The Stolen Goat Men’s MTB Shorts are an impressive pair of bottoms that are well equipped to cope with all but the wettest of weather. They fit nicely and are long, and plenty baggy enough to cover all kinds of pads. While not perfect, the only niggle is that the waist adjusters are noticeably stiff, they’re certainly a cracking attempt at breaking into the highly competive best mountain bike shorts category.
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Stolen Goat Men’s MTB Shorts – Technical details
The Men’s MTB Shorts from Stolen Goat are simple on the outside but stacked with features on the inside. They’re constructed using 87% polyester, 13% elastane, four-way stretch material with two taped and zipped pockets and a raised waistband at the rear. That waistband is then adjustable thanks to a pair of hook-and-loop straps and there’s a double popper closure.
The shorts fabric is noticeably lightweight and their DWR coating is definitely handy. I’ve just found that the waist adjusters are a little fat, and made of a hard material, so when hunched over the bike, or when pushing weight rearwards, they can be felt. However, the shorts were perfectly secure, so they do their job well.
Stolen Goat Men’s MTB Shorts – Performance
I tested a size medium and the fit straight out of the packet was spot on. Never have I felt the need to adjust the waistband either. Something that’s also to be appreciated is the 39.5cm inside leg measurement, which means they play nicely with the best mountain bike knee pads. These are very baggy shorts resulting in good freedom of movement but not to the detriment of pedalling performance or efficiency.
Because of their baggy build, airflow is plentiful making them nice and airy. Stolen Goat has done well not to go crazy here, too. The shorts are baggy but they don’t snag on your saddle. This is only helped by the light fabric chosen, too, making the shorts a very valid choice for year round riding when combined with the DWR finish and taped zips.
Stolen Goat Men’s MTB Shorts – Verdict
At £90, Stolen Goat’s MTB Shorts are right in the firing line of Alpinestars ALPS 8.0 shorts that are priced equally. They’re surprisingly similar, too. The ALPS 8.0 has more comfortable waistband adjusters, however which I reckon is a trump card on their part. However, they’re not as well equipped for wetter weather.
As well as the Alpinestars shorts, at £73 is PNW Components’ Shuttle Short which scored an impressive five stars. Of course, they’re cheaper but they carry more features with an excellent fit and more pockets. This is where the Stolen Goat shorts start to look rather pricey. While Shuttle Short comes with a very effective DWR coating, it doesn’t get taped zips though.
For a first attempt at a pair of shorts designed for mountain biking, Stolen Goat has done a very impressive job. While improvements can be made, namely the waist straps, they’re comfortable and designed well enough to cope with almost the whole year’s conditions.
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Product purpose:
Build extra:
No pad: these can be worn on their own with regular underwear or with a bib short or liner underneath if you prefer long-ride padding with a more casual look.
Men’s specific cut.
87% polyester, 13% elastane
4-way stretch fabric for a comfortable fit.
Two front zipped pockets
Adjustable hook and loop waistband, with fly front and a double popper closure.
High waistband at the back.
Fast-drying and breathable.
Water-repellent.
SPF 50+
Product construction
Product construction extra:
Product performance
Product performance extra:
Product durability
Product durability extra:
Product comfort
Product comfort extra:
product value
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