The FastHouse Kicker shorts blend on-bike performance with a casual cut and style. While they certainly perform on the bike, the slim fit can interfere with pads and they could do with more zipped pockets.
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For a pair of shorts with such casual style, they come with a very impressive list of features. Made from a DWR coated four-way stretch fabric, there's also a separated crotch panel to improve mobility. The shorts have belt loops with a very simple shoelace ‘belt’ for waist adjustability and a reflective stretch logo on the left leg.
The Fasthouse Kicker shorts have some neat touches such as the faux leather patch on the rear that give the shorts a more casual look. They have five pockets, including a zipped phone pocket on the right leg. The casual theme also permeates into the comfort. They remind me of a pair of old board shorts, but with a slimmer fit around the legs. Speaking of fit, it was nearly perfect for me, but I would prefer a slightly longer leg and perhaps a baggier fit to help accommodate pads a bit better.
I found the short bunched slightly at the top of pads, even when wearing my slim Fox Enduro Pro Knee Guards. The slim fit doesn’t help this either. As someone who wears pads all the time, I found this a bit disappointing.
Something that I really enjoy about the Kicker shorts is the range of pockets. I don’t think there’s such thing as too many pockets as long as they are in the right place and don’t flap about. Thankfully, that’s exactly the case on these shorts, but it would be great to see more zipped pockets, just to keep valuables secure.
There are similar shorts out there, such as Five Ten’s Brand of the Brave shorts. These will set you back £60, but they still come up a little short, and the drawstring closure is awkward.
Making the Kicker look a little pricey are PNW Component’s Shuttle shorts at £75. They scored a full five stars in our review because they are what a good pair of riding shorts should be. They are comfy enough to be worn off the bike too.
It’s clear that the FastHouse Kickers are a more casual pair of shorts that can be ridden in, rather than built for the bike. Even though they are comfy and stretchy, more zipped pockets and a baggier cut would make them better for riding. The price is pretty tough to justify too, given the many top-performing options on the market.