Fox Racing Attack Water Pants

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There is no bad weather, only bad clothes. Fox Racing has really taken that mantra to heart over the last two years, introducing an impressive collection of riding apparel meant to keep you warm and dry when things take a nasty turn outside. A pair of full rain pants was still missing from the line-up however, so to address that particular shortcoming Fox launched the Attack Water pants for the 2018/2019 winter season. We’ve been getting them dirty in order to be able to tell you what we think of them, read on to find out!

Fox Racing Attack Water Highlights

• TruSeal advanced weather protection
• Lightweight three layer waterproof breathable main body fabric
• 2 zippered mesh lined pockets
• Fully seam sealed interior
• C6 DWR treated
• Rider Attack Position cut specific for MTB
• Ratchet adjustment closure system
• Tapered leg fit designed for pedaling
• 10,000mm waterproof / 10,000g/m2 24-hour breathability
• MSRP: $174.95 USD

Initial Impressions

When we first discovered Fox’s 2017/2018 winter collection, we were really impressed with the quality and the features, and a full wet season of use and abuse has since proven that the performance lasts well beyond those positive first impressions too. It therefore came as no surprise when the new Attack Water pants showed up looking every bit as well thought out as the rest of the winter collection.

The top part of the Attack Water pants is made of a soft, stretchy, and waterproof fabric that appears very similar to the one used in the Attack Pro Water short. The lower leg is constructed with a tougher and much more durable fabric to stand up to abuse dished out by branches, thorns, and other malevolent trailside objects. The waterproof rating of the Attack Water pants is 10k/10k, which translates to being able to withstand the pressure of a 10 meter high water column without leaking and being able to vent 10 liters of steam through 1 square meter of fabric in a 24-hour period. In real world terms, 10k/10k fabrics are considered fully waterproof and should be able to deal with pretty foul weather for long periods of time before failing to keep you dry.

In terms of features, the Attack Water pants have two zippered pockets and a ratchet closure that allows you to adjust the waist. Unlike the Attack Pro Water shorts however, the pockets on the Attack Water pants are constructed with a mesh fabric and the zippers are not completely weather sealed. Other than that, there’s an elastic cuff at the bottom of the hems which works in conjunction with the snug cut to prevent the pants from flapping around or getting caught in the drive train. The seams are flatlock stitched and sealed from the inside.

On The Trail

“Attack Water” isn’t some new-school yoga term or ancient Japanese fighting technique but rather a name and a reference to Fox’s “Rider Attack Position” or "RAP", the three-letter acronym that means the stuff was made for riding bikes in. On the Attack Water pants, this translates to a fairly tight cut without excess bagginess and a pre-formed shape that was designed for pedaling.

The overall fit of the Attack Water pants is on the slim side, but they run true to size (this tester is 6’0”, 32.5” inseam, 36” waist, and Fox’s size 34/L is perfect). Just like the Indicator pants we reviewed earlier this season, they hug the lower leg fairly closely to make sure the hems will never get caught in your drivetrain, but they are not tight against the skin. The hems are pretty short, but this seems to be by design to make sure they don't bulk up or get in the way. Similarly, the pants sit fairly close to the crotch area to avoid getting in the way as you move around on the bike, but they are never restrictive in any way. The elastic nature of the fabric used for the top half of the pants helps them keep up with all your acrobatics, while the ratchet buckle provides enough adjustability to further fine tune the fit.

As for the fun side of the hill, there’s just something about wearing pants that makes you shred a little bit harder – at least in your mind!

Unless you really want to stand out like a sore thumb, you’ll be wearing your knee protection under your pants. We’ve tested the Attack Water pants with both smaller, minimalist knee guards as well as full-fledged protectors, and there is plenty of room to run either. We were most surprised to discover that these pants still pedal really well even with bulky kneepads underneath them, which is not something that can be said for all rain pants out there. They are also very quiet in action – not quite as silent as the aforementioned Indicator pants, but definitely not noisy to the point of becoming a nuisance on the trail. As for the fun side of the hill, there’s just something about wearing pants that makes you shred a little bit harder – at least in your mind!

Of course, it’s when the conditions get wet and miserable that the Attack Water pants really shine. We’ve had them out for several rainy and muddy rides so far, and we have been pleasantly surprised by just how warm and dry they have kept us. They are quite thin, but the fabric used blocks out the wind and holds the body heat in really well. Rain water stays out, but thanks to the breathability of the fabric you never feel like you are trapped in a sauna. Crucially, the fabric is very soft to the touch on the inside, and never feels wet or clingy. Even keeping our muddy bum on the saddle for extended climbs did not result in much more than a slightly damp chamois at the very end of the ride. Pair the Attack Water pants up with the superb Attack Pro Water jacket and perhaps the Indicator Thermo jersey if it gets really cold, and you should be able to face whatever adversity awaits.

Things That Could Be Improved

It would make a lot of sense for at least one of the pockets to be completely waterproof, to keep your phone safe not just from the rain but also from your sweat. As it stands, the mesh pocket provides little in terms of internal protection, and while the zipper is of the sturdy kind it could potentially let some water get through in a real downpour.

Long Term Durability

This is only a First Ride kind of review, so we will hold off final judgement on durability until we’ve put some more miles in. However, if we refer back to the other Fox winter gear that we reviewed last year, we certainly feel optimistic about the longevity of these new pants. After that review was published, we kept using the stuff throughout the winter, and we were able to really put it to the test. Both the shorts and the jacket saw plenty of miserable conditions, and they really came through with flying colors. Given that the Attack Water pants share fabrics and construction techniques with those items, it bodes well when it comes to durability.

What’s The Bottom Line?

The Fox Racing Attack Water pants were designed to provide full-leg protection from the elements without hindering your movements on the bike or causing you to overheat. Lightweight and comfortable, they really hit the mark. The elastic upper part makes itself forgotten in use, while the tougher lower leg portion helps ward off thorns, loose rocks, and other trailside objects plotting your demise. They keep you dry in the wet and are easy to clean – which is good, because they are quickly turning into one of our favorite winter season gear items.

More information at: www.foxracing.com.

About The Reviewer

Johan Hjord - Age: 45 // Years Riding MTB: 13 // Weight: 190-pounds (87-kg) // Height: 6'0" (1.84m)

Johan loves bikes, which strangely doesn’t make him any better at riding them. After many years spent practicing falling off cliffs with his snowboard, he took up mountain biking in 2005. Ever since, he’s mostly been riding bikes with too much suspension travel to cover up his many flaws as a rider. His 200-pound body weight coupled with unique skill for poor line choice and clumsy landings make him an expert on durability - if parts survive Johan, they’re pretty much okay for anybody. Johan rides flat pedals with a riding style that he describes as "none" (when in actuality he rips!). Having found most trail features to be not to his liking, Johan uses much of his spare time building his own. Johan’s other accomplishments include surviving this far and helping keep the Vital Media Machine’s stoke dial firmly on 11.

Photos by Nils Hjord and Johan Hjord