Rapha Technical Trousers review - can riding pants really fit in at the office?

Part of Rapha’s lifestyle range, the Technical Trousers are designed to be worn both on and off the bike. But is it really possible to wear riding trousers in the office and not look like “that guy”?

Rapha Technical Trousers
(Image credit: Rachel Sokal)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

Rather than “riding pants”, you should probably think of the Rapha Technical Trousers as a pair of trousers you can ride in. They are made from a durable, stretchy material; have a nice slim-fit and some smart styling features which are characteristic of the cycling-lifestyle brand. But they don’t have any water resistance and are not the quickest to dry. If you’re happy to pay $160 / £120 for a really nice pair of branded trousers which look good off the bike, then these are for you. If you want a dedicated pair of trousers for regular riding with more of a focus on function than style, you might look elsewhere.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Styled trousers that are practical for riding

  • +

    Wear on and off the bike

  • +

    Subtle and styled riding details

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Price

  • -

    Not full on riding trousers

  • -

    No water resistance

  • -

    Rear pockets too small to secure a phone

  • -

    No women's fit available

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Have the kings of bike fashion bucked the trend and made a pair of trousers that can be worn both on and off the bike? We pull on a pair of Rapha Technical Trousers in an attempt to find out and see how they compare to the best bicycle commuter trousers

Rapha Technical Trousers: Design and construction

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Rachel has been writing about and reviewing bike tech for the last 10 years. Cynical by nature, Rachel never really trusts the marketing hype and prefers to give products a mighty good testing before deciding whether they're worth buying or not. 

Rachel's first riding love is mountain biking where she's been European and UK 24hr Champion on more than one occasion. She's not just confined to the trails though and regularly rides - and occasionally races - on gravel and road too.