Looking for a pair of womens mountain bike pants for the downhill bike park or for the cooler days of autumn? Youre in the right place (and the right time).It was only a couple of years ago that most of the pants on this list didnt exist. Like most mountain bike apparel companies just forgot that women (and cooler weather and aggressive riding) even existed. Fortunately, thats not the case today. There are plenty of really excellent options. To help you choose amongst them, weve personally tested as well as surveyed our community to figure out which ones are best. Of course, no one pant is the best for all types of riding or all body types. For that reason, weve tried to include a wide range of womens mountain bike pantsones for downhill riding, trail riding, wet and cold riding, ones for skinny women, curvy women, and tall women.Read on to find the best pair for YOU.Photo Credit: DharcoOur Top PicksPantGreat ForPriceWild Rye FreyahDownhill riding$199Pactimo Range PantTrail riding$110Dharco GravityDownhill riding$156Club Ride Joannie CapriTrail riding$89Shredly All Time PantDownhill riding$148Peppermint MTB OverallTrail or downhill$190Pearl Izumi Trail LaunchTrail riding$150Wild Rye FreyahPrice: $199Buy at Wild-Rye.comIm pretty crazy in love with all things Wild Rye, so its not a surprise that the Wild Rye Freyah is at the top of this list. This is a slim pant and is designed primarily for downhill bike park riding, but can go over fleece leggings for winter trail riding as well. Like all things Wild Rye, the Freyah is designed specifically for womeninstead of being a shrink it and pink it affair. The pant fits women of all leg lengths thanks to the cute, rollable cuffs.The material is the same stretchy nylon that I love on my Wild Rye Freel shorts. Its comfortable, fits well, and is great at repelling dirt. So you can wear these several times before they need to be washed.The only thing to be aware of is that these pants have faded over time and much faster than I would have preferred. I still wear them but theyre not quite as cute as they once were. Read Our Review: Wild Rye FreyahPactimo Range PantsPrice: $110Buy at Pactimo.comThe Pactimo Range Pants are very well the most comfortable mountain bike pants around. Or maybe just the most comfortable pants around, period.These are a looser fit than many of the other moto style pants listed here and are great for trail riding or bikepacking. They can also easily be worn off the bike for hiking or other outdoor activities.They do a great job of shedding dirt and rain, and can be used like a rain pant in light drizzle.My only complaint was that they could be quick to wrinkle if you dont grab them from the dryer right away. Read Our Review: Pactimo Range PantsDharco GravityPrice: $156Buy at Evo.comThe Dharco Gravity pants are tight, yes, but theyre also super stretchy. Think of them kind of like your favorite pair of pants you put on after youve eaten too much.The material isnt only stretchy, its also durable and water-repellant. That makes these great for long, wet rides in the PNW. I also really appreciate that the waistband is a separate tapered panel and that the back comes up high enough that you dont ever have to worry about plumbers crack. Do be aware that these pants fit a little tight, and it can be tricky finding the right size on their fit chart.Read Review: Dharco GravityClub Ride Joanie CapriPrice: $89.95Buy at ClubRide.comSomewhere between a short and a pant, the Club Ride Joannie Capri provides just another warmth and coverage for shoulder season riding. In fact, these are my go-to bottoms for autumn riding.The pants are loose fitting and unlike many mountain bike pants that claim to work well with knee pads, these ones actually do. The bottom cuff is feminine and cute as well.If you plan on wearing the Joanie around town, it works well for that as well. There are reflective accents for added visibility on the road, and the pants dont scream bike pants, so they can be worn to the pub or the store and still look good.They do show dirt easily, but are easy to dust off. Read Our Review: Club Ride Joannie CapriShredly All Time PantPrice: $148Buy at REI.comThe Shredly All Time Pant is my recent go-to for downhill bike park days, thanks to its performance BUT also to how dang cute they are! The design is moto-inspired design with a feminine flair. These pants offer a flattering fit, plenty of room to move, and a slim profile that wont snag on your bike. Theyre equipped with long ankle zippers that allow easy access to knee padsa huge win for anyone who hates wearing pads while driving up the mountain.That said, there are a couple of downside for more aggressive gravity riders. The pants lack reinforced knees and a crash replacement policy.Available in a wide range of sizes (0-24), they feature a stretchy waistband for a comfy, adjustable fit. Plus, with four roomy zippered pockets, theres enough space to stash essentials like lift passes, snacks, and your phone.Finally, of the downhill pants on this list, theyre the most affordable. That means youll have more cash for snacks at the end of the day. Read Review: Shredly All Time PantPearl Izumi Womens Launch Trail PantPrice: $150Buy at PearlIzumi.comDesigned for trail riding, the Pearl Izumi Launch pant is equal parts comfortable and functional. These pants work so well, youll forget youre wearing them.Our favorite thing about the Launch pant are the large, usable pocketssomething we dont see a lot of with womens mountain bike clothing. The pant has a looser fit but is tapered at the bottom with an elastic cuff.While these pants work best for shoulder weather riding, there is enough room underneath that you can wear leggings for winter riding.Con? It only comes in one color (grey). Read Our Review: Pearl Izumi Launch Trail PantPeppermint MTB OverallPrice: $190Buy at PeppermintCycling.comIve received more compliments on the Peppermint MTB Overall than any other piece in