DHARCO WOMENS GRAVITY PANT REVIEW

POSSIBLY THE COMFIEST GIRL PANTS EVER

Words by Caitlin Wilkinson  |  Photos by Michael Walker

DHaRCO is proudly Australian, born on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. They claim that their apparel is designed to act – not look – like sportswear and have made a bit of a statement with their unique looking gear that’s found its way onto the trails and the race circuits alike. I was hooked up with two pairs of DHaRCO Gravity Pants to the test, and they’ve provided me with what is perhaps the most comfortable set of riding pants I’ve yet to try.

THE LAB

DHaRCO’s Womens Gravity Pants are made from a 4-way stretch Nylon and Spandex blend fabric, which is designed so that it can keep you warm when it’s colder and cool when it is warmer. If this claim runs true, then they’d be pretty handy for those Scottish late summer/ early autumn weather shifts. This fabric is Blue Sign approved, which means that they use less chemicals and water within the dying process, giving a good boost to their eco credentials.

The Womens Gravity Pants are water resistant – not waterproof – and have an articulated cut for freedom of movement, with room in the knees for knee pads. There’s one pocket on each leg and a back pocket for the essentials, all with zippers to keep items safe. On the waist you’ve got a dual popper fastener setup with velcro to help keep it fastened, and velcro tabs on the sides of the waist to tune the fit over a generous range. DHaRCO’s Womens Gravity Pants come in ten fun colors in sizes from XS-XL, with a Mens version in sizes S-XXL in a choice of nine colors from mild to wild, and retail at $156/£125.

THE DIRT

If you are like me and find that ladies and men’s mountain bike pants are hard to find a fit for, these pants might be up your street. My waist size often sits between a men’s 30 inch to 31 inch, so starting off in the lady’s department is mind boggling. I thought that I could stick to my usual size small – you know, like you do in men’s – but that’s not typically the case for the ladies. I was sent a size medium, thinking they’d be too big, but they turned out to fit my proportions absolutely lovely, and were super comfy! They fitted my hips and gave my figure a flattering fit, without being baggy but also without causing any restriction for pedaling. The colours were bright and funky and made my kit looks epic. I don’t wear knee pads, so I can’t comment on fitment for specific knee pads, but there was enough room around my knee that you’d easily get some thin protection in there. I am 165 cm tall, and the leg length fitted my inseam of 29inch well without too much excess fabric at the bottom.

The pocket on the right side was big enough to hold my large iPhone without it getting in the way whilst I was pedaling, and I forgot it was even there most of the time. The pocket on the other side was big enough for trail snacks, and the one at the rear was small but handy for a van key or extra snacks. I found the waist a great fit to size, and the Velcro adjustments offered a great range to tune the fit – especially handy when you wanted to make way for bloating. The pop fasteners at the front stayed closed at all times when riding.

The DHaRCO Womens Gravity Pants are not waterproof (only water resistant), so during some of the wetter days I found that they eventually gave way to water, but that is to be expected. In lighter showers and for small puddle splashes they resisted water well. The pants kept me warm on some of the colder Scottish days, managing to avoid letting too much wind through on the windier days. They held up well for me without ripping, making for good value for money, especially when you factor in that I was often complimented on how cool they are – that’s always nice! These are for SheWolves who want to look sick whilst hitting the techiest of trails; hitting the jumps at their local park, or just anyone who rides a bike really!

The Wolf’s Last Word

The DHaRCO Gravity pants quickly became my new favorites. They look awesome, and are so comfy and durable too, so long as you get the right size! I am a UK size 10/12 and fit a size medium, so be sure check the size guide before you buy.

Price: $156/£125
Website: dharco.com