Jeans rarely do double duty as performance wear for active types. But this month Quiksilver releases three sport-specific pants that are fashionable enough and can squeak by for cyclists and skaters looking to jump a curb or kickflip a set of stairs while wearing denim on their legs.
The CoolMax Denim collection includes three jeans, each designed by a Quiksilver team skateboarder. I tested the Alex Olson Signature Denim, a $75 pant with a semi-tight fit. As the name implies, the jeans are made with a CoolMax fabric. This specially-engineered polyester adds stretchiness and breathability to what appear to be a traditional pair of workaday pants.
I have worn the Alex Olson jeans about 20 days over a couple months, including while cycling and longboarding. They are a solid product, and the CoolMax advantages are indeed noticeable.
Freedom of movement is fair with the jeans. They have a crotch-gusset cut so your legs can spread apart. The fabric has a small amount of stretch. The jeans are reinforced with heavy thread and bar tacks for durability.
Wicking and breathability are noticeable. Quiksilver touts wearing the CoolMax jeans as like “having a virtual AC unit in your pants.” Not really true. But I could bike five or more miles around the city in fall weather, and the jeans kept me comfortable from the waist down.
