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review

Vulpine Tailored Trousers

6
£120.00

VERDICT:

6
10
Feature laden, smart cycling trousesr that look good but lack performance
Weight: 
436g
Contact: 
www.vulpine.cc

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As roadcc's senior trouser tester you can imagine my excitement when British cycle outfitters, Vulpine, sent us what they dub their Tailored Trouser, their 'first line of smart-casual cycling trousers, for life in the country pub, a Friday night gig or for wear on the open trail', better still they sent us two pairs so junior trouser tester Vecchiojo got to have a go too.

The Kelly green tote bag they come packaged in is a pleasing touch, first impressions last and this is nice even if the bag will only ever be used to hold your swimming kit or your packed lunch. On to the trousers then, first impression here is that the material is rather crunchy - or maybe this is what Vulpine describe as being crisp on their website? The 94% Nylon fabric is noisy when scrunched,  and the consequence when you walk in them is that they make a rustling sound as the fabric in one leg rubs against the other the way overtrousers do. fact the first time I wore them in the office, Oli commented on the noise asking if they were overtrousers  - junior tester Jo reported similar questions being asked .

Cut is fairly generous closer to a straight jean, so there is a bit of material to rustle. The dark grey colour and the relaxed cut make them look very smart and because they aren't like drain pipes, they can be worn with all but the daintiest of shoes.

I tested a medium - 34 inch waist and 34 inch inside leg (the two smaller sizes have 32 inch inside legs), I usually take a 32in waist but these fitted fine, if you are a true 34 they might be a snug. The legs are a bit long but they are designed to be rolled up, revealing 3 reflective seams running up from the ankle on the back and either side. This should be sewn into every pair of trousers in my opinion, whether for riding or walking at night.

I found the the bottom of the leg narrow enough to keep itself out of harm's way and it didn't get chewed up by the chainset at all, but as an added safety precaution a buttoned tab on the drive side can be used to gather in the bottom of your trouser leg. For aesthetic balance, on the other leg is a nice embroidered Vulpine logo in contrasting green stitch.

The trouser has a high waist with rubber grippers to keep the chill out, your jersey tucked in, your mother happy and your modesty intact but I found the waist a little too high, verging on Simon Cowell territory. The waist band came up to my navel when pulled up, To be fair Jo didn't have this issue… maybe his belly button is higher. Now, I don't wear my trousers like an American prisoner but I do usually wear them around my hips if I did that with these the crotch would be very low, like MC Hammer low - and would catch on the nose of my saddle every time I got on my perch, something you don't want to happen when setting off from the lights in heavy traffic. The compromise was to wear them high on the bike, and back on the hips when out hawking around fashionable cafes in town. Another reason for putting them back on the hips was that worn high I found the fly zipper didn't go down low enough for the old chap to come out and the worry that the person in the urinal next to me would find the resulting 'rummaging' a touch unsettling.

As you'd expect from Vulpine aattention to detail on these trousers is amazing, packed with wonderfully thought out features as if Q from James Bond had his way with a sewing machine. A tiny carabiner in the right front pocket to clip your keys to, again another feature that I wish was in all trousers. In the left hand front pocket is a second pocket with a zip closure, handy to put some loose change in and is big enough for your mobile phone too; yep I'd like to see this in all of my trousers too. One rear pocket on the right hand buttock has a natty hidden magnet which keeps it shut. The rear pocket flap can be tucked in to the pocket to reveal a reflective band which you can clip a light to, a neat idea as long as you remember that you have a light clipped to your bum when you enter the pub.

The cut has been sympathetically tailored to suit being sat on a saddle and being pedalled, there is a gusset panel in the crotch and the knees are articulated giving freedom of movement but what I don't understand is the stretch in the material. It isn't the fact that the 4% spandex offers considerable elasticity but the direction of stretch which is the problem (this is something I've criticised other cycling trousers for too).

