I think shorts are one of the hardest things to buy. They need to look good, sit right at the knee, not be too thick or thin, have the right sized pockets (couple of deep ones for me), they need to wash well and take some hammer. For all round trail riding, what's your go-to choice? I'm leaning towards RaceFace Ambush at the moment.
For the last 5 months, sweet mudrides.
Troy Lee Skyline are doing it for me. Very comfortable and tick all the boxes you mentioned. Helps that they were half price too! Only thing they lack is a zip on one of the pockets but they are deep and I've never lost anything from them.
Current favourites are some Madison Addicts that I bought last year.
Waterproof rear, good pockets, vents on the front, hard wearing material and chunky zips.
Good length for knee pads and not too baggy.
Gore Xlp X
Original Endura singletrack suit me well - getting difficult to find now but they turn up in the sales every now & then.
Madison Trail work for me -- comfy, good fit, pockets; good value.
Same here for old Endura Singletrack, have Gore also which I like, bought Raceface Ambush last year and found them quite stiff and heavy.
The first couple after the meal.
A nice bottle of wine with the meal and then move onto the shorts
Troy Lee Skyline. Perfect for me.
Just seen the new ones come with a liner. Shame. Don't like integrated liner, fit is alwyas different to how I like my baggy shorts.
Ground effect juggernauts. Great cut, tough and light
Hummevee . Great with bibs and great with the inners that you can buy for them , pockets are pretty perfect as well .
Sombrio highlines buy them in the CRC sale makes them not too eyewateringly priced.
Original singletracks here too. Need to be able to fit an OS map in and still ride.
Tld Ace is the most comfy short i have owned and comes with decent detachable padded unders and also Tld moto which come with hip pads built in...also very comfy and hard wearing
Have tried loads and loads but always end up with Endura. Currently have a couple pairs of Singletrack 11's and some MT500 Spray Baggies (shorts and 3/4's). They just 'work' IMO. Always over bib shorts, 3/4's or longs, season dependent and they are Howies or DHB (longs)
My search ended with Troy Lee Sprints. Possibly the best shorts in the history of mountain biking
In fact if anyones selling Endura singletrack original in size L or XL drop me an email.
Madison Zenith shorts are currently my favourite. Good fit for me and good pockets... good length too so now embarrassing gap above the knee pads.
Skyline's come close for me, but the lack of zip is annoying. I'm also inbetween sizes which is a little frustrating, especially with no belt loops.
Sombrio Highlines were lovely, had a pair for years - they are some of the most comfy shorts I have ever owned.
The old Intrepid campaign shorts were almost perfect. Good length, medium fitted nicely etc. Only let down by the nasty plastic ratchets on the side & stupid white zips on the side pockets. I cut the ratchets off, which was a great idea.
The newer freemotion shorts are good too, possibly better, but again have some terrible side cinch things that had to go.
another vote for TLD Skylines
RAF goretex trousers and a pair of scissors
TLD Skylines for me as well. Though also like Madison Addicts at this time of year.
Dakine 8 tracks, got 3 pairs of different vintages, not worn a pair out yet.