Intro
Mountain bike shorts have evolved a lot over the years from the moto-derived versions of old, and have gotten a lot lighter, more breathable, and more comfortable in the process. Here we’ve got a dozen options for men and women, and that overall trend towards lighter, more breathable fabrics is notable compared to even just a year or two ago. And for even more choices, check out our men’s and women’s (part one & part two) roundups from last year.
7mesh Glidepath
Fabric: 85% Nylon / 15% Elastane
Inseam Length: 15’’ / 29.2 cm
Pockets: Two hand pockets, open; two phone pockets, zippered
Waist Adjustment: Integrated belt with hook and ladder closure
Blister’s Measured Weight: 185g
Reviewer: 6’, 170 lb / 183 cm, 77.1 kg
Size Tested: Medium
MSRP: $150
David Golay: The 7mesh Glidepath is a super lightweight, ultra-breathable short with a fairly roomy fit and a whole lot of pockets. The fabric used is quite soft and features a bit of four-way stretch, making for a particularly cool, comfortable short. The Glidepath uses a hook-and-ladder closure across the front of the waist for adjustment which works reasonably well if you’re not trying to really cinch things down tightly but does bunch up a little bit at the smallest end of the adjustment range. I typically wear a 32’’ waist in most shorts/pants and 7mesh recommends the size Medium that I tested for 31–33’’ waists, but I’d say the Glidepath runs a little bigger than that — especially given its overall roomy fit and long inseam. If you’re in doubt, size down.
The Glidepath features two open hand pockets and two zippered phone pockets on the outside of the thighs, but the looser fit and light, stretchy fabric means that those phone pockets aren’t the most secure, and anything as heavy as a phone bounces around more than I’d like. I am pretty fussy about movement in those sorts of phone pockets, though — you’re going to read a similar gripe about a bunch of other shorts here, too — so keep that in mind. And to be fair to 7mesh, the combination of the roomier fit and super light, stretchy fabric that they’ve opted for undoubtedly makes super stable pockets a challenge.
The Glidepath shorts work well with knee pads, do a nice job of maintaining coverage over them without bunching up or causing other issues, and also are notably quick drying — I’ve been for a few mid-ride dips to cool off in them, and though they do soak up a fair bit of water, they’re remarkably quick to rid themselves of it, too. If you like the sound of a very cool, lightweight short with a looser-than-average fit and can live with a little bounce in the pockets (or just won’t use them much), the Glidepath shorts are excellent.
POC Guardian Air
Fabric: Cordura blend
Inseam Length: 12.75’’ / 32.4 cm
Pockets: Two phone pockets; small key lumbar pocket, all zippered
Waist Adjustment: Non-adjustable elastic waist
Blister’s Measured Weight: 158g
Reviewer: 6’, 170 lb / 183 cm, 77.1 kg
Size Tested: Medium
MSRP: $160
David: The POC Guardian Air is one of the lightest, most breathable men’s shorts here (the Pearl Izumi Summit Pro is its only real competition for that title) and is an especially comfortable option for the very hottest days on the bike. The fabric is very thin and light, with a slight bit of four-way stretch, and it both breathes extremely well and is notably quick drying.
The Guardian Air features a fairly middle-of-the-road fit, overall, but is perhaps most notable for its non-adjustable elastic waistband — something of a rarity on bike-specific shorts. It’s super comfortable and sits nicely under a hip pack strap, but isn’t the best at keeping the shorts up, especially with a bit of weight in the pockets. And as is often the case with mid-thigh phone pockets, especially on lightweight, stretchy shorts, the Guardian Air’s aren’t the most secure, and heavier objects such as phones and the like are prone to bouncing around quite a bit.
The leg openings of the Guardian Air are patterned nicely to fall over knee pads, but the slightly shorter than average inseam does mean that there’s a bit more likelihood of gaps appearing, depending on your leg length and the pads in question. Overall, the Guardian Air is a super cool, breathable short that’s going to work best for people who don’t tend to ride with much stuff in their pockets and are willing to trade-off somewhat compromised functionality there for an ultra-cool, breathable short — especially folks who would prefer a slightly roomier overall fit than a lot of the most minimalist options out there.
