REVIEW: Endura Superlite Shorts

MoreDirt's contributor Rob Newman has been busy putting the miles in lately testing a pair of Endura Superlite waterproof shorts to see how they hold up.

Endura have been around since 1992 and are no doubt a name recognised by most keen cyclists, whether road rider or mountain biker. The Scottish brand came about after it's founder, Jim McFarlane, was disappointed in the technical cycling gear that was available on the market so he decided to start making his own; he wanted kit that would not only do its job well and last the test of time but not cost world either.

At this time of year getting out on your bike will almost certainly involve getting wet and muddy. Most of us will accept this fact and get on with it, especially if there is a busy season of racing looming that needs the training miles to be got in beforehand! Endura's Superlite short could well be the saviour that helps make the wet miles more comfortable and enjoyable.

When I collected the Superlite shorts I first thought that they looked a bit on the plain side and the rustle of the waterproof material was reminiscent of the waterproof over-trousers you'd find most farmers wearing at this time of year. However a closer look found them to be full of nice little features, as expected from a brand like Endura, and the main material is actually very similar to that used for their hard-shell waterproof jackets; meaning a good level of breathability as well as doing a good job of keeping the water out.

The first ride in the shorts took me up onto Exmoor on a showery January day. Although billed as an over-short I decided to run them with just a padded short underneath to get a real feel for how waterproof they were. They do have 'Click-fast' compatibility so if you run Endura under-shorts then they can be fastened into the short with a few handy poppers. Their fit is really good dropping down to below the knee, fitting nicely over kneepads. With an elasticated waist and elastic shock cord you can get a nice snug feel around the waist without them falling down or becoming too tight. The Velcro tabs at the bottom of each leg are a nice touch should you want to minimise the bottom of the leg flapping about.

Endura have used a more durable material for the inside of the legs and seat which will be great in helping the overall durability of the short in these high wear areas. The material used has some stretch to it to aid comfort and care has been taken in curving the back panel to help the fit and to make the inside of the legs seam-free. The first great test of this was when I veered off the trail and ended up straddling a horizontal tree above the river Barle. It was quite a fast paced crash but the seat and inside of the legs were completely unscathed. And most importantly, I was completely dry underneath them even after three hours of flying through streams, deep mud and big puddles.

There can be no doubting the fact that these waterproof shorts really do work!

Unfortunately the shorts slight weak point comes in the other thinner material that is used. After clocking up 170 miles in these shorts, on-road and off-road, there was some signs of cracking in places that did see a lot of movement. I also managed to slip an SPD whilst setting off and in rubbing my knee against the moving front wheel put a small hole in the lighter weight material. It was a bit like a friction burn so I don't think would end up fraying but does show how less-durable this part of the short is going to be in the long run.

There can be no doubting the fact that these waterproof shorts really do work! It's been such a pleasure not being soaked all the way through and not having the brown patches in your boxers that make it look like you've crapped yourself.

Conclusion

At not much more than fifty five quid they don't break the bank and could be looked at as a yearly purchase that may well be worn out and not so waterproof by the end of the winter but that has served its purpose well. With all rides apart from two in which I was caught in the most torrential of storms, they have kept me completely dry from the outside and a lot less sweaty than I thought they might be, which can never be a bad thing from a pair of shorts!

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