I didn’t think it was possible to squeeze so many features into a pair of textile jeans, but Oxford have done it.
For a mere £119.99, the Montreal 2.0 Ladies are waterproof textile touring jeans, which come in sizes 8-22, to keep you warm and dry on even the wettest day.
Who needs to spend loads of money on Gore-Tex when you can buy competitively priced trousers with a Reissa membrane?
Reissa is a waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane which means that wind and rain can’t get in, but perspiration can get out. It works by absorbing the water vapour and swiftly ejecting it through the clothing like a nightclub bouncer.
It feels like Oxford thought of everything when designing these trousers. The waterproofing is double-layered on the bum, crotch and knee areas and there are storm flap systems on the waist and leg closures. These are folding material flaps that stop water ingress through the zips.
Photography: Jamie Morris
But they didn’t stop there, as these trousers are comfy! They feel slightly padded, but in winter, that’s exactly what I like. There are stretch panels on the knees and waist which makes the fit nice and snug.
Large adjustment panels on the lower leg mean you can wear a variety of different boot styles inside the trousers and zip them up, instead of looking like one of the ABBA girls with textile flares.
They have grip panels on the bum and heatproof panels on the inner leg, which I thought was rather thoughtful.
Protection-wise they come with the usual CE knee armour and some hip padding, which took a bit of getting used to.
I like the reflective details on the pockets, which are in a good position to make you stand out in traffic either with your legs on the floor or on the pegs.
As with the Monaco jacket I paired these trousers with, I found the number of pockets quite surprising, and super-useful. I thought I’d never use the cargo-style pockets (which are water-resistant) but they were my go-to pockets.
As I read this back, I realise how ridiculous this sounds – these pockets were lifesavers! I barely ever took a bag with me or fitted my top box as I could carry the contents of my handbag in these pockets. Mind blown.
My worry with these trousers, especially with the thermal lining in place, was that I would get a bit hot, especially when sat inside. But luckily there are air vent zips, which are water-resistant and lock open so air can get in and out.
But my favourite feature of the trousers is the braces! They’re detachable and make the trousers feel just like dungarees. Amazing. They zip on and hold your trousers up underneath your jacket, which enhances the fit.
But if feeling like you’re wearing dungarees is not your thing, you can detach them and use the belt loops to help them stay up instead.
The trousers are quite slim-fitting and I would recommend ordering one size bigger than normal, unless you want to twerk to get in and out of them!
I would definitely buy these trousers because of the price, the pockets and performance in the wet. I love the braces and how comfy they are to wear.
Fit
I would recommend buying one size bigger than you normally would, but I love the slim fit. They’re available in three leg lengths, which helps get the right fit.
Protection
The trousers come with CE-certified knee armour and hip padding. You can also connect any Oxford textile jacket to these trousers.
Comfort
I loved putting these trousers on. They feel slightly padded with the thermal lining in, but I quite like that on a cold day. You can also unzip some air vents to cool down a bit, if required.
Build quality
They seem well made and developed no faults in the time I had them. The material feels nice and thick.
Features
I love the braces and the lock-open ventilation zips. Thoughtful details such as heatproof and non-slip panels make me think that Oxford have really put some love into these trousers, which makes me feel special!