Full Leg Coverage, Impossibly Light: Velocio Ultralight TRAIL Pants Review

Velocio solely began making mountain bike attire a few years in the past and has been steadily rising its product lineup ever since. One of many newest additions to the model’s TRAIL vary is the Ultralight TRAIL Pant. These summer-weight mountain bike trousers are constituted of the identical extremely light-weight materials because the Ultralight Shorts and slot into the lineup alongside the heavier-duty Entry Pant.

In response to Velocio, the Ultralight is “a mid-summer path pant designed to be ultralight and ultrabreathable. Three-season versatility when further protection and safety are warranted. Whether or not it’s a midsummer day on an overgrown path or a shoulder season journey with variable climate, the Ultralight TRAIL Pant will take it in stride.” 

I’ve been testing the Ultralight TRAIL pants for the previous month or so. Summer season was on its final legs once they arrived, however I managed to get a few heat, sunny rides in them earlier than settling into the cooler climate of fall. These pants have served me extremely nicely so far, proving to be impressively versatile and positively residing as much as their Ultralight identify.

Materials

The Velocio Ultralight Pant shares the identical materials because the model’s Ultralight quick. The light-weight “Italian milled stretch woven” materials is a mix of 79% polyamide and 21% elastane. I couldn’t discover the precise gsm weight of the fabric, however it’s extremely mild. The pants in a measurement medium weigh simply 188 grams on my scale. They’re by far the lightest full-length driving pants that I’ve ever worn. In actual fact, they’re solely ~ 50 grams heavier than the shorts.

It’s purposely very skinny, and the 4-way stretch materials is sort of stretchy, with loads of give in all instructions. As cliché because it sounds, they actually do have a “barely there” really feel, particularly in comparison with every other MTB pants that I’ve worn — I at present personal roughly 10 pairs and have tried much more than that. The material felt nice towards my pores and skin, with zero irritation, even after pedaling for hours, and there’s no restriction of the pedal stroke in any way.

Velocio payments these as “summer-weight” pants, and I feel that’s a good evaluation. I took a few 80-degree rides in them within the full solar, and it wasn’t stifling or too sizzling. The skinny, mild materials breathes extremely nicely and doesn’t block wind as a lot as thicker supplies. The laser-cut air flow holes behind the knee add a tiny little bit of airflow as nicely.

I additionally took just a few rides in cooler climate, together with one experience in a lightweight however regular drizzle, and I discovered them to be snug in temperatures all the way down to round 55 – 60 levels. In mild sprinkles, the DWR beaded and shed water very nicely, however in a heavier, extra constant drizzle, they received soaked via fairly shortly. That stated, they definitely don’t declare to be waterproof, they usually dry in a short time.

Match

Velocio makes a number of the nicest street and gravel biking attire in the marketplace, and that have exhibits within the match of the Ultralight Pants. Not surprisingly, they match quite a bit just like the Ultralight Shorts, which is likely to be my all-time favourite. Maybe it’s simply that Velocio’s stuff matches my physique form higher than most different manufacturers, however I’d argue that the model has paneling and contouring completely dialed. 

The match is unquestionably on the slimmer, extra tailor-made aspect of the spectrum. My measurement medium take a look at pair matches my 32-inch waist completely to the purpose that I can put on them with out a belt if I would like. The locking snap closure is safe, and the silicone texture throughout the again of the waistband helps hold them in place. 

They match me comfortable via the hips and have a relaxed however not saggy match via the thighs earlier than tapering over the calves to the ankles. There’s simply sufficient room for low-profile knee pads just like the Fox Enduro Professional that I’ve been sporting lately. The 32-inch inseam size works surprisingly nicely for me. I’m 6’0” tall, they usually fall proper to my ankle bones off the bike and don’t actually experience up in any respect whereas pedaling, because of the articulation within the knees and the stretch within the materials.

Pockets

A complete of two pockets, one on every thigh, comprise the storage of the Ultralight Pants. The backloading pockets have vertical zippers and are very simple to entry whereas seated on the bike. They’re sufficiently big to suit trendy smartphones, and their place retains the contents comparatively regular and from interfering with the pedal stroke. They’re equally useful off the bike, too, with room for a cellphone and pockets do you have to be sporting them earlier than or after a experience.

Sturdiness

I don’t have a ton of time or miles within the Ultralight Pants simply but, however there’s nothing about them that offers me any sturdiness considerations. Like each different Velocio garment that I’ve tried, the craftsmanship is top-notch and the supplies are top quality. Sure, the fabric is loopy mild and tremendous skinny, so there’s most likely the next potential for the fabric to be broken in a heavy crash in comparison with extra sturdy materials. Nonetheless, I’ve received hundreds of miles within the Ultralight Shorts constituted of the identical materials, they usually someway nonetheless look model new — significantly, not a fray within the materials or perhaps a unfastened sew. I count on the identical from the pants, however will definitely report again if that’s not the case. 

What’s To not Like?

My solely actual critique is that it might be good to have some form of waist adjustment system inbuilt. The match of the scale medium is fairly spot on for my 32-inch waist, however that’s not going to be the case for everybody, and the one method to actually comfortable them up is to put on a belt. A stretchy belt, like these made by Arcade, works very nicely for that goal, nevertheless it does add a little bit bulk and weight to an in any other case very glossy, mild, and minimalist pair of pants. 

At $209 retail, they’re additionally comparatively costly. You may undoubtedly discover mountain bike-specific pants that value much less. However I haven’t tried one other pair of pants which are as mild and ethereal as these. Based mostly on my expertise with the shorts, I can solely assume that they’ll nonetheless be wanting model new two years from now. Time will inform.

My Takeaway

Shoulder season is right here, and with it comes the continuing problem of dressing completely for these in-between temperatures. The Velocio Ultralight Path Pants take a number of the guesswork out of fall and spring, when shorts are just a bit too cool and pants are just a bit too heat — these pants are good. They’re extremely mild, extremely breathable, as pedal-friendly as may be, and I discover them to be tremendous snug. 

I don’t know in the event that they’ll convert me to driving in pants all summer time, however for many who do, they’re most likely a bit cooler than what you’re sporting. Plus, they’re versatile sufficient to stretch into the spring and fall seasons till it will get chilly sufficient for one thing extra substantial. Sure, they’re costly, however my expertise with Velocio merchandise has been nothing however optimistic by way of match, perform, high quality, and sturdiness, which helps to justify the associated fee. 

Velocio makes the Ultralight TRAIL Pants for women and men, they usually are available in Black, Madder brown (red-ish), and Spruce Inexperienced. If you happen to’re searching for one thing a little bit thicker and burlier, the Entry Pants are constituted of a mid-weight Cordura materials however have the identical nice match. You may take a look at the total lineup of Velocio MTB Attire at:

velocio.cc