The Moto shorts help to fill a hole in the market for heavy-duty women’s riding gear. They’re made of tough polyester, so they’ll take a pounding, but still feel reasonably light and airy thanks to their mesh lining.
Stretchy sections on the back and around the thighs help increase freedom of movement while still making the fit closer and more tailored than most baggies.
The Motos aren’t restrictive when wearing knee pads – something that can be problematic with other women’s-specific shorts. The two deep side pockets are zipped for security and splash-proof, making them ideal for trail essentials, although they’re fiddly to access when wearing gloves.
There’s also a small coin/card pocket on the waistband, offset over the hip, but because it isn’t zipped we didn’t use it.
We like the bold pattern and the fact that Troy Lee Designs haven’t felt the need to make these shorts ‘girly’.
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.