Can Patagonia’s mountain bike kit cut it in a very competitive market? Ben has been giving their Dirt Roamer shorts a run for their money.
Over the past couple of years, ethically-minded outdoor brand Patagonia has been bringing out a range of well thought out, light weight and fairly minimalist riding gear. The Dirt Roamer shorts are their mid-level short designed for trail riding, XC and off road adventuring.
Photos by Dave Price.
Key features:
- Made with 87% recycled materials
- Contoured fit
- Light weight and stretchy fabric
- DWR coating
- £90.00 RRP
- EU.patagonia.com
The first thing that strikes you is how light weight these shorts are. This is in part down to the material used, but also the lack of features like pockets that also add weight and bulk. The material is made from recycled polyester and has spandex added to it, making it very stretchy, allowing a great deal of movement. The material also features a DWR finish to ward off puddle splashes and light showers.
There is only one, small pocket on the left thigh and I didn’t find it that useful. It is pretty snug and I don’t like to carry my phone in this position, although I know others do. As the shorts are so light a heavy phone actually sags it down, stretching the material a little and pulling the shorts out of shape. I sometimes used it for a snack or my van key, but mostly I didn’t use it.
The waist adjustment system is a bit of a hidden gem as well. It is so low key you almost miss it, but also very simple, secure and effective. There is the smallest little textile tab that you pull on and it magically locks off and never comes loose. A poorly executed waist adjuster is a feature that spoils many pairs of otherwise decent shorts, but Patagonia have nailed it here.
On the bike they are great for gravel riding, and lighter trail duties and they play well with low profile knee pads, but these are certainly not the shorts for going out sending with the boys. I wore them with liners from other brands and with pants, and found them to be ideal for interval training sessions and exploratory missions in the hills, where they were cool, comfy and looked great. In fact I found myself reaching for the Dirt Roamers for hill walking, trail running, family camping and just general summer use as they are so comfy. This makes them a lot more versatile and the £90 price tag seem more reasonable.
What do we think?
£90 is a lot when you get so little, but the minimalist approach and light, stretchy material help to create a versatile pair of shorts that you will wear again and again on and off the bike. I would prefer a normal pocket, and was surprised and disappointed to see it arrive in a plastic bag too.
We Love:
- I wore them all summer for all sorts of stuff.
- My ideal gravel shorts as I stay clear of lycra in public.
Could Do Better:
- Didn’t like the thigh pocket.
