FOX FLEXAIR NEOSHELL WATER JACKET REVIEW

Review by Emma Wooldridge | Photos by Cole Gregg

Here in the Inland Northwest, early October brought us midsummer trail conditions. By the end of the month, I was left staring at my closet as rain poured down on my roof. Clearly, my Fox Ranger shorts were out of the question for riding and I didn’t want to sacrifice a cute pair of joggers to the trail-side sticks and mud puddles. I had only picked up mountain biking in May and since the majority of my bank account had been donated to my 2022 Norco Sight fund, I didn’t have much left over to compile a whole “MTB dream girl” closet like I had hoped. I decided that the change of the season did require an investment in pants, though. After scouring the internet, reading reviews including Marissa’s take, and stalking the Instagram pages of women like Gemma Corbera and Myriam Nicole so I could emulate their steeze, I settled on the Fox Women’s Ranger pants and the DHaRCO Women’s Gravity pants. I came away impressed by both Women’s mountain bike pants overall, and discovered that both pairs stood out for different reasons.

Fox Ranger Pants

The Women’s Ranger pants were engineered to be functional and fashionable, with a slim fit that reduces the risk of snags and tears (read that however you like, I would definitely cry if I ripped these $120 pants), while not sacrificing style for the post ride carb load at your local spot. The pants have a snap closure instead of a zipper and a built-in belt that cinches for a secure fit. Fox provided two pockets, one on each hip, with zippers to protect items like your phone and keys.

The fabric is light, stretchy, yet tough enough to withstand the occasional wipe-out. The Fox website doesn’t provide the specs for the pants, but the tag revealed that they’re constructed from 97% polyamide nylon and 3% elastane. Be sure to wash these in cold water and hang dry to preserve your investment. Fox offers the Women’s Ranger Pants in sizes XS-XL in a choice of black or khaki colorways, with a retail price of $119.95.

DHaRCO Gravity Pants

The Women’s Gravity pants were designed in the land down under, with a stoke for mountain biking in mind. DHaRCO placed these on the market specifically to satisfy both the comfort and style departments while shredding dirt. These pants achieve this with water-resistant fabric that has 4-way stretch and a slim fit that still leaves room for knee pads. I heard a rumor that Gen Z said skinny jeans are out of style. I’m here to tell you that DHaRCO brought them back.

You can reach to one of three pockets when trying to shove your snack wrappers away – one on the backside waistband, one vertical hip pocket, and one horizontal upper leg pocket. The pants feature their own belt system which consists of two velcro tabs to either loosen or tighten each side. There are two button snaps and a zipper, so when switching from the Fox Rangers to the Dharco Gravity pants, please do not forget to zip that fly up. A unique aspect to these pants is that they’re made with Blue Sign approved fabric (95% nylon, 5% spandex), signaling that these pants are an eco-friendly option. The Gravity pants come in a variety of colorways, ranging in size from XS-XL, at a price tag of $156.

THE DIRT

Fox Ranger Pants

Fox went with a subdued, low-profile look overall. The pants have two delicate logos. A small fox logo can be found on the upper leg and the Fox name is located behind the right knee. Both are a soft and subtle gray, rather than the usual bright white. There’s also a small black engraving on the snap button closure. For a big mountain biking brand name who seems to place a lot of focus on splashy themes and colors, I’d say they made the right call to give women the option of a casual, laidback pant.

I struggled with the sizing for the Fox Women’s Ranger shorts I purchased previously. I’m usually a size Small/Medium for bottoms and I had ordered a Small based on the limited reviews online and Fox’s sizing chart. They fit well in the thighs, but the waist was so loose that I had to roll it down since the belt system was useless. It was not a good look, so I sized down. The Extra-Small ended up being my daily ride-or-die shorts. They were just right in the waist, only slightly tight on the thighs, and I could still squeeze into a chamois underneath.

I was itching to get on the trail with the pants immediately and didn’t want to deal with returning a product that was too small or too big. With the Extra-Small shorts being tight in my thighs, I was worried about the fit of knee pads underneath the pants. I saw that the Women’s Ranger pants had a different belt system than the shorts, so I crossed my fingers and ordered the Small. For reference, I’m roughly 5’4” and 125 pounds with a 27.5” waist and 35” hips. I typically wear size 4/27 in pants.

After wearing and washing, I’d say these pants are true to size, but still run slightly larger in the waist for me personally. My only beef with these pants is the belt and the material. The Women’s Ranger pants were intended to be lightweight and the material meets that purpose, but it seems to bunch up and cling to my legs, which doesn’t feel flattering. If you’re able to size up and like the baggier look, you may not encounter this problem. Sizing up may also help with layering during the cooler months. Since they’re designed to be light, they won’t protect you from that bone-chilling cold. I think Fox needs to go back to the drawing board to redesign the belt for the Women’s Ranger pants. The plastic buckle stood out as cheap. It cinched the waist effectively, which was an improvement compared to the Ranger shorts, but ultimately you’re left trying to shove the rest of the belt into a tiny opening or leave it hanging free. For some women who might have a small waist to hip ratio, it doesn’t seem practical to have this type of built-in belt. I’d prefer belt loops and to be able to select a belt that works best for me. If you aren’t bothered by these things, you’re going to get your money’s worth out of these pants.