Endura Singletrack Lite
Fabric: 85% Nylon / 15% Elastane
Inseam Length: 11.5’’ / 29.2 cm (Short inseam version)
Pockets: Two hand pockets; one seat pocket, all zippered
Waist Adjustment: Integrated velcro adjusters
Blister’s Measured Weight: 218g
Reviewer: 6’, 170 lb / 183 cm, 77.1 kg
Size Tested: Medium Short
MSRP: $100
David: Endura has a well-earned reputation for making notably burly apparel, and while the Singletrack Lite is definitely not as stout as their excellent Singletrack II short (check out our 2021 roundup for more on that one) the modern trend toward thinner, lighter shorts has the Singletrack Lite feeling more like a mid-range option here, rather than something truly super light. They breathe reasonably well, bolstered by a bunch of small perforations along the inside and outside of each thigh, but are still significantly beefier and a little warmer than the very lightest options here.
The fit of the Singletrack Lite is slightly on the slimmer side, particularly through the seat, but isn’t super trim overall, and the leg openings leave enough room for knee pads to fit comfortably. That said, Endura sent over the short inseam version of the Singletrack Lite to test, which is definitely a bit short for reliable knee pad coverage for me (6’ / 183 cm tall). There’s a “standard” inseam version available as well if you’d prefer an over-the-knee fit. The elastic waist adjusters on each hip work great, as does the pocket arrangement; the two zippered hand pockets feature a much more horizontal opening (when standing upright) than most, which reduces their utility for being used literally as hand pockets when being worn off the bike, but also means that they’re far easier to access while seated than most, and they do a nice job of sitting flat and avoiding bouncing around when pedaling. And there’s a third zippered pocket on the right seat as well.
The Singletrack Lite is a really nice short that’s a bit burlier and more fully-featured than the “Lite” name might suggest, but also breathes reasonably well and comes in two inseam lengths for folks who’d prefer a cooler above-the-knee cut or those who put a higher premium on knee pad coverage.
Giro Havoc
Fabric: 94% Recycled Nylon / 6% Elastane
Inseam Length: 14.25’’ / 36.2 cm
Pockets: Two hand pockets, open; one phone pocket, zippered
Waist Adjustment: Integrated velcro adjusters plus belt loops
Blister’s Measured Weight: 226g
Reviewer: 6’, 170 lb / 183 cm, 77.1 kg
Size Tested: 32
MSRP: $130
David: While a lot of the lightest, most breathable shorts tend to go for a fairly bare-bones feature set, the Giro Havoc offers an unusual and compelling blend of traits: it’s fairly lightweight and breathable but features a longer inseam, roomier fit, and more pockets and other features than most similarly-cool shorts.
The fabric used in the Havoc is on the lighter side, with a nice bit of two-way stretch and a lot of perforations around the lower part of the legs for added ventilation. The inseam is notably long, for nice coverage with knee pads, and the overlapping section is slightly articulated and patterned especially well for fit over mid-size pads — Giro has that part absolutely dialed. Overall, the fit of the Havoc shorts is about middle-of-the-road on the slim to roomy spectrum, but they’re also pretty stretchy width-wise and do a nice job of adding more room when needed.
The waist adjustment (done via a velcro tab on each hip) is also fairly secure and effective, though folks who really need to cinch things down in a given size will likely find that the range of adjustment before things start bunching up isn’t especially wide. But in my normal size (32’’ waist) they work and fit really well — and the Havoc shorts also include belt loops if you want to add one.
My one knock against the Havoc is that I don’t like the phone pocket very much — it’s too deep and too low on the leg, at least for my preferences, and so my phone (a Google Pixel 4) bounces around too much and can slide up and down in the pocket as I pedal. And since the hand pockets are open, they’re not the most secure place to put a phone or keys, either.
Otherwise, though, the Havoc short is a really nice option — and again, I’m especially into the combination of the longer inseam and really dialed knee pad fit, plus a lighter and more breathable material than most burlier, more gravity-oriented shorts.
