Q36.5 Rain Overpants

The Q36.5 Rain Overpants are waterproof cycling pants designed to be pulled on over your bibs or bib tights when the weather turns. They have no chamois and no insert, which is the point: you wear your usual kit underneath and add a rain layer on top, then take it off when the rain stops. Q36.5 positions them as easy to pack and easy to remove mid-ride.

Three-layer waterproof fabric

The overpants are made from a proprietary three-layer fabric. The outer layer is UF 75 Shell, a dense woven polyamide intended to resist rain and road spray. Behind it sits a hydrophobic polyamide membrane that Q36.5 rates at 15,000 mm/l for waterproofing and RET 4 for breathability. Q36.5 lists the composition as 80% polyamide and 20% elastane, so there is stretch in the fabric rather than a stiff, crinkly shell. All seams are taped to keep water from working through the stitching, which is where cheaper rain pants tend to leak first.

The waterproof and breathability figures come from Q36.5's own testing.

A cut made for the bike

These are pre-shaped for the riding position rather than cut like walking rain trousers. The knee area is shaped to allow free movement through the pedal stroke, and the pattern avoids excess fabric that would flap in the wind. At the back, the waistband has silicone elastic to help keep it in place, while the front is softer and lightly elasticized so it does not press on the stomach when you are folded over the bars.

The saddle area is rip-stop material with anti-slip properties, with printed reinforcement on both sides for abrasion resistance. That is the part of a rain pant that takes the most wear on a long wet ride, so it is a sensible place to add durability.

Getting them on and off

Side zippers at the cuffs let you pull the pants over shoes and bike-specific footwear without fighting a snug ankle opening. The ankles use an enhanced elastic that Q36.5 describes as water-repellent, with reflective detailing for visibility. Because they go over everything else, they suit the situations where the weather changes mid-ride: a front moving in on a long group ride, a cold wet commute, or a training day when you would rather stay out than ride indoors.

Sizing

The Rain Overpants come in Black, in sizes XXS through XXXL. Q36.5 sizes by height and weight as well as waist, so check the size chart on this page before ordering. If you are between sizes or need a different leg length, Q36.5 offers custom leg lengths through its Sartorial Fit Laboratory, which you arrange through Q36.5 directly.