Well-respected Scottish brand Endura has a veritable stable of mountain bike shorts to suit every discipline, from downhill to cross-country (such as the long-established Hummvee), and with some shorts in three-quarter-length options, too. These SingleTrack Lites certainly tick all the boxes I’m looking for in a pair of summer trail shorts, and are pretty much the same spec as the men’s version. Check out our best mountain bike shorts guide for more.
Design & specifications
These shorts are made from a four-way stretch fabric with a DWR finish that has a slight rustle when you handle it, but this isn’t noticeable when riding. The broad waistband fastens securely with double press-studs and adjusts via external Velcro tabs that are well-positioned so they don’t snag on your jersey. The rear is lined with a soft wicking mesh material and has a wide silicone gripper too. As with most Endura baggies, these are Clickfast-compatible with Endura’s padded liner shorts. The two front and one back pocket demonstrate the thought that’s gone into the design of these shorts: they are all usefully large, their zips have a fabric garage at both ends for a tidy, snag-free finish, plus there’s a toggle on the rear zip so you can grab it easily. Another small but significant detail is the interior hanging loop.
I was immediately struck by the quality of these shorts’ construction: lots of attention to detail and extremely well finished, with neat stitching and no loose threads. Their design is equally good, with some great features. In addition, the ST Lites are offered in two lengths, standard and short. The inseam on my size medium standard length pair measures 13.5in/35cm and extends over my knee when standing, while the short length has an 8cm shorter inseam. The leg hems are bonded, rather than stitched, for a smooth, seamless look, and have a scalloped edge at the outside seam where the two panels of material join, a nice aesthetic touch. For ventilation there are four rows of perforations down the outside thigh.
Performance
These shorts felt comfortable as soon as I pulled them on, with the wide waistband sitting nicely below the belly button so you don’t get a sweaty waist. Also, the fit is good so I didn’t need to tighten the Velcro tabs much at all – often waists come up way too big with women’s shorts. Likewise, the cut is slim but not tight through the legs, so there’s no excess material to flap around. The standard length is plenty long enough to prevent any gap between the legs and knee pads, and the fabric and smooth bonded hems glide over pads when pedaling. The leg opening at the hem is wide enough to accommodate pretty chunky pads, too.
The material is super-stretchy throughout so feels totally unrestrictive, and the waist stays in place when you’re pedaling, aided by the fabric panel across the lower back. Being mostly nylon, the material should brush off scrapes and tumbles, although it did snag a little on sharp thorns. The environmentally-friendly DWR was extremely effective when new, water rolling off like off Teflon, but after a few washes less so. However, this isn’t an issue as the SingleTrack Lites are so quick-drying, and in warm weather it’s no drama getting wet for a short while.
Lastly, regarding the pockets, I wasn’t sure if the front pocket placement would be OK for carrying a phone, but because it extends to the outside of the leg it actually works well and doesn’t interfere with pedaling at all, and my phone is quite chunky.
Talking of heat, there are enough perforations down the leg to feel like they’re having some effect (although the top ones can be blocked by the pocket if full), plus the wide hems let air flow up inside the legs, very noticeably when you’re not wearing pads. This said, it’s a pity there aren’t perforations on the inner thigh as well, like the men’s shorts have. For ultimate breathability, though, I’d like to see perforations along the entire length of the one-piece crotch panel (as with Troy Lee Designs’ Luxe shorts and some Gore shorts). The inner, rather than outer, thigh is where you really benefit from more ventilation and it’s super-effective on TLD’s Luxe.
Verdict
The SingleTrack Lites boast a great design, flattering fit and top-quality construction – they’re very comfy to ride in and look good, too. It’s a bonus having the choice of lengths to suit your preference/body type, plus even though they’re marketed as a summer short, I’d wear mine well into the shoulder seasons too. They’re reasonably priced compared to other brands too.
Tech specs: Endura SingleTrack Lite shorts
- Price: $119.99 / £89.99
- Sizes: XXS-XL, standard and short lengths
- Weight: 212g (M, standard length)
- Colors: Pomegranate (reviewed), Berry, Harvest, Black,
- Materials: Nylon 85%, elastane 15%
