Showers Pass Refuge Pants | Tough Trousers for Rough Weather

Hannah checks out the Showers Pass Refuge Pants – waterproof trousers from the top of their range.

Generally I’ll opt for waterproof shorts for wet weather rides, and deal with the wet and chilled legs later, but sometimes waterproof trousers are worth their relative bulk and warmth. Finding a pair that can stand up to the rigours of mud as well as just rain can be a challenge though, so I’m always game for testing another pair.

Showers Pass makes a number of waterproof trousers designed for riding in, and its website has a helpful guide comparing the different models. These Refuge Pants are the big guns: maximum visibility, maximum breathability, and maximum waterproofing. Lurking on their website is a 2 year warranty: ‘2 year warranty – Return items up to 2 years from purchase date for an exchange if you have a problem with your gear, have the wrong size or simply don’t like it. We work hard to match you with the right garment for your needs.’. If you’re concerned about whether the price stacks up to the product, this warranty might give you some confidence. While the Refuge Pants don’t meet Bluesign standards, eco-friendly practices are something that Showers Pass is working towards and are introducing as new ranges come into stock and old fabric stock is used up, so if you’re looking to build environmental considerations into your purchases, that’s something else to factor in.

Showers Pass Refuge Pants Specification

• Fully seam taped, 3-Layer Elite™ waterproof-breathable hardshell fabric
• Durable reinforced seat is perforated for breathability
• Thigh vents
• Articulated knees with reflective accents
• YKK Aquaguard Vislon water-resistant zippers
• Reflective trims for low light visibility
• Hook and loop cinch straps to keep legs away from chain and crank
• Ankle zips
• Thigh pocket
• Suspender compatible

The key times I’d look to be wearing waterproof trousers are: in sleet or wet snow, when wearing waterproof boots in heavy rain, any time you’re going to put the same gear on twice in a wet day (like a commute), and on an ebike in bad weather. There’s been a distinct lack of sleet and snow this year, but I have worn these trousers for plenty of commutes, and in heavy rain on and off the bike.

Wearing The Showers Pass Refuge Pants

The fit strikes me as a little odd, although I’m not the curviest of shapes. The waist, though plenty stretchy and with a popper fastening, is quite small compared to a very voluminous bottom and thighs. This does have the advantage of having room for street trousers or even a skirt in there – if you’re doing a short commute and don’t want to get completely undressed at the other end this may be useful. I suspect the voluminous thighs are partly in order to achieve the right cut for on the bike – rather than looking good off it. Once riding, with the articulated knees and calf straps, the fit feels practical. I’ve been wearing a size medium, which sits at 74cm when the elastic is relaxed, and 100 at maximum stretch. In comparison, my waist and hips are 79cm and 99cm.

While it might not be all that flattering a cut for me, what you need in a pair of waterproof trousers is practicality. The waist on the Showers Pass Refuge Pants is high enough to provide a good overlap between jacket and bottoms, and they’re long enough to reach over a pair of waterproof riding boots. The leg adjustment straps are excellent – they stay put, hold the trousers neatly against the calves and away from the chain and cranks, and are very reflective. Loosening the straps and undoing the zips makes it possible to take the trousers off over shoes if needed. I did find that the thigh pocket wasn’t too useful – items in there tended to weigh down the baggy thighs too much, making them distracting. On a few occasions I would have liked to put my phone in there for quick and easy access, but unfortunately my iPhone 7+ in its protective case is too big for it.

The reinforced seat area has withstood the Calderdale grit better than any other waterproof bottoms I’ve tried, and there are no bald patches on the seams. A potential improvement could be to use a single piece gusset to reduce the bulk of the seams between your legs and at your most sensitive point, but this is only noticeable when wearing them without a chamois. The bum did wet through eventually, but only to a level of mild dampness rather than properly soaking.

Overall, the durability has been really good. They do start to wet through and need washing and retreating with a waterproofing treatment, but that’s to be expected of any waterproofs – especially ones getting liberally coated with grime. The fabric retained its structure and hasn’t shown any signs of wear or tear, apart from in the left knee, where I landed on it in a massive crash. This was a high speed onto rocky ground crash that put me in A&E, so the fact that there’s a hole that’s not even big enough to get a fingertip through attests to the fact that this is no flimsy fabric. It’s not listed as ‘ripstop’ fabric, but looks like it and seems tough. They’re robust enough to ride in without worrying about every passing piece of vegetation, and have held up well to the demands of mountain biking. They’re not cheap or light, but at least they’re not going to be ruined at the first sign of some scratchy undergrowth.

The robustness of the fabric does mean that these are rather bulkier trousers – you’re probably not going to be carrying them around just in case, but instead wearing them as you head out the door into a blast of full on weather, wondering quite why you’re even getting on your bike. As such, I’ve never found myself cooking inside them – in the circumstances I’ve been wearing them I’m glad of the protection they offer, and there’s little risk of working up too much of a sweat. In the event that you do find yourself overheating, there are two large zipped panels with bug mesh on the thighs, so you can have ventilation if you want – though obviously that’s at the price of waterproofing.

Overall

For most rides, I don’t think you’re going to be replacing waterproof shorts with trousers, but when things are bad enough to want the full protection of waterproof trousers, then you want them to work. These Showers Pass Refuge Pants do, and for a trip out into the wilds where being dry and warm might make all the difference to both safety and comfort, I’d happily rely on these.

Review Info

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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