off-road.cc

From the very first wear, the 7 Mesh Inc Revo shorts have performed, offering brilliant fit and functionality - a proper all winter, waterproof short. The Revos have an instant feel of being high end, functional winter riding shorts.

• Review - Cube Blackline Rain Shorts
• Feature - Winter Motivation pt1: Zwiftly does it

With most of the UK winter either wet from rain, or actually raining, waterproof shorts are a great solution for keeping dry and comfy - for even quick blasts or longer days out. The Revelation shorts are built to last and tailored to be a great waterproof short for winter riding.

• Buy 7Mesh Revo Shorts here

Built from GORE-TEX® 3L, which is a 70d Nylon Plain Weave / Tricot Knit backer, they are quiet when riding, and coupled with the really well thought outfit, they minimise areas where water can penetrate, for example, the knees are cut a little longer, so they sit over when the thigh is in the up pedalling point. The higher cut behind the knee means no rubbing. 

Featuring belt loops as well as hip closures, with a cam device to close, you can use a belt or just the hip closes. These work really well, I had no need for a belt. The shorts sit on the hips, and are close fitting when the hip closures are tightened, meaning you can achieve a comfortable but effective fit. 

When coupled with a waterproof top, you get a good overlap that minimises or nearly prevents water intrusion. The shorts can sit pretty high on the lower back, which is crucial to stop rear wheel spray. There are two front pockets for stashing kit that can get wet, like a gel, and there are neat little drainage holes in the bottom of the pocket for when the downpours get really serious.

Central to the fit is a new design compared to the older shorts - a crotch gusset that means you don’t sit on a seam or join, and this, in turn reduces abrasion with muck and grit. Out riding, with a pair of padded shorts inside, meant good comfort levels, but also there is no wear point, where stitching can fail as it wears over time - the Revo shorts are all blind stitched, which means no thread shows, and this also maintains the waterproof seal across the shorts. Whilst they’ll always wear here over time, this design minimises that area, and also with that, it adds comfort as you sit on the saddle.
 

Ridden in milder and then wetter conditions of early autumn, into winter, the shorts breathe really well, up to around 12degrees. Any warmer and there is a degree of condensation build up, but it still clears effectively. When temperatures lower, the shorts totally block water and also wind - this keeps you dry and toasty, and I didn’t find a puddle or downpour where I could say the shorts let me down. The seams are also taped which adds another layer of water proofing. 

The Revo short simply makes mucky and wet rides more comfortable, so you’d stay out for longer and stay warm and dry. When riding, I found the shorts to fit really well, they feel very well considered, and have enough features to be practical without being overly fussy. They are also really quite light, which some waterproof shorts suffer from, and with lower weight of around 200g they still don’t become to parachute like as the cut keeps them sat well either sitting down or stood up. 

They also sit well over kneepads and don’t hitch or feel restrictive when pedalling. I found myself riding in them even with no rain forecast, simply as they offer comfort and bad weather protection with the windproofing, and then puddle spray protection as well. 

An obvious point to mention is the price - but they perform flawlessly and when you consider the material function combined with the fit, the price is valid. Of course, you can buy cheaper, but the point here is the function and fit is absolutely on point. 

• www.7meshinc.com

You might also like:

• Review - Altura Mayhem 2 Waterproof Jacket
• Buyer's Guide to Winter Kit
• Feature - Bird Cycleworks: From the Ground Up