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review

Showers Pass Rogue Pant

8
£69.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Well-considered, comfortable and smart trousers for riding, and not riding
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.showerspass.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Casual trousers you can cycle in have been a pretty mixed bag. A very mixed bag actually. So I'm happy to report that the Showers Pass Rogue Pant (that's the last usage of the word 'pant' you'll see here; I'm British for goodness' sake) is a very well thought out garment that's smart and comfortable both on and off the bike.

The fabric is a stretchy synthetic mix which is accommodating but still keeps its shape well. The inner surface is a brushed finish so it's comfy next to bare skin, and the outer face is treated with a water-repellant coating that'll shrug off drizzle and showers. They're not waterproof for long rides in the rain, but they do dry quickly if you get caught out. The mid-weight fabric is just right for spring temperatures; they'd be a bit heavy for summer sun but you'll have your shorts on then.

Cycling-specific touches abound. The leg panels don't meet at the crotch but instead there's a separate panel that runs up the inside of the legs. That means there's no uncomfortable seam right where you don't want one. You get normal pockets plus a zippered one to keep stuff safe; the stretchy fabric means you fit plenty in them if you want to, as well. There's a 'utility loop' too, to hang your keys from. Showers Pass suggest you can carry a lock there too, but I didn't find that very practical.

The bottom hem of each leg has a poppered band to allow you to cinch the leg in and keep it away from your transmission. As well as that, if you turn the leg up the inside is printed with a reflective chevron design at the rear to get you seen. If you do one big turn-up then it works very well, less so if you turn the fabric over more than once; It'd be good if the reflective extended a bit further.

Stick them on and they're just a comfy and reasonably smart pair of trews, generous but not baggy. They're very slightly raised at the rear but they don't look odd off the bike. Leg length was long enough for me, but only just; I'm a 35in inside leg so they're reasonably long (I tested the 36in waist) but I'd have preferred a touch of extra length; different leg lengths would be good.

On the bike the fabric is stretchy and comfortable, and they're just fine for shorter journeys. You wouldn't want to do a sportive in them but for round-town cycling they're very good. The leg-cinch works well, and they look good (if a touch hipster) with a big turnup to keep them out of the chain too. You can even turn them up and then cinch them in, although I found they stayed put regardless. The material has proved to be fairly hardy and hasn't bobbled or pulled, and you can bung them in the washing machine on a cool setting when they need freshening up. If you want a pair of trousers for general use that are also bike-friendly then they come recommended, and at £65 a pair they're not that expensive either.

They're available in Cinder (dark brown, as tested) and Earth (not as dark brown) in waist sizes from 30in to 38in.

Verdict

Well-considered, comfortable and smart trousers for riding, and not riding

road.cc test report

Make and model: Showers Pass Rogue Pant

Size tested: 36

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?

Rebelliously functional. The Rouge Pant is a streetwise and bike friendly pant, built for all day comfort. Made with a water resistant stretch fabric, and treated with a DWR finish the Rogue is perfect for commutes in light rain. Subtle reflective accents like a roll up reflective pant leg keep you visible at night. A hidden pant hem cinch keeps pant legs away from greasy bike parts.

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

Stretch fabric and gusseted crotch for pedaling ease

Water resistant fabric for drizzly commutes

Subtle reflective accents. Roll up pant leg to reveal additional reflective, specially placed to give motorists a clearer view.

Hidden zippered pocket secures essentials

Unique hidden hem cinch works with pant leg cuffed

Utility loop to hang a lock, keys, or bottle opener

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

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

Very good all-purpose trousers for casual riding and not riding.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Nicely made, fabric and design is good for riding.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

reflective inside print could extend further up the leg.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

Different leg lengths would be good.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 190cm  Weight: 102kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Genesis Equilibrium 853

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

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

 

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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2 comments

Avatar
ped | 10 years ago
0 likes

If 'aslongasicycle' reads this, these are the trousers I'd like Vulpine to make!

And if Showers Pass visit, is there _ever_ going to be a .co.uk site, rather than the press release?

Avatar
Leviathan | 10 years ago
0 likes

This isn't your usual test rider.
I like big butts and I cannot lie.
Someone tell Showerspass to get working on a Gabba clone top.

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