Review: Vulpine Women’s Omnia Jeans

The thing with cycling kit is that it is most definitely cycling kit. Which is fine on a club run, especially if you’re in club kit. But you don’t necessarily want to look like Laura or Jason Kenny when riding to the shops.

That’s where cycling jeans come in. So what sets cycling jeans apart from ‘normal’ jeans? Very little, actually, and that’s the point. They look and feel just like, well, jeans. They’re made from denim with a touch of elastane for stretchiness.

There are a few differences. The knees are articulated. This means that there’s a dart in the knee to aid movement. Your knees are the body part that’s moving the most when cycling so this is important. The jeans are more tapered towards the ankle so there’s less likelihood of material getting trapped in the chain.

The diamond-shaped gusset means you’re not sitting on the seams, taking the pressure off sensitive areas, which can be deeply uncomfortable with normal jeans. Some of mine have quite a ‘lump’ where four bits of material are joined together.

In use, the jeans were comfortable on the bike. I wore them while cycling to work in autumn and winter, and they moved with me while cycling and kept me warm without getting hot and sweaty. There was no rubbing in sensitive areas. They’d be too warm in summer, but that’s shorts weather anyway.

They’re also fine off the bike. They look and feel just like a normal pair of jeans. You could turn up to the pub or café in these and no one would guess you’d cycled there. This makes them good for work commuting too, especially if you haven’t got shower and changing facilities.

The fit wasn’t great for me. I originally went for the medium but they came up very big on me. Vulpine changed them for a small. These were still quite baggy, but not enough to go for the extra small.

I usually prefer a more fitted style of jeans. However, cycling jeans tend to be more relaxed for ease of movement. Once I got used to the looser style they were fine. To be honest, I was somewhat pleasantly surprised as cycling kit usually comes up very small in my experience. I’d recommend sizing down, though.

Jeans are also not the quickest-drying items, as I discovered after a wet ride. Spending the next few hours with damp thighs wasn’t very pleasant.

Verdict

A comfortable pair of jeans that you could wear cycling to the pub, office or café without looking like you’ve just come from a velodrome. The fit wasn’t great for me, though.

Other options

Rapha Women’s Tech Pant £120

These casual trousers are designed for short commutes and for flexibility and style off the bike. They’re lightly water resistant and have two zippered pockets. Read our review.

Vaela 002 Jeans Indigo £160

Stretchy, straight-legged jean with cycling-specific gusset. Pricier than the others here.

First published in Cycle magazine, February/march 2025 issue. All information correct at time of publishing.