The material has almost zero stretch across the leg but all of it going down your limb. So what you say, it does make it comfortable when the knee bends. Ah, but there is already an articulated knee and the groin likes to have a bit of give (especially if you haven't pulled up your trousers up to your belly button before setting off). However the main problem with the trousers stretching length ways is when they get drenched with water or cacked in mud they stretch about an inch longer. You can see what I mean in this video clip.

Seams are taped with Vulpine green piping but not flat, flush. Although they didn't cause a nuisance, I would have liked to have flat taped seams so I wouldn't feel them at all. Of more concern though is the fact that the area around the crotch is only single stitched, when I first looked at them I had my doubts over how durable that stitching would be and sure enough after less than a month of riding in them the stitching has started to come apart.

In very light rain, water beads off the surface like water off a ducks back but it doesn't take much for the wet stuff to penetrate if the precipitation is persistent, you can see the fabric darkening where the water soaks in. These aren't as water resistant as, say, the Surface trousers but about the same as the Rapha City trousers which in my opinion isn't enough for the compromise in wearing the noisy synthetic fabric which feels like a windproof jacket next to the skin. I'd say they were splash proof rather than water resistant - Jo reported much the same, he got wet on his first ride in them from the fine spray kicked up by a wet road after an earlier rain shower, the sort of thing you'd expect a pair of jeans to get wet but not so uncomfortably wet they stick to you. They do however dry very quickly. They also do a fair job of keeping the wind off which is nice because they don't offer much in the way of thermal insulation as I found out when I took them sledging. They are a good weight to not boil in if you do decide to exert yourself.

As a pair of casual trousers they look good but the scrunchy fabric puts me off and as a riding trouser they don't seem to offer much more than a pair of jeans with stretch in them and a high waist band do so I feel that the £120 price tag is for the abundance of features and it being manufactured in small quantities to a high quality. I feel that it is like buying a car that you didn't really want then adorning it with optional extras.

These are a good quality pair of trousers that unfortunately just miss the mark. With a few tweaks to the pattern and the material they would be a superb pair of cycle strides.

Verdict

Feature laden, smart cycling trouser that look good but lacks performance.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Vulpine Tailored Trousers

Size tested: Medium, Charcoal

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"for life in the country pub, a Friday night gig or for wear on the open trail".

I think they are trying to tick too many boxes. I probably wouldn't wear them to a gig or on a muddy trail unless I was walking.

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

94% Nylon

6% Spandex

Breathable fabric

Water-resistant (ish)

Taped seams and cycling-specfic gusset prevent chaffing

Silicon waist gripper and high rear cut for cycling

Zipped fly with button waist and belt loops

Button ankle adjuster on driveside

Articulated knees

Hidden reflective light loop

Reflective inner leg seams for turn-up visibility

No scratchy labels. All care info printed onto fabric

Zip valuables pocket & key caribiner hidden in main pockets

long legs

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Would prefer flat seams

Rate the product for performance:
 
6/10

Not very water resistant

High waist/Low crotch

Stretch length-ways

Rate the product for durability:
 
5/10

Not sure how long the stitching will hold out commuting in these every day - started to go on my test pair after less than a month of riding.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

Their light weight and breathability mean that you can wear these in summer without cooking.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

The nylon isn't the softest against the skin and I would prefer flat seams.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

The features and finishing detail is fantastic but I would feel hard pressed to buy these for cycling duties as they underperform.

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

The crotch issue was a nuisance, the fabric wasn't really that water resistant, definitely not if you are travelling for over 10 minutes in the rain, not very warm and the texture of the scratchy nylon was unappealing. When they got soaked

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The features like the zip pockets, the buttons, reflective roll-ups and the light clip are great.

They dry quickly. Easy to wash.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

They stretch when wet, they get wet easily. Not very warm. Crunchy, noisy fabric when moving. Not that nice against the skin. The overly high waist band.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes and no.

