Fox Wilson Men's Black Preston Logo Jeans

The Fox Wilson Men's Black Preston Logo Jeans, from Orro Bikes, perform well for urban or casual riding. The fit is similar to those from more established jeans brands, and work just as well off the bike as on it.

One of the issues I find when cycling around London is that when I want to ride somewhere and do a non-cycling activity I need to wear regular clothes. It means sweaty and uncomfortable rides and, more importantly, busted crotches on my Levi's. Although there are several options available (including Levi's) it can be difficult to find a pair of jeans or trousers that both look good off the bike and perform well on it, but that's what these Fox Wilsons are aimed at.

> Buy these online here

Rather than simply being a pair of jeans you can ride in, the Fox Wilsons have as much technology crammed into them as possible. This includes use of Dry Schoeller Denim, designed to be both water and stain resistant. They have also been reinforced in some of the key areas, including the pockets and crotch, meaning less chance of splits and tears, common with regular jeans. There are also some reflective elements on the pockets and the back of the right leg.

The fit is relaxed, with a slim boot cut rather than skinny. That said, I could have done with having a little more room around the quads, although they weren't particularly restrictive on or off the bike. The denim used has a good level of flex, so they were comfortable on the bike when pedalling. This is helped by the waistband being raised at the rear, helping to reduce the chance of revealing too much to the person behind you, something unfortunately common with regular jeans.

The reinforced elements also seem to hold up well, although it's unlikely they would show any wear within the review period. But they seem robust and well made, and I'm pretty confident they'll hold up for a long time.

Off the bike, the fit and look of the jeans disguises their technical nature. While testing, I regularly wore them to social gatherings without anybody mentioning them. I tend to wear black jeans, like these, so it suggests they pass as regular jeans in a social setting.

The technical elements work well too. In terms of water resistance, I tried them in light rain and they worked fine, although in heavier rain they let water through. As for stain protection, it's hard to tell because they're black, so naturally don't show much up, but I couldn't see anything when looking closely.

They have also been treated with ActiveSilver to prevent odour, and despite me wearing them on and off the bike constantly for five days, they didn't smell at all.

> Check out our guide to the best casual cycling kit for commuting

Reflective elements on the jeans sit on the back of the right leg (on the inside, so only visible when you roll them up) and a small logo on the back right pocket. These work well and add a nice element of safety when riding in the dark. Given that the biggest high-vis element is hidden until needed (although after washing you get a slight 'ghost image' on the outside), they maintain the look of non-technical clothing without losing the tech. There is also a loop on the belt line for a D-lock, which works effectively too.

Their RRP of £89.99 is almost bang on the same price as the Levi's Commuters, which I would say are their main competitors. Given that this is a similar price to non-commuting jeans (Levi's 520s, which I normally wear, are the same price) it means that if you are a regular urban cyclist, they may well be worth a punt. You can also spend a fair bit more – such as the Resolute Bay RB2 cycling jeans for £140 and Vulpine's Jinzu Jeans for £179. 

Verdict

Excellent urban riding jeans, incorporating loads of tech in a non-tech looking garment