Mavic Stratos

Mavic’s Stratos shorts feel light and airy thanks to a combination of laser-cut micro-vents and the breathability of the fabric used in construction. Use of four-way stretch material and a spot on cut for their stated size makes for a comfortable short in use, with minimal riding up or down as you move about on the bike. Two velcro waist adjusters allow for fine tuning of the fit if you need it. They’re light but fairly tough with good snag resistance, and are fairly minimalist; yet just get on with the job regardless of the weather.

They are superb in hot weather; especially when combined with the Stratos inner short (sadly not included) which features a mainly fishnet style construction with a very comfortable synthetic chamois. For spring, autumn and winter use I’d be looking for a different inner short though.

The shorts are secured by a zipped fly and double waist poppers, two zipped and welded pockets are located on the lower legs and point backwards to help retain anything stowed inside when pedalling. I found the cut of the legs to be a good compromise between keeping the flap low while still being generous enough to accommodate knee pads. If I needed a new pair of shorts I’d be reaching into my pocket to pay for these.