The Race Face Ruxton trousers are the brand's best MTB pants and are designed to be rugged enough for all manners of gravity riding. They’re simple, yet breathable and certainly comfortable though their simplicity makes them seem a little pricey.
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Race Face Ruxton Pants - Specification
The Ruxton pants from Race Face get a straightforward, no-frills build based on a nylon blend fabric. Within that, there are laser-cut perforations to encourage airflow, a surf-inspired zipperless fly with a ratchet closure, and external adjustment.
Joined to a stretchy lumbar panel is a raised back panel to offer a bit more coverage against spray and there’s a silicone gripper all around to keep the trousers from slipping. As for pockets, there’s one on either thigh.
Race Face Ruxton Pants - On the trail
As for the fit, it’s rather good. I wear a medium (32-inch) waist and have no complaints save for the baggier-than-usual fit. While riding, this didn’t pose an issue but does leave them prone to snags on trailside twigs and the like. What the extra material rewards you with, however, is excellent mobility over the bike not to mention extra space inside for all kinds of things - which is handy if you like to carry tools on your person.
Though it’s the simplicity and quality build that results in a great garment, the perforations on the top front sections of the pants make them comfortable to wear through to the summer months.
Race Face Ruxton Pants - Verdict
For a rough-and-ready pair of pants like these, £140 isn’t a bad price. The best MTB pants category, however, is filled with some stand-out products such as the Rapha Men’s Trail Pants, for example, at £130. When testing these, I found them to be incredibly comfortable and they’re built with a range of features that have proven to be very useful on the bike to the point that they overshadow the Ruxton pants, somewhat.
Then there’s Leatt’s Pant MTB 4.0. Although I found some wear around the seat area, they suitably fit the bill for gravity riding thanks to abrasion-resistant panels and plenty of space for pads. These are priced at £120.
If you’re after a simple pair of riding trousers with a slightly baggier fit, the Race Race Ruxtons do just the trick. However, they don’t quite stand up against a raft of cheaper, and more feature-packed offerings from other brands.
