TROY LEE DESIGNS SKYLINE TROUSERS

£130

Weight: 394g • Sizes: 28-38in • Women’s version: No • Contact: saddleback.co.uk

Most of us put on weight as we get older, and Troy Lee Designs’ updated Skyline pant is no exception. This latest version is 60g heavier than the old model, mainly thanks to a new four-way stretch fabric that helps with freedom of movement. Even so, the Skyline is one of the least stretchy pants here.

Other upgrades over the previous version include Bluesign certified recycled fabric, a reinforced waist area with improved adjuster straps, and a DWR coating.

There are two zipped hip pockets, mesh lined to help prevent sweat build-up. Both are roomy, with plenty of space for a phone, keys, and a multi-tool, but the contents will mingle and move around if you load them up with items. We found our phone migrated around to the back of the thigh and stayed put, but we think the Skyline would be improved with a sewn-in phone sleeve.

The Skyline has a more casual, loose fit than some of the racier designs here, with a relatively long 84cm in-seam on our 32in sample size. There’s a decent amount of room around the knee for pads, but the excess fabric around the upper and lower legs can bunch up and look a bit unsightly. Waist security is provided by a single pop-stud. It snaps together reassuringly, but older Skyline pants in our wardrobe show that this does lose grip over time.

We liked the old TLD Skyline pants, but the addition of the four-way stretch fabric and DWR coating have helped raise the bar. They’re not the tightest or trendiest pants, and they get a bit stuffy in hot temperatures, but the basics are well covered, and from experience we know they’re a durable garment that ticks a lot of boxes.