The Trail Bloom Ladies MTB Trail Short provides a high level of comfort. They are a must-have pair of shorts for the warmer months with their lightweight fabric and high-quality construction. The brand says they are constructed with aerodynamics in mind, and its mission is to provide women with high-performance gear without the additional cost often associated with women’s specific products.
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Ladies MTB Shorts – Technical details
Constructed using a mix of 85% Nylon and 15% Spandex. This fabric is built to be stretchy in all directions for uninhibited mobility. Coated with a water-resistant finish, it has hydrophobic properties to support quick drying, which can be beneficial in wet or high-sweat conditions. The material is claimed to be designed with aerodynamic performance and provides UPF 50+ sun protection thanks to its high-density construction. Overall, it’s a technical fabric that enhances comfort and performance across various conditions.
The short has tiny perforations on the inside and back of the thigh/hamstring area. A small fabric logo is on the lower seam, and a printed logo is on the rear waistband area.
The waistband has a stretchy section on the rear and fastens with a front zip and two popper closures. The band itself is wide and designed for additional comfort and extra manoeuvrability.
As for pockets, there are two side pockets with zip closures, and there is also a small, discrete, angled zipped rear pocket on the right side that, at a glance, looks nonexistent. The pull for this zip is a different style—much smaller and delicate. It could be that this pocket is usually used while not riding, so the smaller zip pull is appropriate.
The sizes available range from UK 8 to UK 24. Seeing a female cycling brand with extended sizes to accommodate larger body shapes is refreshing. It’s very inclusive, and it’s very positive — great to see.
Ladies MTB Shorts – Performance
I tested a size UK12, and they were surprisingly spot on with the fit. They’re perhaps a little snug around the waist, where the pockets are slightly stretched. However, the flexible nature of the fabric allows for a range of sizes, as does the super elasticated waist. This flexible waistband and super-soft overall fabric make them incredibly comfortable.
The length is perfect, as the shorts cover the gap between the short hem and the top of the knee pads. The fabric at the hem seam is thin and has a taped turnover for a clean finish. It sits comfortably flat against the leg. They sit lovely against the pad, ensuring no interference with the shorts and the pad while pedalling. There is no snagging or restriction, even with the shorts being a slim fit.
There is a secure pocket on the front and back. The rear pocket is only on the right side. Two front pockets are outlined in a rubber-zipped edging. It looks like a water-tight sealant, and it seems like it is. The two front pockets are angled inward, making them easy to access. They are relatively short in depth, however, so they’re not the best for carrying a large phone, for example. The pockets can easily hold small items such as a multitool on one side and a chunky car key on the other.
Carrying several small items didn’t cause intrusive behaviour and was not noticeable. The rear pocket is large enough to hold a large phone or similar device. However, carrying my phone in the rear pocket isn’t something I would typically want to do while riding, but it was comfortable.
Pulling on the zip pull on the pockets is easy to operate with summer gloves. However, I found operating the side zips difficult while on the move. When I reached for the pocket to get a snack, I found the zip pull would get caught in the inner mesh pocket bag on the closure. The other annoying thing about this is that the inner pocket sleeve would follow my hand as I pulled something out. The mesh material of the inner sleeve tends to cling to my gloves.
The front closure has a zipper and two poppers. This is easy to use and provides enough secure closure for riding. The stretchy waistband allows for easier fastening.
Pocket issues aside, wearing them during the ride was an all-around positive experience. The material weight is so light that they barely feel they are even on. This may be a slight concern with heavy use and during extremely long days out, as while it is excellent to have thin light material, there’s a potential for faster wear and tear, and limited durability, despite the fabric’s claimed anti-tear properties. With the material being super thin, they are a pair of shorts that require a chamois pad for maximum comfort.
There is ventilation in the inner thigh area and outer leg area with small, discreet perforation holes. Having tested the shorts in various weather conditions, from very warm to cold drizzle, they were comfortable for both rides. I enjoyed how they didn’t feel heavy in the warm weather and were noticeably breathable. Using them in the wet, colder weather surprisingly efficiently allowed rain to bead off. They are fine in a shower thanks to their water-resistant finish on the fabric, but for anything heavy, I’d opt for trousers with a higher level of wet-weather defence.
Ladies MTB Shorts – Verdict
Trail Bloom’s Ladies MTB Shorts provided enough defence against light showers but not enough for a heavy downpour. The PNW Components Shuttle W Shorts we reviewed have many similarities, especially the flexible fabric and some features.
Overall, I would opt for a larger size for a more comfortable fit, which would cause minimal restriction around the waist and provide more room to accommodate different-sized chamois if needed. They are so light in weight that they didn’t cause any issues while cycling, although this can create an argument that they may be too thin and flimsy and will not be as durable or provide adequate protection from wear and tear and trailside abrasions. Anything trail centre level, they are perfect, but I feel wearing them for a tough, long day covering rough terrain with rocks flying at me, maybe an enduro race or an uplift at a bike park, may not give me enough confidence in protection.
You might also like:
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