Giro Havoc H2O Shorts review

Hello from West Yorkshire. When I began writing this review, it had been raining non-stop for 200 consecutive days. I’m exaggerating slightly of course, but that’s what autumn, winter, spring and indeed summer can feel like round here. One town just up the valley from us has even been taken over by geese. That’s how wet.

With such abundant moisture, I find myself reaching for the waterproofs most rides, as even if we’re in a break between rainy days, there’s generally at least one unavoidable puddle or bog to negotiate. And while full-length riding trousers may be a lot of folks’ first choice of bottoms these days, I tend to run a bit too hot for them once the temperature climbs towards the double digits. 

Waterproof shorts aren’t the perfect wet weather riding solution – you still get water trickling down the back or splashing up the legs – but I’ll take that in preference to overheating, or getting soaked to the skin in regular non-waterproof riding gear.

The Havoc range, though, is aimed at the enduro crowd. Which these days, probably means “every mountain biker who wants kit you can fit knee pads under”. That means more relaxed fit and a bit of extra toughness, although these are still a world away from cardboardy heavy duty DH shorts. They’re priced at a premium £130, although I picked mine up for cheaper and I’ve seen them for as little as half that. In return, they promise a dry bum and a host of features.

Short specs

Unlike some of their ilk, the Havoc H2O shorts are made entirely of waterproof material, with taped seams throughout. Despite being aimed at the more rough ‘n’ tumble end of the riding spectrum, they’re made from a relatively lightweight material. My size 32 pair weighs less than 150g and I can easily imagine cramming them into my pack on a bikepacking trip.

The cut of the shorts is somewhere in the happy place between fitted and flappy, with a generous amount of knee coverage and plenty of room underneath for slim knee pads. Closure is an ultra-secure double popper and there’s a proper zip fly. Hook and loop tab adjusters on the waist give you an extra couple of inches of cinching, and there are also proper belt loops. There are also a couple of adjuster tabs at the bottom of each leg.

Aesthetic flourishes are limited to a stealth reflective Giro logo on one leg and branded zip pulls, but that’s OK with me. I’m not sure I care about having snazzy winter riding kit when it’ll just end up covered in mud. Speaking of zips, the shorts’ most prominent features are the two large waterproof ones across the front, which open to reveal two mesh-backed air vents. The neat zip garages at the tops of these are a particularly pleasing touch.

Another area where Giro hasn’t been overly generous is the pockets. There’s a tiny one round the back, just below the waistband, (Has anyone ever figured out a practical use for these?) and small one on the side of one leg that can just about hold a phone. The leg pocket does have a neat bit of connecting tape inside the shorts to stop the lining turning inside out, but it’s in an awkward place for actually carrying anything bigger than a lift pass.

On the trail

In use, the Giro Havoc H2O Shorts are comfortable, quiet and do a great job of keeping the water at bay. Thanks to their light weight they also dry off quickly. I didn’t have any issues with them slipping down or riding up, and they’re as unobtrusive as any general trail shorts I’ve tried.

My main gripe with the Giro Havoc H2O Shorts is the pockets. I use short pockets fairly regularly, for example if I’m navigating by phone and want to keep it handy. The pockets on the Havok H2O are of very limited usefulness and I either have to ride along with my phone bumping my leg or keep it elsewhere.

Durability-wise, the shorts have Cordura reinforcement across the bum area to help keep the grinding paste at bay. I’ve had one winter’s use out of them and they are starting to look slightly tired, but I’d expect them to last another year or two, unless I manage to up my riding mileage considerably. All the taping on the seams has stayed put and the shorts have stayed waterproof despite lots of washes.

Overall

I’ve been impressed by nearly every item of Giro’s clothing range that I’ve seen, and these Giro Havoc H2O Shorts are made to their usual high standards. I miss having shorts pockets you can actually store stuff in, but there are ways around this. They laugh at wind and rain, and the lighter material is a pleasing change from thicker waterproof shorts than can feel heavy or restrictive.

The downside of the lighter material is that the seat of the shorts is already starting to wear visibly, so they may not be a good choice for folks who ride in gritty conditions. Durability isn’t woeful – it’s about on a par with most other waterproof shorts I’ve had – but they also cost a bit more than some. As the saying goes, you pays your money…