ViaTerra Corbett Off-Road Trail Pants Review: Best For Getting Muddy

The more and more you ride, the more you start opting for focused and dedicated pieces of equipment. Hence, as I am venturing further into the world of mucking around, I knew one of the areas where I needed to make an upgrade, besides skills, was in the pants division. Touring pants were just not cutting it anymore. Luckily, ViaTerra has come up with a two-piece off-road suit. And the gear maker sent over the lower half for me to have a taste of. Here’s how the Corbett off-road pants have held up on the few off-road rides and shoots.

Jacket Name: ViaTerra Corbett Custom Color - Off Road Trail Riding Pants
Size: XS-XXXL
Price: Rs 6,000 

Specs:
Material - 3D mesh fabric with stretch panels around groin and hip areas, inner knee leather grip panels
Armour - NA (designed to be worn over braces)
Size tested - XL
Adjustable straps: Adjustment tabs on waist and ratchet-type closure for securing 
Fit type: Normal
Pockets: None

Pros - Superb for off-roading, goes snugly into motocross boots
Cons - Not versatile for daily usage

DESIGN

ViaTerra has come up with a sleek pant design that does look striking, especially the custom colour options. It looks all the better with the entire suit but let's stick with the pants for now. 

The extended use of black doesn’t seem to bother me much as mesh protective clothing often arrives in the dark colour. But where ViaTerra has made an effort in making the pants stand out is with the colour patterned thigh panels. Plus, the rubber patches on the outer knee area also look pretty cool. 

FIT & PROTECTION

The Corbetts are designed to wear over the knee braces, so inherently, they don’t have any armour pockets of their own. They have enough width to accommodate the largest of braces. In fact, ViaTerra recommends you measure your knees and thighs while wearing the braces prior to ordering the pants for a better fit.
The usual waist adjustment velcro tabs do help you get the right fit around your torso. Plus, the ratchet closure mechanism only makes you feel more secure that the trouser won’t slip as often.

I just love how stretchy and roomy the pants actually are. There’s so much movement around the groin area, allowing the rider to make quick body adjustments and weigh the bike properly when needed.

Another bit that really inspires confidence is the leather inner knee patch. This puts you firmly in control of the bike while standing up and riding. Lastly, these work quite neatly with off-road boots as they taper toward the ankles, snuggly going into motocrosser or adventure footwear.

Thankfully, I haven’t had a fall yet. So I can’t tell you about scuff marks or whether the fabric gets easily damaged or not. What I do know is that on the few skirmishes with bushes and shrubbery on nearby trails, the pants haven’t ripped or shown much signs of wear and tear, and that’s despite having a close call with a thorny patch of vegetation.

VERDICT

The Corbett are for the dedicated off-roader, one who is seeking to get something that will only be fit for trails and the dirty stuff. So, if you are content with carrying basic knick knacks like keys and protein bars in your trail pack, then you should definitely consider picking up a pair.