The Altura Ridge Tier Men’s Waterproof Trouser comes from the brand’s spanking new off-road autumn/winter collection. As the name suggests, these are waterproof trousers, and in terms of weather protection, they totally nail it. However, the fit is way off the mark.
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Altura’s Ridge Tier Men’s Waterproof Trouser is designed especially for those days where harsh weather knocks your motivation to get out there and ride. As such, it’s 5k/5k waterproof/breathable, the cuffs are elasticated, and there are a set of pockets with water-resistant zips.
To help with fit, the Tier Waterproof Trouser gets a tapered leg design with articulated knees for ease of movement.
First thing’s first and I must say, this trouser is really comfortable. The inside gets a soft touch, almost fleece-like material that feels fantastic against the skin. Around the trouser, I’ve not found any particularly tight spots, though they can be a bit baggy if you’re riding without pads. Thankfully, they’re not too baggy to become a nuisance.
The elasticated cuffs work rather well, too, but it would be nice to see some adjustment here so that they could work with a range of shoes. I’ve found that with shoes that have high neoprene cuffs like the Five Ten Trailcross GTXs, the cuffs have a tendency to rise up. Then, the cuffs guide water right into more traditional low-cut shoes as they hug the ankle.
As for fit, this is where things get really iffy. Lengthwise, it’s spot on. However, around the waist, well… maternity wear comes to mind. I usually wear medium trousers, which are perfect for me. Even other products in Altura’s range, like the Esker Trail Trouser, fit better around the waist than the Tier Waterproof.
The fit around the waist is vast, so vast that it quickly slips, and if you were to catch the gusset on your saddle, you wouldn’t be wearing trousers for much longer.
Thankfully, the fit isn’t reflective of the garment’s weather protection. As a waterproof trouser, it’s seen some pretty nasty weather during testing, and it’s easily shrugged off. Wind, rain, it’s all in a day’s work for the Tier Waterproof Trouser. The trousers remained comfortable during a three-hour pedal-fest, remaining impressively breathable with sweat, only failing to escape nearer the end of the ride.
Verdict & Value
Moving onto the value, £95 isn’t too shabby for a complete waterproof trouser. For example, the Madison Zenith Men’s 4-Season DWR trouser, at £90, comes with three waterproof panels, an all-over DWR coating, zippable vents and a purpose-built phone pocket.
Another competitor is the Cube Blackline Rain Pants at £110. Jon liked them for their packability, durability and breathability. The only downside was that if you ride with pads, they would have to be very slim to fit underneath.
The Altura Ridge Tier Waterproof Trouser has proven to live up to its intentions very well indeed. It’s luxuriously comfortable while making light work of harsh weather. Just make sure you try before you buy, even if Altura’s other bottoms fit you, as the Tier Waterproof Trouser’s waist measurement seems a bit anomalous.
