The Velocio Trail shorts are the priciest baggy MTB shorts on our list, and theyre also among the most comfortable and fully featured. These offer a sleek look and feel with a length that falls right at the knees and velcro waist adjusters for a secure, yet comfortable fit. The Troy Lee Designs Skyline is a different beast than the models discussed above. The Vaporize woven fabric is lightweight and stretchy and allows for excellent freedom of movement and pedal-friendliness. The seat pad is also a darker colour a nice touch considering that saddles often leave marks. An adjustable waist and sonic-welded seams add to this feeling of freedom, as well as the sleek appearance. Many mountain bike shorts are styled baggy, but this doesnt mean they arent technical items, and will often still help shed rain and wick away sweat. These liners are made for comfort on long days with a low-profile chamois, soft elastic waistband, and compression leg bands to keep them in place. Theres no venting to speak of, but the above-the-knee length and loose fit keeps things reasonably cool on hot days. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. They also put some downward pressure on your shoulders and help hold your stomach in, which might not be comfortable for all riders.Baggy bike shorts are usually worn by mountain bikers and more casual riders. Read more: Specialized Trail Short review. Instead, the fabric is cut and shaped to the body of the shorts. The Specialized Trail Shorts are as simple as it gets for MTB shorts with a button fly, two front hand pockets (one with a zipper), and external waist adjusters for a dialed fit. Patagonia is well known for producing some of the highest quality outdoor gear available, and they are becoming a larger player in the mountain bike apparel market. If security is more important, or you find that a lot of shorts ride down during the ride, look for a waist with a built-in nylon belt, or a pair with belt loops. 10 Best Mens Cycling Shorts for a More Comfortable Ride, Fezzaris Veyo Balances Performance and Value, Black and: Black, red, orange, gold, white, gray, green. The pro fits are for flat stomachs and skinny quads, while club or touring fits allow for larger abdomens and legs. If youre looking for an affordable pair of baggy biking shorts that come with a liner, then check out this pair from Zoic. Thanks to a combination of shaping through the body and a high degree of stretch in the DWR-coated fabric, they dont feel in the slightest bit restrictive the material moves with you. The nylon fabric is soft to the touch and the cut is unrestrictive and comfortable, while a harder-wearing fabric used on the seat of the shorts improves durability. The articulated waist area boasts grip strips at the small of the back, Velcro adjustment tabs at the hips, and belt loops to prevent short slippage. Like fancy waist systems and closures, each pocket adds to the cost of a pair of shorts so if you dont need them, choose a pair with fewer. Additionally, the waist adjustment pulls the shorts to one side, which could be problematic for those on the small side of the size. For those baggy shorts without chamois, people can choose to buy a chamois liner or cycling underwear with some padding. However, keep in mind that a $10 padded liner generally isnt going to perform as well as one that is priced closer to the typical cost of around $100 for a mid-grade liner. Knee pad coverage is actually a difficult thing to quantify since mtb shorts legs tend to move up and down while pedaling, let alone in a crash situation. A lot of cross-country and gravel riders find this tighter style of mountain bike shorts more comfortable and aerodynamic for endurance riding. Instead, the waistband is elasticated and has a clever fold-over fly with a single hook fastening that slots into any one of five loops, making for a variable and extremely comfortable fit. Whether you're a triathlete, gravel rider, or mountain biker, these men's shorts are perfect for going the distance. Mens and womens sizes and styles available. Look for anatomically shaped patterns and channeled areas of foam that help ensure the chamois breathes well and doesn't bunch up while you ride. The Skyline is a great riding short offering a sharp look and useful pockets for use off-trail. Weve tested many mountain bike shorts with materials that are best described as rough and crinkly, and needless to say were not fans. We don't consider the cost when we score a product. Related: How to Choose Mountain Bike Shorts for Men. Weve cut the liners out of plenty of shorts over the years to know theyre generally not worth the added cost, let alone the ill fit and discomfort. Specializeds RBX Cycling Short offers excellent four-way stretch and breathability at an affordable price. Theyre stretchy for riding and have a removable, padded liner with a built-in flap that makes it easier to use the bathroom. The polyester and spandex blended construction material is lightweight, gives when stretched, and has a smooth finish. Mens and womens styles available. Cycling shorts largely fall into three categories. We scrutinized every aspect of their performance and analyzed how the design, materials, fit, and features play into their comfort and performance on and off the trail. First, consider what makes a mountain bike short as opposed to a road bike short or an athletic short in general. Mission Workshops The Traverse Shorts deliver a fantastic fit that has enough room to accommodate knee pads. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. The Best Ultra-Classic Short Shorts: Lands' End traditional fit pleated 6 Inch chino shorts, $55. Theyre as at home on the trail as they are on the road, gravel path, or just around town. They also offer ample room for knee pads underneath and have a high degree of stretch, with cinches on the side to allow wearers to tighten them more. Experiment to find what works best for you. Check the label for care instructions. We wore the shorts to bars and restaurants for post-ride beverages and a bite to eat. We found these offer a slim fit and sleek look so if you want a truly baggy short, we recommend choosing a different pair from this list. .css-18bc37s{display:block;font-family:Velo,Velo-fallback,Georgia,Serif;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-18bc37s:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 61.25rem){.css-18bc37s{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 61.25rem){.css-18bc37s{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-18bc37s{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}}Fezzaris Veyo Balances Performance and Value, The Best Bicycle Locks for Every Scenario, The 10 Best Bikepacking Bags for Every Adventure, The Best Cycling Gear From REIs Memorial Day Sale, The Best Bike Is One That Takes You on an Adventur, First Ride: Pivot's Third Generation Mach 4 SL. