Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

Fierlan High Waisted Cycling Shorts

8
£70.00

VERDICT:

8
10
A flattering and stylish pair of British designed shorts, good for most purposes
Weight: 
187g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Designed to be as appropriate for high level racing as they are for a spin class, the Fierlan High Waisted Cycling shorts have quite a lot to live up to. Designed for women from first principles, with a flat fronted waistband, high density mid-distance pad, and robust and supportive Lycra, they're definitely a pair of shorts worth considering for all but the longest rides.

These shorts have been designed to address many of the issues encountered by female riders when choosing shorts. The waistband is broad and flat for comfort and a flattering look, the legs do not feature gripper tape, to help avoid the dreaded 'sausage leg' look, and the fabric is dense and doesn't stretch into transparency.

Buy these online here

The legs finish at a mid-thigh point that suits all but the very shortest rider, there's a small zipped pocket on the leg, which is handy, and a smattering of reflective accents.

On the bike, the shorts are incredibly comfortable, with the waistband sitting high at the back and just right at the front. Sadly, the waist didn't quite stay put as I'd have liked, leaving me tugging up the shorts a few times when out riding, part of the trade-off with a broad flat-fronted waist and decent density chamois pad in my experience. The legs, though, were nice and secure, with no trouble with migration, despite the lack of gripper tape.

The pad was comfortable and effective over most distances, if somewhat hefty. Although the zipped pocket on the thigh is an innovative addition, and is, as stated, big enough to take an iPhone, I was only really happy popping something small in there, like keys. Others may find it more useful.

At £70 these certainly aren't cheap, but not so bad when you take into account that they are British designed and manufactured in Italy from high quality materials. A safe investment, particularly for those after a good-looking and well made mid-distance pair of shorts.

>> Check out our guide to the best cycling bib shorts here

Verdict

A flattering and stylish pair of British designed shorts, good for most purposes

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Fierlan High Waisted Cycling Shorts

Size tested: Women's, Large, Black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Aimed at female cyclists of any level of ability and experience - from racing, to mid-distance rides, to spinning classes.

Designed to be flattering and comfortable.

Achieve what they aim to.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

80% polyamide

20% elastane

MITI high density lycra fabric

3/8mm women's chamois pad

Made in Italy

Washable at 30

Available in sizes XS-XL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very well made and excellent quality fabrics.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Very comfortable but waistband did migrate a little.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

If there is such a thing as bombproof Lycra, this is it!

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

These are robust and supportive rather than lightweight.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10

Very comfortable.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Not the cheapest by any means but not a bad price for a small, independent UK brand and Italian manufacture. High quality too.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well indeed.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Fit, comfort, style.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Slight migration of broad waistband.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

Well made, nicely cut and very comfortable. Good quality too.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 73kg

I usually ride: Boardman Hybrid Fi  My best bike is: Specialized Ruby Elite

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mountain biking

 

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

Add new comment

2 comments

Avatar
peted76 | 8 years ago
0 likes

I saw flattering and stylish and thought.. great just what I need.. then..dammit they're for ladies !

Avatar
flathunt replied to peted76 | 8 years ago
0 likes

If you've not had your tackle removed for aero purposes then you're not really trying imo.

Latest Comments