Review of Outlier’s Daily Riding Pant for women
04. Mar, 2010 
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By Elizabeth O. Hurst
Outlier listens to women. Since the New York-based clothing designer started making fashionable, livable trousers for men who bike in the city, Outlier has been inundated with requests from women wanting a female-specific version of their pant. Outlier’s response? The Daily Women Riding Pant. Founders and designers Tyler and Abe (interviewed by Cycle and Style last year) created a pant that makes you wish it took longer to arrive at your destination, but excited about how you’ll look and feel when you get there.
The Perfect Fit
Hands down, the Daily Riding Pant fits me better than most in my closet. I’m six feet tall and a size six by most designer’s measurements except in inseam and hip width. Outlier makes the Daily Riding Pant in a true size six (comes in 0-10) that completely covers my ankles and fastens around my hips without even trying hard. The pant’s Schoeller Dryskin Extreme + Nanosphere fabric (80 percent nylon, 10 percent polyester, 10 percent elastane) makes the legs fit snugly without giving everything away like spandex pants might. The fabric also keeps me comfortably warm in Utah’s sub-45 degree weather.
For a better ride fit and, I think, added style the pant’s waist hits right above my hip. In most of my shirts, I can confidently lean forward, dismount the bike or tie my shoe knowing that my pants will keep me modest. The pant seat is clearly designed to make time in the saddle more comfortable. Its functional seams adds to the pant’s clean lines.
Unforgotten Details
The pockets detail is a nice touch- they’re cut wide and loose enough that they lay properly when you’re pedaling and don’t cut into your side. Still, leave your cargo carrying to baskets and messenger bags.
The Daily Riding Pant makes me avoid shortcuts- it makes riding just that fun! Once I get to my pedestrian or professional setting I feel attractive and fashionable, even if I am out of breath. The black and blue styles are both classic and versatile pieces that can be easily dressed up or down for any occasion.
The Outlier women’s pant is a completely worthwhile investment for ladies who find themselves frequently biking around town. They’ll become a wardrobe staple if you’re the type of shopper that goes for quality over quantity. And they’re more resilient than your average dress pant and are certainly much easier to launder.
What I love most about the Daily Riding Pant is that I don’t notice them as I ride. It doesn’t scrunch up or constrict. It gives me the sense of freedom Tyler and Abe were going for, making daily biking more feasible and fun. I can focus on the ride and the destination without worrying if I look good, because I know I do.
Elizabeth helps advance the cycling industry through her work at SOAR Communications in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Photos taken by Philip Hurst.
Le sigh. These just officially got added to my wishlist. Thanks for the review; as a fellow tall woman that’s valuable info! Does the fabric around the ankles stay out of the way and/or are there zips at the ankles? Is the fabric stretchy?
The fabric is stretchy and forms to the ankles, so the pant easily stays out of the way when you’re riding. Comment again if you have any other questions.
Completely agree with your comments on this – thanks for taking the time to post.
i am tired of the levis, dickies, etc for riding. i average over 40 miles a day everyday, and would like what outlier appears to have on their website; a straight, simple, clean lined, well tailored bike pant made with good quality bike-functional material. the problem is in reality their tailoring is terrible. their patterns are poorly designed (too much flare and too high rise as well as bad clowny pockets on og’s and workwear, bad gussett design in workwear, etc). really, jeans have far more moveability than the workwears (they really are the most difficult pants for riding i’ve ever worn). the climbers look cool and with a better cut; but like all the pants, the stitching is twisted or they don’t lay smooth on sides, etc. really, just poor craftsmanship. if they made a climber cut with a thicker material to rest better, or did their workwear with a lower rise, more tapered leg, no gussett, and just a little stretch…i would happily support these guys. bottom line: poorly designed and poor/random/inconsistent construction. hopefully this review will encourage better quality from outlier, as i really do like their asthetic/idea, and i would love a good quality bike pant. otherwise it’s a matter of time before rapha makes one out of their schoeller. maybe rapha’s design will be lame, but the quality will be there.
Have worn these pants in the rain? Do they work as a replacement for rain pants?
Alison, I rec’d this information from Abe Burmeister of Outlier:
The pant are water resistant, but not water proof. They repel light rain, but will get wet in heavier rain showers or in longer exposures to light rain. If they do wet out they dry far faster then most fabrics so you find yourself comfortable and dry soon after getting out of the rain. (Drying time varies greatly with the temperature and humidity, but generally you’ll be dry in about 10-30 minutes.) As for using them as a replacement for rain pants, that really depends. They breathe dramatically better then any waterproof breathable fabric, so they are far more comfortable in most situations. But they do wet out so their feasibility as a replacement for rain pants really depends on personal preference. Personally I think they work better for any situation where you are in the rain for under an hour, or when it’s warm and humid out. When you are outside in the rain for long stretches and it’s relatively cool out then a Gore-tex type waterproof-”breathable” makes sense. But if you can get out of the rain relatively quickly it’s way nicer to be wearing a fabric that truly breathes properly.
Great, thank you so much! I appreciate it.
can someone else also please comment on the quality of craftsmanship?