Pants are never going to be as breezy as shorts, but the Burner Lite comes closer to any I’ve tried thanks to the lightweight material that feels breezy, and never clammy. There are also laser cut holes galore, with a score or more either side of the knee to draw in air. I’m happy in the Burner Lite up to 20°C or so, which means I’ve been wearing them all this summer without problems. If you wish to return your bike to us please keep it in the box it arrived in and call us on 01772 644340 and we will arrange a collection. The first striking thing you’re likely to notice with the Rangers is their heavily tapered, figure-hugging cut. This isn’t to ensure you’re as aero as possible while sauntering down the trail, but simply adds an element of practicality on the bike – baggy trousers are likely to flap about as you pedal, especially when caked in mud, which is very annoying. Fit: I tested this pant in a medium. While it is the correct size based on iXS' charts, this pant just does not fit me. The waist is pretty generous, but when snugged all the way down with the two internal adjusters, while it "fits", it still feels oddly loose. Additionally, the waist of the pant sits too low: when pulled up to my waist, it induced unsightly man toe. And while I freely admit to having no butt, there's no way I could do enough squats to fill these pants out—there's far too much extra room in the seat for that. The internal waist adjusters work well, and although I find they are always more work to get adjusted than their external cousins, I find that once "set" they stay put better than the external ones. The lower legs of these pants are snug, too, but in a good way: they hug a kneepad and the calves tightly for a more aerodynamic, performance-oriented fit than any other offering in this test.

Thoughtfully designed features like the zipper leg opening give these pants an edge up on other tapered pants that can be cumbersome to take on and off. Compared to the older Flexair model that I typically ride in, the new Flexair Pro offers improved ventilation. Its panels are made from Dyneema, a material that is 15x stronger than steel and extremely lightweight. These panels offer similar abrasion resistance and protection to the Cordura ones found on the Defend, while allowing the Flexair Pro to maintain its ultra lightweight construction. When it comes time to retire my older Flexair pants, the Flexair Pro will be high on my list for their versatility and added durability.The differences might be minor, but they all add up in the end. However, it’s still worth pointing out that I really rate the Fox Ranger pants.

Manufacturers describe their garments as having three two or layers but what does this mean? A two-layer fabric is made up of an outer face fabric bonded to the waterproof membrane, usually with a mesh liner hanging inside. On a 2.5 layer, the mesh liner is replaced with a micro (or half) layer, which is either bonded or printed onto the membrane. A three-layer garment has the membrane sandwiched between two Nylon layers. Vents Combine performance, comfort, fit and the price and you have the best on test – totally recommended. The Flexair lineup is Fox’s lightest weight and most breathable offering when it comes to riding apparel. Their latest Flexair Pro pants feature a tapered fit for increased mobility while minimizing snagging. Combined with Dyneema (the world’s strongest fiber, allegedly) panels for increased abrasion resistance, they are now beginning to blur the lines between trail and downhill riding pants. All waterproof fabrics are rated for waterproofness and anything over 10,000mm is pretty watertight in normal conditions. Breathability is also rated – look for the MVTR (Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate) figure. Above 20,000g/m²/24hr means good breathability. Fabric construction

Mountain bike pants

While the price is higher than the Endura MT500 or Fox Ranger pants, this is offset by an included repair kit and free crash repair service. Overall, these are quality riding pants that fit great, feel comfortable and work in a range of conditions. Far from the usual crinkly, tissue paper fabric found on most waterproof trousers, the Fox Ranger 3L Water is soft and supple against the skin. There’s a four-way stretch to the fabric to ensure it doesn’t restrict movement, and the fully taped seams and quality Durable Water Repellent coating keeps you cool and dry. With the Ranger 3L, Fox gives you form and function. Fox’s material doesn’t have a DWR coating, but also doesn’t absorb a lot of water when wet and get too heavy and flappy, so you can use it even when the trails are pretty soaked without any of that sodden dragging-trousers-down fabric feel you get with some rivals. There’s also a really good balance of being airy and well ventilated yet offering enough warmth to take chill winds off on the coldest days, so the Ranger is a genuine year-round UK option.

a) If we have sent you the incorrect bicycle, we will cover the cost of collection and delivery of the correct model. The 4-way stretch fabric is lightweight, so they won’t weigh you down as you pedal. Importantly they’re also durable enough to hold up when you push your limits a little too far. They offer plenty of room around the knee to slip your pads underneath, but the slim silhouette and tapered leg mean they’re not going to get caught up on anything as you fly down the trail. Built to perform on the bike, and comfortable post ride, the Fox Ranger MTB trousers are ready to roll.You should always keep proof of postage and we advise you to use a ‘signed for service’ when returning goods.

Fox has constructed the Rangers from a relatively stretchy, light fabric. At just 270g (for the size small), the Rangers are certainly light, but the fabric doesn’t feel delicate or fragile, and it has proven to be durable throughout testing.Fit: The Ion pants fit, but the cut was a bit awkward for me. The leg length was good, and the overall fit was okay; but I found that even with the waist cinched down all the way, the pants didn't stay up well . I should note that I don't have a whole lotta junk in the trunk, so this problem has cropped up before; it just depends on the pant. Also the cut of the fabric around the knee area causes the excess fabric to bunch above the kneepads, which felt funny, but didn't inhibit pedaling. For comparison's sake, I did try on the size small, and while the waist fit was better, they were too tight on my legs. One nice feature of the Shelter Pant is the lower leg zipper, which allows you to pull the pants on over shoes or to put on kneepads after you've put on your pants—something I've come to really like as I sometimes forget to grab knee pads before putting on my pants. The fabric is think with four-way stretch plus a DWR coating to ward off drizzle and splashes. Inside, a soft facing feels good against bare skin. Sizing is true to size with a generous cut but without being baggy, and waist adjusters allow you to customise the fit, plus belt loops mean you can add a belt if you want.. A tapered leg plus elasticated hems makes getting them on and off easy. A simple, single meaty popper is all that’s used to keep the Rangers closed. There’s no zipped fly or Velcro in place to keep the overlapping fabric in place, but I had no issues with the trousers gaping open or coming undone. While filming our review video, I was joking with my coworker Sam that the Fox Ranger is the “blue jean” of the Fox lineup. The Ranger forgoes protective panels and flashy features in favor of a no-fuss design that closely resembles the older Flexair models I have loved for years. Inspired by Fox's top-tier models, these pants are ready for any type of ride while maintaining a more affordable price point.