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review

Vulpine Women's Urban Cycling Jeans

7
£100.00

VERDICT:

7
10
A good pair of cycling-detailed jeans, but be prepared to send them back when they don't fit
Weight: 
531g
Contact: 

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Vulpine's Women's Urban Cycling Jeans are so subtly detailed for use on the bike that they look just like a normal pair of jeans. They feel tough, with lots of stretch so they don't overly restrict your pedalling, but unfortunately the sizing was way off what the guide suggested, coming up much larger than expected.

> Buy these online here

The sizing issue is a shame because they're a really nicely made pair of jeans otherwise. They're slim fitting in the leg, so nothing to get caught on the chainring, and have a neatly stitched lining around the waist and the rear panel just below it. They're also made in Portugal, if such things matter to you.

Vulpine Womens Urban Cycling Jeans - riding.jpg

As with the Vulpine Summer Capris, the diamond gusset means you don't end up sitting on uncomfortable seams if you're not cycling with anything padded underneath, and the fabric edges/seams are covered with piping and stitched flat – all the way down the leg, in fact. It's all perfectly comfortable.

Vulpine Womens Urban Cycling Jeans - diamond gusset.jpg

As well as stretch in the fabric (they're 98% cotton, 2% elastane), there are darts on both sides of the knee area to help shape them for bending/pedalling.

Vulpine Womens Urban Cycling Jeans - knee detail.jpg

The only other cycling feature is the reflective detailing on the inside of the right leg, in a three-dashes pattern matching the waist liner, which is a nice touch. Roll your trouser leg up and there are 13 of the threesomes, starting low down so you don't need to hoick the leg right up and covering a length of about 14cm/6in. One has started to come unstuck (or wasn't stuck down completely in the first place), so take a bit of care to make sure they last.

Vulpine Womens Urban Cycling Jeans - reflective cuffs.jpg

Otherwise, there's not a huge amount to say. They're a good pair of jeans with useful cycling details. I like that they're not particularly 'styled' as some jeans can be; they're not especially high or low waisted, just kind of regular, with a zip fly and button, and the five pockets are straightforward and nothing out of the ordinary. They're a good size too: deep and roomy.

Vulpine Womens Urban Cycling Jeans - back detail.jpg

When it comes to pricing, I'm as aghast at what some people will pay for a pair of jeans as others can be at Rapha and Assos prices, so whether a cycling-friendly pair at £100 is good value or not I'll leave up to you (for reference, they're in the same ballpark as Rapha's women's jeans at £95, down from their original price of £150). They're certainly good quality and feel like they'll last.

> Read our guide to casual cycling commuter wear

Lastly – at the time of writing they're only available in XS and medium, though Vulpine says returns might boost the sizes available so keep an eye out.

Verdict

A good pair of cycling-detailed jeans, but be prepared to send them back when they don't fit

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Vulpine Womens Urban Cycling Jeans

Size tested: Medium, Regular

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Vulpine says: "Superbly comfortable & flattering urban cycling jeans that last.

"Comfortable, durable, stretchy urban cycling jeans for women. The fit is outstanding. Don't sit on seams, our Diamond Gusset takes the pressure off. Reflective driveside turnup. The slim cut combined with stretch offers style and comfort."

For me, the fit wasn't outstanding; otherwise, everything tallies.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Vulpine lists:

DIAMOND GUSSET

Don't sit on seams that chaffe and increase pressure. Our subtle Diamond Gusset prevents that

CYCLING FIT

Flattering, real world fit, that's comfortable on & off the bike

REFLECTIVITY

Reflective print on the driveside turn-up

DETAIL

Raised rear waistband helps keep these jeans in place while riding, while knee darts allow ease of movment

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Really well made.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

The fit was way out for me, but in terms of stretch, quality, reflective detailing etc they're really good.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Seem tough; stitching all good, denim quite heavyweight.

Rate the product for fit:
 
3/10

Jeans don't have to be a skintight fit, but these mediums – the same size as the figure-hugging Summer Capris I also tested – hung off me round the waist and hips, especially when I was sitting (on a chair or a bike). In fact, I could pull these on over another pair of jeans and still do them up.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
3/10

Yes, I could return them for a smaller pair – of course that's what I'd do if I was a regular customer – but I was already pushing the size guide by not going for the large; the mediums should have been tightish but they are most definitely not.

