Review: Venture Air Mesh Pants

I was hoping to find some mesh riding pants to survive the Summer heat. The Venture Air pants from Tour Master looked like a good choice- a full Armor-Link mesh shell with adjustable CE armor in the knees, and the choice of standard, short or tall lengths. You also get a removable two-stage liner.

The specs sounded great- then I tried them on. These aren't really advertised as overpants, but with a full-length zipper/Velcro opening up the leg they certainly look the part. And speaking of looks... ouch.
As soon as I put these on all I could think was Oompa Loompa. The waist was just right- but below that the butt and legs were so baggy I had room for Jackie to jump in with me. And I'm not just being fashion conscious! Sloppy fit allows the armor to move so much it couldn't possibly offer reliable protection. About the only way to wear these pants safely is with the full thermal liner in place.
Fit aside, I tried them out on the road.

Even with the liners removed the airflow isn't all that great. The reinforced knees and butt pretty much block the wind. If I pointed my knees out away from the bike I could feel cool air on my crotch- just like when I wear my Defender jeans! These might be good Autumn or Winter pants- but they won't cut it in Oklahoma heat.

These pants are a classic example of trying to make everybody happy, and failing miserably. A thin rain liner is all these pants should come with- and a couple less yards of material in the butt!