Cortech Sequoia XC Adventure Touring Pants

Just an FYI, Tour Master and Cortech products are designed and developed by the same folks. Their 2015 catalog of products shows two different size charts for Cortech pants and Tour Master pants. The main difference is that they show Cortech pants being 2” bigger in the waist than Tour Master pants. But I’ve measured a selection of these pants and I find they follow the Tour Master chart rather than the Cortech chart so that is the chart I’m presenting to you below.

To choose a size, get a waist measurement with a tape. And measure yourself a bit higher on your body than typical jeans because protective pants like this ride a little higher. Use the measurements to choose the size pant you need. These pants are designed to be worn over underwear (not as overpants). If you decide to wear them over street clothing, then take your measurements OVER the clothes you think you’ll have on underneath.

The pants have some effective Velcro tabs on the waist you can use to snug the pants a bit… about two inches below the max, so that is why a range is listed in the chart.

Need help measuring? Get it here.

Update 12-14-15: Our own guest test rider Andrew Bereczky reviews this jacket and pant combo… he even crashed it!

See Andrew’s video above, and read his full review here

My original review: My overall thoughts… “a very nice pant built to a very specific purpose but perfectly usable by the masses.” The very specific purpose of the Sequoia XC pants is for adventure riding, which means to me, part paved roads along with everybody else on the road and part on dirt, you know, over hill over dale, etc, like an off road rider.

These pants are nicely styled and use better than usual materials (for Cortech). The mix of rip-stop nylon and more abrasion resistant nylon in impact areas looks sharp, especially on the Grey/Black pant. Speaking of which, the grey/black palette seems to be in favor for adventure riders over the last few seasons.

I like the waistband design. There is a sturdy hook closure in front, big elastic panels on each side with very functional waist adjustment tabs. They’ll be comfortable and adjustable for long hours in the saddle.

The overall fit of the pants is pretty normal up top, but the legs are made intentionally larger than normal to accommodate knee braces (which are common in off road riding), and also for the larger shaft of sturdy boots. The pants are VERY adjustable below the knee though, which is nice.

The pants include both knee and hip armor. And the knee armor pocket in the liner of the pants is elongated and fitted with Velcro strips to allow you to position the armor in a high, medium or low position. The hip armor is simple foam (and removable).

Being a relaxed pant, wearing them is comfortable. The pants are largely a “solid” textile, but they do have some stretch material in the inside thigh area which will flow some air and there are a couple zippered vents on the outside of the thighs (an odd placement if you want to catch the air blast, but anyway). So overall, the pants shouldn’t be hotter than any other long pant, but they aren’t mesh, so no tropical jungle riding please!

The pants do include a removable wind/waterproof liner which you can use in the pants to help on cool mornings for just a bit of wind block, or if you get in a rain, they’ll keep you dry (although the pant shell gets wet).

Now, getting back to the original comment… although these pants have very specific features for an adventure touring rider, I don’t see why all sorts of people wouldn’t enjoy them as well. They are sharp and well made and have many features street riders would enjoy. Overall, a very nice design I think. :: Paul, 06-03-15