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Hiya,
After a pair of waterproof shorts, seen some army surplus goretex over trousers for £15 and thinking of cutting them down to 3/4 short size. Anyone else done this? Do they work ok as bike shorts?
I bought a pair couple of weeks ago, took a pair of scissors to them the other day to try them out on a ride up the local hills, saturated trails and they worked a treat, backside bone dry the whole ride 😀
Excellent, online ordering here I come 🙂
Yes I've had mine for a few years and I just hose them down after every ride
I'd get the bib types as they do creep down
I did replace the draw string with something else but Im gonna sew a couple loops onto them for a belt off an old pair of endura shorts, think that mat make all the difference ..
canyou share the link for them pls esp if they are the bib style ones
Mine slipped a bit. I've added belt loops and a webbing belt and they are vastly improved. The waterproofing is excellent.
Braces.
Look for the german army ones as they usually have braces.
Sizing is a bit hit and miss, they can slide down lycra shorts quite easily if too big.
Can be quite flappy round the shins, I ended up taking in the hem a bit to stop it catching on my bottle cage.
untelligible sizings on the ebay ones. Is there some special code for these?
I (44/46) Klein Approx. Small, waist 36", inside leg 25" & outside leg 37"
II (48/50) Mittel Approx. Medium, waist 40", inside leg 27" & outside leg 39"
III 52/54 GROB Approx. Large, waist 44", inside leg 29" & outside leg 42"
I found that wearing 3/4 shorts underneath then tucking the waterproof trousers under the cuffs produced absolutely amazing filthy weather apparel.
Army Goretex seems to be in another league to the stuff on offer on the high st.
looks like the german army eats too many bratwursts if small is 36" waist size!
(actually 36" inch waist and 25" inner leg? are they all shaped like tellytubbies?)
They're good, amazing for the money.
Don't cut them down, wear them long or roll them up. If you cut them down you also have to start doing some shaping to stop water splashes coming up inside from you legs, not worth it IMO.
Buy 1 size up from your jeans size.
On a skills day with Alex Rafferty of PRG he recommended doing this very thing.
they're big because they're overtrousers
Do you wear lycra and shorts with the over trousers over the shorts or just lycra and the over trousers? Do the over trousers have pockets?
They have no pockets (or ventilation), they are over-trousers, with a draw string at the waist, elacticated at the ankles, and that's all. That's partly why they work well, they're simple, effective and light.
I usually wear a pair of light running shorts underneath mine, or lycras but not 3 layers. They are light enough though that I would pack them for a big day in the hills in mixed weather.
Great for hiking too.
Mine came from "Guards Army Gear".
I read the Army is switching to a new cammo pattern so all the DPM kit is being off loaded.
& seriously, they're < 20 quid and if you don't like them for riding you'll still use them for walking/gardening/DIY etc etc. It's hardly a risky punt.
Got 2 pairs, one shorts & one 3/4, added Velcro ties to 3/4 to stop flappage but 100% waterproof if a bit loud
No need for belt loops, I wear a pair of shorts over the top, looks daft, but who gives. +1 for not cutting them down, keep em as troos, then the water doesn't run off them and into yer shoes.
Um, those German ones seem to be £130!
No need for belt loops, I wear a pair of shorts over the top, looks daft, but who gives. +1 for not cutting them down, keep em as troos, then the water doesn't run off them and into yer shoes.
You are seriously wearing shorts on-top of trousers?
Google image search: "shorts over trousers" in an attempt to find an amusing image to accompany this I stumbled across this thread.
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/gore-tex-34-shorts
I use them as summer waterproofs for the motorbike, the best bit of kit I've come across for this. I now feel a pair of cut downs heading my way.