Looking for a pair of women’s mountain bike pants for the downhill bike park or for the cooler days of autumn? You’re in the right place (and the right time).
It was only a couple of years ago that most of the pants on this list didn’t exist. Like most mountain bike apparel companies just forgot that women (and cooler weather and aggressive riding) even existed.
Fortunately, that’s not the case today. There are plenty of really excellent options.
To help you choose among them, myself and the rest of the Femme Cyclist team have personally tested, as well as surveyed our community, to figure out which ones are best. Of course, no one pant is the best for all types of riding or all body types.
For that reason, we’ve tried to include a wide range of women’s mountain bike pants–ones for downhill riding, trail riding, wet and cold riding, ones for skinny women, curvy women, and tall women.
Read on to find the best pair for YOU.
Our Top Picks
| Pant | Great For | Price |
| Wild Rye Freyah | Downhill riding | $219 |
| Curious Creatures Sun Dog | Trail riding | $180 |
| Pactimo Range Pant | Trail riding | $138 |
| Dharco Gravity | Downhill riding | $156 |
| Club Ride Joannie Capri | Trail riding | $90 |
| Shredly All Time Pant | Downhill riding | $148 |
| Peppermint MTB Overall | Trail or downhill | $200 |
Wild Rye Freyah
Price: $219
I’m pretty crazy in love with all things Wild Rye, so it’s not a surprise that the Wild Rye Freyah is at the top of this list. This is a slim pant and is designed primarily for downhill bike park riding, but is flexible enough to handle some trail riding as well.
Like all things Wild Rye, the Freyah is designed specifically for women–instead of being a shrink it and pink it affair. The pant fits women of all leg lengths thanks to the cute, rollable cuffs.
The material is the same stretchy nylon that I love on my Wild Rye Freel shorts. It’s comfortable, fits well, and is great at repelling dirt. So you can wear these several times before they need to be washed.
For winter riding, Wild Rye also offers a soft-shell version of the Freyah that are fleece-lined and water resistant. I love these for cold and wet days.
The only thing to be aware of is that my Freyah pants have faded over time and much faster than I would have preferred. I still wear them but they’re not quite as cute as they once were.
Read Our Review: Wild Rye Freyah
Curious Creatures Sun Dog
Price: $180
I’ve never worn a pair of pants–on or off the bike–that are more comfortable than the Curious Creatures Sun Dog pants. They have a yoga-style waistband, stretchy fabric, and a forgiving cut that flatters muscular legs.
The thoughtfully designed leg pockets are actually functional while pedaling, easily fitting a phone without interfering with your ride. Snap closures at the ankles allow for easy knee pad compatibility and provide welcome ventilation for warm weather riding.
While these pants excel in warmer temperatures, they require a base layer for use in cooler weather. They’re best suited for trail riding rather than aggressive downhill sessions, as they lack reinforced knees and aren’t quite as thick as other options on this list.
My only complaint is the internal drawstring which has a tendency of coming out in the laundry. Still, these women-owned company pants are a solid choice for riders prioritizing comfort and versatility in their trail riding gear.
Read Review: Curious Creatures Sun Dog
Pactimo Range Pants
Price: $138
The Pactimo Range Pants are very well the most comfortable mountain bike pants around. Or maybe just the most comfortable pants around, period.
These are a looser fit than many of the other “moto style” pants listed here and are great for trail riding or bikepacking. They can also easily be worn off the bike for hiking or other outdoor activities.
They do a great job of shedding dirt and rain, and can be used like a rain pant in light drizzle.
My only complaint was that they could be quick to wrinkle if you don’t grab them from the dryer right away.
Read Our Review: Pactimo Range Pants
Dharco Gravity
Price: $156
The Dharco Gravity pants are tight, yes, but they’re also super stretchy. Think of them kind of like your favorite pair of pants you put on after you’ve eaten too much.
The material isn’t only stretchy, it’s also durable and water-repellant. That makes these great for long, wet rides in the PNW.
I also really appreciate that the waistband is a separate tapered panel and that the back comes up high enough that you don’t ever have to worry about plumbers crack.
Do be aware that these pants fit a little tight, and it can be tricky finding the right size on their fit chart.
Read Review: Dharco Gravity
Club Ride Joanie Capri
Price: $90
Somewhere between a short and a pant, the Club Ride Joannie Capri provides just another warmth and coverage for shoulder season riding. In fact, these are my go-to bottoms for autumn riding.
The pants are loose fitting and unlike many mountain bike pants that claim to work well with knee pads, these ones actually do. The bottom cuff is feminine and cute as well.
If you plan on wearing the Joanie around town, it works well for that as well. There are reflective accents for added visibility on the road, and the pants don’t scream “bike” pants, so they can be worn to the pub or the store and still look good.
They do show dirt easily, but are easy to dust off.
Read Our Review: Club Ride Joannie Capri
Shredly All Time Pant
Price: $148
The Shredly All Time Pant is my recent go-to for downhill bike park days, thanks to it’s performance BUT also to how dang cute they are! The design is moto-inspired design with a feminine flair.
These pants offer a flattering fit, plenty of room to move, and a slim profile that won’t snag on your bike. They’re equipped with long ankle zippers that allow easy access to knee pads—a huge win for anyone who hates wearing pads while driving up the mountain.
That said, there are a couple of downside for more aggressive gravity riders. The pants lack reinforced knees and a crash replacement policy.
Available in a wide range of sizes (0-24), they feature a stretchy waistband for a comfy, adjustable fit. Plus, with four roomy zippered pockets, there’s enough space to stash essentials like lift passes, snacks, and your phone.
