Waterproof cycling trousers?

quenching

Can anyone recommend some waterproof cycling trousers, not overtrousers, for commuting. Don't have to be particularly warm or stylish, just waterproof! If they have zips to convert into shorts then all the better

Raam

Just get wet, dude. Lycra dries quickly.

Seweryn

Raam wrote: »

Just get wet, dude. Lycra dries quickly.

I have to agree. Since I started commuting in all weather conditions last October, I do not care that much about having wet legs. Staying warm and cosy is the key.
And carry a spare pair of socks with you .

Tonyandthewhale

Better wet than sweaty is what I always say. Or rather what I would say if it wasn't a contradiction. You know what I'm trying to get across though.

doozerie

I've not come across waterproof trousers myself, well nothing that wasn't marketing nonsense at least - I've seen some trousers labelled as waterproof where the truth was that they were water resistant at best. That doesn't mean to say that waterproof trousers don't exist obviously, but I certainly don't know where you'd find them if they do exist. And I don't think I'd buy them if they did exist, as usually the greater the degree of waterproofing the less the degree of breathability so the most comfortable choice is a balance of the two which means that my choice couldn't in all honesty be labelled as waterproof.

Hiking trousers provide the right balance for me - comfortable, breathable, water resistant, and dry fairly quickly if they do get wet. And you will find convertible/zip-off versions too. I use hiking trousers for commuting and they work very well for me. If I had further to travel on my commute then I'd certainly wear cycling kit (i.e. lycra) by preference.

doozerie

Oh, and don't make the mistake that I did. I got interested in Endura Singletrack Trousers based on them being (supposedly) designed specifically for cycling and the fact that they seemed to get great reviews. They didn't work for me at all, they were muck. They were too short for my legs (and I'm a short-arse), any water resistance didn't last beyond a couple of washes, the pockets were in the wrong place for cycling (i.e. uncomfortable with anything in the pockets), the integrated belt was rubbish, etc. And they are not cheap either. Hiking trousers are much, much better on the bike, in my experience.

moby2101

Castelli Fluido Bib Tights...

Only for winter time tho'

Squidgy Black

You could always look at brands like SWRVE, Rapha and the Levi commuter trousers. Dunno if they're exactly fully waterproof but they're definitely resistant.

quenching

Seweryn wrote: »

I have to agree. Since I started commuting in all weather conditions last October, I do not care that much about having wet legs. Staying warm and cosy is the key.
And carry a spare pair of socks with you .

I've been doing the same for the last few years and wet legs never used to bother me, but I seem to be getting wet most mornings for the last few weeks and its bugging me, my current "cycling trousers" are cheapo things from Lidl, fine when its dry but cold when its raining. Its the cold when wet more than the wet I suppose thats bothering me. I keep a full change of clothes at work to change so it looks like some tights are the way to go.

quenching

doozerie wrote: »

Oh, and don't make the mistake that I did. I got interested in Endura Singletrack Trousers based on them being (supposedly) designed specifically for cycling and the fact that they seemed to get great reviews. They didn't work for me at all, they were muck. They were too short for my legs (and I'm a short-arse), any water resistance didn't last beyond a couple of washes, the pockets were in the wrong place for cycling (i.e. uncomfortable with anything in the pockets), the integrated belt was rubbish, etc. And they are not cheap either. Hiking trousers are much, much better on the bike, in my experience.

Thanks for that info doozerie as I had considered them so you saved me the expense and hassle!

el Bastardo

quenching wrote: »

Thanks for that info doozerie as I had considered them so you saved me the expense and hassle!

The Endura stealth tights are waterproof and pretty windproof, but tights rather than trews (and they're kind of expensive too).