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review

Endura Hummvee Lite Short

7
£64.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Excellent warm weather outer baggies that are let down slightly by their detachable padded liner
Light
Airy
Stretchy
Padded liner isn't comfy
Back can slip down
Weight: 
334g

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Endura's Hummvee Lite shorts are warm-weather-friendly versions of the company's iconic baggies. They're light, airy, and offer perfectly unrestricted movement. However, the detachable padded liner doesn't quite provide the comfort you might hope for.

I tested Endura's fantastic Hummvee Chino shorts a while back and thought they were about the best – and smartest – baggies I'd ever used. These 'Lite' versions from the same range eschew the stylish and hardwearing chino material for far lighter four-way stretch fabric, designed to provide better summer performance.

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In the saddle, that excellent warm weather provision is hard to dispute. These are superb lightweight and airy outer shorts that feel great on very warm days. The four-way stretch material isn't quite as nice to touch as the chino, but when it comes to keeping you cool, the outers are nothing but excellent. One particular highlight is movement, which feels perfectly unrestricted with extra material at the seat to enhance cycling suitability.

2020 Endura Hummvee Lite shorts on bike.jpg

In terms of added features, there's not much to report. You've got a couple of open hip pockets and then a small zipped pocket at the bottom of the left thigh, which is ideal for keys.

2020 Endura Hummvee Lite shorts thigh pocket detail.jpg

There's also a small poppered pocket at the rear. Kudos to Endura for fitting two fairly heavy duty poppers as waistband closure – unlike popper closures on some other baggies, these are strong enough to do the job.

2020 Endura Hummvee Lite shorts pocket detail.jpg

I called the main shorts 'outers' because, as with the Hummvee Chino shorts, the Lites come with a padded liner which is mini-poppered in place at four points just below the waistband. I'd say it's better to view those poppers more as a packaging feature because, as soon as you start trying to get the pad hoiked up, you may well find they start unpopping.

I had a similar problem when I tested the chinos, and it's actually worth keeping the liner and outer separate from the start, getting the liner pad exactly where you want it, then pulling the main shorts over the top. If you try to maintain the integrity between inners, popper fixings and outer shorts, there's a danger the pad won't get settled in exactly the right place. I tried keeping both parts poppered together before one ride and returned home feeling sorer than I would have expected had I even gone completely pad-less.

> Cycling clothing guide: 5 ways proper kit can boost your riding

That problem notwithstanding, the liner here doesn't offer quite as effective comfort as the Hummvee Chino shorts' liner and a quick look down the spec sheet explains why. The pad with the Lites is from Endura's 200 series – good for, Endura says, an hour or so of riding – whereas the chino shorts have a 300 series pad that will see you right for double that. I'm not someone who hankers after lots of cushioning, but the difference in pad performance is noticeable.

2020 Endura Hummvee Lite shorts back.jpg

One last criticism is that, despite the outer shorts having quite a high back, I did find they slipped down in the saddle. Combine that with the very thin fabric of the liner – which goes see-through if it's stretched a bit – and if you're not wearing a long-tailed top, you can end up giving following road users more of an eyeful than either of you were expecting.

Value and conclusion

In terms of value, the Lites come in £5 more than the Hummvee Chino shorts, which surprises me a little as the chinos feel like a more substantial product. Endura of course isn't the only company making good baggies – Dave tested Rapha's £60 Commuter Shorts recently and thought they were OK, although they don't come with any padding. Better are Specialized's also pad-less RBX Adventure Over-Shorts for £75. In that company, the Hummvee Lites aren't bad value at all, even if you forget about the liner completely.

> Buyer’s Guide: The best casual cycling kit for commuting

And, in my opinion, that might the best way to see these shorts: as a great over-short with a padded liner thrown in. Certainly the outers are very well made, offering unrestricted movement and really excellent hot, summer cycling performance. If the liner works for you, well, that's a nice bonus. But if it's an all-round padded short you want, I'd still go for the smarter, harder wearing, comfier and even a little bit cheaper Hummvee Chinos.

Verdict

Excellent warm weather outer baggies that are let down slightly by their detachable padded liner

road.cc test report

Make and model: Endura Hummvee Lite Short

Size tested: XL

Tell us what the product is for

This is a lightweight short for warm weather riding. Endura says: "We heard you. When the Hummvee collection was launched we were asked by our friends in warmer climates for an option designed just for them. The much-loved icon of the MTB scene, the Hummvee Short, was originally developed by working with London bike couriers back in the day. We asked them what they needed in a pair of urban cycling shorts and Hummvee was born. So versatile a product, it was adopted by mountain-bikers too and can be seen on both the trail and the daily commute. This updated version of the Hummvee Lite is pared down and perfect for hot weather, whilst still retaining the legendary functionality the Hummvee Short is famous for. It comes complete with a padded liner short. These shorts keep true to their utilitarian Hummvee name with two front hip pockets, a zipped thigh cargo pocket and one small pocket on the rear - plenty of space to carry your on-person essentials. The lightweight four-way stretch nylon fabric combined with an elasticated jacquard waistband makes these shorts so comfortable you won't want to take them off."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Endura lists:

Lightweight 4-way stretch nylon fabric

Includes Clickfast™ detachable liner with 200 series pad

Front hip pockets and zipped thigh cargo pocket

Elasticated waistband with zip fly, and popper closure

The only thing it's not light on is features!

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

As usual from Endura, it's a quality bit of kit.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

The outer offers excellent performance – deserving of a 9 – but the liner isn't so good.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Although the four-way stretch material is light and thin, it does feel like it will last.

Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10

Good length in the leg, decent height back.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
9/10

Pretty much as expected.

Rate the product for weight:
 
10/10

Very, very light for baggies.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
7/10

The outers are very comfortable and unrestrictive, but the padded liner is a bit disappointing.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

The Lites come in £5 more than the Endura Hummvee Chino shorts, which surprises me a little as the chinos feel like a more substantial product. However, Dave tested Rapha's £60 Commuter Shorts recently and thought they were OK, although they don't come with any padding. Better are Specialized's also pad-less RBX Adventure Over-Shorts for £75. In that company, the Hummvee Lites aren't bad value, even if you forget about the liner completely.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Easy. I pull the liner and outer apart, then wash in the machine at 30 degrees and hang to dry.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

In terms of warm weather performance, these shorts are great. In terms of in-saddle comfort, with this padded liner, they're disappointing.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Lightweight and unrestricted performance.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The padded liner.

Did you enjoy using the product? With the liner – no.

Would you consider buying the product? Possibly

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Possibly

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a short of two halves. The outers perform superbly for warm weather riding, but the inner liner doesn't provide the comfort I'd have wanted.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 6'0  Weight: 16 stone

I usually ride: Islabikes Beinn 29  My best bike is: 25-year-old Dawes Galaxy

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb, Leisure

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4 comments

Avatar
AK_Ben | 4 years ago
1 like

Those are wrong on so many levels.

Avatar
mike the bike | 4 years ago
2 likes

Don't care how good they are, I'm not going out in public looking like your lead picture.

Avatar
mdavidford replied to mike the bike | 4 years ago
0 likes

The last shot isn't a lot better, either.

Avatar
RoubaixCube replied to mike the bike | 4 years ago
0 likes

Definitely one for the ladies id say 

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