One Industries Vapor Pants

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Words by Sean “Griz” McClendon. Photos by Ian Collins.

Well-known and respected in the motocross world, ONE Industries is about to make a charge into the bike market, and they're doing it in style. We recently had the opportunity to try out the new ONE Vapor pant, a crossover from their moto line that feels like it was made for mountain biking. Made with two-way stretch polyester, a touch of leather, an adjustable waist, and a velcro-style waist closure, the Vapor pant is like no other.

Key Specs

• Constructed of a two-way stretch poly material - The outer shell is 95% polyester and 5% leather, and the lining is 100% polyester.
• Unrestricted movement with full-length stretch construction
• Weigh less than one pound (!)
• Dual side waist adjusters with aggressive hook and loop
• Quad Fit inner liner system
• 1000D Kordura rear saddle panel
• Sublimated graphics

Things We Liked

There is a lot to like about the Vapor pant, most notably the stretchy material and their incredibly light weight. It feels like you’re slipping into board shorts with leather knees when you put them on. Seriously. The stretchy Quad-Fit liner and outer material is thin enough to provide excellent cooling and comfort, and the combo of the two worked well when mobility came into question. Knee pads fit great with ample flexibility under the pant thanks to a well-designed cut and material. The pants don't have any visible vents, but they're not needed as long as you’re moving, making this gear ideal for hot days on the hill. We rode in heat ranging in the high 90s and hardly noticed we had pants on.

The inseam and saddle area is durable thanks to a thicker polyester material commonly used in motocross pants. It's not loud while riding or hiking, though, which is another big plus. Stitching is solid and the overall cut is very comfortable.

The most impressive aspect of these pants is their weight. At just under one pound, they're hands down the lightest riding pants we've ever worn. How'd they make them so light? ONE worked closely with athletes like moto superstar Justin Brayton and the Atherton Family to develop a pant with a minimal panel count that still had sufficient stretch, eliminating the need for multiple materials. They also said good riddance to the heavy, bulky, and not-so-flexible molded rubber TPR patches, opting instead for a fully sublimated graphics package.

Justin Brayton has had an entire season of supercross and motocross racing on these pants, and he's keen to fill you in on the rest of the details in this video from ONE:

Things That Could Be Improved

We understand these pants were originally designed for motocross, so there are a few inherent shortcomings to be expected. First, we would have loved a pocket. Second, moto guys tuck their pants inside their boots, so the pants are cut slightly shorter than normal to prevent bunching. If you like a little extra length on your pants, sizing up will help you accomplish this.

Given how light and thin they are, durability is another area for concern. Crashing might destroy the pants, but keep in mind they inspire comfort and a desire to avoid hitting the ground. We felt too light and clean to crash in the gear, so we were not able to see how tough the pant actually is. We'll update you if and when that happens.

What’s The Bottom Line?

With comfort, ventilation and flexibility in mind, we have been really impressed with the ONE Vapor pants. At a price tag of $185, the cost will feel worthwhile the day when you are literally the coolest rider on the hill. We’ve never ridden in a motocross pant this light, comfortable and suitable for downhill before. Flexible and light materials, Velcro waist clinch and loud but cool graphics highlight the list of features we enjoy most about these unique pants.

For more about the Vapor pants, cruise over to www.oneindustries.com. Oh, and be sure to check out the Vapor jersey and gloves as well, because no kit should be mismatched.