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The Ranger pants are Fox’s do-it-all, more affordable trail offering, made from a lightweight, four-way stretch ripstop nylon fabric.
Like the pricier, more race-focused Flexair kit, the Ranger pants get a tailored cut, although there’s a little more room to breathe in these compared to their pricier counterparts.
Fox updated the Ranger series last year, making some well-considered changes to the fabric and closure mechanism.
On the bike, they outperform their predecessors. Comfort is hard to fault, as is the fit. With two zipped hand pockets, there’s not a lot more you’ll need on the trail.
Close but comfortable
The Ranger pants are close-fitting. That can sometimes mean getting MTB trousers such as these on can be a bit of a struggle. Thankfully, with the extended elasticated mesh panels at the rear of the ankle cuffs, there’s enough give to slide your feet through without having to wrestle them on.
While the previous Rangers used a popper waist closure – something that could, after time, start to pop open from time to time – the latest pants have switched to a ratchet buckle.
That’s important for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it can’t come undone accidently, no matter how big your mid-ride lunch happens to be.
Secondly, the ratchet buckle provides some easy-to-use waist adjustment. Previously, this was taken care of with a small strap and buckle, which was a little fiddly to use. Now, things couldn’t be easier.
Without having to crank it overly tight, the waistband fitted me well and didn’t gape at the rear when sat down, leant forward as I climbed – something that can’t be said for all trousers like this.
Despite the tailored cut, there’s ample room underneath to fit bulky knee pads. Even if they’re chunky enough to make the Rangers a little tight around the knees, with plenty of stretch in the fabric pedalling continues to feel free and easy.
As someone with short legs, I was a big fan of the short inseam. I measured my 30in-waist pants to have an inseam of 28.5in. That leaves the ankle cuffs sitting perfectly around, you guessed it, my ankles.
Great all-rounders
Fox treats the Rangers with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating to help keep splashes out and your legs dry (ish). It works, too, providing we’re talking light rain showers and puddle splashes. Anything more than that and you’ll get wet legs. It’s worth noting that the coating’s effectiveness depletes over time.
That said, in terms of how the Rangers hold up, having ridden in mine consistently for over a year, they’re still in great shape. Fox deserves credit for creating something that lasts and is well-made at a decent price.
My one little niggle is the lack of a zipped fly. Fox says it uses the stretchy fabric beneath the fly flap for comfort, but there’s some gaping at certain angles on the bike. While you can’t see anything, a zipped fly would stop this and tidy things up a bit.
Features-wise, the Rangers are pretty simple. You get two zipped pockets – it's all you really need, while big enough for essentials.
Thanks to the relatively lightweight fabric, the Rangers don’t get overly sweaty. Granted, they’re not as breezy as the more expensive Flexair trousers, which feature more perforations throughout, but they will protect you better and keep you warmer on duller days.
The extended mesh panels that run from the hem of the ankle cuff part way up the back of the calf make taking the Rangers off relatively straightforward. That’s not something all trousers cut this tight can boast.
Eco credentials
The fabric used to create the Ranger pants is said to be 85 per cent recycled.
There are a whopping 10 sizes on offer, with ‘tall’ options in the 32in and 34in waist sizes, should you have longer legs (you’ll get a 32.5in inseam, rather than a 30.5in one).
Fox offers the Rangers in five colour options.
How I tested
I’ve been wearing the Ranger pants for just over a year now, riding in them a variety of temperatures and in a wide range of conditions.
They’ve battled through hot summers and wet winters, done hideous amounts of laps inside my washing machine and continue to live in my kit bag to this day.
Fox Ranger pants bottom line
I’m a big fan of the Fox Ranger trousers. The tapered cut, short legs and simple yet very effective features work perfectly for me.
The fly area could be improved slightly, but it’s not a deal breaker by any stretch.
These pants are some of the best out there, they don’t cost a fortune and they last well. They’re hard not to like.
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