In terms of performance, the shape, cut and fit of the Rangers most closely compares to the Specialized Trail pants. Waterproof trousers will make wet-weather riding a much more pleasant experience. Ian Linton / Immediate Media

The differences might be minor, but they all add up in the end. However, it’s still worth pointing out that I really rate the Fox Ranger pants. Protect yourself from water, mud, and more on the trail with the Defend 3L Water Pants. Designed to keep you dry We’re big fans of Endura’s MT500 Burner Pant, it looks good and offers great durability and protection. This new Lite version is arguably better for trail riders though, because it’s incredibly light at 268g, or nearly half the weight of the downhill pant.

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If you wish to return your bike to us please keep it in the box it arrived in and call us on 01772 644340 and we will arrange a collection. The legs taper nicely, so they don’t flap around even when wet or muddy, but still leave enough room to wear knee pads underneath. Although they coped with most conditions, the Resists did wet out at the front of the legs in prolonged downpours, but this never left us feeling cold at the end of a ride.

The Alpkit Parallax trousers deal with sweat well, the inside only getting wet on very slow climbs. Once damp (we’ll come on to waterproof performance), they were still comfortable against our skin and didn’t cause knee pads to fall down. Seams are an obvious weak point in any waterproof fabric, so they are often sealed and taped internally to try to stop water getting in. While the double loop lies almost perfectly flat and sits really close to the trousers, I found it fiddlier and less convenient to use. That said, once you’ve adjusted it to your preference, you can soon forget about it (unless you need to make some adjustments after a particularly big meal). Fox Ranger pants performanceIn terms of waterproof resistance, we found Ridge is very effective against both splashes and sustained rain and keeps you bone dry inside, but the dull soft-shell fabric doesn’t quite bead water or shrug off muddy splashes as readily as a more traditional waterproof trouser, such as the 100% Hydromatic or Troy Lee Designs Resist, and can get heavier than some fabrics as a result.