If you are new to mountain biking you may be riding around in a pair of non-mountain bike specific shorts. You can greatly increase your comfort while riding by investing in a good pair of shorts that have been designed for riding off-road. The best mountain bike shorts are cut to be comfortable while you are pedaling. There are a two types available: form fitting tight lycra shorts favored by cross country (XC) riders and baggier shorts of different lengths and material for trail riders. The latter may have some level of waterproofing to deal with wet weather or be ventilated for summer use.
Here at The Adventure Junkies our goal is to help you choose the right riding gear. This guide will tell you about important considerations when choosing a pair of mountain biking shorts and show you a selection of the best shorts available.
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FIND THE BEST MOUNTAIN BIKE SHORTS
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MOUNTAIN BIKE SHORTS 101
4 THINGS TO CONSIDER TO FIND THE BEST MOUNTAIN BIKE SHORTS
1. FIT
As with all clothing, it’s no good if your new shorts are not comfortable. Consider whether you want tight fitting lycra shorts for better aerodynamics or looser shorts with thicker material for more protection. In comparison to normal shorts designed for walking, the best mountain bike shorts will have a taller rear end to ensure coverage when you are bent over pedaling and the front will be shorter to avoid material bunching up.
WAIST ADJUSTMENT
Most mountain bike shorts will come with waist adjusters so you can customize the fit. Tight fitting lycra bibs or shorts will not as they hug your body anyway. Look for baggy shorts with waist adjustment otherwise, you may find your new shorts are too tight or too loose. You may loose some weight as you ride more so it is good to be able to pull on the adjustment tabs when you feel a bit skinnier rather than buy a new pair of shorts. Some shorts may have belt loops but waist adjustment tabs are preferable to the added weight and bulk of wearing a belt.
LENGTH & WIDTH
Think about how far down your leg you want your shorts to sit. If you wear kneepads you will want the leg to be long enough to reach the pad without leaving a gap and also wide enough to avoid the pads snagging when pedaling.
2. MATERIAL
Tight lycra shorts are thin and breathable but offer little protection. Baggier trail shorts can be found with thin material for summer riding, or thicker, ripstop material to protect you better in a crash. You may also want some level of water resistance so you can blast through winter puddles and rain.
3. POCKETS
Do you need pockets on your mountain bike shorts? If you always ride with a rucksack then possibly not. However, it can be useful to easily reach your phone or to have somewhere to store your keys on a shorter ride.
A zippered pocket has more security than an open pocket, but if the pockets are deep enough you shouldn’t have any problems. Keep in mind that in the event of a crash, anything you do have in your pockets will be sitting on your thigh and quite possibly end up being between you and where you hit the ground.
Do you really want your keys to be mashed into your leg? Also be aware that some smartphone batteries can ignite if they are hit hard enough.
4. CHAMOIS OR LINER
Some shorts will come with a padded liner. If not, it is highly recommended to purchase padded shorts to wear underneath as they help avoid chafing and discomfort.
Photo by http://ift.tt/2pnqWLF
MOUNTAIN BIKE SHORTS REVIEWS
1. BEST OVERALL MOUNTAIN BIKE SHORTS
TROY LEE DESIGNS SKYLINE
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Dry trail riding
WOMEN’S VERSION: Troy Lee Designs Skyline
MATERIAL: Breathable spandex
POCKETS: 2 open but deep
WAIST ADJUSTMENT: Waist tabs
LINER INCLUDED: No
PROS: Long enough for pads, can be cut down a couple of centimeters thanks to a double hem, slim around crotch to avoid snagging on saddle, stretchy ribbed spandex panels allow plenty of movement
CONS: A zipper would be better than the hook and loop fly
GORE FUSION
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Year round comfort
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
MATERIAL: Stretchy, water resistant and breathable polyamide
POCKETS: 2 open pockets at front, two zippered pockets at back
WAIST ADJUSTMENT: Waist buckles
LINER INCLUDED: No
PROS: Long legs, well ventilated, water resistant, fast drying, year round comfort
CONS: None
PEARL IZUMI ELEVATE
BEST FOR: Trail riding
WOMEN’S VERSION: Pearl Izumi Women’s Elevate
MATERIAL: 4-way stretch and ripstop nylon, and spandex
POCKETS: 3 zippered pockets
WAIST ADJUSTMENT: Internal waist tabs
LINER INCLUDED: No
PROS: Long and loose without being too baggy
CONS: Sizing comes up slightly larger than other Pearl Izumi shorts
2. BEST BUDGET MOUNTAIN BIKE SHORTS
FOX RANGER
BEST FOR: Relaxed trail riding, hanging out after a ride
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
MATERIAL: Stretchy nylon
POCKETS: 3 open pockets
WAIST ADJUSTMENT: Waist tabs, belt loops
LINER INCLUDED: Yes
PROS: Lightweight, casual look works off the bike as well, long enough for pads
CONS: Items in pockets feel loose, not long enough for pads
ZOIC ETHER
BEST FOR: Riders who like to listen to music
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
MATERIAL: Durable ripstop nylon
POCKETS: 6 zippered pockets
WAIST ADJUSTMENT: Waist tabs
LINER INCLUDED: Yes
PROS: Water repellent and well ventilated, tech pocket with headphone opening, long enough for pads
CONS: Inconsistent sizing
3. BEST XC MOUNTAIN BIKE SHORTS
PEARL IZUMI ELITE IN-R-COOL
BEST FOR: Cross country
WOMEN’S VERSION: Pearl Izumi Women’s Elite In-R-Cool
MATERIAL: Nylon, elastane, polyester
POCKETS: N/A
WAIST ADJUSTMENT: N/A
LINER INCLUDED: Integrated
PROS: Cooling fabric reflects sun, vented panels enhance cooling, comfortable integrated chamois
CONS: None
CANNONDALE PERFORMANCE 1
BEST FOR: Cross country
WOMEN’S VERSION: Cannondale Women’s Performance 1
MATERIAL: Polyester
POCKETS: N/A
WAIST ADJUSTMENT: N/A
LINER INCLUDED: Integrated
PROS: Snap compatibility with Cannondale Jerseys prevents jersey riding up your back
CONS: None
4. BEST WINTER MOUNTAIN BIKE SHORTS
ENDURA HUMVEE
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Riders who spend many hours riding in cooler weather
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
MATERIAL: Ripstop nylon, water resistant
POCKETS: Two rear large, magnetically tabbed map pockets, two front zippered pockets, cargo pocket and zippered mobile phone pocket
WAIST ADJUSTMENT: Integrated belt
LINER INCLUDED: Yes
PROS: Water repellent, large vents on the side can be zipped open if you get warm, very durable, will last a very long time, useful map pockets
CONS: Sizing comes up small, “clickfast” liner attachment is fiddly
O’NEAL STORMRIDER
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Trail and enduro riding, days at the bike park
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
MATERIAL: Heavy duty tear and impact resistant
POCKETS: 6 zippered or hook and loop pockets
WAIST ADJUSTMENT: Waist tabs, belt loops
LINER INCLUDED: No
PROS: Material offers great protection, two padded sections on back, long enough to work with pads, very durable, microfleece insert keeps you warm
CONS: Not water resistant despite what you might assume from the name
ROYAL RACING STORM
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Wet weather riding
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
MATERIAL: Fully waterproof and breathable polyester
POCKETS: 2 taped zippered pockets
WAIST ADJUSTMENT: Waist buckles
LINER INCLUDED: No
PROS: Waterproof and breathable, the perfect choice for riding in wet weather, knee pad compatible
CONS: Baggy legs can flap around at speed
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