Specialized’s Demo Pro Pants have been going for a few years now, and the design has remained unchanged in that time. Do they make it into our list of the best mountain bike pants and trousers?

There’s now only one colour – black – and it still uses the same VaporRize fabric that’s claimed to offer good breathability, durability and splash protection. Although not as light as some of the fabrics on other pants in our group test, the large vented panels – at the front and behind the knee – do a good job of channelling fresh air. The result is that they run cooler than the weight suggests.

We had issue with the waist fastening popping open

With 11% Spandex incorporated into the nylon fabric, there’s bags of stretch. The fit is also a touch looser than some rivals, and the waist has plenty of adjustment. However, the velcro straps have sharp rubber tips that regularly get caught on jerseys and hip pack belts. At the fly there’s a zip, velcro panel, and dual pop studs. Even so, we’ve had issues bursting out of the poppers with these pants in the past, so it’s an area that could be improved.

The thigh pockets are set too low for riding with cargo in them

The DWR is still going strong on one pair of Demo Pro Pants that we’ve been riding in for years, even if the perforated panels let in anything more than a few splashes.

• Best mountain bike pants and trousers: reviewed and rated by experts

Our biggest criticism of the Demo Pro Pants, aside from the waist construction, is the pockets. There are three, which seems generous, but one is at the back of the waist and all but useless. The others are too low on the front of the thigh, so the contents slap annoyingly against your thigh when pedalling or throwing the bike around. It’s really off-putting.

One of the three pockets is very small and positioned on the rear of the waistband