With a background in motocross, Renen founder and Fox Racing co-founder, Pete Fox, knows a thing or two about creating performance-focused kit. Add to the mix R&D from multiple World Champ-winning Brian Lopes and the UK’s Marc ‘Slugger’ Beaumont, and it’s a solid combination.
The stripped-down approach to the Renen MTB Pant does away with unnecessary design additions, focusing on performance and simplicity. Offered in both odd and even waist sizes, ranging from 28-38 inches, each size is specifically specced, which means you should be able to get a precise fit. The use of premium materials with top-level construction means they sure look the part.
I’ve been riding the MTB Pant for a few months to see how they measure up to the best MTB Pants out there.
Design and specifications
Renen describe the pant as lightweight, but I’d say they’re feel more of a mid-weight pant, especially as they are partially lined. That said, everything points to comfort with the use of soft stretch fabrics throughout and large perforated stretch panels to aid ventilation that run from the crotch to the inside thigh and the back of the knee down to the calf. Its Drycycle lining adds a deeper level of plush comfort, which is intended to aid moisture transfer in the high heat build-up areas of the main body of the pant. And that lining looks killer, too, in the fluro yellow and orange design, all hidden away under the unassuming outer.
The pre-shaped knee panels point at pedalling proficiency and there is ample room for pads underneath.
Its Flycam ratchet-style buckle closure ensures that you can tailor fit without the need for any other side adjusters, and this looks like it should make them comfortable to wear. One small side pocket on the left offers ample room for a smartphone with a small metal pull tag for closure.
The Renen logos use sublimated printing to embed the design into the fabric and maintain a high level of comfort added to that are small reflective print details on both calves for night time visibility on the road.
At a price point of $178 / £138 / €165 they are competitively priced and available in Black, Chalk, White and green Camo and Stone colorways.
Performance
As promised by Renen, the fit is great, fitting true to my 30-inch waist only needing a few clicks of engagement of the ratchet strap for a secure and comfortable fit. The leg length is bang on too, a rarity since, as a shorter rider I struggle with good leg length, usually finding too much excess material.
I like fitted – not skinny-fit trousers, and the Renen MTB Pant sits on the right side of fitted with the tapering leg clinging snuggly at my calves with room at the knee for pads and at the thigh for comfort when pedalling. The stretchy material made them easy to put on and remove, especially at the leg hem, which can be a pain with less stretchy pants. The material felt silky-smooth and lighter when worn with the thickness feeling like it should take some abuse – a good thing in gravity-focused pant.
So far they have fended off snagging, although I haven’t crashed in them (yet). The only vulnerable part possibly being the rear mesh panels.
Testing them through the warmer months and now into early Autumn they do run a bit warm. Not overheat-warm, but rather a constant warmth felt in the main body of the pant, once you really get going. The Drycyle lining goes a long way to even out the temperature and certainly shifts moisture, and I was never left soaked in sweat, but it also adds a layer of comfort, so I feel the trade-off is worth it. Come the cooler months, I can see these being my regular wear on drier rides; there will certainly be a fight between these and my Fox Flexair Polartec lined pants.
I’m getting used to only one pocket on the left side of these pants. If I’m honest, I only use one pocket to carry my phone, and I default to a right-side pocket, given the option. This seems odd now I think about it, as it means taking my dominant hand from the bars, so I guess that's the thinking here. A tiny gripe would be the small metal pull-tag which I found a little hard to use when wearing gloves.
Verdict
There’s a cool aesthetic to the Renen MTB Pant, and they look as good as race kit as they do for more trail-oriented duties. They’ll appeal to those tough on kit and looking for bang for buck, but they may not be the first pant reached for in warmer weather. There is no denying comfort levels on offer, and the fit options are awesome, as is performance.
Tech specs: Renen MTB Pant
- Price: $178 / £138 / €165
- Sizes: 28-38 Inch
- Colors: Black, Chalk, White Camo, Stone, Green Camo
- Fit: Athletic
