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review

ION Ivy shorts

8
£73.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Supremely comfortable casual summer shorts with many good features but a hefty price tag
Weight: 
280g

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.

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You can feel their quality as soon as you put on the Ion Ivy shorts. The material is super-lightweight, silky soft against the skin and cut in such a way that there is absolutely no restriction of movement. In fact, it feels like you're hardly wearing them, except for the bulky neoprene phone sleeve sewn inside the right hand pocket. They boast a high-tech fabric plus they look attractive (if you're a fan of surf style) to boot. The fit is flattering yet relaxed (I sized up from the pair in the photos) so you can wear liner shorts underneath if you wish.

ION Ivy shorts - side pocket.jpg

The breathable material is a polyester/Coolmax mix with two-way stretch and built-in sun protection (UPF 40+). These are designed for Californian summers, it would seem, and on a long, hot ride recently they did indeed feel lovely and cool to wear, thanks in part to their feather-light weight. However, on a rainy day I was impressed by how the water beaded up on the inside leg panels so the fabric remained dry, which made pedalling in the wet a more pleasant experience. The rest of the leg material got wet, but thanks to the wicking properties of Coolmax they dried very quickly after the shower.

ION Ivy shorts - logo detail.jpg

The construction of the Ivy shorts is very good with neat finishing throughout. The outer side of the material has quite a robust finish despite its light weight. I expected a one-piece gusset panel perhaps, but the flat central seam was not discernible, even when worn without liner shorts. Each inside leg panel has the ION logo laser cut with ventilation holes for some subtle added breathability where you need it.

ION Ivy shorts - velcro.jpg

You adjust the fit of the shorts via external Velcro waist adjusters with sturdy tabs, which work well and don't create an obvious bulge where drawn in. Two V shape insert panels on the hips help with the contoured fit, and the stretch yoke below the rear waist means the waistband stays in place when you're in the riding position. There are two zipped, generously sized hand pockets that are mesh lined at the front to reduce bulk and aid breathability, plus a third smaller zipped pocket on the right leg. A reflective logo on the right buttock rounds off the features list.

ION Ivy shorts - waist.jpg

So far, so great, but there were a couple of things that detracted from these otherwise excellent shorts. The first is the integrated phone pouch – I can't help but think this must have been a male designer's brainchild, as men generally don't seem to mind having pockets full of keys and wallets – but it sits just over the crease where your leg bends below the hip and annoyed the hell out of me, and that was without a phone in it. Ion says it's to 'protect your mobile device against light showers' – a nice idea maybe but in practice it didn't work for me at all.

ION Ivy shorts - pocket with insert.jpg

When I tried it with my phone I couldn't actually fit it (a Samsung S5 with case) inside. It's only a tad bigger than an iPhone 6, and I'd imagine that is the kind of phone riders who buy these shorts are likely to own. Even if you could fit your smartphone in the pouch (I just tested it with mine loose in the pocket) then it just gets in the way of pedalling and is downright uncomfortable. A much better place for a phone pouch would be in a pocket on the outside of the leg. So aggravated was I by the pouch I spent an hour in front of the telly carefully unpicking it – time very well spent! No more bulk and sweaty neoprene.

ION Ivy shorts - pocket.jpg

My second niggle is the Velcro fly – what's wrong with a zip? I found the Velcro kept catching either on my jersey or the inner pocket fabric whenever I took them on or off, which was very irritating.

Aside from these two negatives, these are a very well made pair of shorts that feel luxurious to wear and cycle in, although you pay a premium for their calibre.

Verdict

Supremely comfortable casual summer shorts with many good features but a hefty price tag

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road.cc test report

Make and model: ION Ivy shorts

Size tested: Medium

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?

These shorts are part of Ion's "lightweight and highly breathable" Graze line of women's bike clothing, designed for riders who want high-performance gear in a casual, surf-inspired style.

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

Ultra breathable, fast drying COOLMAX® with UPF 40+

2-way stretch material: fabric 1 65% Polyester, 35% COOLMAX,

fabric 2 88% Polyamide, 12% Elasthane

Stretch back yoke

Velcro waist adjusters

Reflective details

3 zipped pockets

Internal phone pouch

Jet Stream: laser cut ventilation holes on inside leg

Regular fit

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Sizing is about right - I needed a 38/M, one size up from the shorts pictured, which were too tight (hence embarrassing VPL!).

Rate the product for weight:
 
10/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
7/10

Marked down for phone pouch.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

They are pricey - Madison does a similar Flux short for £60.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Machine wash 30 degrees.

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

Very well, aside from annoying phone pouch.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The lightweight feel of the fabric, comfort and style.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The integrated phone piuch and Velcro fly.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes - if on offer

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

These shorts would have scored 9 if they didn't have the phone pouch, Velcro fly and were £10-£15 cheaper.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 170cm  Weight: 60kg

I usually ride: Marin Point Reyes 29er  My best bike is: Giant Anthem X1

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, club rides, mtb, Audax

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