7Mesh worked with their Enduro World Racing riders for the latest iteration of their Women’s Slab shorts. The end result is a long 12.5” inseam that fits over kneepads, a seamless gusset, and welded seams throughout. The zip and snap fly closure also features a thin, low-profile integrated hook and loop type waist adjustment. The shorts also feature a single side pocket that is just large enough to hold my ancient Samsung S9 phone.
Price: $140
Specs: 85% Nylon, 15% Elastane, treated with DWR
What I like: The waist adjuster is a clean, minimal design I haven’t seen before; the material is lightweight enough to stay comfortable in the heat but seems to be durable enough to hold up to a few close encounters with the slabs of rocks they’re named for.
What I’d change: I want hand pockets. I’m not sure how they’d fit with the design or fit of the shorts, but I still want them.
My call: These might be my newest favorite overshorts. Lightweight, breathable, and non-restrictive. If they had hand pockets, you probably wouldn’t be able to peel them off of me (biking or not) for the rest of the summer.
7Mesh Women’s Slab Shorts: Sweating the Details
I’m always impressed with how 7Mesh designs its apparel. They manage to find a new way to do something that, at first, seems like a small, odd detail to focus on. But then they redo it, and all of a sudden you’re like, “this makes so much more sense!” The faux belt on the front of the Slab shorts is one of those things.
This may be my own personal hang-up, but I really hate that my chamois waistband, my overshort waistband, and my hip pack all hit at roughly the same spot—where my body is already bending over my mountain bike. It’s not comfortable. Add in a belt to tighten that all down across my stomach, and I’m immediately cranky.
Once, I got so annoyed with a pair of shorts that always slip down that I tried to use my hip pack as a belt instead of adding an actual belt to the mix (not great, do not recommend). A waist adjustment seems like a small thing to spend this many words on, but 7Mesh spent the time to reconfigure this small detail so that it:
- Works
- Is unobtrusively comfortable
- Looks good
At least for this tester, the time they spent on that detail is worth the word count.
Aside from the faux belt, I also like that the shorts have a slim cut with enough stretch to move with you on the bike. I don’t feel like I’m swimming in material nor do I feel restricted. There also isn’t so much stretch that they go the way of day-two skinny jeans halfway through a ride. They retained their original shape for several after-work rides (don’t judge my laundry habits). I haven’t gone down in them yet, but the material seems to strike the right balance between being lightweight so I don’t overheat and durable enough to hold up when I do wipe out.
7Mesh Women’s Slab Shorts: Short on Stashing Space
The lack of pockets is really the only thing I would change about the Slab shorts. I know that hand pockets would add bulk to this minimal, streamlined piece of kit, but…pockets! I’m glad my phone fits in the zip pocket on the leg, but phone and chapstick or phone and car clicker aren’t happening.
I don’t ride with hand pockets loaded down with tools or snacks, but I use them as temporary holding stations when I stop during a ride. Need to take my gloves off to unlock my phone? Shove the gloves in the hand pockets. Need a place to shove a food wrapper so it doesn’t blow away? Hand pocket. I found myself at a bit of a loss without that convenient shoving option while wearing the Slab shorts. I probably wouldn’t notice as much if I was wearing them specifically for racing rather than trail rides.
7Mesh Women’s Slab Shorts: Final Word
Overall, I’m a fan. I miss hand pockets, but that is offset by an incredibly comfortable waist adjustment as well as the overall functionality of the shorts. If you’re looking for kneepad-compatible baggies (or just a longer inseam) that will be comfortable as the summer heat starts to set in without looking “baggie” or shapeless, I highly recommend them.