[Closed] What's good in shorts?

Madison ones seem pretty well made/thought out

Madison +1 - they stand by their product too, I had a small issue which they would normally have given me a warranty swap for but they were out of stock so gave me a full refund even though the shorts were still wearable.

I'm struggling masssively with shorts lately. I've had 4 pairs here including 2 pairs of Madison and they just don't sit/feel right.

The only ones i can consistently find that work for me are TLD, usually discounted in Merlin.

dakine - nice and plain, decent colours, have belt loops instead of some fancy fastening system that my gut is bound to break and a number of designs in softshell material of various weights. my favourites are the drop out shorts, they had some going cheap on sportspursuit the other days

Kylie

Dakine seconded!

I'm currently riding in a pair of alpinestars vector shorts. These are built like a tank, but fit well and have the necessary stretch bits. But I bought them as a reaction to a very shortlived pair of mavic shorts. These were light and stretchy, but wore through in a very short period.
Had some tank-like dakines too. They were good.

Tank-like is the way forward.

Madison agreed.

I've been very impressed with the quality of my Madison shorts

Current favourites are Troy Lee Ruckus.

Madison Zenith very good too, but I'm a bit in-between sizes.

At this time of life/the world - everything seems to be more a case of what used to be good in shorts

https://twitter.com/_CatherineBach/status/1022845512054190080

I’ll put my hand up and own up to holding on to a pair of expensive (IIRC) cycling shorts that now don’t fit. I keep them in the drawer labelled ‘hope’.

I only got to wear them once or twice before getting married/drinking too much beer/discovering pizza. 28” waist shorts. I live in the ridiculous fantasy that the extra 10” will melt away and I shall once again wear those cycle shorts. By which time they will be even more circa 2k than yours truly. I can’t even properly get into my more recent XL Endura Humvees. Those are good in shorts, IMO, yet agree they could be stretchier, naturally 😎

Nukeproof Blackline for me, no stock though. Mate has the NP Outland and really likes them, unfortunately just a bit shorter in the leg than the Blacklines but I'm lanky, he's about 6' and they're spot on for him

I find Madison an odd shape too, shame as the shorts are nice fabric etc.
Got some ION Traze from SportPursuit recently (discount with STW and referral 😉 ) - best shorts I've had since Race Face.
They also had AlpineStars Rover shorts, which were really nice, but I couldn't keep both pairs!

(I also have some Dakine Boundary shorts in a L, bought for my son, but he doesn't like the lack of pockets, could sell, rather than send back if anyone interested. They are a 4 way stretch DWR coated, lovely fabric (£35))

I like the idea of softshell material for MTB, but find them a bit "grabby" and apt to catch on the seat at inopportune moments on steep descents when you are stood up and moving around.

I've got a pair of expensive TLD shorts which are a nightmare for this. Not soft shell really but the material has a slight stretchy, rubbery feel to it and always catches on the seat. I've been using some decathlon shorts recently which are cheap as chips and much better.

Sombrio Highline. Expensive and seem like they will be fragile but actually last very well. I have two pairs - one blue which I must have been wearing four or five years now and a red pair bought in summer 2018 also still going strong.

Oh I forgot the Nukeproof Nirvana, my other fave pair of shorts. Possibly more of the softshell kind-of thing you're after too.

Very well cut and designed. Those and the Ruckus are the most unobtrusive in use.

Sports Persuit have some Dakine and Alpinestars shorts on offer for less than £30
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/2053594
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/2099408

I have the Nukeproof Outlander, nice and light with a bit of stretch but should have got a size smaller as I need the adjusters pulled right in. Big fan of Dakine shorts, last really well.

Ground effect Supertankers for me. The only thing I'd change is the size and direction of the two front pockets, but apart from that they're spot on.

I'm great in shorts, according to my wife.

Kylie

Posted 1 hour ago

Came here expecting to see exactly that posted.

Malt Whisky... preferably doubles

Ahh the lovely Kylie... just taking a minute of meditation to think that one through. Thanks Percypanther.

For me Ion. They offer two lengths in some styles. They're a simple design, but well cut and good quality. Stretchy fabric and not heavy. Look good on and off the bike.

I have some Royal shorts which just look and feel cheap.
And some Findra shorts which whilst good and long for my tall-person legs, were also just bloody huge.

All of these are in the simple boardshort style without liner.

I have some Royal shorts which just look and feel cheap.

Some are great, some are just a bit crap - so I've mostly stopped buying them now.

Prefer the soft-shell type shorts, current favourites are Nukeproof Blackline, although the most recent version is a little shorter and tighter on the thighs than the older ones. Still good though. true to size, or maybe a bit big.

Just got a pair of Stolen Goat gravel shorts, no idea how I ended up there onto them, but like them very much too. Sized up for those and they are very nice on the bike, decent size pockets etc.

No bargains that I know of!

My older pair of NP shorts are just about done, might look at Ion stuff next, looks good.

I have no luck at all with anything by Madison, Altura, Endura, Fox or Alpinestars. Cut, sizing and quality are all over the place.

note, I am hugely tall and fat. YMMV!

Ion Scrub for me. Work really well on the bike, light stretchy material, 2 zipped pockets, nice simple design without loads of branding all over them. Not cheap but a year in and they seem to be lasting ok - have crashed plenty and sustained no damage to the shorts so far.

The Showers Pass jobbies I bought recently are very nice.

Mezcal for the non-serious answer.

got some madison roam shorts from Freewheel the other day for %27.50!! they seem really nice. in fact i bought a jersey and a softshell jacket at same time all for a %100 (my keyboard wont do the pound sign!?) the jacket is so comfy ive not head it off my back!!

The new Humvees are a lot lighter than the old ones. More similar to the 'lite' versions Endura do (or used to).

Madison shorts are very nice. Much longer than Endura Hummvees though. I had to alter mine and cut off about 3 inches to make them shorts and not 3/4 length.

Cheers all - the Madison Roam on sale seem like a pretty good starting point.

I had a look at those Dakines @dezb - I think I would have the same pocket issue! Big rides no problem as I'll have a pack, but shorter summer blasts I like to have one pocket for my phone and one for keys...

I've a pair of Northwave Escape.

They are stretchy, flexible 'softshell' nylon, simple couple of pockets. They are wearing well and I've found myself looking for them in preference to the other shorts I've got.

Funnily enough @big_scot_nanny I thought the later model Blacklines looked shorter in the photos. I've sent back so many different pairs of shorts for being shy length wise that I'm a bit tired of it. Spotted some Ion Scrub Amp long shorts on Sportpursuit and after the recommendation up there from @rockfield I splurged £69 on a pair from Tredz, hope they're worth it!

Have afew sets of Sweet protection shorts that are very comfortable, light and fit well especially with knee pads. Find them comfier than my Humvees TBH

Kylie

Beaten to it.

The cover of 'Spinning Around' being a particularly fine example.

I like the DHB baggies I have. Sensibly priced, fit well, good quality material. Job done.

I miss the Endura MT500's I had from about 8 years ago, they survived years of daily commutes, even occasional MTB. several offs. But in the end they were done, the taping had all gone, the wait fastener snapped, holes burned in the legs from sliding on tarmac after hitting a patch of something slippy at speed on a corner.

I have some others from Endura, but they are just not the same/as good.

Dakine here too also Morvel RAD shorts I like, for the short rides I use my partners running belt which easily packs the phone, keys, change, card etc.

something like this but much cheaper available, try start fitness also