by "Burn" for webBikeWorld.com

More:  wBW Reviews Home  |  See the Ultimate Pants Slide Show

The Rev'it X-Vent pants were my favorite cool-weather motorcycle riding pants, bar none.  They fit well, they were comfortable and they kept me warm in throughout the cold winter months.

There were two features that I wish were different though, and both of these (and more) have been addressed in the new Rev'it Ultimate pants. 

The Ultimate pants have an adjustable waist with a nice, wide swath of elastic on each side and a short ratchet-style belt adjuster, also one on each side. 

This provides a better fit for a wider range of sizes, especially for those with "evolving" waistlines.  The X-Vent pants had a very narrow fitment range that, I'll have to admit, sometimes conflicted with my 36 to occasionally 37 inch waist.  The size XL Ultimate pants are a perfect fit for my waist and 30" inseam.

Which led to problem #2: the metal wire loop zipper pull on the X-Vent pants broke off in my hands, most likely from me having to force it closed over my midsection.  Believe it or not, I kept the little metal looped piece in my pocket to use as a hook to grab the zipper runner to open and close the pants!

The Ultimate pants use the same type of wire loop metal zipper pull, but this time with a hefty piece of "hook and loop" fabric wrapped around the end, making it much easier to grab (See the Ultimate Pants Slide Show).  I'm not too keen on using a bent piece of wire for the zipper pull, but the comfort waist with all its elastic seems to have enough give that I don't think I'll have to use anywhere near as much force to close the zipper.  It certainly can't be that my waist has gotten any thinner over the last couple of years...

Outer Shell and Twin Liners
The outer shell of the Ultimate pants is made entirely from 500-Denier Schoeller Keprotec fabric with Kevlar.  Although this material is more expensive, Rev'it said that they have used it because it provides superior abrasion resistance.   The pants have CE-approved knee armor and a large and thick section of Temperfoam hip padding covering each hip.

But that's only the beginning.  The Ultimate pants do their name justice.  They have - get this - not one, but two removable liners!  Starting from the inside out, a thick insulating liner attaches using full-length zippers, both in the waist and at the cuffs.  If you've ever stepped in to (or out of) a pair of lined motorcycle pants and got caught up on the liner because it was attached with only a couple of measly snaps at the cuff, you'll really appreciate this design.  The zippers hold this liner in place absolutely, with no undesired shifting or movement. 

In between the thermal liner and the outer shell lives a Rev'it Hydratex membrane removable liner.  Hyrdatex is claimed 100% waterproof and is designed to let water vapor (from perspiration) out, but keep rain water droplets from entering through the liner.  According to the information sent with the pants, the liner is composed of three layers of fabric; a top layer, the Hyrdratex membrane itself and a lining.

The Hyrdatex liner also attaches to the pants with a full-length zipper at the waist and cuffs.  This means that the waist and each cuff have two sets of zippers.  But the zippers are designed to fit under each other, and although the pants feel slightly more bulky than one might expect, the extra zippers are not noticeable.  In fact, I didn't even realize that the liners were attached with zippers on top and bottom during the first few times I wore the pants.  I just noticed that they went on without the bunching that is usual with lined pants.

The pants have a soft mesh permanent liner, so when the insulating liner and the waterproof liner are removed, the pants are still comfortable.  There are two 10" (~26 cm) long vents across the top of each thigh.  Each vent is closed with a "waterproof" zipper (See the Ultimate Pants Slide Show for a zipper closeup).

Venting
The outer fabric that covers the zipper teeth slides underneath the zipper runner as it is opened and closed, effectively covering the zipper itself.  The special fabric used on these zippers also includes a reflective coating, giving each leg a 10" by 3/4" (26 cm by 20 mm) reflective stripe.  The Rev'it! logo is also discreetly laser printed on each for contrast.

Leg Openings
The lower legs of the Ultimate pants each have a zipper on the outside that opens to 16" (41 cm) long, giving more than enough room to slip a pair of motorcycle boots on or off.  Each lower leg has a full-length section of heavy liner to maintain the integrity of the waterproofing.

Pockets
The Ultimate pants have four pockets; two slash pockets on each side in the front and two cargo pockets mid-thigh, located towards the outside of the leg.  The slash pockets close with zippers and have a heavy waterproof lining.  They have a 6" opening (~15 cm) and are 5" deep (~13 cm).

The cargo pockets are completely external; that is, they are sewn on to the outer shell.  Each pocket is about 6-1/2" wide (16.5 cm) and 6" deep (15 cm).  The cargo pockets have a double-roll top section of fabric underneath the flap and are lined with a waterproof lining.  The flap closes with "hook and loop" fastener and has a short section of rubbery plastic material that can be used as a pull.

The Ultimate pants also now include a full-length and short internal zipper for attachment to Rev'it jackets.  This feature was sorely missed on the X-Vent pants and I'm very happy to see it included.

Conclusion
If I had to choose a single pair of motorcycle riding pants for an around-the-world adventure, the Ultimate pants would be it.  The pants are as rugged and as well made as you're likely to find, and I have no doubt that they'll take just as much abuse as my old X-Vent pants. 

While the price may seem relatively steep, they can be considered as three pair of pants in one.  The insulating liner is as warm as it gets, the Hydratex liner keeps out moisture, and although the Rev'it Airvent mesh pants are probably more suited for extremely high temperatures, the Ultimate pants will cover just about every other weather condition.

The full-length zippers are a first, as far as we can tell, and they hold both liners firmly in place, adding to the rugged feeling of the pants.  Rev'it has developed a reputation for high-quality, innovative products and these pants are no exception.

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