Over trousers

[in4]

Having looked at Capes and Ponchos, of varying styles and fabrics over trousers seem a better bet.
Anyone recommend a particular type or brand?
Thanks

[PH]

There's no simple answer, you could narrow it down with some requirements.  Half hour commute, something to take on tour, all day wear, likely temperature...
I've used half a dozen different solutions over the years, with varying levels of success, without knowing what your intended usage is I can't recommend any.
Budget is also a factor, I have some Showers Pass Skyline trousers which I wear for delivering when it's going to be cold and wet all day, they're £100+ even in a sale, but I'll get another pair when they're back in stock, they earn their keep.
You might find something in the Showers Pass range that suits you, the Skyline are the only trousers of theirs I've tried, but I have a few of their other products and none have disappointed. They're also a nice company to deal with.
https://showerspass.co.uk/collections/mens-pants

[JohnR]

You've got to figure out what you want, particularly the balance between waterproofness and breathability. If wearing all day then do you want overtrousers (usually biased towards being waterproof but not so good if intermittent showers) or trousers with a fairly good waterproof rating. Pockets are rare but not unknown and most trousers have velcro tabs on the hems (some have zips up the legs) so you can pull over footwear and then tighten to stop them catching on the chain.

There's a good selection at https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/rangeViewer.asp?audienceID=2&categoryID=214&orderedlist=bestSellers&pricerange=&NoOfProducts=30. In the summer half of the year when overtrousers may be too hot then waterproof shorts may be sufficient while rainlegs https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rainlegs-Black-Waterproof-Protector-Medium/dp/B001SEQRCC as an alternative.

You may need to order more than one pair to try and then return those which don't fit or feel right.

[energyman]

Berghaus Paclite Gor-tex double skinned and water proof socks.  Great in winter but a bit sweaty in summer though. 
They actually work too.

[mickeg]

The pants I am wearing in the first photo are not made any more, but were rated for breathable and waterproof.  They work well for touring, but are a bit heavy to carry.  Loose enough that they fit over other clothing well.

You want side zips that go high enough to go over your shoes so you can put them on without taking your shoes off. 

For hours of waterproof pants use, I like to use clip on suspenders so that they do not keep sliding down.  But most cyclists do not use them.

Do not forget the ankle strap to keep your pants out of the chain.

In rain of course your shoes will also get soaked without covers.

Buy pants that have enough length that when you flex your knees on the pedal stroke, the base of the pants stays low enough that your ankle strap is not disrupted and your shoe cover tops remain under the pants.

Try to avoid stepping in puddles of unknown depth, most bike shoes have holes in the bottom for cleat hardware, you could flood your foot in a fraction of a second by stepping in a deep puddle.

I have some Dexshell waterproof socks, rarely use them but I sometimes do in winter in case I am forced to step in a puddle.  So far the socks have not been submerged with my foot in them, but it makes me less paranoid when I bike in winter.  I put my hand in them and submerged in the sink when I first bought them, they passed that test.  Seal Skinz is another brand, but I have no experience with that brand.

Or, skip the pants if it is warm enough.  Second photo, after a couple consecutive all day rains, skipping the rain pants (and getting shoes soaked) was the best option.

[in4]

🤩 brilliant! Thanks so much for the replies and advices.
Lots to consider now.
I’m a Paramo fan and considered these:
https://www.paramo-clothing.com/en-gb/explore-range/product/mens-velez-adventure-trousers/?attributes=5A01410B-7BF6-46CC-8A97-FFEA0A577F6E,B2690A79-1441-4D35-9E59-91F7D93107FD

Probably overkill and expensive for what I’d want to use them for though. That said, for an all day ride in cold, wet weather they might be an option.

Experience and instinct do incline me towards rainproof wear that is quick to put on, is not like wearing a kite or crisp packet, is comfortable around the waist, knees and fastens closely around the ankles.

Many thanks again, appreciated.

[Tiberius]

in4 - I'm another Paramo fan. Many thanks for the link, I didn't know about those trousers. Not cheap but I think you've answered your own question.

A 'Don't buy' - Berghaus Deluge over trousers. Brilliant fit and design but rain goes straight through. Avoid.

[in4]

Tiberius: I think you’re probably right there. I use a Quito jacket for riding and, with small reservations really like it. The mini-moans are a. The cuffs are too flimsy and b. The folded hood gathers in the nape of your neck and can get very sweaty.

My Alta 2 is too heavy for cycling but great for hill walking, similarly my reversible shirt.

Thanks for the affirmation. 👍

[steve216c]

I've had several pairs over the years. Best pair, and most expensive were Gore-Tex in terms of being weather-proof and reasonably breathable. Waterproof trousers that don't breathe can sometimes mean that you are wetter on the inside after a shower than the rain would have got you.

