All Arround MTB

The first thing we noticed about the Alpinestars shorts was the fit – it’s incredibly good. Move your legs and the body doesn’t shift at all. This is down to the stretch Y insert and back yoke, which allow the legs to move independently without pulling at the waist.

These are the most interesting shorts we’ve tried (and possibly the most expensive too). Consisting of a pair of bib shorts with a baggy outer shell attached, they’re a hybrid construction of the combination that riders who put in a lot of cross-country miles tend to wear most days. And it works.

Just putting the Rhythm shorts on makes you think of summer – they’re lightweight, with a baggy cut and a good long leg length. The fit is generous so if you’re between sizes you’ll probably want to go down one (there are six to choose from).

These ‘stealth’ riding shorts from Howies are still getting picked for off-bike duty now our testing has finished thanks to their well cut, minimal design, which definitely sits at the smarter end of casual. But does it work when you sling your leg across the top tube? Happily, yes.

The Royal shorts’ lightweight , four-way stretch fabric, front ventilation perforations and easy cut make them potentially ideal for hot weather use.

Can we just say that we hate having to cut the loops that some manufacturers use to join their liners to the outer shell of their shorts? It just feels wrong taking a knife/scissors to new kit.

The Element FRs are heavyweight shorts with a durable and protective feel. In fact, they’re so firm that they almost stand up on their own!

The updated Endura Singletracks are very much shorts of two halves. The fit through the body is very good indeed – the back of the waist is nice and high, and the rise is spot on for a neat, secure feel.

Us Brits tend to prefer our bike shorts long, while our US counterparts seem to like them, well, short. So when we make the comment that these shorts from Colorado-based Pearl Izumi are a bit American you’ll hopefully understand.

We’ve been fans of Scott’s riding gear for a long time so it was something of a disappointment that we didn’t warm to these shorts. The Trail Flows are made from an incredibly lightweight fabric.

Howies don’t disappoint with these bib shorts. They’re made from a polyamide fabric that’s fast wicking, stretchy and feels great against your skin. The small/ medium size was about right for our 5ft 11in tester, with long enough shoulder straps to prevent that awkward wedgie sensation.

The Flo Softshells are made from a showerproof, breathable, three-layer fabric that keeps rain at bay for quite some time. They’re thicker than most bike shorts but we didn’t have any problems with overheating on our winter and spring test rides. Instead they kept us toasty, especially when riding in cold wind.

MORVELO’S LINER SHORTS have proven themselves on longer rides, with just one niggle. The reasonably thick chamois means your undercarriage is well protected when in the saddle, and in terms of fit and comfort, it’s hard to fault the Emblems.

THESE WOMEN’S SHORTS from Madison are a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. There’s a waterproof panel at the rear but a DWR (DurableWater Repellant) treated stretch fabric is used elsewhere for improved breathability and manoeuvrability. Ripstop fabric on the knees protects against crash damage and long, zipped leg vents can be opened to allow cooling air in.

AT JUST UNDER 165$ these water-resistant shorts aren’t cheap, but they deal with damp British conditions well and come with a padded liner.

Thousands of test miles and years of wearing hundreds of different products haven’t dimmed our enthusiasm for new kit, but with standards and functionality so much improved it takes an exceptional product to grab our attention in the way that the Glidepaths have. They share many of their functional details with other shorts – it’s the way these have been combined that makes them stand out.

If you think of Race Face as a company that only makes over-the-top burly kits for Pacific Northwest riders, you might be surprised by the Trigger short, which feels like something Hugh Hefner would shuffle around in while puttering about the Mansion. The Trigger has an incredibly soft and stretchy shell that is absurdly comfortable. It’s also quite durable.

Made in America? It’s almost unheard of today, but that’s what’s on offer with Gravity Anomaly’s Long Haul shorts. The good news is that these things are a heck of a lot more reliable than the stuff Detroit spat out for so many years. The Long Haul is constructed from a four-ply, military-grade nylon shell that gets double-needle stitching throughout and machine bar tacks at all the stress points. Gravity’s Anomaly, to its credit, backs up all this durability chatter with a lifetime guarantee.

Mavic’s Crossmax short strikes a nice balance of comfort and durability. The Trail Tech ST shell is as light as those of the more summery shorts, yet feels a hair more substantial than most of the warm-weather offerings. As for storage, the CrossMax sports four pockets on its front face, the bottom two of which snap and zipper close. There’s also a small, zippered stash pocket on the backside. Mavic bucks the tide a bit by eschewing Velcro’d side adjusters in favor of belt loops alone. If I had my druthers, I’d opt for having both.

The Enduro Pro is another excellent choice for spring and summer riding, thanks to its VaporRize shell, which the company claims transfers moisture and prevents your shorts from feeling clammy and claustrophobic. The Enduro Pro also possesses two large, zippered leg vents. The company’s DeflectUV 50+ treatment adds a bit of ultra-violet protection to the package – something, honestly, I never look for in shorts, but is a plus for anyone who spends long days under the glare of the sun.