off-road.cc

Hailed by 7Mesh as its flagship trail short, the Glidepath is a superbly-made baggy, non-padded short that could easily become your go-to pair – unless it’s very wet. The fit is excellent, they have decent pockets and armour fits well underneath. I couldn't find much wrong with them.

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The Soma 2-Way fabric is tough (this pair has been ridden for several months with little sign of wear), yet light enough to be unobtrusive. And whilst the water repellant has faded a little, they still offer effective protection against puddle splashes or light rain.

The length of the short is enough to cover knees and accommodate most trail knee pads - some really chunky downhill armour might not fit, but my usual pads fitted fine.

The shape is really well considered, and there's plenty of movement where needed. Built around a crotch that's four-way stretch (the shorts' crotch, not yours), the panels are usefully low on seams, yet shaped enough for a really good fit. The stitching is solid on all points, and there is a neat thermal finish on the leg seams, which make for a flush finish and is smoother against the leg. It also stops them undoing or wearing easily.

With four pockets – two zippered and two jean-style ones – there is plenty of space for keys and snacks, plus there's a large phone-shaped cargo pocket inside one zipped one. When riding with the pockets loaded, the contents don’t feel in the way, as the pockets are to the side of the leg.

The waist is higher at the back, with belt loops and hip-cinchers that are well placed, and actually work. A proper reliable popper and decent fly zipper finish off the important parts.

The great fit and durability make the Glidepath a great choice for most trail riding. The fabric is light, dries quickly and shrugs off brambles, rock scuffs, saddle abrasion and more, while the fit is loose for comfort and mobility without straying into snaggy or flappy. This short is ideal for mountain biking.

Whilst they aren’t the thickest material, they are tough, and for all round trail riding they're pretty much perfect. I’ve used them on Alpine trips, Scottish winter races, and basically in all sorts of trail conditions – they are capable in all but heavy rain. 

My only gripe is that the 7Mesh Glidepath short is pretty expensive at £120, but then it works hard for its money and promises to last, and as such represents fairly decent value too.

• 7mesh.com

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