Pants Review: Public Rec, Ministry of Supply, Western Rise

Video Description

In this video, I’m reviewing three performance pants brands that have made a name for themselves in the menswear industry: Ministry of Supply, Western Rise, and Public Rec. Each of these brands was founded in the 2010s and has carved out its own niche by selling primarily online, offering modern, high-tech designs aimed at the performance and comfort of their customers. I’ll break down the key features, pros, and cons of each brand and share my experience with their products. 0:00 Introduction 0:39 Ministry of Supply 2:22 Western Rise 4:32 Public Rec 6:20 Conclusion Ministry of Supply (founded in 2012) is a company built on innovation, boasting apparel made from advanced, technical materials designed for NASA. Their focus is on comfort, performance, and utilizing cutting-edge technology. In this video, I review their Pace Tapered Chino (formerly known as the Momentum pants), which are made from a polyester, nylon, and elastane blend. These pants are well-constructed, featuring a comfortable waistband with some flexibility and a drawstring for those who prefer not to wear a belt. They’re incredibly soft and comfortable, though the wrinkle resistance is decent but not class-leading, and the pockets could be deeper. While these are solid performance pants, they’re not quite the top of the line for me. Additionally, Ministry of Supply seems to be phasing out the Pace Tapered Chino in favor of their newer Kinetic Pants, which are more expensive, so stay tuned for a potential future review of those. Next up is Western Rise, a small company out of Colorado founded in 2015, known for its minimalist, high-performance gear. Western Rise doesn’t have physical stores—everything is sold online, where they promote a “pack light, move fast” ethos. In this review, I focus on their Evolution Pants ($128), which are made from a lightweight, stretchable material and feature a crotch gusset for improved mobility. While I was initially excited about these pants, I was disappointed by the fit. The pants have a shallow front rise, and despite the gusset, there wasn’t enough room in the crotch area for comfort. The inside seams were also uncomfortable, and the legs don’t taper below the knee as I prefer. Additionally, the nylon-elastane mix produces a "wooshing" sound when walking, which, while not a dealbreaker, is louder than other performance pants. Unfortunately, combined with some disappointing customer service and strict return policies, I can’t recommend these pants. Finally, we have Public Rec, another 2015 brand based in Chicago. Public Rec's focus is on performance pants, and they lead with their DealMakers, which come in both chino and five-pocket cuts. These pants are made from 100% polyester, offering a different feel from other performance pants. They look sleek, are lightweight, and are ideal for travel—no need to worry about wrinkles when you pull them out of your carry-on. These pants strike the perfect balance between stretch and structure, providing a comfortable and stylish option for all-day wear. The waistband is semi-flexible, adding to the comfort, but the only downside I found is that there are a lot of belt loops, which could be a minor inconvenience when traveling and having to remove your belt at the airport. Despite this, Public Rec’s pants are easily among the top five performance pants I’ve reviewed, and I highly recommend them.