my bike wardrobe. The overalls are both unique and playful. The fit is flattering and comfortable, and the stretchy, adjustable straps make it easy to tailor to your shape. The lightweight, elastic material allows for easy movement and comfortable long rides. With generous pocket space, these overalls also ticked the box for practicality.However, there were a couple of drawbacks that came with the design. For one, using the restroom outdoors was a bit tricky given the one-piece nature of the overalls. Also, there was a lack of reinforcement in the knee and butt areas that couldve offered added protection for more challenging rides. Overall, I was more than happy to put up with these minor drawbacks for how cute and comfortable they are. Read Our Review: Peppermint MTB OverallAbout The Reviewers And How We TestedKristen Bonkoski was the lead tester and is the founder and owner of Femme Cyclist. Kristen is a certified USA Cycling coach, and an avid mountain biker. IG:@kristenlbonkoskiJane Gerritsenbought her first mountain bike at age 52 as retirement prep and since that time, themountain bike community has opened up her world to new goals, new adventures and best of all, new friends. She is most grateful for her time at home, where she is learning to renovate her garage, try new recipes, write, and of course, plan her next mountain bike adventure.Malorie Gagehas been mountain biking, road, gravel cycling for many years. She lives in Colorado where shes raising two tiny humans and balancing biking and motherhood.Were all mountain bike obsessed, so we tested these pants by just going about our regular lives. Kristen lives in Idaho and has traveled to bike parks all over the west, including Whistler, putting pants to the challenge on downhill runs. Jane lives in Ontario and bikes year round, testing pants on snowy trails. And Malorie tests pants for us by riding high alpine trails in Colorado. You can rest easy knowing these pants have been crashed in, traveled with, and put through numerous wash cycles in our testing. Things To Consider When ShoppingStill not sure what pair of pants are best for you? Here are some things we like to keep in mind when making a purchase.Type Of RidingLike most things in life, no one pair of pants is really going to do it all. Therefore its important to consider what the primary use these pants are going to get.Are you planning on racing BMX? Do you have a season pass the downhill bike park? In these cases, you want to look for more tailored pants, with plenty of protection, that still offer room for knee pads.If youre planning on trail riding, you may or may not need room for knee pads, but you probably want a more casual, comfortable vibe. Weather ConditionsIf you are going to be riding the bike park or BMX track in the summer, you want a pant with plenty of breathability (like the Fly Racing Lite). For autumn riding, I really love a casual capri like the Club Ride Joanie. And for winter, I want something thats treated for wet weather and that offers enough room for layering.Waist ClosureJust like with mountain bike shorts, a good waist closure is imperative to loving a pair of pants. We prefer bottoms that have an adjustable waistband. With mountain bike pants, these are likely to be a velcro strap, though on race-oriented pants, youll also find some pants have a ratchet closure. Finally a higher panel at the back is preferable so you dont have to worry about plumbers crack. Room For Knee PadsDo you want or need to wear knee pads with your pants? If you do, make sure to take this into consideration because a surprising number of pants do NOT work well with pads. Additionally, if youre trail riding and plan to take the pads on or off youll want a pant with a wider ankle. Many downhill oriented pants, require you to put the pads on BEFORE putting your pants on, which means its no small feat to get the pads on or off on the trail.Room For Chamois And/Or LayersDo you want to wear a chamois with your pants? Or wear a pair of leggings underneath for colder weather. If so, youll want to steer clear of some of the tighter fitting pants which are designed not to wear additional layers underneath.Fabric WeightThe heavier the fabric, the more durable it will be and the more protection it will provide in a crash. That said, heavier fabric can also be hotter and less comfortable. Pick your poison.The other thing you might want to look for are reinforced knees and bottoms. This can offer a good balance between durability, protection, and comfort. Women Specific?Our favorite bottoms are designed specifically for women (think Wild Rye). Way to many womens mountain bike pants are actually smaller versions of their best-selling mens pants. This doesnt always result in a great fit for females.SizingSimilar to the point above, we appreciate companys that offer a wide range of sizes for women. Mountain bikers dont come in just one size!Weve found we get the best fit from brands that offer true clothing sizes (2,4,6,8, etc) as opposed to those that only offer small, medium, and large. More Stuff You Might Like5 Best Womens Mountain Bike Shorts & How To Choose!7 Best Womens Mountain Bike Helmets9 Womens Mountain Bike Jerseys You Will LoveAbout The AuthorKristen Bonkoski is the founder and owner of Femme Cyclist.An avid cyclist for a few decades now, she took to cycling during her late teen years a time when she needed something to help boost her self-esteem and confidence.Mission accomplished, the sport has become an important part of her life. Kristens favorite disciplines are mountain biking andbike commuting, although youcan also find her crankingout a century on her road bike and touring with her husband and son. If it has to do with two wheels, she enjoys doing it.Kristen is a certified USA Cycling coach, and she runsRascal Rides, a website about biking with kids.IG:@femme_cyclistThe post Best Womens Mountain Bike Pants I Tested appeared first on Femme Cyclist.