Being from the Northwest part of the U.S., it gets cold here, and that's typically paired with precipitation. Lots of it. For better or worse, Northwesterners like to consider themselves hearty individuals, ready to opt for a rain shell emblazoned with logos like 'Gore-Tex' rather than using an umbrella. It's like a badge of honor or something. Troy Lee Designs is a heritage brand I've worn plenty over the years, but it had been a minute, and I especially wasn't familiar with their current winter weather gear offering.
Full disclosure: I had zero information about the items when they arrived. This added some fun to the process, not having any preconceived notions. I was able to use things as I wished and saw fit. Upon first glance, considering any of the garments as winter gear was laughable. I was surprised that none of the clothing had the robust waterproof-ness I expected. But I kept an open mind, and set off into the elements willingly.
Crestline Jacket
| Mathis Jacket
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Ruckus Long Travel Pant
| TLD Swelter Pro Glove
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Sizing and Fit
I am squarely 5'8" and 160 pounds, but have a 6'4" wingspan and a 32" inseam. My pants tend to be a 30-32" waist. A size 9 or MD glove is usually the right size. Depending on the brand and type of clothing, I can sometimes get away with a size small jersey/jacket, but most often am a medium. I like my riding gear to fit snugly, so it can take a few attempts to zero in on the ideal size across different brands.
The Medium Crestline and Mathis jackets were a touch bigger than I prefer for a riding jacket, but the trade-off is that they fit nicely off the bike. I'll gladly accept that.
I received both 32" and 30" Ruckus pants. I opted for the 30s and found them to fit to my liking perfectly. The 32s were a tad voluminous even for my taste as a casual wear item.
The size Medium Swelter gloves fit a touch looser than I prefer my everyday gloves to feel, but the additional volume helped maintain blood flow when extra insulation was needed.
On The Trail
The Mathis and Crestline jackets and the Ruckus pants have a bit of a streetwear vibe to them. While specifically designed for riding bikes off-road, you certainly won't be immediately identified as going to, or coming straight from, the trailhead when stopping for coffee, lunch, or a post-ride beverage. I appreciate this. It adds versatility, value, and longevity to the items beyond just your bike clothing wardrobe.
The front and rear pockets of the Ruckus pants are really handy in transit to and from riding. Quick and easy places to put your wallet, keys, phone, etc, before getting settled into riding mode and moving these items to the zippered pockets. I typically prefer pants with a little stretch in the waistband for comfort, but the drawstring did a nice job of keeping them in place without being too constricting.
The same goes for the jackets: handy storage, easy to access, and plenty of volume. I didn't use the rear storage compartment of the Crestline jacket, but I also barely took notice of it. A nice addition if needed, I suppose.
On days when TLD's minimalistic Ace gloves didn't provide enough warmth, the additional insulation of the Swelter Gloves was noticeable. I absolutely cannot wear gloves with stitching and additional panels on the palms, which the Swelter gloves don't have. I also prefer a really snug and slim fit. I like as clean and precise hand contact with the grip as I can get. The Swelter Gloves do a really nice job of providing more warmth than a traditional glove without compromising contact. 10/10 here. They have an ever-so-slightly looser fit than the Ace glove, but not so much that it was bothersome.
I'm on the tail end of an Achilles repair, and found myself a touch less motivated to go riding on the most miserable days. So I didn't subject the garments to much torrential rain, but the bit that I did, things soaked through pretty quickly. This provides a good talking point: in the PNW, if you want to ride regularly through the winter, you simply have to accept that you're going to get soaked. No matter how technologically advanced your clothing is. Sure, you might have the most waterproof jacket and pants, but you'll end up just as saturated from perspiration. Layering is critical. Wet, but warm enough, is the goal.
The garments are not intended to be waterproof. Water resistant, yes. And they performed as advertised. Note to self: We live in a bubble, there are a lot of other places that don't see as much rain as Bellingham, and this gear would be great 99% of the time when temperatures warrant it.