Finally, of the downhill pants on this list, they’re the most affordable. That means you’ll have more cash for snacks at the end of the day.
Read Review: Shredly All Time Pant
Peppermint MTB Overall
Price: $200
I’ve received more compliments on the Peppermint MTB Overall than any other piece in my bike wardrobe. The overalls are both unique and playful.
The fit is flattering and comfortable, and the stretchy, adjustable straps make it easy to tailor to your shape. The lightweight, elastic material allows for easy movement and comfortable long rides. With generous pocket space, these overalls also ticked the box for practicality.
However, there were a couple of drawbacks that came with the design. For one, using the restroom outdoors was a bit tricky given the one-piece nature of the overalls. Also, there was a lack of reinforcement in the knee and butt areas that could’ve offered added protection for more challenging rides.
Overall, I was more than happy to put up with these minor drawbacks for how cute and comfortable they are.
Read Our Review: Peppermint MTB Overall
About The Reviewers And How We Tested
Kristen Bonkoski was the lead tester and is the founder and owner of Femme Cyclist. Kristen is a certified USA Cycling coach, and an avid mountain biker. IG: @femme_cyclist.
Jane Gerritsen bought her first mountain bike at age 52 as “retirement prep” and since that time, the mountain bike community has opened up her world to new goals, new adventures and best of all, new friends. She is most grateful for her time at home, where she is learning to renovate her garage, try new recipes, write, and of course, plan her next mountain bike adventure.
Malorie Gage has been mountain biking, road, gravel cycling for many years. She lives in Colorado where she’s raising two tiny humans and balancing biking and motherhood.
We’re all mountain bike obsessed, so we tested these pants by just going about our regular lives. Kristen lives in Idaho and has traveled to bike parks all over the west, including Whistler, putting pants to the challenge on downhill runs. Jane lives in Ontario and bikes year round, testing pants on snowy trails. And Malorie tests pants for us by riding high alpine trails in Colorado.
You can rest easy knowing these pants have been crashed in, traveled with, and put through numerous wash cycles in our testing.
Things To Consider When Shopping
Still not sure what pair of pants are best for you? Here are some things we like to keep in mind when making a purchase.
Type Of Riding
Like most things in life, no one pair of pants is really going to do it all. Therefore it’s important to consider what the primary use these pants are going to get.
Are you planning on racing BMX? Do you have a season pass the downhill bike park? In these cases, you want to look for more tailored pants, with plenty of protection, that still offer room for knee pads.
If you’re planning on trail riding, you may or may not need room for knee pads, but you probably want a more casual, comfortable vibe.
Weather Conditions
If you are going to be riding the bike park or BMX track in the summer, you want a pant with plenty of breathability (like the Fly Racing Lite). For autumn riding, I really love a casual capri like the Club Ride Joanie. And for winter, I want something that’s treated for wet weather and that offers enough room for layering.
Waist Closure
Just like with mountain bike shorts, a good waist closure is imperative to loving a pair of pants. We prefer bottoms that have an adjustable waistband.
With mountain bike pants, these are likely to be a velcro strap, though on race-oriented pants, you’ll also find some pants have a ratchet closure.
Finally a higher panel at the back is preferable so you don’t have to worry about plumber’s crack.
Room For Knee Pads
Do you want or need to wear knee pads with your pants? If you do, make sure to take this into consideration because a surprising number of pants do NOT work well with pads.
Additionally, if you’re trail riding and plan to take the pads on or off you’ll want a pant with a wider ankle. Many downhill oriented pants, require you to put the pads on BEFORE putting your pants on, which means it’s no small feat to get the pads on or off on the trail.
Room For Chamois And/Or Layers
Do you want to wear a chamois with your pants? Or wear a pair of leggings underneath for colder weather. If so, you’ll want to steer clear of some of the tighter fitting pants which are designed not to wear additional layers underneath.
Fabric Weight
The heavier the fabric, the more durable it will be and the more protection it will provide in a crash. That said, heavier fabric can also be hotter and less comfortable. Pick your poison.
The other thing you might want to look for are reinforced knees and bottoms. This can offer a good balance between durability, protection, and comfort.
Women Specific?
Our favorite bottoms are designed specifically for women (think Wild Rye). Way to many “women’s” mountain bike pants are actually smaller versions of their best-selling men’s pants. This doesn’t always result in a great fit for females.
Sizing
Similar to the point above, we appreciate company’s that offer a wide range of sizes for women. Mountain bikers don’t come in just one size!
We’ve found we get the best fit from brands that offer true clothing sizes (2,4,6,8, etc) as opposed to those that only offer small, medium, and large.
More Stuff You Might Like
- Best Women’s Mountain Bike Helmets
- Women’s Mountain Bike Jerseys
- 5 Reasons You Should Take A Mountain Bike Clinic
About The Author
Kristen Bonkoski is a USA cycling and NICA coach, bike educator, and founder of Femme Cyclist.
She’s also the host of the Femme Cyclist podcast and runs Rascal Rides, a website about biking with kids.
She’s been riding bikes for more than two decades and is passionate about empowering women on the bike.
IG: @femme_cyclist
We’re these pants actually tried on by the author? Or tried on the trail? It is good to have this information for a reader to take into account when reading. I like to here the pros and cons of items, because these land differently for everyone. When I read “Con: These pants are cut too short” I know that’s a huge Pro for my wee stems. 😉
Have you done an article on interpreting sizing guides and how to measure? With increasing online clothing shopping, this is becoming a critical skill. I measure and measure and it’s still hit or miss.
Thanks for all you do!