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If you can put up with jokes about going fishing in your waders, Madison’s DTE 4 Season DWR Bib Trousers could be the answer to riding in damp and dank winters.
The lower half of the trousers blends a stretchy wind- and splash-resistant material with a waterproof seat panel that extends down to just above your knees.
This is mirrored in the upper half, with the waterproof back panel shrugging off spray while the front retains the windproof material.
The result is trousers that make light work of cold, damp days where fully waterproof trousers feel like overkill, but you don’t want to end up with a soggy bottom.
Priced at £149.99, they’ve become my go-to trousers from October through March (and perhaps even beyond).
Madison DTE 4 Season DWR Bib Trousers specification
The trousers’ waterproof panelling is constructed from a material with a 20k waterproof rating and a reported 40k breathability rating – impressive numbers for a fabric in a garment of this price.
The fabric has a very slight stretch to it and the seams are taped to help prevent water ingress.
The back panel has a non-adjustable elasticated section just above your kidneys to cinch the material in and prevent it from flapping.
The front and rear portions of the trousers are joined up to around the rib cage, helping keep your lower back warm.
There's a long zip on the side, with a popper to prevent it undoing itself. Given how tall the bib section of the body is, you’ll need to undo both to remove the trousers.
The lower end of the zip has an additional runner, so you can open it up for extra ventilation or to access the thigh pockets on cargo bib shorts.
The trousers’ left side has a zipped pocket that’s big enough for most modern smartphones.
At the front, there’s a reasonably long fly to help with (male) comfort breaks, while the higher-up kangaroo pocket could be another option for holding a phone because it’s further out of spray’s way.
Although the waterproof panel at the back tapers towards the top, it offers decent coverage from rear-wheel spray up your spine, to the pair of elasticated, clipped braces, which help prevent the whole lot falling down.
At the bottom of the legs, an elasticated hem stops the trousers from getting caught in your chain.
There’s an impressively large size range, from small to XXL, with three leg lengths (30, 32 and 34in) in a black colourway.
There’s also a grey option in all sizes, but only with a 32in leg.
Madison DTE 4 Season DWR Bib Trousers performance
Despite their name claiming these are four-season trousers, my experience suggests they’re best suited to cooler times of the year.
The added bib section around your torso makes these substantially warmer to wear than regular trousers, with the windproof fabric doing an effective job of keeping the breeze at bay.
These trousers excelled over a six-month period in the UK, meaning they’ve become an integral part of my MTB winter wardrobe.
The rear spray panel works effectively, stopping puddle splashes from soaking you from your thighs to your kidneys.
Although the non-waterproof fabric has splash-resistant properties, it will eventually soak through. These trousers aren’t built for proper wet rides – fully waterproof bib trousers, such as the excellent Madison DTE 3-Layer Waterproof Bib Trousers, are my go-to here.
What these trousers do, though, is keep the chilly breeze at bay.
The fit is good, with the stretchy nature of the non-waterproof fabric helping prevent the trousers from flapping, and the bib straps mean that even when the rear is loaded with mud, they don’t sag.
There’s room in the leg for moderately bulky knee pads, with the stretch and pre-built articulation not hampering pedalling.
You can feel the back panel pull against you a little when you’re leant over the bars, but it doesn’t impact your manoeuvrability over the bike, and any tightness around the front feels supportive rather than restrictive.
There’s enough breathability in the materials that the trousers don’t get clammy when you’re warm, and with the waterproof material extending down only to the back of the knees, you don’t get that cold, damp feel of a sweaty waterproof if you get hot.
Although the inner surface of the stretch material is soft on the skin, I wouldn’t wear these without a baselayer or a broad-backed pair of bib shorts because the waterproof back panel isn’t as nice next to the skin.
In terms of durability, these trousers have held up very well, although the seat panel has lost a little of its colour.
What do I wear bib trousers with?
For the majority of the time, I’ll pair these trousers with a baselayer and a jersey over the top – I’ve found these keep me warm enough during the cooler months of the year.
You can also pair them with a waterproof jacket if there’s a bit of light rain about, but the non-waterproof panels will still keep the worst of the spray off.
I have, on occasion, ventured out in full fisherman-style bibs.
If the temperature is hovering around double figures, I don’t want three layers of fabric over my torso, so I’ll put the jersey underneath and wear my bibs with pride.
Madison DTE 4 Season DWR Bib Trousers bottom line
There’s little to criticise these bib trousers for, other than I don’t think they’re a four-season item.
The fit is good, especially considering the three leg-length options available, and the adjustability of the straps should mean there’s a size to fit almost every rider.
The materials perform as intended and there’s little to complain about features-wise.
And if you wear them under a jersey or jacket, nobody will notice their different aesthetic.
At £149.99 RRP, they’re relatively good value for money too, especially when compared to the POC Motion MTB Dungarees, which are £80 more expensive and don’t have the waterproof panelling.
These Madison DTE 4 Seasons are a fantastic option for the mountain biker looking for a comfortable, effective and performance-rich pair of bib trousers.
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