When I asked Singletracks readers whether they preferred baggy or tight shorts for mountain biking, I thought there might be some debate. It turns out–for most of our readers, anyway–that baggy shorts rule the day. With that in mind, I wanted to test Funkier’s budget-friendly Policoro baggy mountain bike shorts to see if they meet the needs of the masses.
Starting at the outside, the Funkier Policoro shorts are constructed from 100% Teslon nylon, which feels fairly stiff and rugged, with very little stretch. Funkier says the material is water-resistant, yet breathable; I personally found it to run a bit on the hot side, better suited for spring and fall riding than for full-on summer days.
As far as baggy shorts go, I would rank the Policoro shorts “medium” on the bagginess scale, which by the way, ranges from Spandex to MC Hammer. The shorts aren’t so baggy that they’re flapping around on descents or getting in the way of the saddle, but they’re also not form fitting or revealing in any way. In terms of length, I found the shorts to be medium-long, hitting right in the center of my kneecap.
With two zippered hand pockets, plus two cargo pockets (one zippered, the other hooked-and-looped), the Policoro baggy shorts offer plenty of storage. Now, mountain bikers generally won’t want to put a lot of gear in the pockets when riding, but I have to admit that if I have a pocket available, there’s a good chance I’ll fill it with something. Each pocket is large enough to fit a snack, cellphone, wallet, or a map.
The Funkier Policoro shorts offer several waist adjustments to keep them in place. The elastic waist band features a button closure with a zipper, plus a drawstring inside and belt loops on the outside. I don’t know too many people who wear a belt with MTB shorts (it would surely interfere with a hydration pack belt) but the option is there. I personally prefer a built-in, adjustable waist strap, which more expensive baggy shorts often include. The drawstring almost gets the job done, but I found it tended to stretch during particularly hot, sweaty rides, leaving my shorts sagging.
Moving inside the shorts, there’s a chamois sewn into a lightweight liner that’s included with the Policoro shorts. The liner is not removable, and it’s honestly not as breathable as others I’ve tested. The chamois itself is constructed using thick foam, and while it provides good cushioning, it feels fairly bulky before it’s been worn in. The cuffs at the bottom of the liner feature a grippy band which does a great job preventing the liner from riding up while riding the bike.
Funkier has added an incredible number of features to these shorts, which is especially surprising given the budget-friendly price tag. The company’s logo on the front and back is reflective, as are the leg cuffs which can be turned inside out during night rides for added visibility. However, one area where the company clearly skimped is the selection of zippers; both the pocket and upper zippers are under-sized and offer a lot of zipping resistance.
In terms of sizing, I found the Policoro shorts to run a bit small. I ended up testing size large shorts, which the Funkier sizing chart says is a 32-inch waist. The XL shorts (34-inches) probably would have been better for me. Fortunately the company offers these shorts in sizes up to 3XL, though that still corresponds to just a 38-inch waist.
Overall, the Funkier Policoro baggy shorts represent an excellent value for mountain bikers looking for a pair of purpose-built shorts for biking. While Funkier checks nearly all the feature boxes with these shorts, don’t expect them to offer quite the same level of quality as shorts selling for $100+ USD.
Thanks to Funkier for providing the Policoro shorts for review.