Rate the product for weight:
 
5/10

What you'd expect of a heavyweight pair of jeans. Which isn't a bad thing at all.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
7/10

The diamond gusset works well on the bike with no padding underneath (though there's plenty of room in these for a pair of padded shorts or two!).

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

£100 for a pair of jeans? Many are happy to pay that, and more, rather than only shop in the Gap sale...

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Easy. They're a pair of jeans.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Simple design, look good on and off the bike. Stretch in the fabric means the legs aren't restrictive when pedalling, and the reflectives are useful when you roll the right leg up.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Lack of seams in the crotch.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The fit/sizing.

Did you enjoy using the product? They were okay.

Would you consider buying the product? If I could find the right size/fit, maybe, though more than I'd usually spend on jeans.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

They're very good jeans, well made and with useful cycling details, but I have to knock the score down for the way-off sizing; even if it's free returns, it's still a faff to package them, take to a post office, etc, especially if the sizing says they should fit.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 52  Height: 169cm  Weight: size 10-12

I usually ride: Vitus Venon  My best bike is: Paulus Quiros

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, sportives, general fitness riding

Tass is our production pedant, who boldly goes hunting for split infinitives, rogue apostrophes and other things up with which she will not put. She joined road.cc in 2015 but first began working on bike magazines way back in 1991 as production editor on Mountain Biking UK, then deputy editor of MTB Pro, before changing allegiance to road cycling as senior production editor on Cycling Plus. She's ridden off-road but much prefers on, hasn't done half the touring she'd like to, and loves paper maps.

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15 comments

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 6 years ago
2 likes

I thought we were on a HOYcott following his Ratner moment???

Avatar
brooksby | 6 years ago
2 likes

So is road.cc officially back in love with Vulpine?  3

Avatar
fenix | 6 years ago
0 likes

If I don't want to risk the odd sizing dilemma again with Vulpine any recommendations for decent smart casual trousers for cycling ? I only have a short commute in but I'm a sucker for specifically designed kit.

Avatar
beezus fufoon replied to fenix | 6 years ago
1 like
fenix wrote:

If I don't want to risk the odd sizing dilemma again with Vulpine any recommendations for decent smart casual trousers for cycling ? I only have a short commute in but I'm a sucker for specifically designed kit.

I have a couple of pairs of Craghoppers' Classic Kiwi Trousers which you can pick up for about £30 from outdoors shops, which have lasted me well for 10 years, equally comfortable riding either with or without a pad underneath - the unlined version are quick drying, and can be easily rolled up to just below the knee for riding and then unfurled afterwards without too much creasing...

I got them to replace a favourite pair of mountain hardwear trekking pants which lasted a good 15 years but had taken one too many crashes on the hips and were more baggy with less of a well defined crease.

Avatar
fenix | 6 years ago
0 likes

I've only had one Vulpine top really odd fitting. And I rarely send things back - they Just fit. This managed to fit nowhere - arms too tight. Neck too big.

Just weird quality control.

Avatar
dottigirl replied to fenix | 6 years ago
1 like
fenix wrote:

I've only had one Vulpine top really odd fitting. And I rarely send things back - they Just fit. This managed to fit nowhere - arms too tight. Neck too big. Just weird quality control.

That's a similar comment to what I've made in every Vulpine thread. The fit of the top half was just weird. For women, there's just no room for boobage.

(It does make me wonder who they used for models, and if it really was a vanity project even down to the sizing. crying)

In more positive news, the Vulpine bottoms in medium usually fits me perfectly. I did 20 miles cycling around London today in the Gravel Trousers (unpadded), and they were great. Looked smart, were really comfortable, and a friend complimented my arse. 

Avatar
ashliejay | 6 years ago
1 like

gosh darn it, for once i'd like some commuter gear to come in chunky butt sizes.

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
2 likes

I don't see the point in cycle-specific casual clothing if you're only doing casual things on the actual bike. Yeah I can see you don't want to lycra up to meet your mates but therefore you're only off to meet your mates and won't be busting any Strava times, doing a century, getting hot and sweaty etc. 

Waist is too high anyway, looks like a 'dad' cut, especially at the back. 

