100%'s Airmatic trail riding women's mountain bike shorts promise all-day riding comfort in style – ‘minimalist style with practical features’ sums them up.
The Airmatics are knee-length and available in classic black or a pale aqua ‘seafoam’, and are made from a polyester/elastane mix with a lighter mesh lumbar panel across the back.
Internally, there are silicone gripper triangles on the waistband to keep the shorts in place. Although the shorts aren’t supplied with a liner, there are popper loops if you want to attach some.
There are three zipped, mesh-lined pockets, ideal for small essentials: two on the left hip and one larger pocket lower on the right thigh.
100% Airmatic Shorts performance
The fit is figure-hugging, especially if you have fuller thighs, with a looser cut around the knees that accommodated knee pads well. However, the legs aren’t overly long, and I’d suggest sizing up if you prefer your shorts baggier, and there are some seams in the crotch area.
The polyester/elastane fabric mix yielded a little stretch, though, and gave a non-restrictive fit on the bike, while the mesh lumbar panel added some breathability.
The Airmatics have a mountaineering-inspired closure, with a zip fly hidden by an asymmetric flap, and metal hook and webbing loops along the waistband. This design didn’t give as much adjustability as I hoped it would, and if you secure the hook to the first webbing loop, the fly cover gapes a little, which looked unsightly and was prone to catching on the bar on steep push-ups.
Underneath the flap, a clever elastic panel next to the zip added extra give – it should also improve the longevity of the zip.
The understated design of the Airmatic shorts is a real winner, and the black shorts with minimal reflective branding not only look ace but should last for a long time, with minimal risk of staining.
100% Airmatic Shorts bottom line
Overall, the Airmatics are a solid pair of trail riding shorts, but not the most budget-friendly. With their close fit, sizing up is recommended if you prefer baggier shorts.
How we tested
A well-fitting, comfortable pair of baggies is a mountain bike wardrobe essential, and key to finding the right pair are fit and fabric.
We put six pairs of shorts designed for female enduro and XC riders to the test to see how they stand up to the trail conditions and weather you’re likely to encounter in the UK.
Also on test
- Endura Women’s MT500 Spray Short II
- Fox Women’s Ranger Shorts
- Madison Trail Women’s Shorts
- Patagonia Women’s Dirt Roamer Bike Shorts
- Rockrider Women’s Mountain Bike Shorts ST900
Product
| Brand | 100_percent |
| Price | 130.00 AUD,89.00 EUR,80.00 GBP,89.00 USD |
Features
| br_gender | womens |
| Features | Sizes: S–XL Material: DWR mid-weight polyester/spandex four-way stretch woven fabric Liner short: Not included Pockets: 3 zipped Colours: Seafoam, Mauve, Red, Blue, Black |