Specialized Trail
Fabric: 100% Polyester
Inseam Length: 13.25’’ / 33.7 cm
Pockets: Two hand pockets (one open, one zippered)
Waist Adjustment: D-ring adjusters on hips
Blister’s Measured Weight: 215g
Reviewer: 6’, 170 lb / 183 cm, 77.1 kg
Size Tested: 32
MSRP: $80
David: Specialized’s Trail Short is pretty different from their Trail Pant that we just included in our updated MTB Pant Roundup — the fabric, fit, waist closure, and pocket arrangement are all different — but they’re a really nice option, especially given their comparatively modest price. The fabric is mid-weight and reasonably breathable but isn’t as light and airy as some of the very most breathable options here (the 7mesh Glidepath & Slab, and Pearl Izumi Summit Pro). The fit is on the slim-ish side of things, but to a lesser extent than the very trim Trail Pants, and the mid-length inseam and hem work really nicely with knee pads for my build, in my normal size 32.
The Trail Short features a pair of super low-profile D-ring adjusters on the hips, and though the webbing that they use is relatively thin (only about 10 mm wide), they’re effective and have stayed put well for me. And since they’re so low profile, they play particularly nicely with hip pack straps, without having to take much care to situate them away from the pack strap. The fly uses a button closure at the top, and then features a fine mesh baffle to close off the rest, in lieu of a more standard zipper. The inside of the waistband is lined with a very soft, quite-fine fleece which is super comfortable against the skin.
The pocket arrangement also works fairly well, though I might prefer that both include a zippered closure instead of having the right-hand pocket be open. The left zippered pocket works well for carrying a phone or keys, and both use a coarse mesh liner that adds a little ventilation when left open. The Trail Short also includes a couple of loops to attach a chamois liner (sold separately) which I haven’t tested.
Overall, the Trail Short is a comfortable, well-designed mid-weight option with a moderately slim fit and a reasonable price. Folks looking for the absolute most breathable option or a ton of pockets might want to look elsewhere, but the Trail Short is going to work well for a lot of folks.
Women’s PNW Components Shuttle
Fabric: 88% Nylon, 12% Spandex Coating
Inseam Length: 13.5” / 34.5 cm
Pockets: 2 hip pockets, 2 large zippered pockets
Waist Adjustment: Button with adjustable strap for cinching
Blister’s Measured Weight: 261 g
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: Large
MSRP: $99
Kara Williard: The keyword for the PNW Components Shuttle Short is protective. Overall, this is the burliest and heaviest pair of mountain bike shorts I have tested. They work wonderfully for gnarlier rides or bike park laps, and they definitely feel protective when up against some rocks or thorny bushes. But overall, they are a bit less versatile than the other shorts featured here (which is not too surprising — they are called a Shuttle Short).
The fabric is quite burly, protective, and snag resistant, which is ideal for this type of short. While the short uses a heavier overall fabric than shorts like the 7mesh Slab or Farside short, and the other women’s shorts mentioned here, it still breathes fairly well and doesn’t feel extremely stifling on the hotter days. Better yet, they are quite water-resistant and serve as a great option for stormy rides.
The Shuttle Short runs a bit on the big side when it comes to fit. I chose a Large since I wanted a little bit of extra space for knee pads and just general protection, and it is indeed roomy and baggy. While I don’t feel like they are all that flattering, the fit is really comfortable. For someone who prefers a baggy look or likes to stay away from tight bike clothing, I still might encourage sizing down, as I realize a Medium could have also worked for me. The long inseam also ensures that I don’t have a gap between the end of the shorts and my knee pads, which is a relief. Overall, I don’t mind the fit of the shorts, but it is a lot roomier than any of the other shorts here.
One nice attribute of the Shuttle Shorts is their ample pocket space. The shorts have four pockets, two of which are huge and zippered. I tend to not ride with too much in my pockets, but on the rides when I have had to use a lot of phone navigation, I can easily fit my giant phone in the side pockets and access it without stopping the bike. This is pretty nice, and somewhat rare across a lot of the women’s shorts I have tested.
