You’d be forgiven for thinking that waterproof shorts have been usurped by waterproof pants in recent years. That said, I’ve lusted after a pair of the 7mesh Revos shorts for a while now – will they live up to my expectations?
Founded in 2013, premium Canadian brand 7mesh are based in Squamish, British Columbia. Anthropologists have worked with the indigenous Squamish Nation to develop a way of writing their spoken language. 7mesh proudly takes its name from the resultant written name for the town: Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh.
Design and specifications
The Revos are made from 70-denier three-layer standard Gore-Tex (denier is thickness of the individual fibers, where higher denier equals more durability, and 70 is about mid-range). All seams are fully taped, and the gusset has no seams. The shorts are cut longer and shaped at the front to cover the knee, while the back of the waist is good and high. The two Gore-Tex lined hand pockets are generously sized and well-positioned. The waist is adjusted using plastic cam buckles on either side of the zippered fly. If you like using a belt, it has belt loops, too.
Finishing is excellent, with both seam sealing and stitching of very high quality. There are small reflective 7mesh and Gore-Tex logos at the rear waist and top of the left thigh. In terms of environmental responsibility, the Gore-Tex fabric has Bluesign approval, while 7mesh are working toward being PFAS and PFC free by 2025. There’s also a women’s version, which is the same bar the fit.
Performance
I’ve given the Revos a beasting over three months, on cold, wet and windy big mountain rides in Scotland’s rock-strewn Torridon range and Wales’ Black Mountains, as well as bikepacking across England’s Dartmoor. I’ve worn them over of liner shorts, baggies and tights (and combinations of all three), in temperatures from 23°F (-5°C) to 59°F (15°C).
Quite simply, these shorts exceeded my expectations. I loved their fairly snug but not too tight fit, the waist didn’t budge, the gusset never caught on the saddle, they glided over my knee pads and there was no bunching around the crotch. Yes, there’s a bit of a rustle from the fabric, but not that you’d really notice.
Waterproofing (rated as ‘durably waterproof’ by the fabric manufacturer, Gore, their highest level) was top-notch – they didn’t leak at all, despite prolonged deluges. I had no issues with the fabric wetting-out, and beading was excellent. I also really appreciated how windproof they were, keeping cold northerly winds off my thighs. After a couple of months of intensive use, small sections did stop beading after becoming grubby – this was solved by following the care instructions on 7mesh’s website, i.e. washing with Grangers, followed by a tumble dry to activate the DWR (cleaning also helps optimise breathability).
Despite being rated as the lowest of the three breathability levels by Gore, I found the shorts more than adequately breathable, not least because you get greater ventilation compared to trousers. Mostly they stayed dry, but when really tanking it on the climbs, and wearing multiple layers underneath, I got a small amount of moisture build-up inside (though this soon cleared).
As for durability, the shorts are in great shape, despite a few tumbles and arguments with thorn bushes – seams and stitching remain as new, and while the seat panel isn’t reinforced, it isn’t showing any signs of wear. There is one very small hole (about 1/16in or 1.5mm) on the seat, the result of a crash where I landed hard on pointy rocks (yes, ouch!), which is remarkably little damage. 7mesh offers a free crash repair policy at their discretion, for 30 days after purchase, and a chargeable repair service after that, but I patched it up with Gorilla tape.
I was initially unsure about the open pockets, but I actually found them very useful as hand warmers (and the drain holes did their thing nicely). The fly also worked really well, not catching the zip once (thanks to stiffened material). They’re very lightweight and roll up very small, so are super easy to stash in your pack for those ‘just in case’ days.
Sizing-wise, Large was spot-on for me, and in line with 7mesh’s sizing chart – I’m a 34in (86cm), 43in (109cm), 24in (61cm) waist, hip and thigh, respectively.
Verdict
The 7mesh Revos are a truly exceptional pair of waterproof shorts. Yes, they are a big outlay, but I’ve not found any that fit me better, feel so nice to wear and perform as well as these. The finishing is exquisite, and the design very well thought through, with clever details that simply work. They’ve stood up to months of hard use and haven’t missed a beat.
Tech specs: 7mesh Men's Revo Short
- Price: $250 / £200
- Sizes: XS-XXL
- Weight: 220g (size Large tested)
- Colors: Black, Peat
- Materials: Gore-Tex 3L, 70d 100% nylon plain weave, tricot knit backer
