The Decathlon Btwin 540 rain-proof overtrousers passed through our hands – or rather our legs and feet – for a few weeks. The opportunity to test it by bike, on several routes, some of which were very rainy. Successful bet ? Answer here.
To travel by muscle bike or electric bike whatever the weather conditions, equipment worthy of the name is necessary. In this little game, Decathlon offers a wide range of equipment designed for all wallets. We notably tried the Btwin 540 jacket, as well as a waterproof parka as possible.
This time, we’re tackling not a new jacket, but an accessory designed to protect your legs and feet from the elements. Here are the Btwin 540 overtrousers, which we tried for several weeks in light, medium and intense rain. Spoilers : you will enjoy traveling by bike even more.
Key information
Before getting to the heart of the matter, let’s try to present the key information you need to know. Already, these overpants are available both in store and online. The advantage of discovering it in a physical point of sale is being able to try it, touch it, gauge it, spy on it. In short, you won’t have any bad surprises.
This garment is available in 6 sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL. We inherited the M model, for a user measuring 175 cm. I would tend to think that he cut a bit big, without that being prohibitive either. The model tested is also a version designed for men. His price ? 45 euros, for a weight of 380 grams and a 2-year warranty.
A tasteless design, a good level of practicality
Let’s put our foot down without further ado: the design of these Btwin 540 overtrousers is not a refined piece of clothing with a silky look. It’s raw, simple, black and unadorned. Don’t expect to pimp your style like the aforementioned Btwin 540 jacket can. But after all, that’s not what we ask of it either, especially for its price. Its main purpose is above all to protect you from the rain, and not to boost your elegance.
Is this garment practical? Yes and no. Yes, in the sense that its side openings zipable And unzipable allow you to put it on and take it off with relative ease. Occasionally your shoe may get stuck inside the sleeve, but the clearance offered by the openings resolves the situation very quickly.
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
However, it is less practical for a very simple reason: the absence of external zipped pockets. It wouldn’t have been a bad idea to store your smartphone, keys or wallet. Instead, I had no choice but to “stuff” my hand under these overpants to access the pockets of my jeans. Moderately classy and practical.
On the other hand, we particularly appreciate the elasticated belt which offers optimal support: I never had to complain about it being too tight, or too loose. Putting it over pants does not compress your lower stomach. In terms of comfort and freedom of movement, there is therefore not much to complain about.
Finally, at the back, a pocket available inside the overtrousers allows you to compact the garment – a bit like a K-Way – if you want to store it in a backpack for example. It’s these kinds of simple little ideas that make the difference.
Your legs and feet will thank you
The main mission of these Btwin 540 overtrousers is to protect you from the rain. Is the objective achieved? Yes. We drove with it in all weather conditions: light rain, more moderate rain and intense rain, on journeys not exceeding 30 minutes. Its waterproof rating of 5000 mm – which is quite low – still played its role, particularly in light and moderate rain.
When we arrived at work, our jeans were perfectly dry. In heavy rain, a very slight humidity was felt at the end of the journey when passing my hand inside the overpants. Nothing dramatic either: my jeans have never been damp so far. We may have a small reservation in case of long journeys in extreme weather conditions.
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
The icing on the cake is the shoe covers directly integrated into the overtrousers. Very well thought out, this protection covers your entire sneaker and is held perfectly thanks to an elastic band to fit behind your heel. The latter even benefits from protection in the form of a bib.
Here again, this system is extremely effective. In addition, it perfectly protects you from splashes from puddles that you may cross in rainy weather.
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid
Please note that waterproof strips have been placed under the seams to prevent any water intrusion inside the overtrousers. A water-repellent treatment has also been applied to the garment. If it weakens over time, simple exposure to heat can reactivate it. Decathlon recommends using the dryer on a gentle program. Be careful, however, if machine washed, the waterproof index would drop considerably, from 5000 mm to 2000 mm.
In terms of visibility to other road users, Decathlon has not forgotten to add reflective strips (at calf level) which allow you to be seen 50 meters away, at night, in the presence of headlights. Finally, a more resistant fabric is required on areas of friction, particularly around the buttocks.
A timeless overtrouser
Not surprisingly, these Btwin 540 overtrousers are intended for rainy weather, whether in summer, autumn, spring or winter. For our part, we tested it with temperatures hovering around 8 degrees: we wore underpants, jeans and these overpants, to cope with the particular heat. In summer, it could nevertheless make you feel warm.
In addition, its ability to be stored in an integrated pocket makes it an excellent ally to take with you at any time of the year.
Price and availability
The Btwin 540 overtrousers with overshoes are available on the Decathlon website for 45 euros. A word of advice: if you can, try it on in store to find your ideal size.