Would you consider buying the product? Not really.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Maybe to rich ramblers.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

The material lets this trouser down and the very high waist band.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 179  Weight: 79

I usually ride: Bike that I am testing at the time  My best bike is: Condor Pista fixed. Kinesis Convert 2 geared work horse, Look KG241 skinny whippet

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed, bare back

 

Add new comment

15 comments

Avatar
aslongasicycle | 10 years ago
0 likes

I could not possibly comment.

Avatar
CycleLove | 10 years ago
0 likes

Vulpine gear in shock 3/5 score scare!

Looks like the model is wearing completely the wrong size in that first shot... surely the trousers are not meant to be that baggy?

Avatar
jonathing | 10 years ago
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Wait, their extra small is a 30" waist? I thought cyclists were supposed to be a skinny lot?

Avatar
Some Fella | 10 years ago
0 likes

What is offensive about a mouse's head?

Avatar
Pisiform | 10 years ago
0 likes

It doesnt offend me as such but I do think it send out an inappropriate message. It spoils an otherwise excellent review. You can tell the reviewer really tested these trousers properly.

However all youve done is associated the trousers and Vulpine the brand with schoolboy knob jokes. its offputting to women and to those of us who find this humour tiresome.

Wh should Vulpine want to advertise with you in future or send you kit for review if this is what they get for it?

Avatar
yocto replied to Pisiform | 10 years ago
0 likes
Pisiform wrote:

It doesnt offend me as such but I do think it send out an inappropriate message. It spoils an otherwise excellent review. You can tell the reviewer really tested these trousers properly.

However all youve done is associated the trousers and Vulpine the brand with schoolboy knob jokes. its offputting to women and to those of us who find this humour tiresome.

Wh should Vulpine want to advertise with you in future or send you kit for review if this is what they get for it?

Exactly this.

Avatar
TR McGowran replied to yocto | 10 years ago
0 likes
yocto][quote=Pisiform wrote:

However all youve done is associated the trousers and Vulpine the brand with schoolboy knob jokes. its offputting to women and to those of us who find this humour tiresome.

I think you are concentrating on the knob too much. We are surrounded by phallic symbols. If you got upset by it then it would be impossible to walk passed the fruit and veg isle in the supermarket without feeling giddy.
It was a suggestive, light hearted school boy joke. I don't think it has put off women, I don't think they are bothered by it, it isn't a real penis.

Avatar
themartincox | 10 years ago
0 likes

Tony, to be honest, I get the gag and yeah its mildly amusing (in a schoolboy chortle kindof way), but at the same time its surely not the right message to be sending out to the fairer gender?

the review itself was grand, the video was a bit silly

Avatar
swiftsquirrell | 10 years ago
0 likes

I chuckled a tad...besides, lot worse things we see on a day to day basis in tv adverts than a crayon knob

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Tony Farrelly | 10 years ago
0 likes

I am sorry though if TR's design offended you though pisiform - that wasn't the intention.

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bike_food | 10 years ago
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Great 'mild knob gag' and pleased you didn't give the product 5 stars just because the boss of Vulpine is also one of your contributors.

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Tony Farrelly | 10 years ago
0 likes

@Pisiform @DazCr

So your only criticism of the review is that it contains a mild knob gag - that is used to demonstrate a relevant point?

Deal with it!

Avatar
Fixie Girl replied to Tony Farrelly | 10 years ago
0 likes
tony_farrelly wrote:

@Pisiform @DazCr

So your only criticism of the review is that it contains a mild knob gag - that is used to demonstrate a relevant point?

Deal with it!

+1

Good review and food for thought for Vulpine, I think they should be pleased..

And being of the 'fairer sex' its not offensive, we are tougher than we look guys!

FG

Avatar
DazCr | 10 years ago
0 likes

I'm with you Pisiform......

Avatar
Pisiform | 10 years ago
0 likes

Puerile, stupid and unlike anything i've seen on Road before. I'm sure i'll be told to get a sense of humour but really, did the video need the penis gag? I'm sure vulpine will love the association. Road, you cheapen yourselves.

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