TESTED: We The Riders Slayer DH/Trail Pants
We remember the days when riding pants were only ever seen at downhill race events and looked like something you’d wear on a motocross bike, but with the change in trends and materials, they have become part of our riding wardrobe. We The Riders are part of this growing apparel segment with their Slayer DH/Trail pants.
Finding the right pair of riding pants can take a few attempts. Leg length, breathability, materials, number of pockets, waist fasteners, protection, and styling. What’s best for you? Well, We The Riders have answered this conundrum with a pair of pants that target the majority of riding styles with their Slayer DH/Trail pants, and we were lucky enough to get our hands on a pair.
Who Are We The Riders?
WTR was started in 2017 by a group of riders based on the Sunshine Coast, QLD looking for clothing that represented their attitudes and individual personalities. With a lack of MTB clothing that reflected their ethos on the mountain bike culture, they decided to take matters into their own hands and start a mountain bike apparel brand.
WTR use the most earth-friendly materials and finishes available, from the recycled cardboard in their thank you cards and the biodegradable post bags to the all-new NEO-R recycled performance fabrics. All products are printed by local industries (where possible) and shipped from their warehouse on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Check out their website for the full range of products on offer.
Designed for all riding conditions the Slayer’s composition of Polyester and Spandex allows you to have ninja-like reflexes while on the bike.
Features
There are quite a few players in the riding pant market, and we have come a long way from baggy motor cross pants. Generally speaking, riding pants are a lot more ‘form fitting’. This prevents them from flapping about and getting caught in drive trains etc.
In our experience, there are a few different categories of riding pants:
The ‘barely there’ effectively just offers sun and insect bite protection. Most of these pants feel amazing to ride in, being super lightweight, breathable, and comfortable. However, they tend to self-destruct at the first sign of an impact.
Then there are the full-on DH-rated pants that are the complete opposite. They are designed to take an impact or several and keep on keeping on. Typically they are a little less flexible due to the material used, heavier, and can be quite hot to wear.
The Slayer pant seems to fall somewhere in the middle. Perhaps their name is a giveaway ‘Slayer DH/Trail’ Pant? They offer a combination of lightweight and form-fitting fit with reinforcements in all the right places.
A 4-way stretch material made up of 88% Polyester and 12% Spandex gives the pants good levels of stretch to cater to even the bulkiest knee pads with reinforced material around the knee designed to take a bit of a hit without being totally destroyed.
The 4-way stretch material provides a form-fitting feel in all the right places, but still allows the pant to stretch and move around so you don’t feel restricted on the bike. An elasticated calf cuff keeps the pants in place and away from drivetrains.
Two generous-sized side pockets with YKK zippers keep your phone or snacks intact and the dirt and dust out, whilst an adjustable buckle waist belt keeps them from falling down.
Photo credit: ©Sam Clarke
Tech specs:
- Contoured fit with a tapered leg, double layered knee area with room for knee pads
- 4-Way stretch material
- 50/50 elastic calf cuff
- Buckle waist adjuster
- Laser-cut inner knee ventilation holes
- 2 x YKK generous side zipper pockets
- Reflective rear waist logo and blacked-out leg and calf logos
- 88% Polyester + 12% Spandex
On The Trails
These pants are very comfortable and look great. We’ve been running these since the launch and crashed many times in race runs and in training, and after a wash, they still look like we’ve just received them in the mail. We’ve had other pants which have perished with far less abuse than what these have been through.
WTR Slayer Pants. Slim-fitting modern unisex trail pants.
The elastic cuff that pulls the pant tight at the base over your sock is a great idea for keeping things tucked away and was fine for the majority of the time, however, we managed to snag it on some angry flat pedal pins a few times. Something to be aware of and maybe something that could be addressed in future designs?
Positives include the buckle waist adjuster– perfect for this time of year when your waistline is variable. It locks in place and allows the pant to sit tightly on the waist.
Lairy Motocross pyjamas these are not. With 2 blacked-out logos on the leg and calf and one reflective logo on the waist, the branding on the pant is subtle.
The two side pockets with YKK zippers are big and easy to use with gloves and lead to large pockets that will easily accommodate the largest phones. The pockets themselves are angled back a bit, which allows the contents to sit better when in an attack position.
The Laser cut inner knee ventilation holes work as intended, allowing the knee pad area to breathe. Riding in a variety of scenarios, we never felt hot in these pants. They feel right at home for a typical day on the DH or Enduro trails. Riding in warm weather is no issue and you can climb in them quite comfortably. However, they may not be the right choice for an XC ride on a hot day.
There is a plethora of riding pants for riders to choose from these days but if you just can’t make up your mind, you can’t really go wrong with the Slayer DH/Trail Pant from We The Riders.
Conclusions
If you are looking for a pair of riding pants to handle the majority of your trail, downhill, and enduro riding, then the Slayer pants from We The Riders could be a perfect fit. Offering 4-way stretch fabric for unrestricted movement, perforated sections for high breathability, and plenty of room for even the bulkiest of knee pads. With 2 good-sized zipper pockets and a buckle waist adjuster to fine-tune that mobile waistline, the Slayer pant is a fantastic all-rounder. They sit in-between heavy DH pants and uber-lightweight trail pants, giving you the best of both worlds.
Price / Where To Buy
You can purchase the Slayer Pants directly from the We The Riders website.
WTR Slayer DH/TRail Pants: $149.95
