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Home / Mountain Bikes and Gear / Clothing / Pants / Survey

Do You Wear Bike-Specific Baggy Shorts for MTB?

Mountain bikers have been known to wear tight lycra shorts, cut off jorts, polyester baggies, khaki work pants, mesh basketball shorts, and just about anything else that's been available.

By Jeff Barber
August 1, 2021 Last Updated: August 15, 2022

8 comments

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In the beginning, mountain bikers wore jeans for trail riding. Since that time mountain bikers have been known to wear tight lycra shorts, cut off jorts, polyester baggies, khaki work pants, mesh basketball shorts, and just about anything else that’s been available. We do us!

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Jeff Barber

Jeff Barber has been mountain biking since 1992 and has tested hundreds of mountain bikes and components. He is the co-founder of Singletracks and serves as Editor in Chief. Contact him at [email protected].

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8 Comments

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lilvann5497 North Carolina // 2021
Aug 3, 2021

I typically wear cargo shorts. They have lots of pockets that close up so nothing gets lost, and they are usually pretty durable

2 reply

robertellis Texas // 2019
Aug 1, 2021

Still looking for that perfect pair of MTB shorts. Absolutely can't stand any type of baggy anything, but also don't wear spandex unless it's a base layer. Open to suggestions!

2 reply

Chin Gao New Mexico // 2016
Aug 5, 2021

So for my liking I don a pair of trishorts thin pad, light weight, no crawlers up the leg, comfortable, some also come with built in elastic pockets for quick snacks. No one I know really notices or as I can imagine really cares. Being I ride roadie, mtb, gravel, fat it’s a win win for me. Once cold weather moves in I keep wearing the said shorts however a pair of merino wool leggings over creates the perfect combination. Baggies in my riding environment really don’t fit the bill with narrow trails and an abundance of vegetation to include bees, bugs etc., I can get caught up with stuff finding it’s way up my legs into private property.

1 reply

Jon_Dunn 2010
Aug 2, 2021

Club Ride. Although they are “MTB shorts” I wear them everywhere. They are comfy, good fit, phone pocket and no matter what comes along…. I’m always ready to ride.

0 reply

grcgrc 2019
Aug 1, 2021

Dickies casuals FTW. They last a long time and look good off of the bike as well. I only wear synthetics mid-summer when the temperature rises above 25º C.

0 reply

[email protected] New Mexico // 2016
Aug 14, 2021

Eddie Bauer Guide Pro shorts. Cheaper than MTB specific shorts, water proof, low profile pockets, super tough fabric, and they look and feel great.

0 reply

UpstateMTBGreg South Carolina // 2020
Aug 2, 2021

Usually just an old pair of swim trunks that have no liner over bib shorts.

0 reply

jimbolo Puerto Rico // 2021
Aug 5, 2021

nope i wear asian sizes ali express 3/4 shorts (cargo) (sit just below my knee while standing) because there isnt a single cycling brand that caters for slim men with long legs. and im too hairy for the hotpants look tbh.

hell i payed about 30u.s. or less than that and theyre very tough. breathable. functional..dont care if i wreck them. lets the air up in there..free crappy canvas belt (frame strap), work well with knee guards (pull string bottoms ftw)..all good.

0 reply

Tagged: baggies, baggy shorts, jorts, survey, gear, pants, shorts

First published August 1, 2021 @ 2:17:00