The summer will be hot. Or humid. Or both at once. Who wants to sweat their way to the summit in heavy bike shorts? But do you want to forgo the casual style of a smart pair of flutter shorts and dig out the black press sausage? That's not necessary - especially as bib shorts only look sporty when the thighs stretch the Lycra like fibreglass poles in an igloo tent and the lower legs are shaved smooth like Kojak. To ensure that all the sparrow calves and stork legs among us are able to step gracefully towards the summit, we set out in search of the lightest possible summer shorts. Our weight limit: half a pound. Only the shorts from Endura and Skinfit haven't quite reached their summer figure yet and have a few too many grams on their hips. On the other hand, the MTR Baggy is extensively equipped and the Skinfit is more robust than most of the other models in the test. With lightweight materials, laser-cut ventilation openings and glued seams, some models even manage to weigh less than 150 grams. And if the summer sweat gets too much on your face, you can simply refresh yourself in a cool mountain lake - unlike the padded shorts, the tested shorts are completely dry again after a few minutes of riding.
You can find these 12 mountain bike shorts in the test:
- ENDURA MTR Baggy Short
- VAUDE Topa Shorts
- ION Aeration Shorts
- FOX Livewire Pro Short
- SKINFIT Pfafflar freestyle shorts
- PEARL IZUMI Divide Short
- CRAFT X-Over Shorts
- BIORACER Enduro Short
- ALPINE STARS Hyperlite 2 Shorts
- SCOTT Trail Tech Shorts
- ADIDAS Trail Race Shorts
- TROY LEE DESIGN Ace Short
...
THE TEST RESULTS
1st ENDURA MTR Baggy Short
Weight 268 g
Sizes S / M / L / XL / XXL
Inside leg length 36 cm
Price 79,99 Euro
INFO www.endurasport.com
The MTR Baggy is the Bentley of bike trousers: luxuriously equipped, as comfortable as the sofa at home, a little too heavy, but still sporty. Zipped pockets on the sides and back provide space for a smartphone, keys or Squeezy. The Velcro adjustment and roughened material on the back secure the trousers to the hips like a three-point harness secures a racing driver in his Recaro seat. The MTR is robust and also slightly water-repellent. However, it is not as well cushioned as a luxury car. When pedalling, it rustles like the passenger's tabloid magazine in a Bentley.
Fit 5 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 5 out of 6 points
2. VAUDE Topa Shorts
Weight 165 g
Sizes S / M / L / XL / XXL
Inside leg length 30 cm
Price 90 Euro
INFO www.vaude.com
The Topa is one of the few trousers that can actually manage without a waistband adjustment. They reach significantly higher at the back than most models in the test. The elasticated waistband wraps smoothly around the hips, keeping the trousers firmly in place. The lightweight material stretches like a rubber band, and the laser-cut ventilation openings allow the wind to whistle through at force seven - yet you can hardly hear any rustling when pedalling. So the perfect bike shorts? Not quite: the legs of the Topa could be a little longer and the leg ends a little wider.
Fit 5 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 4 out of 6 points
3rd ION Aeration Shorts
Weight 146 g
Sizes S / M / L / XL
Inside leg length 27 cm
Price 109,95 Euro
INFO www.ion-products.com
Ion tailors the perfect trousers for racers who can't quite tear themselves away from the style of their tight polyester pellets. They fit almost as tightly as bib shorts - but a pronounced quadriceps femoris only fits in here if you open the practical side ventilation. Unfortunately, this means you've lost the "cooling joker" even before the sweat-inducing ascent. Nevertheless, the extremely lightweight Aeration - as the name suggests - is very well ventilated. The soft elasticated waistband sits comfortably on the hips, but can slip down a little if you move around a lot on the bike.
Seat/fit 4 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 4 out of 6 points
4. FOX Livewire Pro Short
Weight 144 g
Sizes 28 / 30 / 32 / 34 / 36 / 38
Inside leg length 29 cm
Price 170 Euro
INFO www.foxhead.com
Skinny jeans have been selling like hotcakes for a Swedish fashion designer for years. Now Fox is launching skinny shorts for mountain bikers. Skin-tight and aerodynamic. However, they are no longer sewn, but glued, and the ventilation slits are no longer carved into the knees by hand, but laser-cut into the thighs. Their shortcoming is the rigid waistband, which can only be adjusted with a press stud. Either the Livewire fits, or it threatens to erode down the buttocks. The price is tough but fair for so much high-tech, especially as Fox includes a high-quality Elastic Interface inner short in the set.
Seat/fit 3 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 4 out of 6 points
5. SKINFIT Pfafflar freestyle shorts
Weight 260 g
Sizes XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL
Inside leg length 34 cm
Price 99 Euro
INFO www.skinfit.eu
Ski tours, trail running, mountain runs - Austrians are always at the starting line when things get steep and fast up the mountain. The Pfafflar shorts are a little out of the ordinary. They are heavier than many of the skintight and ultralight products in the range. However, the material is all the more robust and extremely comfortable to wear. They have two practical zip pockets and belt loops - which are necessary because the waist size cannot be adjusted. On warm days, you would like to let some air through the thick fabric, but unfortunately there is no ventilation opening. Otherwise: great trousers for alpine crossers and multisport athletes - Made in Austria!
