As bikes and tires have gotten better, the need to carry a pile of tools, spare parts and a couple of tubes has greatly diminished. But to be prepared out on the trails you still need some essentials, and that's where Race Face's Stash line of gear comes in.
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Race Face Stash Liner shorts specs
- Butterfly mesh liner
- Mesh panels welded along outer legs
- TMF Italian-made chamois with anti-bacterial technology
- Soft brushed elastic waistband
- Zippered STASH pocket below back waistband at lumbar
- Fuel storage pockets hide gel packs at left and right thigh for easy access while pedalling
- Silicone gripper at leg cuff opening
- 92% polyester, 8% spandex
Race Face Stash Liner shorts storage
The "Stash" part of the name reveals what makes these liners interesting. Two small pockets are located on the outer thighs and one zippered pocket takes residence on back just below the waistband. While the thigh pockets are meant for gels, the right one even has a little fuel symbol by it, on rides where I didn't need food I found them equally suitable for carrying a small multi-tool. The pockets are small, but kept whatever I stuffed into them secure and more importantly wiggle and bounce free.
The rear zipped pocket I found ideal for cash or a credit card, and car keys as well. An older, smaller phone might fit back there but it would have to be pretty slim as the pocket doesn't have much room. The flat zipper was a very nice touch as a standard, more bulky zipper would inevitably dig in and rub your skin.
Race Face Stash Liner shorts ride
Race Face bucks the trend of borderline worthless chamois liners thanks to its inclusion of an Italian-sourced pad. The chamois itself is far from bulky but it certainly agreed with me, seeing me through numerous days of quick spins to upwards of riding six or more hours.
Another brilliant aspect of the Stash Liners are the mesh panels that line the thighs from the waistband to the pockets. These shorts are meant to be solely worn under baggies so the mesh construction and even thinner side panels are a breezy reprieve from overheating in more substantial liner shorts.
The thigh grippers did their thing without fuss or complaint. Race Face places them vertically rather than horizontally, and they worked well for me. I didn't really notice them or ever need to tug the legs down, and that's about the highest praise thigh grippers could receive.
The waistband was noticeable however. It's tall and proudly displays who made these liners. One other note is that sizing seems to run a bit large.