Based just outside Edinburgh, Scottish company Endura is renowned for creating biking clothing that will keep you warm and dry in harsh conditions, and it has done a marvellous job designing these winter pants. Check out how they compare to the best MTB pants. I’ve tested the women’s version of the Freezing Point, which is the same as the men’s apart from the flattering (relatively speaking!) female-specific cut.
Design and specifications
Part of Endura’s flagship MT500 range, these Freezing Point pants have so many neat design points it’s hard to know where to start… I’ll begin with the insulated panels that give them their name. These windproof shell panels are only where you need them, extending from the front waistband to below the knee, and are filled with PrimaLoft Gold insulation. There are also small triangular panels over your hips to keep you toasty there too. The remainder of the pants are constructed from a softshell fabric with a textured fleece lining, and all the material throughout the pants boasts a good amount of stretch and has a PFC-Free DWR (durable water repellent) finish.
Two zipped handwarmer pockets are big enough and well-positioned to fit a smartphone comfortably while riding, plus they have handy zip tags that are long enough to grab with thick gloves on. Mesh-lined vents on each thigh enable you to regulate your temperature, but their zips have no tag attached. The stretch waistband fastens with press-studs and fly and features external Velcro adjusters at the sides, plus (superfluous, I found) belt loops. Inside there’s a silicone gripper at the rear and tabs to attach Endura’s Clickfast liner shorts.
On to the lower legs, and their clever tapered cut with calf-length zips, which make it easy to pull the pants on and off while giving a nice narrow fit for pedaling without any danger of excess material flapping about. In addition, there’s a waterproof gusset behind the zip so you can unzip for a little more airflow if you’re feeling hot without getting splashed ankles – plus it means you can widen the hem to fit over winter boots, preventing water dripping down inside your footwear. This worked really well with my Vaude cycling boots, thanks to the pant legs being decently long.
Performance
I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised just how comfortable these pants are – they feel lightweight (considering their fabric and features) and totally unrestrictive to wear, as well as beautifully snug. They stay in place well when pedaling, which makes silicone print inside the waist seem unnecessary, and the legs are cut with enough room for low-profile knee pads. The windproof insulated panels on the front do a fantastic job of keeping your legs warm, and the zipped thigh vents are very useful for preventing overheating on climbs.
As for breathability, I found if I did get sweaty working hard, when I eased off or had a stop then the textured microfleece lining wicked moisture away pretty well. They stayed dry on the outside too, thanks to an effective DWR treatment that makes water bead and roll off – though it will get less effective after repeated washes.
As we’ve had a mostly mild and wet winter here in the UK, I tested them in above-freezing temperatures generally, around 35-40°F (2-4°C). I tend to run hot when riding (then freeze when I stop) so found them a bit warm during moderate-effort riding, but on the odd occasion when the mercury dropped below zero or there was a biting wind, they were the business!
The only small criticism I have is that I found the rear and side of the waist surprisingly low cut – despite the raised section with the gripper – sitting just above the hips rather than up to my waist, which would have made them feel even more snug. However, this might not be an issue for people with smaller bottoms! And, their many good points far outweigh this. I particularly appreciate that the leg hems fit over chunky flat-pedal boots, thanks to the zips, so rain didn’t drip down onto my socks. Obviously, they’d work with clipless boots with ankle cuffs too.
Verdict
These pants tick all the boxes – comfort, design, fit, features and quality. I wholeheartedly recommend the Freezing Point pants if you live somewhere that has proper winters, you’ll get a lot of wear out of them. Especially as they work equally well off the bike – I wore them on snowy hikes and they were perfect, the snow just sloughing off the treated fabric. Sure, they’re not cheap, but they’re worth every cent if, like me, you feel the cold.
Tech specs: Endura MT500 Freezing Point pants
- Price: $199.99 / £159.99
- Sizes: XS-XL (women’s) XS-XXXL (men’s)
- Colors: Black only (women’s), black or orange/brown (men’s)
- Weight: 491g (M)
- Materials: Polyester 40%, Elastane 20%, Nylon 40%, including PrimaLoft GOLD insulation
