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review

Vulpine Men's Rain Trousers

8
£150.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Premium, hard-wearing and weather-resistant trousers that are effective both on and off the bike
Ideal for commuting
Water resistant
Lots of pockets
The premium price
Weight: 
484g
Contact: 

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The Vulpine Men's Rain Trousers are premium cycling-oriented smart/casual trousers that are packed full of features. They're weather resistant too, which makes them a great addition to the cycle commuter's wardrobe, with the high price about the only down side. Their stylish looks meant I wore them not just on my commute but when I was off the bike, with that versatility going some way to justify the expense.

> Buy now: Vulpine Men's Rain Trousers for £150 from Vulpine

Our best cycling clothes for commuting buyer's guide rounds up our favourite ride-to-work kit, from trousers and jackets to shoes and jerseys, while our best waterproof cycling trousers buyer's guide concentrates on weather-resistant options.

Vulpine's Rain Trousers are made from water- and wind-resistant Epic cotton, polyester and Lycra. And it's fair to say I really noticed – and appreciated – their cycling-focused features when I put these trousers through their paces. Their high rear waistband, silicone grippers and diamond-shaped gusset all help to achieve a great fit when you're riding.

2023 Vulpine Mens Rain Trousers - inside detail.jpg

And in addition to a regular button, these trousers also have a metal hook and loop to keep for when your riding kicks up a gear, backed up further still by heavy-duty belt loops. While these features are all very welcome they do add a little weight, with these hitting the scales at 484g.

2023 Vulpine Mens Rain Trousers - back pocket detailbelt loops.jpg

The trousers' weather resistance is extremely effective. During commutes over wet roads I found that the water beaded and simply rolled off the trousers – and they were warm and windproof too, with no air blowing through them.

I was also extremely impressed with the amount of storage, the pockets numbering five in total: two front hip pockets, two rear pockets, one of which has a magnetic flap, and a zipped full-length valuables pocket behind the left hip pocket.

2023 Vulpine Mens Rain Trousers - back pocket detail flap.jpg

This was especially useful as it was large enough to fit my iPhone 12. The right pocket also has a handy carabiner for keeping your keys safe when you're on the move.

2023 Vulpine Mens Rain Trousers - back pocket detail.jpg

The fit was very good. The trousers have a slim cut and there's a slight stretch to the material, which not only helps with comfort, it means there's no baggy material to get caught in your bike's drivetrain.

2023 Vulpine Mens Rain Trousers - back.jpg

The right leg also features an ankle adjuster, which worked well, preventing the trouser leg from getting too close to the chain and chainring. A final trick to the trousers is that turning up the legs reveals reflective detailing.

2023 Vulpine Mens Rain Trousers - ankle detail.jpg

I usually wear a medium in most brands' trousers but I needed to wear these in large, which is in keeping with the sizing guide on Vulpine's website.

2023 Vulpine Mens Rain Trousers - waist.jpg

I tested the trousers both without a chamois and with – to check whether one would fit – and I found them comfortable in both cases. The material not only had enough give for normal day-to-day riding, I found it breathable too, with no sweat patches appearing by the time I got to work. They were a little warm on hotter days, as the material is slightly bulky, but despite this they stayed breathable and kept me a sweat-free zone.

One of the big advantages of these trousers is that, depending on the length and intensity of your commute, you may be able to get away without needing to get changed. They're smart enough to be appropriate for work and the material feels tough and durable.

2023 Vulpine Mens Rain Trousers - button and zipped fly.jpg

They were very easy to clean too. You can machine wash them and tumble dry them on cool, so you can throw them in with other washing. Even after washing they kept their water-resistant capabilities and I found it very easy to clean dirt off of them too.

Value

At £150 Vulpine's rain trousers are very much at the premium end of the market, and while you may find the price steep and it is a lot of money, their full raft of features does help to justify the expense.

The Rapha Technical trousers are quite similar and at £130 they're a little cheaper, though Oli was very impressed when he tested them. They also have plentiful pockets, including a pair of zipped hip pockets, and reflective detailing when you turn up the legs. But unlike the Vulpines, the Raphas lack weatherproofing, which is a major concern if you're looking for year-round cycling strides.

For more denim-flavoured cycling and outdoor trousers you could try the £119.99 DU-ER All-Weather Denim Slim Jeans that David thought were excellent, though at 609g they're even heavier than the Vulpines.

Conclusion

Expensive but fully featured cycling trousers with great weather-resistant properties – and they work both on and off the bike. But there's no getting away that these premium trousers come with a premium price to match.

Verdict

Premium, hard-wearing and weather-resistant trousers that are effective both on and off the bike

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Vulpine Mens Rain Trousers (Classic Navy)

Size tested: large

Tell us what the product is for

Designed for use both on and off the bike, and thanks to their weatherproofing and smart/casual looke these are great for commuting.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Vulpine says: "Tough, comfortable and practical water-resistant trousers with classic style, for multiple weather conditions, commuting, work and exploring.

Smart everyday trousers that work and last, keeping you comfortable all day. Constructed from Epic Cotton, they are very breathable and water resistant, with stretch. Epic is far more comfortable over time than synthetics. Teamed with a simple classic cut adapted for cycling, it's at home off the bike as on. Laden with features, including button ankle adjuster, reflective inner seams, tough belt loops, key carabiner, valuables zip pocket and our seamless diamond gusset."

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

The trousers have a premium feel, and appear to be well made and built to last.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

They provided good protection from the elements, and I also found them comfortable, weather resistant and breathable, which made them a great product to wear.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

After lots of use the trousers are still looking great and performing well. They haven't been affected at all by washing and still look as good as new.

Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

The trousers have a slim cut but they have been designed well to fit with a slightly stretchy fabric. 

Rate the product for sizing:
 
7/10

They're true to the size listed on Vulpine's website, but their slim fit meant I had to go up from my regular trouser size.

Rate the product for weight:
 
5/10

Their 484g weight is heavy for a pair of trousers, but this is only to be expected given the features.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10

Very comfortable both on and off the bike.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

There's no doubt that at £150 these are pretty expensive for a pair of cycling trousers – but there aren't that many pairs out there as fully featured as these.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Very easy to care for. They are machine washable, tumble dry safe and came up clean after washing.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

They're comfortable for commuting, work just as well off the bike and the water-resistant material makes them a very practical choice.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The pockets! Five of them meant that I had a place for everything, which I found extremely useful.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The price.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

The trousers have a premium price – they're a little more expensive than the Rapha technical trousers but the Vulpines do have a lot more features.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Maybe

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A really good pair of trousers that worked a treat for everything I threw at them. The only reason for the lower score is the price.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 21  Height: 171cm  Weight: 72kg

I usually ride: Windover Bostal  My best bike is: Windover Bostal

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Semi pro

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb, Gravel and ultra-endurance racing

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