No matter the location, the Fernflow shorts from Gorewear are one of those impressive pieces of gear that disappear while riding and require zero extra thought. I loved the stretchy Cordura fabric. The shorts let me move about the bike in planned and unplanned ways. Impressively, I never experienced any dreaded saddle snag.
Price: $130
Rating: ★★★★☆
What I like: Cordura fabric is stretchy and light; great length; zipped pockets; subtle looks; nice waist adjustments
What I’d change: price; front pocket placement
My call: Gorewear’s Fernflow shorts are an excellent option for warm, sloppy rides where a bit of protection can make or break a great day on the bike.
Gorewear Fernflow Shorts: Materials and construction
According to Gorewear, the Fernflows are built as “a lightweight yet robust trail short made to last.” To that end, there’s four-way stretch CORDURA® fabric plus an extra panel on the butt to ward off rear wheel spray. That means you get a lot of freedom of movement. The shorts won’t get hung up when you’re adjusting your riding position on the fly.
The waist features Velcro straps to allow you to tailor the fit here. It’s an easy and quick system to use. The waist also features silicone tabs to help keep the shorts in place.
Gorewear indicates that the Fernflow shorts are highly breathable, with laser-cut air vents that allow temperature control. The fabric is also quick-drying, and they feature a water-resistant fabric that makes the Fernflows ideal for sloppy conditions.
Aesthetically, the Fernflows are quite subtle, bordering on plain. But you can also opt for the Utility Green color instead of the black to give your kit a bit of extra kick.
Fernflow Shorts: The Ride
The Fernflow shorts have been my go-to mountain bike shorts all spring and summer. I’ve ridden them in the sloppy, snow-drifty spring thaw at 8,400 feet in the Rocky Mountains, in the harsh desert of Moab, UT, and in the front range of Colorado on fast, flowy singletrack.
The Cordura material has a bit of water repellency. This was key for springtime riding with the seasonal streams running high and snowmelt puddles splashing up my behind. The seams are taped for more protection against wet riding. It’s a nice feature that shows Gorewear knows how quickly the slop can make a ride unpleasant.
Two stretchy Velcro waist adjustments sit on the side and are easy to use, minimalistic and effective. The waist closure is well-thought-out with two snaps and a slip closure. Plus, you get a real zippered fly. Nice job, Gorewear!
Gorewear even nailed the length on the Fernflows. The inseam length of 13.4in (34cm) hits the sweet spot for pedaling with or without knee pads. The legs are slightly longer out front than in the rear to accommodate a natural pedaling position.
One thing to note is that the Fernflows are trim through the thighs. Also, the Cordura material isn’t the best in hot weather. Gorewear did add some vents on the legs, but they’re too small to actually make much of a difference.
About the only thing I didn’t care for was the placement of the front zippered pockets. They’re rotated a bit towards the front and therefore make the pocket opening more narrow than it would be if positioned more vertically on the side.
Final Word
These shorts nailed a lot of my wants. They’re stretchy and comfy, the right length, and nicely subtle without any garish logos. Plus, the Cordura material provides water repellency and a bit of abrasion resistance. They’re perfect for ripping trails, especially when wet conditions might be on the menu.