Men’s PNW Components Shuttle
Fabric: 88% Nylon / 12% Spandex
Inseam Length: 13.75’’ / 34.9 cm
Pockets: Two hand pockets, open; two phone pockets, zippered
Waist Adjustment: Integrated velcro adjusters plus belt loops
Blister’s Measured Weight: 254g
Reviewer: 6’, 170 lb / 183 cm, 77.1 kg
Size Tested: Medium
MSRP: $99
David: The Shuttle is the burliest short here, with a fairly high-cut waist (especially in the back) and moderately long inseam for ample knee pad coverage. It’s also fairly fully-featured, with two open hand pockets and a pair of zippered phone pockets on the outside of each thigh. The mesh liners for the hand pockets can be prone to bunching up when you first put the shorts on, but stay put once you smooth them out, and the phone pockets are among the more effective and stable ones here.
The overall fit of the Shuttle is slightly on the baggy side of average, and the fabric has a little bit of four-way stretch to avoid feeling tight or constrictive, but the sliding adjusters on each hip are effective and have stayed put nicely for me. The breathability of the Shuttle is only okay, but for riders looking for a stout short with a ton of coverage, a roomier fit, and a whole lot of very functional pockets, they’re a great option.
Women’s 7mesh Slab
Fabric: 85% nylon, 15% elastane with DWR
Inseam Length: 13” / 33.0 cm
Pockets: 1 zippered pocket
Waist Adjustment: Snap closure with “ultra-suede hook and ladder”
Blister’s Measured Weight: 180 g
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: Large
MSRP: $140
Kara: The Slab Shorts have easily become one of my favorite shorts this season for several reasons. First, they are extremely comfortable. The Slab Short is supremely stretchy and thin (in a good way), and the smooth fabric feels great during sustained movement. While the fabric behaves like a quick-drying soft shell, the overall feel is really smooth and supple and moves comfortably against the skin. The lack of seams, or rather, the use of taped seams, creates a very smooth finish that doesn’t chafe or rub.
The fit also contributes to comfort. For me, a size Large provides a tailored fit that is not too tight in the key zones, especially in the waist. The simple hook and ladder system helps to secure the waist as they stretch, but doesn’t create excess bulk at the waistband.
The Slab Short is also extremely practical and versatile. The material is lightweight and quick-drying, which I have put to the test across several creek crossings and rainy rides. So far, they have proven durable and snag-resistant. While these aren’t the heaviest or burliest shorts of the bunch, they are quite lightweight and breathable.
The biggest downside, for some, might be that the Slab Short is limited on pockets. It only features one zippered pocket that isn’t that roomy. But this keeps the short really simplistic and minimal, which contributes to its lack of bulkiness and overall low weight.
Compared with the 7mesh Farside Short, which I spent a lot of time in last year, I prefer the fit, texture, and features of the Slab Short a bit more. While the Farside Short is comparably versatile, the fabric, fit, and seamless design of the Slab Short feels more comfortable to me. While I have tested both in Large, the waistband of the Farside is a little more snug and doesn’t rest as comfortably on my hips. The waistband of the Slab Shorts is a little wider and more flexible, which feels more comfortable when on a bike. In addition, the Slab Short feels slightly roomier around the thighs and features a longer inseam, so I don’t find them riding up, which sometimes happens with the Farside Short during longer rides.
Men’s 7mesh Slab
Fabric: 50% nylon, 37% polyester, 13% elastane
Inseam Length: 15’’ / 29.2 cm
Pockets: One phone pocket, zippered
Waist Adjustment: Integrated belt with hook and ladder closure
Blister’s Measured Weight: 180g
Reviewer: 6’, 170 lb / 183 cm, 77.1 kg
Size Tested: Medium
MSRP: $140
David: Like Kara, I’m a big fan of the 7mesh Slab short, and everything she said about the women’s version carries over to the men’s one, too. The material is pretty thin and breathable and super stretchy (very much like what 7mesh uses in the Glidepath) but in a slightly slimmer fit and with a pared-down feature set. The hook and ladder waist closure is also shared with the Glidepath, but due to the overall slimmer fit of the Slab, I don’t feel the need to crank it down quite as tightly, so it doesn’t bunch up as much either. To be clear, the Slab is still not that slim-fitting — the Pearl Izumi Summit Pro and Endura Singletrack Lite are more so, and the Specialized Trail and PNW Shuttle are pretty similar — and the very stretchy fabric helps keep it from feeling tight or restrictive, too.