The two hip pockets made it easy to store my phone and a couple snacks (try out the Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars sometime, your inner kid will thank you). My iPhone 12 fit with room to spare and the zipper allowed me to focus instead of worrying about my phone flying out. Additional space was given in the pants for knee pads and extra stitching behind the knee contributed to the more fitted look. The last little detail that Fox designed was a mesh-like, stretchy paneling on the back of the ankles. Fox dreamed up these additions to meet your needs on the mountain, but truly lend themselves to being streetwear mountain biking pants.

DHaRCO Gravity Pants

Since I’ve never bought a DHaRCO product, I relied heavily on the website’s Studio Rider information. DHaRCO warns that their pants sizing is “quite slim.” I was tempted to size up when reading that, but since the studio rider pictured had the same waist size and approximate height, I chose the Small. DHaRCO lists a Size Guide on each item page, which seems more helpful than Fox’s website that doesn’t link the size chart with the item, leaving you to go search for the sizing. But DHaRCO sizes items by measuring the product lying flat. For example, a size Small pants has a waist of 15.6 inches. I personally didn’t find that helpful, as measuring across my waist seems to give an entirely different and much smaller sizing than in reality. If I didn’t have a similar build to their Studio Rider, I would’ve been left mystified as to what size I should order. After riding in them, I’d say I’m on the border of a Small/Medium. These pants do have a tighter fit, which is part of their look. I did tighten the waist slightly and paired them with a chamois. But if I buy another pair, I think I would try out a Medium to see if they look and feel good with a more relaxed fit through the thighs.

In comparison to the Fox Ranger pants, one of my favorite parts about the Gravity pants is the belt. The belt blended in well with the pants and it stayed in place throughout my rides. When tightened, the built-in belt didn’t cause any weird bunching or creasing of the pants material. Since it’s velcro, I’ll be curious to see how the belt holds up over time with washing and use.

My enduro knee pads managed to fit well even with a slim fit and although it all felt tight initially, I didn’t note any discomfort on my climb. The material of the pants is heavier, which resulted in me feeling slightly more protected from rain, wind, and twigs. While these pants are water-resistant, they are not waterproof. I’d choose these for the stormier-looking days over the Ranger pants, but my ride would still be significantly shorter than usual.

I appreciated the classic style of these pants – a rich black color, with subtle prints on the knees, and clean logos throughout the design that don’t take away from the look. DHaRCO even stays true to their brand by adding in the wild jungle print to the inside of the waist band. DHaRCO aims to help people “live no ordinary life.” As someone who doesn’t have the slightest need to own anything with leopard print, I wasn’t sure that I fit into DHaRCO’s market. But I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Gravity pants are offered in multiple colors that are the perfect branch between obnoxiously loud and any ordinary riding pants.  I felt confident riding in them and I didn’t feel like my personal style was sacrificed. With all that said, these still aren’t going to fit in a capsule wardrobe. If you’re looking for pants that can be multi-purpose and get more bang for your buck, I’d steer you towards the Fox Ranger pants. If you need something more durable and focused for downhill or enduro riding, then the DHaRCO Gravity pants might be right for you.

The Wolf’s Last Word

The Ranger pants are some of the most affordable mountain biking-specific pants on the market. They aren’t waterproof, but they’ll hold up during a short bout of rain. They aren’t your warmest option, but you can size up to layer underneath if you need it. The Ranger pants are certainly not comparable to your sleekest date jeans, but you can bet that after a long day of riding, you’d likely feel comfortable putting on a fresh tank top, slipping on some Birks, and wearing these out to grab a cider. For my body type they didn’t sit quite as nicely as Marissa experienced, but I’ve still been enjoying them on the trails regardless.

The DHaRCO Gravity pants are available in essentially every color known to man-kind, meaning you can ride with an outfit that reflects your mood, vibe, and style. When sliding these on and catching a quick fit check in the mirror on my way out, I get the feeling that not only will other people take me more seriously on the mountain, but so will I.  I’ll be packing these in my bag for bike park trips, as they provide more protection with a heavier material, which I’ll need for the inevitable crash that comes with draining downhill days.

Price:
Fox Ranger Pants – $119.95
DHaRCO Gravity Pants – $156

Websites:
Foxracing.com  |  Dharco.com

WE DIG

FOX RANGER PANTS:

• Discreet Logos
• Style
• Price point

DHaRCO GRAVITY PANTS:

• Belt
• Tougher Material
• Colors

We Don’t

FOX RANGER PANTS:

• Belt still ain’t it

DHARCO GRAVITY PANTS:

• Not as Multi-purpose
• Price Point

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