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
1 like
Yorkshire wallet wrote:

I don't see the point in cycle-specific casual clothing if you're only doing casual things on the actual bike. Yeah I can see you don't want to lycra up to meet your mates but therefore you're only off to meet your mates and won't be busting any Strava times, doing a century, getting hot and sweaty etc. 

Waist is too high anyway, looks like a 'dad' cut, especially at the back. 

if I wear ordinary jeans when cycling they get worn out very quickly round the crotch. Cycling-specific jeans don't, they're much tougher. I also find them more comfortable to wear when cycling for any length of time in non-Lycra circumstances, probably because of the slight stretch.

Avatar
TypeVertigo replied to ConcordeCX | 6 years ago
1 like
ConcordeCX wrote:
Yorkshire wallet wrote:

I don't see the point in cycle-specific casual clothing if you're only doing casual things on the actual bike. Yeah I can see you don't want to lycra up to meet your mates but therefore you're only off to meet your mates and won't be busting any Strava times, doing a century, getting hot and sweaty etc. 

Waist is too high anyway, looks like a 'dad' cut, especially at the back. 

if I wear ordinary jeans when cycling they get worn out very quickly round the crotch. Cycling-specific jeans don't, they're much tougher. I also find them more comfortable to wear when cycling for any length of time in non-Lycra circumstances, probably because of the slight stretch.

This.

In my experience, even cycling-specific jeans don't help either. I had a pair of Levi's 508 Commuter pants and they were "airy" after about four months of daily use...which is frustrating because their cycling-specific touches made them more expensive than a plain old pair of denims.

For that particular reason of crotch/inner leg area wear, I've pretty much sworn off riding in denim or trousers if I can help it. Shorts, MTB baggies or Lycra for me.

Avatar
Jem PT replied to TypeVertigo | 6 years ago
0 likes

[/quote]

if I wear ordinary jeans when cycling they get worn out very quickly round the crotch. Cycling-specific jeans don't, they're much tougher. I also find them more comfortable to wear when cycling for any length of time in non-Lycra circumstances, probably because of the slight stretch.

[/quote]

This.

In my experience, even cycling-specific jeans don't help either. I had a pair of Levi's 508 Commuter pants and they were "airy" after about four months of daily use...which is frustrating because their cycling-specific touches made them more expensive than a plain old pair of denims.

For that particular reason of crotch/inner leg area wear, I've pretty much sworn off riding in denim or trousers if I can help it. Shorts, MTB baggies or Lycra for me.

[/quote]

 

I've had 2 pairs of the mens Vulpine jeans for over a year now. I commute 15 miles a day (round trip) 4 days a week and this commute has been only wearing these 2 pairs of jeans (although not at the same time!). There is no discernable wear in the crotch area (from cycling that is, lol).

Avatar
davel replied to Jem PT | 6 years ago
2 likes
Jem PT wrote:

I've had 2 pairs of the mens Vulpine jeans for over a year now. I commute 15 miles a day (round trip) 4 days a week and this commute has been only wearing these 2 pairs of jeans (although not at the same time!). There is no discernable wear in the crotch area (from cycling that is, lol).

Now I've got the image of a bloke I've never met dragging their arse along the ground, like a dog with an itch.

Avatar
Jem PT | 6 years ago
0 likes

I bought a couple of pairs of the (very similar looking) mens Vulpine jeans a couple of years ago and I've been very pleased with them. Sizing was spot-on for me, but maybe these are from a different source?

Avatar
Ratfink | 6 years ago
0 likes

It might be a man thing but i can't say i've ever been troubled by the seams in my jeans whilst cycling and never felt the need to spend over the top on cycling specific ones.

Black straight legged stretch Levis £50 from a workwear ahop do me fine.

Avatar
I love my bike replied to Ratfink | 6 years ago
0 likes
Ratfink wrote:

It might be a man thing but i can't say i've ever been troubled by the seams in my jeans whilst cycling and never felt the need to spend over the top on cycling specific ones.

Black straight legged stretch Levis £50 from a workwear shop do me fine.

Agree, especially as a saddle with central cut-out would seem to make the seam issue irrelevent?

The darts at the knee are interesting, as they always seem to be missing from the sleeves of even expensive cycling tops & jackets.

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