Richa’s Infinity 3 textile trousers promise year-round versatility at a competitive price — and a 6700-mile ride to Turkey and Georgia gave me the perfect chance to test the claim.
Richa describe the trousers as suitable for year-round use and for comfortable riding in a variety of weather conditions. After a lengthy summer adventure, I’d agree — these trousers are up to the job in a broad range of riding conditions.
They’re particularly well suited to touring, with the versatility to handle hot stretches, cooler mornings and summer showers. The main compromise comes with the internal waterproof liner, which is fine for short spells of rain, though less ideal when the heavens truly open.
Fit & comfort
Fit is a real strong point. Once on, the trousers let me move freely on the bike — whether sitting, standing or shifting my weight around on unpaved roads. Velcro adjusters at both hips made it easy to tweak the fit for extra layers or to accommodate a generous lunch.
I paired the trousers with Richa’s optional braces, which clipped on easily and stayed put for the full trip. They let me keep the waistband a little looser for comfort, while still keeping the trousers where they need to be. I opted for the short leg version and the length was spot-on. The knee armour also stayed in the correct position once adjusted — something that hasn’t always been the case with other short-leg trousers I’ve tried.
Sizing does come up a little small. I usually wear a medium, but needed a large in these trousers.
Off the bike, they’re just as comfortable — I have no complaints at all when walking about, even on longer stops.
Weather protection
The trousers come with removable thermal and waterproof liners. I didn’t need the thermal liner, even on colder mornings with temperatures around 10°C.
With the vents closed, I stayed warm enough without the liner, though I’d be confident it would add useful insulation if needed.
As for the waterproofing, the internal liner held up well during several hours of steady rain across the UK and France. My legs stayed dry, and that helped build trust early on. However, when the trip threw up a proper thunderstorm — crossing from Hungary into Austria — things got trickier.
I was riding without the liner fitted, and didn’t stop to fit the waterproof liner (it’s not a quick roadside job), and I ended up with wet legs. That’s the downside of an internal liner — when it's removed you need to plan ahead if the weather looks like turning rainy.
Photography: Jose Mas
Once wet, the trousers dried quickly overnight in a hotel room, even after prolonged soaking. Still, for extended downpours, I’d be inclined to wear over-trousers to keep the outer fabric from getting waterlogged.
Breathability & ventilation
The trousers offer reasonable venting for hotter days. There are zippered vents on the top of each thigh, plus two-way leg zips that run down to the boot. These double up as vents and access points for the boot opening.
Up to the mid-20s in Celsius, this set-up worked well and helped keep me comfortable. Once it pushed to 30°C the effect was limited, but not unexpected. Warm air is still warm air, after all. That said, I was pleasantly surprised at how effective the lower-leg vent was, giving a noticeable flow of air around my calves.
Protection
The Richa Infinity 3 trousers come with a an overall CE safety rating of AA, which is reassuring. D3O armour sits in both the hips and knees, rated to the basic Level 1. Once positioned correctly, the armour was unobtrusive and comfortable throughout.
The trousers themselves feel well put together, with a durable outer that stood up well to both dust and muck. I’m confident they’d offer a solid level of protection in the event of a spill, and Richa gives riders the option to upgrade the armour if they want more protection.
Pockets
There are two zipped pockets on the front of the thighs. Handy enough for general use, though not protected by the waterproof liner. Richa don’t claim they’re waterproof, and I wouldn’t trust them with a phone during sustained rain. That said, even after the Austrian storm, the contents of the pockets were still dry, which came as a pleasant surprise.
Final thoughts
The Richa Infinity 3 trousers are a solid choice for touring riders who need flexibility, comfort and durability across long distances and mixed weather.
You need to factor in the internal waterproofing. If you get caught out without the liner fitted, there’s no quick fix. With a little forethought (or a back-up pair of over-trousers), that’s manageable.
After 6700 miles across Europe and back, they still look great and feel like they have many more miles left in them. Comfortable, adaptable and built to last — these trousers are easy to recommend.
