These Gorewear Endure GORE-TEX Pants are the best rain pants I’ve found for surviving a winter of riding in the Pacific NorthWET

Because sometimes, lycra—insulated or not—just isn’t enough

Gorewear Endure GORE-TEX pants
(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

The Gorewear Endure GORE-TEX pants are lightweight, waterproof and versatile enough for everything from road rides to off-road riding. They’re not perfect, but in my endless quest for decent rain pants, they’re the best I’ve found so far. Unfortunately, they’re being phased out due to PFAS chemicals, so grab a pair while you still can.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Waterproof

  • +

    Lightweight

  • +

    Packable

  • +

    Good fit

  • +

    Not too sweaty

  • +

    Closure options around ankles

  • +

    Good pocket location

  • +

    Versatile

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    A bit noisy

  • -

    Not PFAS free

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

I've called the Pacific NorthWET home for 15 years now. Around here, the rain rolls in by October and drapes everything in gloom until the end of April. Even then, the occasional rainy day pops up to keep us on our toes and the foliage green. All that to say, I’m well-acquainted with riding in the rain—whether it’s a friendly drizzle or a full-on “might as well have gone swimming” deluge.

I’ve been on a quest for a decent pair of waterproof cycling pants for ages. I know, I know—rain pants are supposedly for commuters, mountain bikers, and those doing recon laps on a muddy cyclocross course. But hear me out: when it’s pouring like a broken fire hydrant and your fenders are redirecting road spray straight onto your shins, lycra –even the insulated kind– offers little in the way of protection. Sometimes, I just want that extra layer against the elements. And yes, I’ve tried several of those high-tech bib tights with their fancy coatings promising some protection. But none of them are truly waterproof. They end up soaking through and then cling to the moisture like a sponge. (If you have discovered the Holy Grail of waterproof tights, drop it in the comments below.)

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Anne-Marije Rook
North American Editor

Cycling Weekly's North American Editor, Anne-Marije Rook is old school. She holds a degree in journalism and started out as a newspaper reporter — in print! She can even be seen bringing a pen and notepad to the press conference.

Originally from the Netherlands, she grew up a bike commuter and didn't find bike racing until her early twenties when living in Seattle, Washington. Strengthened by the many miles spent darting around Seattle's hilly streets on a steel single speed, Rook's progression in the sport was a quick one. As she competed at the elite level, her journalism career followed, and soon, she became a full-time cycling journalist. She's now been a journalist for two decades, including 12 years in cycling.

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