Who rides in pants that aren’t specific MTB pants?

I ride in Lululemon ABC Warpstreme due to length requirements (37" inseam model). Been a big fan for trail riding (only when it’s cold- as I hate pants). Extremely comfortable fit and material.  Not quite what I would want on DH days though. 
 

I used to ride in Dickies cut off and hemmed to just below the knee.

i ride in dickies or the costco banana republic pants. i have to put the driveside pant leg of dickies into my sock so it doesn't get snagged by the chain. if over 80 degrees, i go shorts.

I bought a few pairs of Target golf pants when they were on a massive sale. They're too tight to be casual wear for me but they're some sort of tech fabric and are good for Spring and Fall riding. 

Golf shirts from thrift shops make good jerseys too. I'm not a golfer, nor a fan, but the clothes work for riding. 

I'm wearing some weird Wrangler All Terrain Gear pants that I saw on sale. Biggest selling points: were cheap, slim cuffs at the ankle to keep out of chain but had enough room for knee pads, seemed to be durable material, had built-in belt so I could keep pants on during my ride.

Previously all of my shorts/pants would fit more loosely at the end of a ride (probably not helped by the hip pack I was wearing at the time). This one having a built-in-belt meant I could tighten that shit if it started to happen.

I've crashed a ton in them and they've held up well. I don't think they're available any more but the "Wranger ATG Wyoming Trail Jogger" is the most similar thing I could find on their website currently.

i clicked on the thread and my vote is that thumbnail photo should be censored. nothing but ptsd from the goobers that wear those pants

my buddy nick wears swim shorts for years now. honestly great tactic. he is beyond bothered by how expensive mtb specific shorts are, just to be thrashed from one spill and the hyper annoying shh shh shh noise when climbing/pedaling

haha I wear swim trunks like 365. if you get the amphibious/hybrid shorts aka swim trunks that are normal shorts with pockets, they make amazing riding shorts!! been my go to and favorites for a long time. 

right! I thought he was crazy at first... but then i realized all my shorts are O'Neill/quicksilver hybrids. my go to choice for the pump track. although i cannot wear shorts on MTB

This guy may have a few tips

I ride in a pair of dickies skate pants. I can't bring myself to shell out the cash needed for a pair of decent riding pants when almost none of them have zippered hand pockets to keep your phone and keys. They’re also all way too tight. 

In the winter I wear Swrve pants, which are technically bike-specific pants, but from the 2000s when a bunch of companies made business-casual work pants that were also nice to commute in. They are amazingly hard-wearing, 4-way stretch, and slightly tapered towards the ankle so they don't get caught in the chain. Above 10C I'm in shorts because my shins are mostly scar tissue, and also Canada.

I wear Regatta walking trousers (UK). They fit me well, come in a long enough leg (why do so many manufacturers work on the principal that the longer your legs are, the wider your waist must be), stretch in the right places and they're £36 per pair, not the end of the world if I trash them in a crash.

I've got some 686 Everywhere pants that are my go to for trail work, camping or riding.  They are not as cheap as some non-bike specific alternatives (~110 usd iirc) but they are honestly pretty amazing for all rounders.  Great for trips where I am going to be riding and prioritize clothing that can be dual use, without looking like a bike dork when I don't want to.  

When riding in jeans I use either Levi’s or the stretchy Handup riding jeans. For dh I bought the Specialized Demo Race (I think?) pants when they were on closeout, I really like them for the venting, easy fitment of knee pads and that they don’t get soaked from minor splashes. 

Wrangler ATG are really good if they're still ~$25

I did a casual road/gravel/doubletrack ride in Prana Zions today. They're a bit baggy but have the drawstring around the ankle cuffs

I have 4 pairs of decathlon hiking pants that cost €30 each. They are lighter than a fox flexair, have 4 zippered pockets and are extremely stretchy. I can have a phone in one pocket, snacks in another, car keys in another and still have a spare pocket. I do bug rides all year long and haven't worn a backpack in years (tools on bike).

Decathlon now do a decent MTB pant that is a racier fit, but with only 2 pockets so I prefer the hiking one most rides.

I bring this up every occasion I can: TLD oversenders are one of the worst items of clothing to attempt to ride in, terrible design choices.

I have a few mtb specific stuff mostly for park days.  Having split some regular shorts off a drop and mooning the whole lift line I pretty much got forced into buying one pair to keep riding and have gotten some stuff on ultra clearance.

95 percent of the time I ride in regular athletic shorts from the thrift store or clearance aisle at discount stores.  In the winter I’ll put on some long Johns under the shorts and wear extra socks.

+1 for Decathlon hiking pants. Good Q/P. Good for hiking, mtbing, even for working on field (hydrogeology - anyone from a National Geol Survey here? 😇).

Some jogger style or adjustable bottom pant loop version of the Decathlon MH500 is great. Limited colours. Reasonably cheap. Weird Asian or Euro sizes. They go over top of pads nicely. Bonus they are also good for hiking in.

https://www.decathlon.ca/en/p/8917640/mens-hiking-pants-mh-500-blue

I still like my fancy bike specific pants more... I will always choose my NF DP3s or Specialized pants in the park. Decathlon pants are very acceptable cheap versions that lean towards the lightweight pedalling side of the spectrum.

Ditto on this one. I have the same pants and they are pretty damn nice. I think the collab mtb pants they did with Evil were basically these same exact pants with different pocket placement. They last forever and are super comfortable on the bike. 

Same, the 686 Everywhere pants are great.

Also, Stio Pinedale joggers are my favorite mtb pants.  They're made from some indestructible softshell material that a few other brands also use, the fit and warmth/breathability work great for cold weather mtb, and fit slim knee pads underneath better than any actual mtb pant I have used.

Here in nz, mons royale make a good comfy pant called the virage. Light and handy enough pockets but only buy on sale. Also a local brand called macpac do pants marketed as for bouldering. A regular fit but still with pockets and a zipper small one for keys. Much cheaper, light and breathable. Good for riding, hiking and rock climbing. 

If you have a sewing machine, any pants can be riding pants. 

In Australia we have a store called "connor" that's like a menswear brand, they have shorts exactly like dickies but 1/2 the price. I just ride in those now. Almost indestructible. Phone and keys stay put.

In saying that, I've had the same pair of TLD shorts for over 5 years. Countless crashes and washes and they look new. Great quality.

Shoutout to jorts. 

Kuhl Renegade Recon have a zip pocket, side thigh pockets for phone & snacks. Stretch enough and are resistant enough to withstand most crashes. And…taper enough at the base of the legs to look ridiculous for everyday wear, but work PERFECTLY on the trail. Bought a pair onsale for $75 that have been my winter go-to riding pants for 4 years

Just the one.

Oy! Mister smartypants! (Pun intended.) We're here to talk pants. Not your truth and reasonableness.

Another vote for the hybrid shorts, usually inexpensive ones from Costco. When pants are called for, I wear some lightweight hiking pants; I need at least 36” inseams so options are somewhat limited. I used to ride a rigid Gary fisher in jeans (505 Levi’s) all the time before stretchy men’s pants were common. Now I am all stretch and full squish and probably won’t go back on either.

The dharco jorts are super comfy, and lowkey branding so I dony feel like a total Mtb nerd wearing them.