This Pinstripe version of Endura’s justifiably popular Dropseat Bibshorts, which has a zip at the rear to make nature breaks a whole lot easier, is designed to match a correspondingly stripy jersey. But it's not just about the looks: these shorts are some of the best I've ever tested.
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While this design is, as the name suggests, part of a limited run there have so far been annual variations, and don't worry if you miss this exact set as the non-limited edition version is a staple of the Endura range.
At £85 / $115 these are far from the most expensive shorts on the market, and yet they felt ‘right’ from the moment I put them on.
The legs have wide cuffs to spread the load of the grip, and the short is made from stretchy, yet sturdy, Lycra that keeps everything hugged in, but not in a claustrophobic way.
I loved the length on these too, coming exactly mid-thigh on my reasonably short legs (at 5ft2in tall). So bear this in mind if you have long legs, you might find these shorter than average — for reference, I’m a UK10 / EU38 / US6 and tested a size small.
The main feature here is the DropSeat, a system designed to make toilet breaks a whole lot easier.
It consists of a zip that undoes from the top of the right thigh all the way to the left thigh, allowing the lower back panel to open up and flap down.
I thought the zip may become irritating after a while, but I didn’t notice it at all. It's one of the best pairs of shorts I've tested and, at this price, it's also worthy of ‘best value’ kudos too.
The straps fit over the shoulder, coming up either side of my chest and covering most of my back, but the breathable mesh on the back meant that I didn’t feel too stuffy on hot rides.
This mesh back also acted as an effective way to wick sweat away from the body and not soak my jersey too much.
The Endura Women’s 600 series chamois pad is an exceptionally comfortable chamois with a good sweat-wicking material that didn’t hold much dampness when the going got hot.
Tiny holes within the pad allowed a decent amount of breathability, yet the thickness provided a good amount of shock absorption from rough roads, as well as great protection from soreness on long rides. The pad is also stretchy, flexible and has antibacterial properties.
The 600 series pad comes in a single size that worked well for me, but if you want a more tailored fit you can upgrade to the DropSeat Pro women’s shorts. These are available with a choice of three pad widths: narrow, medium or wide, and retail for £120 / $195.
While this pad went the distance, the shorts remained flexible enough to also feel relaxed on a casual ride. It’s a great all-round short.
- Sizes: Extra small, small, medium and large
- Colour: Limited edition pinstripe design