Velocio only started making mountain bike apparel a couple of years ago and has been steadily growing its product lineup ever since. One of the latest additions to the brand’s TRAIL range is the Ultralight TRAIL Pant. These summer-weight mountain bike trousers are made from the same incredibly lightweight material as the Ultralight Shorts and slot into the lineup alongside the heavier-duty Access Pant.
According to Velocio, the Ultralight is “a mid-summer trail pant designed to be ultralight and ultrabreathable. Three-season versatility when extra coverage and protection are warranted. Whether it’s a midsummer day on an overgrown trail or a shoulder season adventure with variable weather, the Ultralight TRAIL Pant will take it in stride.”
I’ve been testing the Ultralight TRAIL pants for the past month or so. Summer was on its last legs when they arrived, but I managed to get a couple of warm, sunny rides in them before settling into the cooler weather of fall. These pants have served me incredibly well thus far, proving to be impressively versatile and certainly living up to their Ultralight name.
- MSRP: $209
- Weight: 188 g (size M)
- Material: Lightweight blend of 79% polyamide, 21% elastane
- Inseam: 32” (size M), goes up/down ½” per size
- Waist Closure: Locking snap, zipper fly, belt loops
- Pockets: 2 zippered thigh pockets
- Sizes: XS to 3XL
- Colors: Black, Madder Brown, Green Spruce
- Women's Version: Yes
Pros
- Super light
- Great for cool days to mid-summer temps
- Great fit
- Very comfortable
- Pedal-friendly
Cons
- Expensive
- Some integrated waist adjustment might be nice
Material
The Velocio Ultralight Pant shares the same material as the brand’s Ultralight short. The lightweight “Italian milled stretch woven” material is a blend of 79% polyamide and 21% elastane. I couldn’t find the exact gsm weight of the material, but it is incredibly light. The pants in a size medium weigh just 188 grams on my scale. They are by far the lightest full-length riding pants that I’ve ever worn. In fact, they are only ~ 50 grams heavier than the shorts.
It is purposely very thin, and the 4-way stretch material is quite stretchy, with plenty of give in all directions. As cliché as it sounds, they really do have a “barely there” feel, especially compared to any other MTB pants that I’ve worn — I currently own roughly 10 pairs and have tried a lot more than that. The fabric felt great against my skin, with zero irritation, even after pedaling for hours, and there is no restriction of the pedal stroke whatsoever.
Velocio bills these as “summer-weight” pants, and I think that’s a fair assessment. I took a couple of 80-degree rides in them in the full sun, and it wasn’t stifling or too hot. The thin, light material breathes incredibly well and doesn’t block wind as much as thicker materials. The laser-cut ventilation holes behind the knee add a tiny bit of airflow as well.
I also took a few rides in cooler weather, including one ride in a light but steady drizzle, and I found them to be comfortable in temperatures down to around 55 – 60 degrees. In light sprinkles, the DWR beaded and shed water very well, but in a heavier, more consistent drizzle, they got soaked through pretty quickly. That said, they certainly don’t claim to be waterproof, and they dry very quickly.
Fit
Velocio makes some of the nicest road and gravel cycling apparel on the market, and that experience shows in the fit of the Ultralight Pants. Not surprisingly, they fit a lot like the Ultralight Shorts, which might be my all-time favorite. Perhaps it’s just that Velocio’s stuff fits my body shape better than most other brands, but I’d argue that the brand has paneling and contouring perfectly dialed.
The fit is definitely on the slimmer, more tailored side of the spectrum. My size medium test pair fits my 32-inch waist perfectly to the point that I can wear them without a belt if I want. The locking snap closure is secure, and the silicone texture across the back of the waistband helps keep them in place.
They fit me snug through the hips and have a relaxed but not baggy fit through the thighs before tapering over the calves to the ankles. There’s just enough room for low-profile knee pads like the Fox Enduro Pro that I’ve been wearing recently. The 32-inch inseam length works surprisingly well for me. I’m 6’0” tall, and they fall right to my ankle bones off the bike and don’t really ride up at all while pedaling, thanks to the articulation in the knees and the stretch in the material.
Pockets
A total of two pockets, one on each thigh, comprise the storage of the Ultralight Pants. The backloading pockets have vertical zippers and are very easy to access while seated on the bike. They’re big enough to fit modern smartphones, and their position keeps the contents relatively steady and from interfering with the pedal stroke. They’re equally functional off the bike, too, with room for a phone and wallet should you be wearing them before or after a ride.
Durability
I don’t have a ton of time or miles in the Ultralight Pants just yet, but there’s nothing about them that gives me any durability concerns. Like every other Velocio garment that I’ve tried, the craftsmanship is top-notch and the materials are high quality. Yes, the material is crazy light and super thin, so there’s probably a higher potential for the material to be damaged in a heavy crash compared to more robust fabrics. Still, I’ve got thousands of miles in the Ultralight Shorts made from the same material, and they somehow still look brand new — seriously, not a fray in the material or even a loose stitch. I expect the same from the pants, but will certainly report back if that’s not the case.
What’s Not to Like?
My only real critique is that it would be nice to have some sort of waist adjustment system built in. The fit of the size medium is pretty spot on for my 32-inch waist, but that’s not going to be the case for everyone, and the only way to really snug them up is to wear a belt. A stretchy belt, like those made by Arcade, works very well for that purpose, but it does add a little bulk and weight to an otherwise very sleek, light, and minimalist pair of pants.
At $209 retail, they are also relatively expensive. You can definitely find mountain bike-specific pants that cost less. But I haven’t tried another pair of pants that are as light and airy as these. Based on my experience with the shorts, I can only assume that they’ll still be looking brand new two years from now. Time will tell.
My Takeaway
Shoulder season is here, and with it comes the ongoing challenge of dressing perfectly for those in-between temperatures. The Velocio Ultralight Trail Pants take some of the guesswork out of fall and spring, when shorts are just a little too cool and pants are just a little too warm — these pants are just right. They are incredibly light, highly breathable, as pedal-friendly as can be, and I find them to be super comfortable.
I don’t know if they’ll convert me to riding in pants all summer, but for those who do, they’re probably a bit cooler than what you’re wearing. Plus, they’re versatile enough to stretch into the spring and fall seasons until it gets cold enough for something more substantial. Yes, they’re expensive, but my experience with Velocio products has been nothing but positive in terms of fit, function, quality, and durability, which helps to justify the cost.
Velocio makes the Ultralight TRAIL Pants for men and women, and they come in Black, Madder brown (red-ish), and Spruce Green. If you’re looking for something a little thicker and burlier, the Access Pants are made from a mid-weight Cordura material but have the same great fit. You can check out the full lineup of Velocio MTB Apparel at:
