When you are out on the trails the number one article of clothing that is going to either make or break your comfort is probably going to be your bike shorts. These can even be more important than your comfort, since if you pick something that is baggy and long enough then it could potentially catch on something.

Therefore picking the right pair of shorts is something that is a matter that can also reducing your chances of getting injured. This being the case, there are certain things that you should look for in mountain bike shorts that will both keep you are comfortable as possible and that will also help you to be prepared for any situation, but first here are the top 7 choices:

1. Zoic Men’s Ether Shorts

These shorts are a great option, and one that you might even recognize since they are quite popular. They are neither the most expensive or the cheapest, and these have a number of great features to them. The first of these features are centered around how the waist is made.

The waist is elastic in the back and the waistband has a snap and zip fly closer with some Velcro adjuster tabs on both sides to make sure that you get the best fit possible. On top of the nice waist, there are also six pockets which can nicely hold everything that you might want to carry with you.

Two of these are front hand pockets, two are leg pockets with zippers to keep anything from falling out, one is a stealth rear pocket that also has a zipper, and the final one is a tech pocket. This last pocket is perfect for putting your phone in it and it even has a small headphone spot so that you can listen to music if you want to while you are riding the trails.

Also nice is the amount of movement that these shorts let you have. There is great air flow thanks to some ventilating panels that will help keep your legs cool. The fabric is also lightweight, though this does mean that it is not as durable as some of the other kinds might be.

However, these are certainly one of the most comfortable pairs of shorts out there and it is great for mountain biking. These also come in four different colors, though all of these are each a variation of camouflage.

2. Przewalski Men’s Mountain Bike MTB Shorts

These shorts are a great second option if you are looking for a pair to wear when you go mountain biking. These have an internal spandex liner that snaps into place on the inside and which can be removed if you don’t feel the need to have the liner.

These inner shorts dry very fast and have a high performance pad built into them in addition to a some extra soft silicone leg grippers that all comes together to make these shorts extremely comfortable. The design is also something that helps with this.

The pad in the crotch area has a 4 piece design that uses some durable and multi-density foam which is not only built for comfort but also for its anti-shock properties. On top of this is the fact that the fabric has a 4 way stretch to it, meaning that it can move just like you do.

This fabric is also great at drawing the heat and any sweat away from you, helping you to stay both cool and dry. The elastic back waist is nice and comfortable, and this pair of shorts even has belt loops on it in case you want to wear your own belt with it or if you want to clip something to the loops.

Even though it only has one zippered pocket for you to use which is placed on your right leg, this pocket is the right size to carry your phone and your car keys. The 100% Polyester fabric features this brand’s logo with some reflective details to make sure that you stay visible. It comes in only a couple of different solid colors: black and grey.

3. FOX Ranger Cargo Shorts

FOX is a company that makes a lot of mountain biking stuff, most of it really good, and their Ranger Cargo Shorts are very nice too. It has a nice waistband that is easily adjustable to help it to have a great fit. This is something that is helped out by the durable fabric that has some 2-way stretch to it so that it lets you move quite freely.

The fact that this fabric is durable means that it is great for even rough usage on rides in places where branches might slap against you. On the other hand, this durable fabric is also something that does not breathe well, meaning that you will get hot in these.

Part of this is something that is added to by the chamois liner, but this liner is something that is removable if you do not want to wear it for any reason. It has a number of pockets for you to place some of your important stuff in, some of which are zippered and some of which are Velcroed to seal them up nicely.

The whole design of these shorts are made for you to be comfortable particularly when you are in the attack position on your mountain bike. This is a position that often makes uncomfortable folds in many pairs of shorts, so this is a very nice feature to have.

The waistband is part of what is made to allow you to be in the attack position, with the design made so that your waistband stays in place even when you are climbing uphill. This pair of shorts comes in a variety of colors, both solid and camouflage.

4. Endura Hummvee Lite Mountain Bike Baggy Cycling Short II

These great mountain biking shorts are very lightweight and durable. The fabric has a very nice 4 way stretch design and has a removable liner complete with a pad in it to help you to be as comfortable as possible. This padding even has some antibacterial properties to it in order to make sure that you stay healthy even after a number of long rides.

There is some mesh paneling in order to make sure that there is plenty of air circulating so that you stay cool. This pair of shorts also has hand pockets, a zippered cargo pocket, and a zipped pocket which is just the right size for your phone which you can put your more valuable items in.

The nylon fabric is easy to clean, most of the time all it requires is a little cold water to wipe any dirt off of it. The fabric even has some water repellency to it, which is great for those rides in the rain. The nylon is also made to be ripstop so that it will last you as long as possible.

Even though the fabric has 4 way stretch, it doesn’t stretch much in any one direction, which can be a little restrictive around you knees, but most of the time you can still wear knee pads with them. The inner seams are both triple-stitched and made with a seamless design so that they will not be rubbing you. The adjustable belt is also nice and comfortable, and this pair of shorts comes in a variety of solid colors.