The Slab only has a single phone pocket on the right thigh, but — again primarily due to the slimmer fit — it works better (for me, anyway) and keeps my phone a whole lot more stable than those in the Glidepath. The cut of the Slab short works very well with kneepads, and the light, supple, stretchy fabric does a nice job of moving with you and is very, very comfortable. In short, the Slab is a lot like a trimmer-fitting version of the Glidepath with fewer pockets, and that’s a combo that I’m very on board with. They’re excellent.
PEARL iZUMi Summit PRO Shell Short
Fabric: 91% Recycled Nylon, 9% Spandex
Inseam Length: 13’’ / 33.0 cm
Pockets: Two phone pockets, zippered
Waist Adjustment: Integrated belt
Blister’s Measured Weight: 142g
Reviewer: 6’, 170 lb / 183 cm, 77.1 kg
Size Tested: 32
MSRP: $130
David: The PEARL iZUMi Summit PRO Shell Short is one of the lightest, most-breathable options here — similar to the POC Guardian Air, and even more so than the 7mesh Glidepath and Slab — and features a moderately slim fit, plus some of the better laid out phone thigh pockets here.
The fabric used in the Summit PRO is super lightweight and breathable with very slight four-way stretch — it’s definitely less stretchy than the 7mesh Glidepath and Slab, or the POC Guardian Air, for example — but it does have some give to it. A bunch of perforations on the lower part of the inner thigh and around the back of the waistband further bolster ventilation, as does a fine mesh baffle in the fly, very similar to that in the Specialized Trail Short, above.
The waist closure on the Summit PRO uses an integrated belt made from nylon webbing and a sliding buckle that pulls a flap over the fly baffle. There’s no additional closure and you use the adjuster each time you take the shorts on and off, but it’s super easy to work with. I have found that the adjustment can slowly work its way loose over time, but it’s easy to re-secure with a yank of the ample tail on the belt, so it’s fairly easy to re-tighten (and there’s a mini-belt loop to secure that tail if you don’t want it flapping around).
The only pockets on the Summit PRO are a pair of zippered phone pockets on the outside of each thigh, and they’re really well done — the positioning and sizing are on point, and they do a much better job than most of keeping whatever’s in them secure and prevent it from bouncing around while riding.
At least on my legs, the lower part of the legs on the Summit PRO tapers down just a little too much to be an ideal fit with knee pads. The fit is only moderately trim overall and they do fit over knee pads okay but between the not-super-long inseam and narrower-than-average leg opening they can get pushed up and bunch up at the top of pads. It’s more of an aesthetic issue than a truly functional one, but they’d work better (at least for my legs) if the bottom part of the opening was just a touch wider.
The Summit PRO short is a super breathable, comfortable option with a great pocket layout that could be improved with better knee pad compatibility but if you don’t wear pads often, or have somewhat skinnier legs it’s less likely to be an issue, and they’re quite nice otherwise.
Women’s Kitsbow Madrone Short
Fabric: 93% nylon and 7% elastane
Inseam Length: 6.5” / 16.5 cm
Pockets: Two zippered back pockets
Waist Adjustment: Secure snap with secondary snap (with belt loops)
Blister’s Measured Weight: 240 g
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: 30, 7” inseam
MSRP: $169
Kara: Kitsbow has a unique business model, with most of their apparel made to order — check out Ep.115 of Bikes & Big Ideas for a whole lot more on that. When it comes to the Madrone short, you can choose either a 7” or 11” inseam. Because I have so many shorts with longer inseams, I decided I would opt for the shorter inseam, even though historically I haven’t felt all that comfortable wearing shorter bike shorts. But, thankfully, the Kitsbow Madrone Short provided a pleasant surprise because it is one of the few shorts I have tried with a shorter inseam that is both flattering and doesn’t ride up my thighs when pedaling.
