Rapha Trail Gore-Tex Pants

This is the first Rapha product I've worn or reviewed, and I have to say I was quite keen. Rapha has a reputation for quality and for the premium prices that often accompany that rep. I've had good luck with Gore-Tex personally, despite not always following the mantras about keeping the garments clean and to preserve the fabric's ability repel water (essential for breathability) by using a product like Nikwax in the washing machine. I've also found Gore-Tex products to be very durable, both in terms of resistance to tearing and abrasion, and in terms of the duration of their two seemingly contradictory properties.

Pricy Fabric

Ah, Gore-Tex. The miraculous material designed to keep you dry without sealing in your juices; all that after emptying your wallet. The chemical formula that gives Gore-Tex these properties, ePTFE or extended Polytetrafluoroethylene,* hasn't been protected by a patent since 1997, but that hasn't stopped Gore from charging a premium and leading the market. There are other fabrics that do as well as Gore-Tex in terms of monsoon protection, and several that are said to be significantly better at allowing your perspiration to leave the mother ship, but there are some good reasons why Gore-Tex is still number one, and they don't all involve the unfair business practices Gore has been accused of.

*Expanding PTFE (the e in ePTFE) was Bob Gore's discovery. That is what allows it to become a thin layer that can be sandwiched between other fabrics. If you stretch PTFE slowly you get Teflon. If you do it rapidly, producing a thin filament, you get Gore-Tex, or other ePTFE products.

Getting Gored

It turns out you can't just buy a roll of Gore-Tex and start cutting jackets out of it. You first need to be licensed by Gore for the privelege of using their fabric. This isn't just a stamp however. Your factory needs to be approved, your designs and finished products need to approved, which involves having a product shipped to Gore to verify things like seam tape width and zipper flap overlap. This service is not provided free of charge either. Because of this, certain Gore-Tex products aren't just protected by a warranty from the company producing the product, like Rapha or Arc'Teryx; those with the 'black diamond hangtag' are also "guaranteed to keep you dry" by Gore-Tex. There is further certification if you hope to produce jackets and the like made from specific Gore products like Gore-Tex Active and Pro.

Rapha Trail Gore Tex Key Features: (listed by Rapha)

• High-performance pants tested and developed alongside pro riders
• Fully taped seams offer waterproofness and mud resistance
• Hanger loop concealed in waistband allows for easy drying after riding
• Designed to be worn with Rapha Knee Pads.
• Ergonomic fit and construction for unrestricted freedom of movement with reinforced knees for added durability
• Cam lock fastening waistband for a secure fit
• Two front hand pockets

Design

I like what Rapha has done with these pants. In many ways they are like a long-legged version of my now-retired 7Mesh Revo Shorts. They are both styled like a pair of jeans, with two curved inset pockets, a regular fly (with waterproof zipper), and a button to keep things together. They also share the cam closure system, one on each side of the zipper. A benefit to this system is that they stay adjusted to the right tension when you pull them down (to pull up your socks perhaps?) or take them off. Unlike the Raphas, the Revos also had belt loops, which is a nice touch, but perhaps not essential in this application.

A benefit of this approach is versatility. These pants won't look out of place on a hike or when standing next to a soggy soccer pitch. Actually, I'd be perfectly comfortable watching a hockey game at a pub in them, at least here in North Van. If you've got good waterproof gear, it's no small bonus when it can cross over and provide more value in 'real' life. The pockets themselves are nice and deep and can easily hold your phone and a pair of gloves on one side. Unfortunately, those are the only pockets. I'd like to see the addition of a side zip pocket, or even two of them, but the large volume of the two pockets makes that omission less criminal.

The first time you remove these pants you might have a little trouble with the snap at the waist. That's because it's not just a snap. It closes like any other snap, but when you want to undo it you'll need to push the two sides together slightly to unlatch things. This provides a very secure closure. I got used to this system wearing Velocio products but it took me several wearings to remember not to just yank them open (note - this does not work!).

Shape and Fit

These are cut relatively slim, and I was at first worried about kneepad space. Luckily the cut of the knee provides extra volume to accommodate descently-sized protection. I have relatively slim legs so, as with the Pearl Izumi pants, you may want to size up if you are solidly built from the hips down. Before I saddled up, I wondered if my pads would pull the legs down while I am pedalling but that hasn't turned out to be an issue. The medium size is actually a 33" waist according to Rapha's sizing chart while the small is a 30.5 but the cinches on either side of the fly do a great job of taking up slack and I rarely have to adjust them. I also don't notice any fabric bunching up. The length is great for my 33" inseam and the cuffs have an elastic insert to keep them relatively close-fitting around the ankle to prevent water entry. They are easy to remove at the end of the day but a pull from the bottom is required if you don't want to turn them inside out.

On the Trail

The Gore-Tex Thunder pants from 7mesh I reviewed had a few flaws in my book, and one was how loud they were. It sounded at times like you were wearing a paper bag, and not a wet one either. These, despite also being made of Gore-Tex, don't make much noise at all. This may be because the Thunders use Gore-Tex Pro (both 70 and 30 d) so at least they are noisy and durable. I never feel restricted in terms of articulation going downhill or when pedalling and the Raphas never feel like they are falling down. They aren't as comfortable to wear as the Pearl Izumis I recently tested, but considering the lack of stretch, they are pretty damned good.

Performance

As expected, the wet weather performance has been very good. I have ended some mucky rides with mud plastered to my ass but virtually no excess moisture or discomfort in the taintilage. It's also been cool and dry a lot lately, which are ideal conditions for breathability, so I don't have as much data there but they have never felt sweaty or uncomfortable. Of course, on very wet and very warm days, Gore-Tex isn't at its best so my expectations will be tempered when we the Pineapple Express rolls in.

Verdict

As Gore-Tex pants for adventuring on trails go, these are pretty damned great. The material of choice comes with solid design, a good guarantee, and based on previous experience, excellent durability. We are now starting to realize that Gore is not the holy grail of waterproof gear, particularly when the price tag is considered. Other fabrics like eVent and Neoshell get good reviews in terms of breathability and may prove to be similarly durable.

The absence of stretch here makes the fit less comfy and form fitting than something like the Pearl Izumis I recently tested, but they are still very nice to wear and the water proofing seems a little more robust. Aside from my almost pathological desire for more pockets, there is little to complain about... until you get to the price.

Greenbacks

In the US of A, these pants retail for $325. Pearl Izumi's Summit 3L pants are currently on sale for 139 USD, or 279 for two. At retail the PI's are 185 USD, which would still leave 140 greenbacks in your pocket. If these well-designed and constructed pants from Rapha last twice as long, they may be a good deal, but that's not a sure bet, despite Gore-Tex's solid reputation for durability.

I'm not saying these aren't reasonable value, considering the materials and construction, but opting for that premium price is a personal decision. If you've got the cash and don't mind parting with it, I certainly wouldn't discourage you from dropping it on these. A bit of good news is that at press time you can save 25% using the code BF2023 taking the price from 330 to 244 USD and from 440 to 330 CAD. I don't see when this promotion ends, but it likely won't be long.

Rapha Trail Gore-Tex Pants