Several years ago I started wearing baggy mountain bike shorts, admittedly because they look much cooler than spandex. Sure, there are modest benefits to wearing baggies on the trail (like added abrasion protection) but there are also compromises: they’re often hot in the summer, can restrict certain movements, and add wind resistance (yes, I wear baggies on the road too). I recently got a chance to test a pair of Louis Garneau Porcupine MTB shorts and it turns out they do a great job addressing the issues with typical baggy shorts.
Length / Fit
I’ve found the Porcupine shorts are the perfect length for mountain biking. Standing up, the shorts are right at my knees and on the bike they’re hiked up about 3-4 inches above that, making pedaling a breeze. Other shorts I own tend to get snagged on my knees when I pedal, particularly after they’re weighed down with sweat – but not the LG Porcupines. As you would expect from any pair of MTB shorts, saddle snags aren’t an issue either.
Two external velcro waist straps allow you to cinch the shorts up and subtract an inch or two off the waist. I find this feature handy for tightening up the shorts after I’ve lost water weight on long rides.
While the label “baggy” might imply MC Hammer style pants, the Porcupines are actually quite reasonable. On a recent 90-mile road ride in these shorts, I experienced very little “flapping,” especially compared to the other baggies I’ve worn.
Removeable Liner
Louis Garneau bills these shorts as MTB / Urban wear, in part it seems, due to the ability to remove the padded liner (chamois). This is a feature I’d love to see in all baggy MTB shorts but it can be hit or miss when you’re shopping around. The chamois itself features “multi-thickness high-density foam” and on rides up to 6.5 hours long I’ve found the chamois to be very comfortable. In fact, these are now my go-to shorts for longer rides as I train for the Cohutta 100.
The inner shorts can be attached to the baggies using snaps and they are very short – similar to a pair of boxer briefs. They’re also lightweight and breathable, making the baggy / inner short combo quite comfortable, even on hot, sticky days.
Other Features
The Porcupine shorts feature reflective panels on the front and a reflective logo / lettering for added visibility at night. Unfortunately the lettering has already worn off my shorts after about 3 months of heavy use (though the large reflective panels are still in tact).
Two front pockets are great for stashing keys and a phone when you’re walking around but I wouldn’t recommend putting anything other than Clif bar wrappers in them on the trail. Surprisingly the pockets don’t feature any type of closure – velcro or snap – that might keep important stuff inside while you’re riding.
A soft liner on the inside of the baggy, outer shorts is a nice touch while the outside of the outer shorts is made from a tougher, slightly stretchy fabric. After more than a dozen washes, there is some slight fabric pilling near the top of my shorts.
These are easily the best baggy mountain bike shorts I’ve owned and are my go-to pair for long days in the saddle. Boasting the perfect length for cycling, a comfortable chamois, great heat management, and enough style to differentiate from the roadies, the LG Porcupines ($110 MSRP, incl. chamois) are are great choice for mountain bikers.
Thanks to Louis Garneau for providing the Porcupine shorts for review.