In fact, the Madrone is so comfortable that it was the short I selected for a 36-mile bike race this spring where I knew temperatures were going to be warm. The fabric is quite durable and robust but still feels plenty smooth against the skin. It is another short that I can trust to be very quick-drying and water-resistant. Kitsbow uses Schoeller’s 3XDRY® protectant on the fabric, and it works well.
Overall, the fabric is both durable without being too heavy, and robust while still breathing well and moving comfortably.
The two zippered back pockets are a little small for my bulky phone, but I like how easy they are to access on the bike, so I use them to store snacks for quick access. There are small details of the Madrone short that I appreciate, including some reflective details on the back pockets. Their secure snap closure has to be lined up to open / close, which ensures it stays put.
The Madrone Short also doesn’t look exclusively like a bike short, and with the shorter inseam, I find it to be a great option for hiking, wearing around town, or pretty much any summer activity. And while the shorter inseam doesn’t always make sense for rides where I need more protection or want to stay a bit warmer, it works wonders for when I want a less bulky short, and to get some sun above the knee.
Shredly MTB Curvy Short: Topo
Fabric:
- Body: 90% Recycled PET, 10 % Spandex
- Contrast: 72% Nylon, 28% Spandex
- Pocket Lining: 100% Polyester
Inseam Length: 11” / 28.0 cm
Pockets: Two hip pockets, small zippered pocket, large cargo pocket with snap
Waist Adjustment: Stretchy, “yoga-style” waistband
Blister’s Measured Weight: 252 g
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: 8
MSRP: $105
Kara: I have spoken before about my appreciation for Shredly bike shorts and pants, both for their functionality and also for their overall fit and style. This holds true with the MTB Curvy Short. The MTB Curvy Short is a stretchy, comfortable short with a wide, elastic “yoga-style” waistband, identical to the waistband of the Shredly Cascade Bike Pant. The waistband is unrestrictive, feeling more along the lines of a comfortable pair of leggings than actual bike shorts. I found them to sit comfortably on my hips, and the length of the shorts on my taller frame was about 1.5” above my knee.
The short features four pockets: two traditional hip pockets, a small zippered pocket, and a cargo pocket with snap closure. The cargo pocket easily fits my bulky phone, and I can comfortably ride with my phone in this pocket without being bothered by it.
When it comes to fit, I was quite surprised to find that I actually found the fit of the MTB Curvy Short to be more snug and close-fitting than the Shredley MTB Long Short. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, and I still felt like I was in my historically accurate size 8, but the fit was a lot more tailored than the MTB Long Short. In the MTB Curvy Short, it was a pretty close fit throughout, moving away from a baggy looking, and toward a form-fitting look. I imagine if I sized up they would be a little looser around my thighs and butt, but considering the looseness and comfort around my waist, I wouldn’t be too keen on sizing up; it’s more a matter of accepting a more tailored fit.
The biggest difference between Shredley’s two shorts is the MTB Curvy is a much smoother, stretchier fabric, whereas the MTB Long is more durable and less stretchy. Obviously, the inseam of the MTB Long is longer, as well (about 4” longer). For this reason, I find the MTB Curvy more versatile for activities off the bike, whereas the MTB Long is preferable for protection on long rides, which also matches up with the benefit of a longer, baggier short for more protection, pads, etc.
All around, the MTB Curvy Short is a comfortable, versatile, and breathable short, making it useful as a go-to bike short and more, especially for those who are looking for a slimmer, more form-fitting cut.
This year’s color trend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BID9gTEIFgM
Why does Kara have purple hands?
Personally I would like to see a shorter inseam in these shorts. At 5’8 all my mtb shorts run to the knees or below it. That makes it extremely uncomfortable on hot or humid days.
I simple ignore by 4-6 pair of PI, Zoic or showers pass shorts in favor of short inseam bib shorts.