Review: Gravity Anomaly LongHaul Shorts

Gravity Anomaly is a new mountain bike performance wear company based out of Denver, Colorado. All of their gear sales are currently direct to consumer via their website, so to help get the word out they sent some of their best gear over for review. LongHaul Short Specs The LongHaul Shorts are Gravity Anomaly’s all …

Gravity Anomaly is a new mountain bike performance wear company based out of Denver, Colorado. All of their gear sales are currently direct to consumer via their website, so to help get the word out they sent some of their best gear over for review.

LongHaul Short Specs

The LongHaul Shorts are Gravity Anomaly’s all mountain/enduro-styled shorts. Available in olive and charcoal (tested), the LongHaul features a “multi-panel nylon construction, incorporating an advanced 100% Polyester vented micro-mesh inner for breath-ability and comfort,” according to Gravity Anomaly.

These shorts feature a durable construction, with hip pockets, rear pockets, and low-profile cargo pockets. The front features a zipper and double-snap closure, and a velcro/D-ring waist adjustment helps dial in the fit. The shorts do not come with a chamois.

Out on the Trail

From the moment I slipped the LongHaul shorts on, I could feel the high-quality, durable construction. The LongHaul is designed to endure through serious use and abuse, and even unintentional off-the-bike excursions.

The mesh liner proved to be very comfortable, the pockets functional, and the waist-adjustment usable and solid.

The shorts are undoubtedly functional and durable, but they’re also very stylish. Gravity Anomaly’s attention to detail is impeccable, with a mixture of black and gray panels, custom-logo snap buttons, classy graphics, and eye-catching orange highlights.

These shorts hit just below the knee, providing enough room to easily accommodate knee pads.

When it comes to the intended application, I’m a little unclear about what Gravity Anomaly intended these shorts to be. On their website, they say “the LongHaul short was designed with epic all day big mountain riding in mind,” and they mention soft materials “for the ride up.” However, I don’t see these shorts as an ideal fit for pedal-driven big-mountain loops, for three reasons:

  1. The short hits well below the knee, which isn’t ideal for aggressive pedaling.
  2. They don’t feature any ventilation for when things get sweaty.
  3. The shorts don’t come with a stock chamois, so that would require an aftermarket purchase.

Instead, I see these as the ideal short for a big shuttle run in aggressive terrain. While they are decently comfortable for some pedal-driven excursions and are fine for some climbing, the lack of ventilation and the long cut make them much more inclined towards high-speed, aggressive descending.

Bottom Line

If you view climbing as a necessary evil and tend to ride massive shuttle runs with a few short climbs mixed in, then these durable, stylish shorts are for you! If you want a chamois, though, you’re going to need to buy one to go with these shorts.

MSRP: $79

Thanks to Gravity Anomaly for providing the LongHaul shorts for review!