You can instantly spot the hardwearing nature of the material used to construct the Xtract shorts, which have obviously been bred with the harsher elements of the British Isles in mind.
Eight panels of 280g toughened Lycra is flat-stitched together to form an encasing shell. Endura's super-soft and 'moulded' antibacterial chamois sits inside, and this is seam-free with terry towelling on the outer edges to adsorb moisture. In use, the Xtract's make other shorts feel almost waif like but without feeling overbearing or restrictive.
They'd make an excellent choice for hard touring or mountain biking where toughness has to be considered alongside comfort. However, they'd also stand up well to a regular commuting life. Teamed with a set of knee or leg warmers, they could easily be worn into the winter, too.