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. External waist adjusters make for an easy fit to keep the shorts securely in place all day long. All of this leads to less irritation, sweat and salt buildup, bacteria growth, and reduced saddle sores. Made for all-day comfort, the Core Bibs are Raphas most affordable bibs, yet still boast high-quality features. Generally, we found that shorts with thicker and more abrasion-resistant fabric did a better job brushing off crashes and grazing encounters with trailside hazards. The 12-inch inseam on the mens shorts falls at or just above the knees and we found these generally fit true to size. First published August 15, 2022 @ 9:44:27. If youre looking for a low-profile pair of liners or underwear to wear with your baggy cycling shorts, youd be hard-pressed to find a better pair than REIs Co-Op Link Padded Liners. All that matters on the trail is how shorts feel. Screen-printed graphics tend to rub off and fade over time, though reflective accents are a nice safety feature. A raised silicone or sticky print, usually applied to the rear of the waist to stop baggy shorts from slipping down over the smooth surface of a liner short. Our features assessment measures the usefulness of features and not just their presence. Buy Now. And yes, its also fine to wear mountain bike shorts that dont fully extend past the top of your knee pads, especially when its hot outside. We don't have much in the way of criticisms for this short. From the heavy gage zippers to the robust 4-way stretch nylon material and 3-layer rear waterproof panels, the MT500 is built to last. Though less expensive than many comparable options, these shorts pack in technology found on Pearls more expensive offerings, making these one of the best values on the market. Fabric will often determine what type of riding a pair of shorts is most suitable for because it provides protection and comfort. An overlapping "envelope" style closure works okay, but we found it to make getting items in and out of the pockets more of a pain than it needs to be. There are two hand pockets in the front and one centered pocket in the rear, all secured with zippers. Included liners tend to be fairly basic chamois liners, and our preference is to purchase a liner, like the Club Ride 1-3 hour chamois, separately. Additionally, the phone pockets are positioned on the top of the thigh, which is not bad for peddling, although we prefer the back of the thigh. Wearing spandex bike shorts also has other advantages like less restricted movement, no having to guess if youre in between sizes, and depending how tight-fitting the shorts are, compression can aid in your muscles blood circulation. Nordstrom. Mens and womens styles available. More brands are making mountain bike shorts out of recycled materials, incorporating Merino wool, and implementing sustainable manufacturing practices. With a 14in inseam and pre-shaped knee panels, these are longer shorts that give great coverage when worn with pads. So what makes for a great pair of mountain bike shorts? Price: $130. Finding the right fit with a pair of mountain bike shorts is very important. Chris notes these fit slim body types best and the 13 inseam should fall just below the knees for most riders. Pared-back styling combines with a tightly woven, durable-feeling fabric on these well-fitting shorts from Sweet Protection. These three riders bring several decades of riding and bike industry experience to the table. For example, the shorts sport two hip pockets that are mesh lined for breathability and sewn in to prevent the contents from shifting while peddling. This removes bulk and increases comfort because theres no band to dig into your stomach. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, How We Tested Mountain Bike Shorts for Men, How to Choose Mountain Bike Shorts for Men, Best Mountain Bike Shorts for Women of 2023, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Great ventilation, low-pro waist adjustment, welded leg openings, Lightweight, comfortable, great fit, quick-drying, Stylish, functions well with knee pads, high-quality and reasonable price, Quality of materials and construction, good pocket design, work great with knee pads, Single snap closure, baggier than some will like, Small pockets, lightweight material may not be the most durable, asymmetrical waist adjustment, Slightly longer and roomier than previous version, Minimal waistband adjustment, over-complicated closure system, Long insean for a trail short, somewhat noisy material, a little expensive, With great features, a good build, and a sharp look, these shorts represent the best modern design offers, This lightweight, highly breathable trail short is a great choice for cranking out the miles on hot days, Comfortable, lightweight, minimalist shorts for big days in the saddle, A dialed all-mountain/enduro short that ticks most of the boxes but has some minor waistband issues, Quality mountain bike shorts that have a stylish cut, and pockets that are useful on and off the trail, 87% polyester and 13% spandex with 4-way stretch Aero Tech micro ripstop panels, 4-way stretch 90 denier 86% recycled polyester/14% spandex with a DWR, 4-way stretch, 85%nylon, 15% elastane with DWR. Of course, some disadvantages might include lack of pockets and limited protection from nature and the elements. In the best cases, one doesn't notice the shorts at all. While we feel this is generally a positive change, those who loved the fit of the previous version may find these to be a little baggier.