If I were heading out the door confident that it was going to rain for the entirety of my ride, I'd opt for a different jacket or shell than the Mathis or Crestline. But depending on the temperature, I would by all means use either under a more protective shell. That said, I did ride quite a bit in both jackets when the forecast called for periodic light rain and stayed comfortable. The majority of my rides have been between 45 and 55°F.
I would wear the Ruckus pants as often as any other more or less waterproof pants in my gear stash. The fit was good, with ample stretch and convenient zippered and non-zippered pockets. My one caveat to this is the traditional rear pockets. While convenient, not having a zippered closure makes them extremely subject to catching on your rear tire knobs when things trend more downward. All of my bikes have a 27.5" rear wheel, and still, the inboard upper corner of the left rear pocket is already torn and getting worse due to contact with the rear tire. This should definitely be a consideration when making a purchase decision.
Also worth noting, all of the clothing has been through at least 10 wash cycles. No major red flags so far, with the exception of the Ruckus pants drawstring working its way out. This could easily be resolved by taking care to tie it before washing.
What's the Bottom Line?
Crestline Jacket
As much as I like this jacket, it would rarely be my go-to item for riding. More often than not, I would require bringing an additional shell. But, that is completely due to where I live. If your climate provides cooler and drier winter weather it would be considerably more functional. In transit to and from the trail, and out and about on the streets it finds its stride.
Strengths
| Weaknesses
|
Mathis Jacket
This jacket surprised me. At first glance, it seemingly wouldn't hold its own in the elements. But it does a more than decent job of fending off light rain, and proved to be quite breathable due to the smart balance of light torso insulation and breathable under-arm panels. It also flies under the radar well in public settings.
Strengths
| Weaknesses
|
Ruckus Pants
These pants performed really well for me. Ample storage options, good stretch, comfortable. With the exception of the rear pocket tearing, these have become a go-to but will require some repairs in time.
Strengths
| Weaknesses
|
Swelter Gloves
These gloves are great when the temperatures warrant. They provide good contact with the grip, good digit sensitivity on controls, and are not too bulky. In mixed weather they can actually be too warm.
Strengths
| Weaknesses
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"This is not sheep in wolf's clothing; It's cold-weather gear, as advertised. In general, even living in one of the rainier parts of the world, I'm pretty happy with the gear and will continue to ride in it by choice. Heck, it's in my regular rotation outside of biking. I've even received compliments about the items. There will be a point when I either need to repair the pants or decommission them. When I opt for the former, I'll carefully remove the stitching and pockets from the rear."
About the Tester
Lars Sternberg aka ‘LarsNBars’ - Age: 48 / Bikes became life in 1988 / Height: 5’ 8” (172.7cm) / Weight: 165 lb (74.8kg)
A lifetime of experiences packaged as a mountain biker. Lars learned the fundamentals of hardware thread pitch and differences of metric and imperial tools in the family bike shed at 8 years old. He learned geometry, radius and physics by building and shaping jumps and berms. Growing up at a time when it wasn’t socially acceptable to be both a skateboarder and a biker, he gravitated towards two wheels. Racing was an early and eventual lifetime passion. Bikes provided him a career in the industry. Having lived most of his life full throttle, he now enjoys riding in the middle of the pack, sharing experiences however possible, and finding balance in life.
| Where To Buy | |||
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Free shipping on orders over $69 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
Free shipping on orders over $69 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. $176.00
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Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
Free shipping on orders over $50 (continental U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. $295.00
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Free U.S. shipping on everything.
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
Free U.S. shipping on everything.
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. $176.00
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Free shipping on orders over $50 (contiguous U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. |
Free shipping on orders over $50 (contiguous U.S. only).
International shipping available. Some exclusions apply. $295.00
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12/11/2025 10:39am
View replies to: TESTED: Troy Lee Designs 2025 Winter Gear
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