Patagonia kit: Just expensive or also good? Patagonia trousers & waistcoat test
Laurin Lehner
· 29.06.2025
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Not all waistcoats are the same: the Men's Trail Craft Vest
There are wind waistcoats and waistcoats that are really designed to keep you warm. The Trail Craft waistcoat is the former. The thin waistcoat can be packed down to a small size and can therefore disappear into the side pocket of the rucksack or even into the frame storage compartment.
The front is made from breathable, elasticated ripstop fabric (100% recycled nylon) that stops the wind. It has a moisture-wicking inner side made from knitted material that is comfortable against the skin and a water-repellent DWR finish - produced without the use of PFAS - to keep out light showers.
Short & sweet
- Price: 120 Euro >> available here
- Colours: black and bundle green
- Weight: 103 grammes
- Cut: normal fit: tester 1.78 metres fit size M very well
My tip for insulated waistcoats for the transitional period:
Pants are all the same: The Men's Dirt Craft Bike Pants
The Men's Dirt Craft Bike Pants are available in five colours. I chose the trousers in the fancy Rock Wash: Forge Grey. The breathable material moulds comfortably to the skin and ventilates well thanks to the laser-cut ventilation holes on the inside of the thighs, so it doesn't get too sweaty even on warm days.
The cut of the Dirt Craft is rather loose and has no narrowing at the waistband - fans of the "riding trouser style" will be disappointed. Thanks to the slightly elasticated material, knee pads can be worn under the trousers.
The size 32 fitted me straight away; however, fine adjustment would only have been possible to a limited extent due to the lack of waistband adjustment. The waistband is made of elasticated material. Keys and a smartphone can be stowed in two zipped leg pockets. The positioning on the thigh is a matter of taste - I quickly got used to it and didn't find it annoying.
Short & sweet
- Price: 150 Euro >> available here at a reduced price
- Colours: black, smolder blue, golden caramel, utility blue
- Weight: 243 grammes
- Cut: normal fit: tester 1.78 metres fit size M very well
My tip for good bike trousers
- Fox Flexair trousers - Lightweight, moisture-repellent, robust trousers with ratchet fastening and tapered leg ends. Also available for women. Price: 139.99 euros >> at Bike Components or Maciag Offroad available.
- ION Bike Pants Tech Logo - Lightweight, breathable material, lots of stretch, with ratchet fastening and subtly tapered leg ends. Price: 119.99 euros.
My conclusion
Patagonia Dirt Pants
I like the lightweight dirt pants with their comfortable material, even though the cut doesn't have the trendy tapered leg ends. The price is around 30 euros higher than similar quality trousers from Fox or Ion - but they are made in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory. Recommendation to buy goes out! - BIKE tester Laurin Lehner
Patagonia Men's Trail Craft Vest
The lightweight Men's Trail Craft Vest is solid, but for me personally it is not tailored enough. The waistcoat can be rolled up into a very small pack size and is therefore easy to stow away. The range of use of such thin wind waistcoats is too narrow for me personally - they only make sense in a very small temperature and weather window. For that, 120 euros is too much money. The all-round weather cycling jacket is better and more broadly positioned here Dirt Roamer Bike Jacket , which is one of my favourite pieces. - BIKE tester Laurin Lehner
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Laurin Lehner
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