Commuting - REI Headwinds pants

I see REI has these in stock again. I bought a pair last year and love them for cool temps and light rain or fog. I have ridden in these pants down into the low 40's and they kept me warm. They do repel water but I think if it were raining hard I might get wet. Front of pants are windproof and the back is pretty bretheable. I don't know how they would be in frigid temps like a lot of you get back in the midwest but for here in the Seattle/Tacoma area they are really nice. Plus they aren't skin tight but just snug. I don't work for REI but I do like this particular item so I bought another pair and I'm gonna get my wife a pair too.

I use them also and really like them though I consider them a gateway drug towards spandex. :)

I've got them. Great pants.

I use them also and really like them though I consider them a gateway drug towards spandex. :)

I don't like spandex tights and not a hardcore roadie I wanted an alternative for colder temps. these fit the bill perfectly if I have to walk around in the store or when I'm on a ride and want to stop in and get a bite to eat they don't look so goofy at least to me.

I agree these are great pants. I have had them for 3 winters and they are still going strong. I don't ride as much in winter, perhaps once maybe twice at most per week, but these make it possible. I recall some were complaining that they were not available last year at REI, so it is good to seem them again.

However, I don't think they have to be limited to temps 40F and above. I have worn them in temps in the 20s or so, perhaps even in the teens. Once it is in the 30s, I will wear a very thin pair of long underwear and that does the trick to keep me warm. Because the Headwind pants are rather loose, they can easily fit a thin layer of long underwear, it does not take much of an underlayer to be comfortable in temps below 40s because your legs are doing a lot of the work to keep you warm.

I tried these yesterday, felt right, ordered a pair for the winter, thanks for the suggestion.

I agree these are great pants. I have had them for 3 winters and they are still going strong. I don't ride as much in winter, perhaps once maybe twice at most per week, but these make it possible. I recall some were complaining that they were not available last year at REI, so it is good to seem them again.

However, I don't think they have to be limited to temps 40F and above. I have worn them in temps in the 20s or so, perhaps even in the teens. Once it is in the 30s, I will wear a very thin pair of long underwear and that does the trick to keep me warm. Because the Headwind pants are rather loose, they can easily fit a thin layer of long underwear, it does not take much of an underlayer to be comfortable in temps below 40s because your legs are doing a lot of the work to keep you warm.

Yep a pair of silk longjohns work great under them. If its raining really hard I just break out the REI Taku W/B and put them on. Keeps me dry for my 7.2 mile commute.

love the stuff REI carries. when things got really cold last year I wore some tights under the pants and then switched to snow pants like for skiing and hiking. NOT snowboarding pants, those are cool but way too heavy and bulky

I am going to buy a pair Friday when the 20% off member coupon becomes active.

I fully expect these plus a pair of tights to be fine for me down to near zero F. I normally wear a regular pair of tights over cycling shorts down to the mid-20s and am fine with that.

Man headwind pants;

Will they help me ride into a headwind? :D

I GOT to get me some of these.

noticed that these went on sale, they are at $55.79 (http://www.rei.com/product/786461) now

noticed that these went on sale, they are at $55.79 (http://www.rei.com/product/786461) now

Aughhhhhhhhhh! I just bought a pair one friggen week ago. Tore the tags off, so can't return 'em. Well, crap.

Aughhhhhhhhhh! I just bought a pair one friggen week ago. Tore the tags off, so can't return 'em. Well, crap.

You could return them, but you don't need to. Take your receipt to them and they'll give you the difference. I do it all the time. REI takes everything back. No questions. Awesome store.

So are these pants. I use them all the time and they work great for our wet Winters here in Oregon.

You could return them, but you don't need to. Take your receipt to them and they'll give you the difference. I do it all the time. REI takes everything back. No questions. Awesome store.

So are these pants. I use them all the time and they work great for our wet Winters here in Oregon.

Thanks for the tip, they were perfectly fine with it. Picked up some of those fenders mentioned in the other thread too... good thing I read bikeforums.

I think we've got several weeks of fall weather to go before I get a chance to test them out in cold weather, but they feel very comfortable, and for not having flappy legs I like the way they look (I'm not ready for tights). The discounted price makes it even better!

Ok, I just bought 2 pair of these on sale at the recommendation of everyone here. :) They are really comfortable. I've been using Mt. Borah Freedom Pant for the last two years. I love the pants, but they ride up my calf leaving my ankles exposed. The Headwinds fit a little snugger so I'm sure they will provide better coverage. Plus, I like the idea of the wind-stopper fabric in the front, and the breathable fabric on the back. I'm hopeful that these will help me regulate body heat better.

Ok, I just bought 2 pair of these on sale at the recommendation of everyone here. :) They are really comfortable. I've been using Mt. Borah Freedom Pant for the last two years. I love the pants, but they ride up my calf leaving my ankles exposed. The Headwinds fit a little snugger so I'm sure they will provide better coverage. Plus, I like the idea of the wind-stopper fabric in the front, and the breathable fabric on the back. I'm hopeful that these will help me regulate body heat better.

I've never had a problem with them riding up my calf at all. the zippered leg openings keep that from happening I think and they are not skin tight like regular cycling tights.

I feel like temperature regulation is such a giant issue unless it's summer and I'm down to just a shirt and shorts or conversely if it's in the teens and I've got no exposed skin. Anything between those two extremes seems to require some kind of regulation through garment modification throughout a long ride. So, I hope you aren't disappointed if you warm up too much on some days.