Bike Perfect Verdict
Reinforced riding pants with versatile baggy fit and plenty of quality features at a reasonable price makes these newcomers well worth a look.
Pros
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Baggy but adjustable fit
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Reinforced where it counts
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Lycra gusset for pedaling comfort
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Well priced
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Vented back
Cons
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Teenage ankle look
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Can flap at speed
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No women’s option
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DWR is short lived as usual
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No eco/ethical elements
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Spada have been producing clothing and helmets for motorbikers since 1994, now they’ve launched a new range of clothing for mountain bikers. That includes these Route trail pants with well thought out fit, features and fabric at a decent price.
Design
With more and more trail trousers going down the skimpy DH pants route, it’s good to see the nylon Taslan fabric reinforced with tougher gridded fabric panels on the knees and backside. The main saddle contact part of the crotch is a diamond of Lycra for seam free friction. An open weave elastic panel sits below the tall curved waistband and Velcro tab adjusters either side gather up a tunneled elastic belt. You get a full fly with double press-stud closure and two zipped hand pockets. There’s a big screen printed logo on the leg side and the side tab ends, press-studs and rubber pullers on the pocket. Zips all have logos and there are contrast stitch details which adds a quality feel. There are two colors and five sizes, but currently Spada only list men's fit and there's no mention of recycling or ethical manufacturing either.
Performance
Compared to the increasingly popular ‘skinny jeans/DH’ style, the Spadas are refreshingly baggy and there’s a bit of stretch in the fabric. That means loads of room for even the bulkiest knee and hip pads without compromising mobility. There are elastic side strips on the lower leg to cope with roast chicken sized calves too. The waistband gives plenty of pre/post lunch/Christmas adjustment from 30in to 34in+ on the medium pair I tested.
The features list mentions “laser cut ventilation holes”, but I couldn’t find them on my sample pair. That’s not a complaint though as freezing air rushing into sensitive areas tends to be a downside not an upside in the UK most of the year and the mesh yoke does a good job of reducing lower back and crack sweat. It does let water straight in if you’re wearing a short jacket or hit a big puddle, but Spada make a dedicated ‘Hydro Trouser’ if you want proper weather protection
The elasticated cuff and bagginess above the ankle looks a bit odd, leaves shoes open for roost/spray filling and can potentially catch or scuff on chains or cranks. They’re easy to pull off unlike some skinny leg trousers like the Specialized Trail Pants. The repellency of the DWR coating doesn’t last longer than a couple of rides and/or a wash either. That’s pretty much standard for ‘waterproof’ coatings and you can always reproof if you want to. They dry reasonably quick anyway, but the generous cut means they’re more likely to flap and drag while they’re soggy. The logos are still bright and intact after a couple of months of winter work though and there’s no signs of fabric wear.
Verdict
Spada’s Route MTB pants are a tough, feature rich pair of pants who want a baggier fit than currently fashionable skinny styles. Sizing is versatile, the hand pockets are handy and there’s no eye watering perforated venting on colder days. It’d be good to see them add women’s options soon, but we’d class these as a unisex cut anyway. They’re lasting well so far too and given the detailing, they’re a reasonable price. The tight ankle look upset a surprising amount of people though and did mean wetter socks than normal.
Tech specs: Spada Route MTB pants
- Price: $91.25 / £89.99 / €97.81
- Fabric: 95% Nylon, 5% Spandex
- Sizes: S-XXL
- Color options: Black or ‘Orion’ grey
