Having spent most of the summer in three quarter length trousers on and off the bike, i wanted something similar and water restistant for the winter. I was expecting somethihg reasonably heavy duty, but in fact the material is very soft, and which now makes them first choice out of my other pairs of of 3/4 for day rides on the bike. And ironically, given the absence of rain this autumn, I haven't had a chance to check out their water resistance. Positives: soft material; comfortable fit; nice red lined pockets. Downsides: could be slightly more tailored but i guess that;s not compatible for long rides; absence of zipped pockets which give total peace of mind; still don't know what they are like in rain. In all a good product for time spent in the saddle - whether its raining or not.