5. PEARL IZUMI Men’s Canyon Shorts

These mountain biking shorts are made out of 100% Polyester and they have a Velcro waist adjustment with a snap closer which helps them to have a great and fast fit. The material helps them to be very lightweight and these are made to fit a little more snuggly than some of the other kinds.

It does come with a liner that is quite a bit shorter than the shorts and which is made with plenty of mesh so that it breathes well. However, in this case the liner is not removable unless you intend to take a pair of scissors to your shorts, but even this would be sure to leave some pieces and would make it very uncomfortable at the seams.

These shorts also do not have much in the way of pockets, but they can be machine washed whereas some of the other shorts cannot. However, these shorts do come with a better price tag, so if you wanted a liner anyway and do not feel the need for a lot of extra pockets then this might be just what you were looking for.

It comes in six different colors for you to choose from, all of which are solids: citron, port, blue mist, black, orange, and artic. Some of these colors are quite bright, which is a really good thing if you happen to be biking on trails during the hunting season.

6. ZOIC Boys Ether Jr. Shorts

These shorts are perfect for young mountain bikers or for men who happen to be small in size. They are made 95% out of polyester and 5% out of spandex with ventilating panels both across the back as well as down the legs for plenty of air flow.

Thanks to the fabric and the design, these shorts have a good amount of stretch to them, and the leg holes are large enough to fit over knee pads without feeling too tight. The fly attaches with a snap and zip to make it fast and easy, and the waist has two Velcro adjuster tabs so that you can get a perfect fit.

There are also plenty of pockets in this options, two front hand pockets, two leg pockets that zip closed, a rear pocket that also zips, and a tech pocket which is the perfect place to put your phone. These come in a few different solid colors, with bright accents to it to make sure that you stay seen without being too bold.

7. Ynport Men’s MTB Shorts Mountain Bike Cycling Pants

These mountain biking shorts are made out of 100% nylon which helps them to be very lightweight. This, in addition to their loose fit, helps them to be very cool on you in hot weather. They also have a nice amount of stretch and dry very quickly, making them good for riding in rainy weather.

These come with an adjustable belt that either matches the rest of the shorts or provides a little contrast. They come in three different colors: dark grey with some bright yellow accents and a patterned belt, solid black with a black belt, and a dark green color with a dark green color belt.

There are a few pockets, most of which have zippers, but there is one at the back that has a lid pocket which is great for putting your valuables in. In fact, all of the pockets are made to be anti-drop and anti-theft proof.

On these shorts is also a brand logo which is made to be reflective in order to make you that much more visible if you are riding the trails at night. On the other hand, this pair of shorts does not have any padded inserts, so if you want this you will have to get one separately. You should also consider ordering a size up if you have thick legs, since the leg holes do not have a lot of extra space.

What You Should Look For In Your Main Bike Shorts

If you are more interested in picking your own mountain biking shorts instead of going with what someone else says is a good one, there are certain things that you are going to want to look for when you are making your choice. Some things are a matter of personal preference, while others are things that are always good to have.

One of the most important things is that you shouldn’t try to wear cotton or down shorts since these will soak up any water or sweat and will then hold this moisture up against your skin. This will cause your shorts to rub you wrong as you pedal and will make you generally uncomfortable.

The first thing that you should think about is the style of mountain biking that you are more into, since this can affect the type of shorts that you should get. For example, if you are going to be doing a lot of downhill mountain biking, then you are going to want shorts that are durable enough to take a spill while you are wearing them without them getting ripped, up and you will also need the leg holes to be big enough to go over the knee pads.

If, on the other hand, you are going to be doing some of the long cross country trails in the middle of the summer, then you are going to want something that allows your legs to have plenty of movement and that is lightweight and breathable so that you can stay as cool as possible in spite of the heat.

When it comes to the amount of padding that you want, some of this will be a give and take sort of thing. More padding has the tendency to trap some of the warmth in your shorts with you but can also add to your comfort. So, if you plan on going for a very long ride this can be quite hard for you to choose.

Pockets are something that is a matter of personal preference too, but this is definitely something that you should look at if you like to have a lot of pockets. One thing that you will want no matter what though is to have an adjustable waist. It is very important when you are biking that your waist is not loose enough to slide down and not too tight so that it cuts off some of your circulation.

The rest of the shorts can be either snug or loose depending on your own preferences in that area. However, the fabric should have a DWR coating if you will be doing any riding during the rain, since this is a treatment that helps to keep out the water. While this coating does wear out over time, it is something that is very beneficial while it lasts.

As mentioned, fabric that does not tear easily is something that you will need if you are going to be doing downhill riding, but it is something that is nice to have even when you are riding the flatter trails since it helps your shorts to last longer. This is referred to as a ripstop fabric.

Another feature that is nice if you are doing any night riding, or riding in low light conditions, is to have some reflective features on your shorts. While you will need a lot more than this feature on your shorts in order to be seen, every little bit is helpful when you are trying to avoid an accident.