Rugged technical shorts designed for riding off-road in all conditions. I’ve added these to my personal wardrobe, now let me explain why.
Riding the trails in Endura’s two-for-one short-and-liner combo reminded me why MTB kit designed for UK conditions usually beats the opposition cold. Observing the iron law that ‘there will be mud’, while creating a short that doesn’t boil your bits when the sun comes out, is trademark Endura. Naturally, it impressed against the rest of the best cycling shorts I tested, so let’s get into detail and figure out exactly what makes them so good.
Men’s Fitness verdict
Endura’s Humvees are rugged technical shorts designed for riding off-road in all conditions, with a detachable liner making them super-versatile. They’re great value too.- Comfortable detachable liner
- Excels in all conditions
- Excellent value
- Liner popper are a bit fiddly
How we test cycling shorts
Our tester, bike enthusiast Matt Ray, pitted some of the best performing cycling shorts against each other to see how they compare in terms of comfort, features and new tech. He put each pair through their paces on a series of medium and long-range rides. These rides spanned across all sorts of terrain and weather conditions, including long, hot climbs, through summer showers and along wet, muddy, dusty and uneven trails to see how they hold up.
Features of the Endura MTB Humvee Shorts with Liner
Endura’s iconic MTB baggy short has been through several design iterations, and this version is the best yet. I tend to prefer a lighter-weight, strap-free padded short for trail riding, because I always need less padding than on the road, so the integrated detachable liner was just the ticket.
I love how the Humvee has more pockets than a marine’s battle vest (including three zipped) which meant I could get away with using a hydration waist-pack on shorter rides, and avoid a sweat-soaked back. Zipped vents add some breathability to the design, which also features a PFC-free, non-toxic water-repellent finish.
The anthracite colorway (one of seven color options) comes across as stylish in an understated manner. Plus, the rear elasticated waist means that this short could be cut perfectly to avoid any irritating ‘gusset catch’ from dropping back behind the saddle when riding, while preserving comfort.
Endura MTB Humvee Shorts with Liner performance
There’s a surprisingly long list of things that mountain bike shorts need to get right to become my go-to choice for changeable UK conditions, but Endura’s Humvee ticks all the boxes, with the added benefit of being PFC-free.
No matter what the skies or the trail threw my way when I was wearing these shorts, the Humvee remained as comfortable and protective as it felt when I first slipped them on. I’d be confident recommending these for quite literally any cycling tour that you’re likely to encounter in the Western climate.
How do they compare to rivals?
Of course, as much as I like these shorts, it’s possible that they won’t be the perfect answer for everyone. For example, perhaps you’re looking for something a little more… specialist. If you know that you’re going to be cycling for sport rather than casual pleasure, you might want to try out bibshorts instead. To the uninitiated, these do look a bit odd (and frankly, you’d probably want to wear a jersey over the body-length straps to preserve your dignity), but there is method to the visual madness. See, the idea is that by using those long straps instead of a waistband, there’s no restriction to diaphragmatic (belly) breathing. In the heat of battle on a competitive trail, that could be crucial when you’re digging deep to beat a PB or pass the guy in front.
Not only that, but some people will argue that bibshorts, by being less restrictive, are simply more comfortable too. Though, that is a question of personal opinion, as some riders complain that the straps can dig into their shoulders.
If that’s something which you’re considering, I’d steer you in the direction of the Endura Pro SL EGM Bibshort. Yes, I know it’s the same brand, but frankly it’s hard to beat Endura at their own game. These bibshorts don’t offer storage like you’ll get with the Humvee, but they make up for that with a design good enough for pro cyclists while somehow still maintaining a mid-range price point.
Alternatively, if you prefer the fit of a regular MTB short, but maybe want something with cool retro styling, check out the Oakley Seeker ’75 MTB Short. Those are lightweight and water-repellent, but lack some of the utility that you can expect from Endura’s Humvee. So really, it depends if you champion style over assets like zips on your pockets, or padding. If you’d rather have the latter, stick with Endura.
| Features | Clickfast detachable liner; 6 pockets, including 2 zipped; water repellent finish |
| Colors | 7 colors available |
| Sizes | XS – 4XL |
