Sombrio Brim Queen Shorts

Sombrio have a freeride/downhill style heritage that might turn off your average xc rider. The geometric patterns and relaxed over-armour cuts of many of their tees attracts a certain ‘type’, but with their latest women’s offering, they have bridged the gap from downhill rad to xc chic in one simple step.

These shorts are made of tough rip-stop fabric (500 dernier cordura) which has a slight sheen. Some have commented that they look like waterproof shorts, but they are not – showerproof at most. The fit is feminine; close-ish round the hips and then flattering over the thighs. The hem falls just at knee level; a good length for those with sportier than average thighs.

There are some nice feminine touches to these shorts, too. The pink Sombrio logo is a wink at the ‘I’m a girl but ripping the trails up like I was born to do it’ game. There is also a slight pleating at the top of each thigh, and a nice v-shaped seam heading down from the pockets to the zip fly. The overall result is a little bit of pretty in an otherwise rugged looking short.

I wasn’t convinced on the colour initially. There is a reason most shorts are black. It goes with anything, is mud-spatteringly practical and is the most lump-forgiving colour out there. These are a halfway house between navy and royal blue. Actually, they are a gorgeous colour, but I wasn’t sure about combining them with different jerseys from my (somewhat large) collection. It turns out the colour has been carefully thought out and they look pretty good with almost any colour combo. In fact, it’s nice to not be in black for a change. (They also come in a pale grey called ‘ash’).

Back to the practical side of things. These shorts ride well. The material is thick and tough and does not ride down over your bum as you pedal. Not a builders crack in sight. A big brass popper is joined by a Velcro fastening to keep the waist band firmly where you want it. There are also belt loops if you want to go down that route. The side pockets are deep but not zipped, so more for slouching around looking cool than stashing cake. The two rear pockets are both zipped, though, so useful for secreting a key if you need to.

Surprisingly, these shorts don’t have a reinforced crotch area, and the material over the seams is already starting to look a little worn, although I doubt anyone will notice other than me. That said, they wash well and the mud (and they’ve seen a lot in their time) washes out easily despite needing a cold wash. The final feature worth noting is the zippered side-slashes on the thighs which let a bit of air in if you need to, or provide a bit more stretch for particularly bulgy quad muscle days.

Overall, these Sombrio shorts are a good purchase for adding a bit of bling to your ride wardrobe, and at just £35 they're far from bank-breaking too!

Attractive, flattering, robust short.

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