One important thing to remember is that you need to reapply waterproofing spray periodically. This helps the water pearl up and run off rather than sit on the material as it eventually does otherwise. From the contents of an old Jack Wolfskin spray can I bought with my first Gore-Tex outdoor jacket, I realized that the chemical contents listed on the tin were the same as a 3 x bigger and half the price unbranded 'shoe' spray I had bought in my local supermarket to spray new trainers with. I've used 'shoe' spray for tents, shoes and bike clothes periodically ever since. The spray not only helps maintain the waterproofing, but also helps repel dirt. Great on water resistant soft shells when caught in light showers too.

I have a pair of 'over-shoes' which keep my feet dry. It is great having dry legs, but the water has to run somewhere, and shoes and socks tend to be there by default in the same way gravity pulls them. That and spray/splashes from cars driving through puddles near me all tends to be lower body and feet. For the 'over-shoes' mine are fully waterproof and are reasonably easy to put on over my biggest size 11 clodhoppers if I know it will be a rainy ride.

The worst thing about any waterproof clothing is to continue to wear it once the situation improves. Depending on where you have been, the outside can get pretty messy keeping you clean and dry. A strong waterproof plastic bag to carry messy clothes is always handy to have with you.

[WorldTourer]

I ride in Fjällräven trousers. Fjällräven recommends the old-school technique of waxing to make the garment waterproof and sells their own wax (Greenland Wax) for that purpose. I have found that it is enough to wax just the tops of the thighs and knees of the trousers, and the very bottom, to make the trousers repel rain enough, while still ensuring total breathability.

[julk]

I use Paramo overtrousers for really bad weather. I had them altered by Paramo to add more velcro fasteners on the lower leg.
I find rainlegs adequate for keeping the tops of my legs and knees comfortable in not quite so bad weather.
Julian.

[in4]

Which one? Quito?

[PH]

I have found that it is enough to wax just the tops of the thighs and knees of the trousers, and the very bottom, to make the trousers repel rain enough, while still ensuring total breathability.

That's pretty much what the SP Skyline mentioned above acheive, though they do so with different fabric rather than wax.

[PH]

One important thing to remember is that you need to reapply waterproofing spray periodically. This helps the water pearl up and run off rather than sit on the material as it eventually does otherwise.

Yes, though I think we need to be careful with the terminology.  Most modern synthetic waterproof fabric, including the breathable, is waterproof to the original spec for life, that is it has to be physically worn away before water with pass through.  The coating applied to the fabric is water repellent, as you say it allows the water to bead up and roll off. once that's worn off water can either lay on or soak into the top layer, the cold can certainly penetrate and condensation occur, you might as well be wearing a plastic bag.  But still no water will pass through. There's a simple test if anyone doesn't think this is right, a major UK tent company insists you test this yourself before returning any flysheet because it's "leaking"
The most common DWR's (Durable Water Repellent) are silicone based, in some kind of solvent (You can make your own with builders silicone and artists odourless white spirit, though there a danger the fabric will react!) There's an issue with even the better DWR products in that they stick best to themselves, so there's a balance between keeping the garment clean enough to still breath and not removing all the old DWR.  Get it right and it should last indefinitely, until the material itself wears out.  Get it wrong and the D in the DWR no longer is,  I have a jacket that looks fine but the DWR washes off in a couple of days rain, I'm plucking up the courage to use the white spirit solution on it in the hope that sticks.   I've used it on a couple of backpacks and shoes, but they've been of less consequence.

[Andre Jute]

My needs as a cyclist aren't as urgent or longlasting as when I was a hillwalker, but I too liked Goretex. I didn't like waxing an already hot jacket, and even less waxed trousers (my legs agree with Julian!), but found that the construction of Goretex (1) made another strategy feasible: Wash the Goretex jacket in the usual warm water, and dry it in a spin dryer on the hottest temp it is rated for, or iron it with a modestly warm iron. That fluffs up the nap, which creates outer seeping-wet resistance, and the jacket is good to go for considerable time, months sometimes years, depending on wear. If you're one of those people who has to have his jacket washed after every ride, or once a week, you will however wear through the Goretex lining in a matter of months, and even through the nylon of the jacket if it is lightweight gear. I have a hefty Berghaus mountain jacket, same as Chris Bonington wore up Mount Everest, that is probably forty years old and still good for a few hours of steady drizzle. Life for my jacket must seem much lighter as a cyclist's fave cover than as a mountaineer's.

(1) For those who haven't yet discovered the secret: Goretex is just a common good quality dense tent nylon of an appropriate weight for the sport or the ambient temperature or the temporarily fashionable drape of the hoodies on the corner, with a micro layer of one way space age rubbery substance on the inside which provides the wet-outside-dry-inside-(provided you don't sweat more heavily than the combined rating of the materials). Workalikes ditto. More modern protection fabrics may work differently, or at least say they do.