Seat/fit 4 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 5 out of 6 points
6. PEARL IZUMI Divide Short
Weight 218 g
Sizes S / M / L / XL / XXL
Inside leg length 35 cm
Price 99,95 Euro
INFO www-paul-lange.de
The Pearl Izumi shorts are like two arrows in a quiver. The trouser legs are narrower towards the bottom, which is not uncomfortable and also prevents annoying flapping. The comfortable waistband - unfortunately a little fiddly to adjust on the inside - keeps the shorts firmly in place. A padded storage compartment is concealed at the back. The two thigh pockets also provide light ventilation. The Divide is a top pair of shorts for racers. One small drawback: the trouser legs slip up slightly when pedalling and the zips are quite stiff.
Fit 5 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 5 out of 6 points
7th CRAFT X-Over Shorts
Weight 242 g
Sizes S / M / L / XL / XXL
Inside leg length 35 cm
Price 129,95 Euro
INFO www.craftsportswear.com
The main material of the X-Over is almost as rough as a calf's tongue and rustles like freshly fallen leaves - but it is also robust and should survive the odd fall undamaged. Craft has also provided soft, very flexible fabric in places where friction could occur on the thigh, so the fit is right again and the trousers stay in position when pedalling. The waist size can be adjusted perfectly with Velcro and the trousers can be ventilated at the thighs. The inner trousers ride up easily and are only suitable for short tours with their soft padding.
Fit 5 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 4 out of 6 points
8. BIORACER Enduro Short
Weight 173 g
Sizes S / M / L / XL / XXL
Inside leg length 35 cm
Price 63 Euro
INFO www.bioracer.de
Bioracer has been equipping numerous cycling clubs and teams for years. The Belgians therefore routinely tailor tight trousers. The Enduro shorts are the first shorts for bikers and are particularly suitable for wearing in combination with the matching shirt. The trousers fit loosely without flapping and are light enough not to overheat even on a hot day. If you take your hands out of the pockets, the lining usually hangs out of the trousers like elephant ears. The waistband is cut quite low and sometimes slips below the décolleté line. The drawstring at the waist is difficult to tighten.
Seat/fit 3 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 5 out of 6 points
9. ALPINE STARS Hyperlite 2 Shorts
Weight 241 g
Sizes 28 / 30 / 32 / 34 / 36 / 38 / 40
Inside leg length 35 cm
Price 79,95 Euro
INFO www.alpinestars.com
At first glance, the Hyperlight 2 shorts appear to be fairly ordinary bike shorts: they are neither particularly light, nor particularly stretchy or excessively well ventilated. But the combination of small details makes the Alpine Stars almost a small highlight. The waistband, adjustable with Velcro, fits comfortably and securely. The material dries quickly, is robust and additionally reinforced in the seat area. The necessary equipment is stored in three spacious pockets, and for just under 80 euros, the Italians have even added a pair of inner shorts to clip into the Hyperlight shorts. What more could you want?
Fit 6 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 5 out of 6 points
10. SCOTT Trail Tech Shorts
Weight 163 g
Sizes S / M / L / XL / XXL
Inside leg length 30 cm
Price 84,95 Euro
INFO www.scott-sports.com
The Scott's material is velvety soft - you would actually like to lie on it. But the material is no less comfortable when biking. The fit is also perfect: a casual cut, but not too loose. Nothing flutters, nothing rustles. The two small pockets are well positioned, but are difficult to use with one hand. The waist size is easy to adjust, but the Velcro hooks could be tighter. The laser-cut ventilation openings on the thighs are only slightly noticeable during the ride, but the airy and lightweight material makes additional ventilation almost superfluous.
Fit 5 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 5 out of 6 points
11th ADIDAS Trail Race Shorts
Weight 183 g
Sizes XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL
Inside leg length 30 cm
Price 99,95 Euro
INFO www.adidas.com
Adidas has recently become active in cycling again. However, the Herzogenaurach-based company is still keeping a very low profile when it comes to design. Back in black seems to be the motto of the design department. The flexible fabric of the Trail Race is comfortable to wear, albeit a little scratchy at the seams. The cut of the trousers is very straight and not very bike-specific, which means they ride up easily when pedalling. The waist size is easy to adjust, although the Velcro is a little small. The small zips on the thighs are also difficult to operate. The workmanship of the Adidas is disappointing.
Seat/fit 3 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 4 out of 6 points
12th TROY LEE DESIGN Ace Short
Weight 156 g
Sizes 28 / 30 / 32 / 34 / 36 / 38
Inside leg length 30 cm
Price 139,99 Euro
INFO www.troyleedesigns.de
The Ace Short was probably designed as high-tech shorts for Nasa pilots. On the way to Mars, the astronaut can step weightlessly into the home trainer in the bonded, laser-perforated ultralight shorts. Astronaut food is stored in the laser-cut side pocket - or even safer: in the back pocket with zip. A drawstring tries to keep the trousers over your bum, but they are cut quite short and sometimes hang at half-mast. The tight leg cuffs are as constricting as a space capsule - so it's better to buy a size up.
Seat/fit 4 out of 6 points
Wearing comfort 4 out of 6 points
Stefan Frey
Editor
