Best Mountain Bike Shorts REviews

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Last Updated on June 29, 2021

The best mountain bike shorts aren’t just stylish. Even the most colorful of them all must be comfortable and practical to fit the top spot. 

You see, not all of us want to wear cycling pants when riding our mountain bikes. There’s no special reason for this. It’s just a matter of preference and personality after all. And apparently, shorts are the only alternative to go for. 

Historically, the idea of using shorts for cycling sprung from the downhillers. It then permeated through road bike riders and it’s now popular among MTB riders. 

Today, shorts are as popular in the cycling scene as bike pants will ever be. So if you don’t have a pair yet, and you’re wondering which option to choose, here are some recommendations that are worth checking out. 

Contents

Top Rated Mountain Bicycle Shorts Comparison & Rating

Best MTB Shorts Review - Affordable Mountain Biking Shorts

1. Fox Ranger Cargo Shorts

Fox Ranger Cargo shorts haven’t really gained their popularity yet. But owing to their quality at such an unbeatable price point, it should get to a point where it becomes a staple for many mountain bike riders.


Made of 100% polyester, with a crotch that sits very high, Fox Ranger Cargo is such a comfortable pair of shorts to consider right now. 


The design includes a two-way stretch fabric that not only offers durability but also the comfort you need to ride your bike freely.


This pair doesn’t feature a Velcro size adjuster. Instead, it has an interior adjustable waistband that you can tighten or loosen until you get the right fit. 


Fox Racing states that these have multiple pockets. 

They’re a total of four, two on each side of the hip. You can use these to carry whatever it is you want. Just make sure you aren’t weighing yourself down with too much unnecessary weight. 

Pros

  • Made of high-quality fabric for durability
  • Features multiple pockets for carrying personal items
  • Includes a size adjuster that you can use to get a better fit

Cons

  • May not fit well for some riders

2. Fox Racing Flexair HD Shorts

While Fox Racing focuses its attention on downhill shorts, for the most part, they’ve tried to branch out to designing pairs that meet the demand for mountain bikers.


Their Flexair is the trending MTB shorts in their lineup.


It fits quite well, pedal-friendly, and very comfortable to ride in – even for long hours. 


Designed to fit as you’d expect, especially since you can choose a size that’s perfect for you, there’s really no waste of material that would otherwise flop around and make it hard for you to ride your bike. 

Plus, the pair is breathable, with the perforated laser cut allowing sufficient airflow to keep your lower body cool and dry in hot weather. 

Pros

  • Breathable, allow sufficient airflow to keep you cool and dry
  • Comfortable pair of shorts that’s easy to clean
  • Lightweight and the chamois is of good quality

Cons

  • The fabric is thin and may not survive a crash
  • Not the most durable pair of mountain bike shorts
  • You can’t also wear them with knee pads

3. The Enduro MTB Off Road Cycling Shorts

If you’re in the market for a cheap pair of cycling shorts, then you should try Enduro MTB.


One of the things we love about this pair is that it even comes with undershorts, which you can easily detach and wear separately. 


This Enduro MTB shorts have a total of 5 pockets, two on the front, one at the back, and two on the sides.


You can use these to carry your personal items.


Just make sure you aren’t weighing yourself down by carrying too much weight. 


Also, it features what Enduro chose to call an urban belt. 

Designed to be as adjustable as possible, you can tighten or loosen the belt to get a better fit before stepping on your MTB for the next ride. 

Pros

  • Lightweight and suitable for longer rides
  • Breathable, able to wick out moisture to keep you cool and dry in a warm climate
  • Good for riders who are interested in baggy shorts
  • Has a seamless under panel that eliminates rubbing so you can ride your bike comfortably for long hours

Cons

  • The inner padded short is somewhat small

4. POC Resistance Pro HD Mountain Bike Shorts

POC isn’t just good with best cycling sunglasses and top MTB helmets. From the look of things, they also have skills in designing high-quality bike shorts for long-distance cycling.


For the cyclists that need shorts that feature longer inseam, and don’t mind the hefty price tag for a quality product, POC Resistance HD shorts may be ideal. 


Comfortable, with four-way stretch fabric pre-shaped and pre-bent for a better fit, you can wear it alone or with your best MTB knee pads.


ROC taped the seams to make the pair water and mud resistant around the crotch and seat area.


The stretch nylon fabric also has a good level of water repellency, although we don’t guarantee that these will stand up to heavy rain. 

The short even features a stretch Cordura fabric, which is tear-resistant enough to offer some kind of protection in the event of an unexpected crash.

Pros

  • Multiple color options
  • Made of tear-resistant, tough fabric for strength and durability
  • Water-resistant design

Cons

  • These shorts are expensive

5. Pearl Izumi Select Liner

Hats off to Pearl Izumi for designing such a high quality, comfortable, well-padded bike shorts.


Made of high quality, fast-drying mesh that stretches out well, this is downright the best pair of bike shorts that you can wear under baggy half cycling pants. 


The brand adds its Elite 1:1 Chamois pad to this pair of shorts, making it comfortable enough to use for short as well as long rides. 

Also, the ergonomically countered, elastic waist aligns to your bottom, so you can ride comfortably without worrying about pressure. 

Pros

  • Well-designed and very comfortable
  • Has a good padding

Cons

  • Expensive


Harold Whitford

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About the Author

My name is Harold Whitford, a husband, father, and avid cyclist with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Delaware. Having been in the industry for more than 15 years, I have a number of the road race and national time trial championships in my bag.

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