SQlab ONE OX and ONE 10: MTB trousers for the summer with built-in cooling

When the temperatures rise, it quickly gets hot when mountain biking. For style and other reasons, we still often wear tight bike trousers with a seat pad plus smart shorts over them. It quickly gets sweaty "underneath" and often uncomfortable after a few hours in the saddle. How practical when both trousers provide cooling and the necessary protection - like the dream pair from SQlab.

We tested the package of SQ-Short ONE OX and SQ-Short ONE10 BLK, which is also recommended by the manufacturer as a team, during the first very warm weeks of the year. The SQ-Short ONE OX is the bike shorts for the look, while the SQ-Short ONE10 is a special pair of shorts with seat padding and perforated material.

SQ-Short ONE OX: lightweight MTB shorts put to the test

You can tell that the SQ-Short ONE OX from SQlab is made to last. the summer version of the SQ-Pants One10 is. The material of the shorts is very light, breathable and stretchy. In addition, the MTB shorts are extremely dirt and water repellent when new, but even after a few washes, dust or mud will not stick to them, making them very resistant.

They also have similar technical features to the long cycling trousers. For example, silicone on the inside of the waistband also provides grip. Above all, however, we already know the electrosmog-reducing right front trouser pocket with waterproof zip from our winter test. Yes, the mobile phone actually has almost no reception in the silver threaded inner pocket.

Both pockets are sensibly positioned, even if you don't want to store much in them when pedalling. But at the ice cream parlour or at the hut, you can easily fit your gloves, sat nav and bowl - and that's just the left pocket.

The most important thing, however, is the comfort, which can only be described in combination with the padded trousers: hard shell, airy core - or something like that. The SQ-Short ONE OX is very breathable, but ultimately it should also protect you in the event of a fall or from branches. The material is therefore stretchy but fairly tear-resistant. The real cooling comes from the perforated SQ-Short ONE10, which we'll talk about in a moment. Together - so much for now - the SQlab summer equipment package of shorts and underpants is very comfortable to wear, even at 27 degrees and in full sun. Only the price of just under 180 euros for the MTB shorts alone doesn't make you feel quite so cool.

Test summary, Marc Strucken, BIKE editor

The SQ-Short ONE OX from SQlab is a high-quality, short MTB trousers with a regular cut. They fit well and do not slip thanks to silicone areas and Velcro fasteners on the waistband. In combination with the very air-permeable padded cycling shorts (below), a good match for the bike summer of 2023.

Details for SQlab SQ-Short ONE OX

• Price: 179,95 Euro >> at Mountain time or Amazon
• Sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL / 3XL / 4XL
• Material: 77 % nylon, 11 % polyester, 11 % elastane, 1 % nylon Circuitex Silver
• Country of origin: China
• Unisex
• regular fit

SQ-Short ONE10: airy cycling shorts for underneath put to the test

The heaviest part of the SQlab cycling shorts is the seat pad. The material of the SQ-Short ONE10 is super-light, perforated and therefore extremely breathable and stretchy. The first impression when you put them on: It pulls! But ventilation is definitely desirable in hot outside temperatures.

SQlab knows that the padding of the shorts always plays an important role. This is also the case with these MTB shorts, which are worn close to the body. The seat pad, called SQ-Pad10, has a thin layer of orthopaedic TPE gel. This gel was specially developed to absorb shear forces in the medical field, for example in prostheses. The entire pad is therefore only 8 millimetres thin and quite firm. But this also contributes to the impression of not having sweaty "nappy pants" on your bum when wearing them.

It is also noticeable that the SQ pad is cut quite wide. SQlab says that they are universally suitable for every sit bone distance. Unlike the manufacturer's saddles, where there are explicit differences in width. The slightly extra width is supposed to ensure that the padding does not push inwards when pedalling. Our test also confirms this impression: no "lump" forms in the perineal area.

Our initial scepticism towards bike shorts without bibs - because the SQ-Short ONE10 is only available without them - has not been confirmed. Thanks to the good cut and firm waistband, the shorts stay in place even after many kilometres in the saddle. However, SQlab specifies the area of use as Tour & Travel. In tough XC or gravity use, straps could be an advantage.

Another positive aspect is that SQlab offers an uncomplicated repair service for the SQ-Short ONE10: If the seams of the shorts break due to constant use or a fall, you can contact the manufacturer by email with a picture and the invoice. But here too: just under 120 euros for a pair of cycling shorts is a lot of money at first. But the very good ventilation, even cooling, which other trousers do not offer, together with the repair option, put the price into perspective.

Test summary, Marc Strucken, BIKE editor

The SQ-Short ONE10 from SQlab is a very lightweight padded inner short that sits quite stably even without straps and feels extremely airy thanks to the perforation. The padding is thin and firm, but - as you would expect from SQlab - also works very well over long distances.

Details of the SQlab SQ-Short ONE10

• Price: 119,95 Euro
• Area of application: MTB Tour & Travel / Trekking
• Sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL / 3XL / 4XL
• Material: 75 % nylon, 25 % elastane
• Country of origin: Lithuania
• Unisex: also available as SQ-Short ONE10 Women with a special cut
• regular fit