HELP! Man needs help picking a women's bike pants size!

OK, THIS time I'm gonna do it right!
Here's the story......
A got re-married a few years ago and THIS time my wife LIKES, no, LOVES to ride on my bikes.
So, we've been hitting the road ALOT and I've been getting her riding gear as needed.
We're down to cold weather pants, (so far she's been using "under-armour" long underwear, jeans, and a pair of runners wind pants).
Last ride, I hear her tell another female that her legs were cold.
HA! I've got a Christmas present idea!:D
So, now the hard part.............
There a a few guy lined winter pants out there,(I use Carhart canvas lined pants, then when it get colder, I wear a pair of Areo Stich pants over them). (it's good to the single digits for my comute), but sadly less, "Chick" warn riding pants.
She's already told me chaps are out.
So, how do men's pants sizes fit up to women's?
Can I get her men's pants, or do I have to look for women's?
Can anyone point me in a good direction for a pair of warm women's riding pants.
I need help! I want to look "brillant", not like a "round head", when she opens up the box!
Joe
I ride, therefore I am!

First, let me just say "I don't know".

That said, if you err, make sure you err too small. It would be very bad if you got pants that were too large or, even worse, way too large.

Having said that, perhaps you can steal a pair of her jeans and take them to a retailer that sells the gear you're looking for. Ask a female employee for some help and let her know what you're doing.

It's hard for men's pants to fit women, depending on how they are built. Personally, I've tried on men's pants for motorcycling and such, and either I can't get them over my hips OR they fit the hips and are humongously huge in the waist. I buy a lot of gear from Joe Rocket (ladies' sizes) and it fits me well.

First Gear/Tourmaster, Power Trip, and Joe Rocket all make ladies gear including overpants, textile pants, and leather pants, which are carried by NewEnough.com and others. Joe Rocket and Power Trip run more or less true to size (misses sizes). For example, a medium in Joe Rocket is about an 8-10 misses. Here's one example of a ladies' pair at new enough... http://www.newenough.com/protective_...overpants.html

I'm not sure about First Gear sizing. Alpine Stars run much slimmer/smaller, more like Jr. sizes or European sizes. You would seriously have to order a size or two larger at LEAST unless your wife is super slender... and that runs a huge risk when she is usually a Medium and opens an XL pair of pants...:D

Here's a link to www.newenough.com if you search "women, pants" you will come up with several options. They have lots of sizing info on the website and a great return policy... if you email or call them, they will be VERY helpful with the right size/fit information. THey even post pics of their office staff wearing gear and such so you can see how it looks.

However, if you go with leather, generally err on going larger to go over underarmour and such; leather is usually cut slimmer.

Feel free to PM me if you want with your wife's size info and I can compare it to my size, etc. if that's helpful. I'm about a size 10 if that helps.

Chromekid01 got me a pair of riding pants that I like. But yeah, you will need to know what size she is. I would do like pdksh said and steal a pair of jeans to find out. Mine have a thermal lining and a wind/rain liner. I wear them over my jeans and they fit fine. If you buy them online you will always run the risk of having to pay freight 2 or 3 times if they don't fit or she doesn't like them. It might be better to get them at a store in your area tho since they are not for you. Whatever size she is...get the next up.

I took your advice and called "New Enough", and tried to ordered a set of Tourmaster pants.
I thought I had beaten the man, er, women, but then I got hit.
They called and said they didn't have that brand in stock til ????????????
So, I jumped onto E bay and found a pair of over pants, kinda like the Tour Masters.
I learned ALOT from the saleswomen(s), all the places I called were really helpful!
So, guys don't be afraid, be like me, play, (or be), dumb, and tell them what you need. They talk you through it.
Joe
I ride, therefore I am!

Glad it worked out for ya, Joe!!

Joe! Joe! Joe! From the voice of experience! Get them at least 3 sizes too small! :D Kapish?

and here I was ready to advise you to just get a gift card for her to buy the ones she likes (and in her size) LOL damn good job Joe.

First off, I think its awesome that you did all that so you could surprise her with something she wants and will actually get a lot of use out of. Second, Im curious why she has said that chaps are "out"... chicks in chaps are HOT! (BTW... I'm a straight chick, but Im not blind to what looks good). When I've tried on the riding pants they make me look about 15 pounds heavier. Guess its just a matter of personal choice.

I dunno why she didn't want chaps??
I had this vision of her in just chaps!:D
I don't EXACTLY know if she want over pants, but, I figure she'll need SOMETHING that'll keep her legs warm on our late/early season rides.
Stay tuned for, "Joe thinks on his own"!:D
Joe
You CAN teach old dogs new tricks, they just can't remember them!