Leatt DBX 4.0 Pants

Words by Rob Dunnet | Photos by Dusten Ryen

When it comes to mountain biking, the only time I wear pants is when the arctic chill of winter sets in or when bike parks get hit with a huge dump of rain. Even then, I have never been a huge fan of them. Sure they keep the heat in and the dirt out, but pants tend to fit me poorly and I overheat quickly. It’s exactly like it sounds, I am extremely picky when it comes to riding in pants, but Leatt’s DBX 4.0 have won me over.

THE LAB
Leatt advertises the DBX 4.0 Pant as stretchy racing pants for trail, DH and BMX. They are “made of a stretchy material” and have a pre-curved fit to make them more comfortable. Adjustable waist straps and a 360-degree silicone grip on the waist help keep them in place. The DBX 4.0 pants also have a mesh lining that is designed to prevent odor and help keep riders dry and it accomplishes both of those goals very well.

The pants are secured with a button and YKK zipper. The hip pocket and rear waist pocket also have YKK zippers. MTB pants differ from moto pants in that the need for pockets is very real! We are happy these pants have a place to store our essentials. Leatt designed a seamless seat to prevent unwanted seam rub while in the saddle and heavy duty 1000D inner knee panels help the pants from wearing thin on critical friction points.

THE DIRT
I’m going to start out by saying that these pants were not my first choice in riding gear. As it turned out however, they were my only choice after a packing mishap on a multi-week bike trip. I reluctantly pulled DBX 4.0 pants out of my bag on a hot day in Utah and prepared for the worst.

After putting them on I was pleased with the initial fit. The pants fit well over my kneepads and my knee brace. As a bootiful man, endowed with a voluptuous derriere, I would have liked them to be a little more spacious in the seat and crotch area. You may be able to tell in the photos that they’re definitely form fitting. Slimmer riders shouldn’t have this issue however.

They fit a lot like moto pants and I have always bought moto pants a size or two larger to have a bit more material in that area. It was a bit odd, they were tight in my seat and crotch but I had to use all of the waist adjustment to get them tight enough. I would have liked them to have a bit more adjustment in the waist and a bit more material in the crotch. That being said, I only noticed the pants slipping down a couple of times and the crotch tightness didn’t bother me while on the bike.

After some initial karate moves to help me test the stretchiness, I was ready to get in line for my first lift of the day. I was sure I would be overheating as soon as I got outside but I was pleasantly surprised with how cool the pants were. The mesh and stretch material made them much cooler than I was expecting. In fact after the shorts I was supposed to have packed showed up, I still wore these pants everyday. They were actually cooler than Leatt’s heavy duty DH short and they kept the dirt and dust off my legs, pads and knee brace. My skepticism was quickly turning into bragging.

Leatt’s hip pocket was big enough to fit my cell phone, car keys and a multi tool. A phone will fit in the waist pocket but it is a bit uncomfortable to ride with a phone on your tailbone. It is a good spot for credit cards, hotel room keys and lift tickets. Having pockets is essential when it comes to mountain bike pants and Leatt’s DBX 4.0 pants are fashionable and functional.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Leatt surpassed my expectations and had me reevaluating my thoughts about mountain bike pants. I was convinced they were going to be hot and uncomfortable but I ended up riding in them for nine straight days without complaining before my shorts were delivered. And even after my shorts did arrive, I still spent plenty more days enjoying the added sun and dirt protection the pants give.

My only suggestion would be to add a bit more adjustment to the waist, as I wanted to cinch them down just a bit tighter. They feel and performed so well I can even look past how tight the pants are in the seat and crotch area since it was more of an aesthetic complaint than an issue in performance. By the end of the year I expect to order a couple more pairs of these pants in various colors. They will be my first pick for bike park and shuttle days for sure.

Price: $99.99
Website: Leatt.com