listed Regular price: $59.00 (compare to $100-$175 cycling pants)
Consensus: Return or keep? KEEP
I was surprised at how much I liked riding in these pants. Riding to work in the pant, it was a bit lightweight for winter weather, but now it’s warmed up a bit I’ve found the weight/ heft of fabric to be good for a range of conditions, including splashing through the occasional puddle. I also found the feel, features, and fit to be comparable to name-brand MTB pants. It features a clasp as well as a snap (similar to the Showers Pass MTB Pant) that I’ve found to be more secure than several other “high-end” cycling pants I have in my rotation. It doesn’t have a rear pocket but the front two hand warmer pockets have a good depth to the pocket bags and a phone fits the thigh pockets.
In terms of fit, I found it to be roomy enough to accommodate knee pants but not super streamlined. It doesn’t look as trim of a fit as it does on the Amazon photos but I also didn’t make an effort at shooting it the way I would for a fashion brand to give a more accurate “real world” representation of it. For $47, it’s actually a solid buy for riders looking for a riding pant to thrash in. Recommended. <link>
STRETCHUP SP3LOPS GRMen’s Winter Outdoor Waterproof Hiking Mountain Bike Pants, Fleece Lined Thermal Cycling Running Pants — $37
Like the Baleaf, the name of this pant is basically a long list of keywords describing the intended use, but at $37.00, it’s actually a surprisingly decent pant. The softshell material has a waffle fleece lining that feels almost identical to a Fox Racing Softshell jacket I owned a few years ago.
Details and features
- Polyester fleece-backed softshell material
- 2x zipper-secured hand warmer pockets
- Gussets in the knee area
- Available in 3 colors
- Size ordered: Small
The pants feel like a tapered jogger-fit sweat pant, but with the patches at the knee gussets and darts, they feel more like a technical pant. With the waffle fleece lining they’re comfortable and warm. The fit in the product photos seems mostly accurate to the product in person, though the inseam of the legs seems a bit long; the inseam of the model looks more like a 33″ or 34″ than a typical 32″ sample size.
Initially, I was on the fence about whether or not I’d keep these pants. It’s essentially a cold-weather technical sweat pant with a jogger fit. The logo is somewhat noticeable and printed with a reflective material, but it is small.
Return or keep? KEEP
At $37, they’re inexpensive, and seeing as how I’ve spent more than double on joggers, I figured I’d keep them for lounging on road trips and camping as they’re warm and comfortable. They’re pitched as versatile cold-weather active pants, and I’d say that’s accurate as they get warm quickly if it’s not cold out. That said, I may even give them a go cross-country skiing at the local Nordic center. On cold and wet days, they’ve worked well riding into the office, but once things warmed up above 40º, I got pretty sweaty. That said, they’re a nice option to have around, and they’re a deal for the money. Recommend. <link>
Souke Sports Men’s Winter Cycling Pants — $43.00
Like the StretchUp Winter Outdoor pant, the Souke Sport Winter pants are something along the lines of a winter weight sweatpants, made from softshell material. They don’t feel as technical though, and I felt they were reminiscent of a Lululemon yoga pant, albeit a heavier winter weight material.
Details and features
- Polyester Softshell material
- Drawstring waist
- Reflective accents
- 2 Handwarmer pockets and rear zipper pocket
- Perforated mesh pocket bags in handwarmer pockets
- Gussets at knees
- Size Medium purchased
The fabrics are of reasonable quality. It has an elastic waistband with a drawcord and it reminds me of a Lululemon yoga pant. The sweat pant has a drawstring and was comfortable around the waist, but the rise felt a bit off to me like it was almost higher in the front. It could be I’m accustomed to cycling pants that have a taller rear.
The Dual hand pockets have a decent depth to the pocket bags. I’d prefer a secured zipper pocket like the pocket found on the Stretchup pant. It does have a zipper rear pocket in the center back.
Fit & Sizing
In terms of fit, the Amazon recommendation of a size medium was accurate in the waist, but as you can see in the comparison photo, it was off for me as they’re longer and baggier than pictured on the model. I’m 5’10”, and the model was likely 6′. It’s hard to say if the grading on the size small would change the cut to be less baggy; the inseam would likely remain the same, which gave it a pass for me as I’d prefer something shorter for use on the bike.
The tapering to the cuff is very slight, and there are velcro straps to help there. Overall, I’d say they’re too loose fitting for cycling, and more of an all around fit. Either way, I was looking for an inexpensive fitted option for multi-sport use. Camping, XC skiing, running, hiking, light cycling. For me, these pants were not it.
Return or Keep? Return
They’re basically technical middle-weight sweat pants, but I felt there were better options. Plus, how many do pants do I really need? This one cost more than the pant model with the zipper pocket, which made the Stretchup a better value. The front rise felt higher than the rear, which is the opposite of how I’d prefer a pant like this fit. That said, if you’re digging the Souke Sport pants, check them out at Amazon.com.
Trailside Supply Co Men’s Fleece Lined Insulated Softshell Pants — $37.00
There are quite a few options for generic cold-weather softshell pants on Amazon. Their optimal use is going to be more of a multisport outdoor activity like hiking, snowshoeing, and camping, but I’ve also put them to use for backcountry skiing
Details
- Size ordered: Small (based on Amazon purchase data)
- Softshell material exterior, fleece-lined interior
- DWR treated exterior
- Zip fly with Snap closure
- Hand, cargo, and back pockets
This is the 3rd Amazon softshell pant I’ve ordered; I actually thought the first one was a solid backup pant suitable for cold-weather hiking and snow sports. I loaned the first pair to a friend for a backcountry ski trip and never saw it again, so I ordered a second pair this season. The one I received was the wrong size, so it was returned. Was the third time the charm? The fit of the Trailside Supply model was a bit more loose looking in the photo than my personal preference but it popped up at almost 1/2 off as a Lightning deal, so I clicked buy. At $20, it’s a steal. Some of the generic softshells are better than others, so if you’re particular, consider ordering a few models and returning the ones you don’t like.
Consensus: worth the dough