Troy Lee Designs' Ruckus mountain bike shorts certainly tick the box for style, with a streamlined cut and eye-popping colors that draw lots of compliments whenever we hit the trails for a test run. They're also very comfortable, with an eye on performance, but we're noticing some longevity issues with both our test samples.
- Pros: Lightweight and comfortable single-layer shell, fantastic cut, good chamois
- Cons: Disappointing durability, minimal storage
Troy Lee Designs doesn't bother with a lot of extraneous features for the shell of the Ruckus, preferring instead to use a straightforward, single-layer polyester construction with just two pockets at the hips – one zipped, for security, and one open for easy access. Likewise, the simple waist uses just a pair of hook-and-loop tabs to adjust the fit, while the fly consists of a couple of snaps and another strip of hook-and-loop material.
The upside is a light and airy feel that's ideally suited to blazing hot summer days. Despite having just five perforated holes per leg for airflow, the Ruckus manages to feel cool and composed even when you're going hard. The wispy shell also makes for a naturally free pedaling motion that's perfect for all-day trail rides.
Storage is minimal on the Troy Lee Designs Ruckus shorts
Despite the mid-level pricing, the included, removable chamois is actually pretty good, with a multi-thickness stretch construction stitched into an all-mesh liner. Even on rides of up to four hours we stayed pleasantly comfortable.
Sadly, you probably can't expect that comfort and style to last very long. Both our test samples are showing quality issues after just a couple of months, with several stitches starting to come undone. They also run a little big, so order down, especially if you're between sizes.
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.