Rockrider EXPL 500 Combo Short (with liner) review

At £54.99/€61, Decathlon's Rockrider EXPL500 Combo Shorts look like great value on the surface, but their unusual all-in-one shorts/liner combo and design shortcomings make them hard to recommend.

Instead of the usual short and liner package that can be removed and used independently, the Decathlon Rockrider EXPL500 Combo Shorts have opted for an ankle-length insert sewn directly into the main baggy short. This means they cannot be used, or washed, independently.

Large velcro tabs are used to adjust the baggy short waist, and a stretch panel aids fit at the base of the back when in the seated position. The waist is fixed with a twin button and zip fly.

One zipped pocket reaches in behind the thigh, large enough for a small wallet or phone, and there is a fixed loop for clipping gloves onto (in theory, anyway).

This size large test sample weighed 376g, and had a 9.5in inseam.

Rockrider EXPL500 Combo Short performance

It didn't take long to find shortcomings with the Rockrider EXPL500 Combo Shorts.

Pulling them on, I could instantly feel the lack of any internal silicon grippers on the leg hems. Within seconds of walking, they would bunch up around my knees.

The small twin buttons at the waist are also fiddly and time-consuming to do up, especially with gloves on.

On the bike, the padded insert feels extremely bulky, especially at the front.

The outward-facing hooked portion of the Velcro waist adjusters was quick to catch on everything. This design flaw – where the hooks could have been swapped with the loops – is a big oversight.

The stretchy outer shorts are comfortable apart from that. However, as they're sewn in, they can't be separated from the overly padded inners, so you are stuck with the drawbacks of both.

If you are still interested at this point, I'd also recommend sizing up as the size 34 shorts I tested were extremely snug and felt more like 32s.

Rockrider EXPL500 Combo Short Bottom Line

The creeping legs and excessively bulky padding put the Rockrider EXPL500 Combo Short on the backfoot from the off.

It really didn't get any better with the huge velcro adjusters grabbing onto items of clothing and a lack of elasticity at the waist, their lack of performance compounded by the extremely fiddly waist buttons.