Review: Waterproof Shorts Head 2 head

“Waterproof shorts? Shorts? That are waterproof? It’ll be garlic bread that they think of next!” probably best said in a broad Lancashire accent to get the full effect. For something so blindingly obvious, why the hell did we put up with soggy arses for so long during the eighties and nineties and not think, “Hey, I know, let’s make our bottom half waterproof too!” Too many rides ended with me peeling off sopping wet, mud infused bib shorts and subjecting them to the hose before they were allowed anywhere near the washing machine. Fortunately, several manufacturers finally cottoned on to our predicament and have strived to make the perfect short since.

Sadly, it’s easier said than done. First ride out, you can’t help but be impressed by the water beading off the fabric and marvel at your own good sense of having purchased a pair. However, jump forward a few months and a combination of trail dirt, multiple washes and a lack of mudguard conspire to turn your once cherished shorts into a sweat inducing mess with the waterproof qualities of a torn tea bag. As such, even with careful washing and regular reproofing, finding a pair that stand the test of time isn’t easy. Probably more than any other item of riding kit, waterproof shorts have the toughest job. With this in mind, we set out to test the very latest offerings from Vaude and Gore Bike Wear to see if the latest generation of shorts finally deliver on the promise of being both waterproof and long lasting.

Gore Bike Wear Power Trail Active shorts
Price: £124.99
From: goreapparel.co.uk/gore-bike-wear
Size tested: Large

Gore were one of the first companies to champion waterproof cycling shorts with their early Paclite offerings. While they were a good start, with Gore Paclite © being noticeably more prone to sweat build up than Gore 3 layer fabric, they never quite measured up to my expectations. Gore’s latest offering, the Active shell pants are a noticeable step up from previous designs. Prior offerings featured a frankly useless zip placed below the waist at the base of your spine. I never figured out a use for it but regularly cursed the inevitable ingress of water through the zip. Fortunately, Gore have finally dropped that particular “feature”. Another noticeable improvement lies in the design of the waist. While still featuring a draw cord for cinching things down, no longer did I have to keep hoiking (verb: Hoik, to grab and pull upwards) the back of my shorts up as they disconcertingly dropped downwards. Once or twice a ride is fine but every couple of minutes became a chore. Kudos to Gore for fixing that little issue. In terms of fit, I opted for a large even though Gore suggest I am a medium. When I wear waterproof shorts, I prefer to do so over a pair of lightweight baggies as not only does it help reduce moisture build up inside the short but also gives me the option of whipping them off when the weather improves. Coupled with a pair of Gore Alp X baggy shorts, they proved to be extremely comfortable with no tight spots when on the bike.

So well fitting shorts that are a step up from previous incarnations. But what about wet weather performance? Prolonged showers followed by short periods of dryness are easily handled by the Gore short. During the period of testing, I found that they remained comfortable throughout such conditions. As you would expect, capillary action would see water gradually moving up my leg from where my longs were exposed below the shorts. However, I never ended up with a gritty, water soaked chamois. During very heavy rain, the DWR coating on the shorts would eventually give up the fight and the outer fabric would wet out effectively preventing the sweat from escaping. While I felt a bit damp, it never appeared to be the case that the shorts were leaking. The 3 layer fabric felt nice next to the skin compared to the horrible, cold and clammy plastic feel of previous Paclite iterations and dried off quickly when the rain eased off for a few minutes. In terms of durability, the jury is still out though. I have a slight concern over whether these shorts will go the distance. Gore Active is a big step forward from Paclite but is still not as durable as Gore Pro shell. The rear of the shorts is already showing tell- tale wear in the form of discolouration of the fabric, both on the butt and at the seams which does not bode well for their longevity. Given the choice, I would like to see these shorts feature a more durable fabric in the high wear crotch area. It may add a few grams but it is a trade-off I would be willing to make.

In summary, as waterproof shorts go, the Gore Active shorts fit extremely well, continue to be waterproof after multiple washes and reproofing and look good into the bargain. However, only time will tell if they are any more durable than their predecessors.

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Vaude Tremalzo Shorts
Price: £68.00
From: Vaude.com
Size tested: Medium

Sharing the same German heritage as Gore, Vaude have quietly created a niche for themselves in the UK biking market, particularly with their riding packs. Their Tremalzo shorts are my first experience of their clothing line and on paper at least, they have a lot to commend them. Coming in a bright and jazzy blue colour with graphite detailing, out of the packet (or rather, tiny blue stuff sack that is barely larger than a small apple), my first impression was one of astonishment at their lack of weight. Manufactured using a mix of lightweight fabric in the low wear areas and a stronger and thicker fabric in the crotch and butt area, it is apparent that a bit of thought has gone into their design. Eschewing the draw cord adjuster favoured by Gore, the Vaude’s feature Velcro adjusters on either side of the elasticated waistband. Opting for a medium size, they proved a comfortable fit, even when worn on top of a pair of bib shorts and riding shorts, with no unwelcome tightness nor feeling of being constricted. The Velcro adjusters worked very well and edged the Gore design in terms of fit. At the bottom of each hem, there is a Velcro adjuster which allows you to narrow the hole your lower leg fits through. At first, I couldn’t see the point but after riding at speed through streams that are normally trails, the adjusters helped to reduce the amount of spray hitting my clothes beneath. It’s a small detail but a useful one.

Length wise, the Vaude’s look slightly shorter than the Gore’s but when worn, covered a little bit more of my leg which was welcome in heavy downpours. The fabric used in the shorts isn’t as fancy as that used by the Gore shorts. If worn against bare skin, the inner face fabric feels a bit cold and clammy while the thin nature of the material left me a little concerned that the shorts wouldn’t stand up to repeated wears and washes. However, they continue to look as good as new with no visible wear apparent. All of the stitching remains in good condition while the crotch and butt area have stood up to testing. Performance wise, there is little to choose between the Vaude’s and the Gore’s. Both coped well in cold and wet conditions while when the temperature rose, they experienced some condensation build up but not to the extent of being uncomfortable. On those few unseasonably clammy days we experienced this autumn, I elected to take the shorts off and get a damp backside instead as with any hard shell garment, if the temperature is high enough, you can expect to soak from the inside from sweat.

In summary, the Vaude’s have genuinely surprised me with both their performance and durability. For what I would consider to be at the top end of the lightweight / durable trade off, they have proven to be remarkably robust.

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Conclusion

So where does this leave us? As with any waterproof short, their life expectancy can be greatly extended by using them in combination with a decent rear mudguard in order to keep off the worst of the grinding paste mud that back tyre throws at us. Both have lasted for the duration of the test but only time will tell if they last longer than previous shorts I have owned.

The Gore Active shorts look terrific, fit well and are a performance leap ahead of previous Paclite offerings, offering noticeably less condensation build up and no longer falling down with infuriating regularity. However, I still have concerns about the use of Gore Active fabric in high wear areas.

The Vaude shorts, on paper at least, should be the poor relation. While they may not have the lovely, soft to the touch feel of the Gore shorts, they perform almost as well for considerably less money. They are lightweight where they can be with a more durable fabric used in the high wear areas. In terms of fit, value and performance, they are a match for the Gore shorts. As such, they win this head to head by a unanimous point’s decision.

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