Fasthouse may be relatively new to the MTB scene, but the retro-inspired moto brand has been making motocross kit for a while now. This distinctive and bold chequered flag and ‘speed shop’ americana branding have been carried over to the mountain bike range.
We have been riding Fasthouse Fastline 2.0 MTB pants which sit at the top of the range to see how the moto-influenced gravity pants compare to the best mountain bike pants.
Design and specifications
It looks like Fastline 2.0 MTB shares design aspects with their Grindhouse moto pant but rather than use 600D all over, most of the pants use 400D Poly with 600D for the saddle for extra durability. Joining the thicker sections, there are four-way stretch panels for improved stretch and movement. These stretch panels form a Y shape across the crotch and the top of the legs, extending down the inside of the legs. Stretchy sections also feature over the top of the knees and a large panel across the rear panel.
There are two pockets, one positioned on the front of the right thigh that's big enough for a phone and another on the left side which is so small I'm not really sure what you would put in it.
The closure uses a zipped fly and there is a plastic ratchet buckle to fine-tune the waist fit. Interestingly in Fasthouse’s product pictures, the Fastline 2.0 pants have waist adjusters on the hips, however, these are missing from our review samples. On the inside of the waistband, there are silicone Fasthouse logos to help the pants stay in place while riding.
Graphics are certainly moto-inspired and although it's not my style, the subtle black-on-black graphics are more than palatable for my tastes. The graphics on the front panels are silk screened and a reflective stretch transfer graphic on the rear.
Performance
Fasthouse has done a great job at positioning the stretch panels where they need to be so that despite the thicker durable material the Fastline 2.0 pants still have plenty of movement range. The stretch panels have also allowed Fasthouse to give the pants a nicely fitted shape which I found comfortable and flap-free. I did find the waist was a little bigger than expected which meant they would slip slightly while riding, although I suspect this wouldn’t be so much of an issue if my review pants had the waist adjusters.
We haven’t had a crash in them yet but we expect they would up really well based on where the panels are positioned. We have noticed that the color of the 600D panel on the rear has begun to wear off extremely quickly leaving a distinctive saddle shape after just one ride.
The Fastline 2.0 MTB pants don’t have any vents in between the heavier reinforced material so heat struggles to escape. They aren’t completely windproof but you will need a seriously stiff breeze to feel any cooling effect, so if you are riding back to the top you will feel the heat.
Fasthouse says that the material has a water-repellant treatment and while water didn't bead up on the surface as you would expect from a treated material, they certainly stopped water seeping through as quickly. When things did get wet, the pants didn’t feel like they absorbed much liquid either which allowed them to dry quickly.
Verdict
Fasthouse Fastline 2.0 MTB pants are hardwearing bottoms that are better suited for gravity-based riding. The extra reinforcement that makes the Fastline 2.0 so durable means they get quite hot if you need to climb back to the top. This has been fine during our winter testing rides but will mean they are relegated to uplift days come the warmer months.
If you're a downhiller, bikepark regular, or simply crash a lot then the Fastline 2.0 pants tough materials are going to be a big advantage, however, if you are looking for a slicker race pant I would opt for something lighter and tighter like iXS Trigger or the very tight Specialized Trail pants.
Tech specs: Fasthouse Fastline 2.0 MTB pants
- Price: $140.00 / £134.99 / $199.99 AUD
- Fabric: 54% Polyester, 40% Polyamide, 6% Spandex.
- Colors: Black, Black/Camo, Charcoal, Navy
- Weight: 451g (medium)
- Sizes: 28-38
