What does fashion and function make? It makes Shredly of course!
When it comes to mountain bike gear, it must be functional. But it’s nice to have something that also looks great!
It’s not often you get fashion and function working in harmony but we feel Shredly have got those two ingredients blended into one hell of a mouthwatering dish. If you haven’t heard of Shredly by now, then let this be your first introduction.
Who are Shredly?
We like this description so much, we decided to simply copy and paste it from the Shredly website. very slack we know, but if it’s not broke…So here’s the story…
Mountain biking is awesome, but the selection of riding apparel for women, has historically, not been in abundance. It seemed to have a terrible case of the B’s – black, boring, baggy, and to be honest, looked like it was made for the boys. Life is all about experiences. And SHREDLY desires for the experience of every adventure to begin the moment you get dressed. Putting on something comfortable (duh) that actually fits (about time) yet is still stylish (thank you) and puts a smile on your face is … well, just how it should be!
How good is that for a description? Yes, we thought so too. If you want to know more about Shredly, head on over to the interview we had with the owner, Ashley Rankin, here.
Shredly, creative and bold. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
First Impressions?
As with all of Shredly’s riding gear, the first impressions are always WOW! Whilst browsing the Shredly website, be prepared for a lot of….”arghhhhh….which one do I choose?”. The creative patterns and colours on offer are mind bendingly good. That may sound like we’re complaining, but we’re not. It’s actually one of those rare but nice situations to be in.
So we hit the buy button and settled on a colour combo that we thought worked very well together. The kit we finally chose was the short sleeve ALL IN ONE Jersey in a bold coral colour and the G MTB LONG shorts, with the fancy but understated bird print. Noice!
The G Women’s MTB LONG shorts
OK, so in terms of fit, I sat down with Rebecca (our test rider) and we talked about the looks, feel and fit of the shorts and jersey. This is what we discovered.
Look and Feel
The shorts look fantastic with their subtle yet creative designs. These in particular with the parrot repeat pattern, silver and gold threaded Shredly brand stitching on the rear pocket and the precious stone like buttons. They just look the biz!
Looking over seams and pocket areas revealed high quality double stitching, so they won’t be falling apart anytime soon. The fabric feels lightweight and has a slightly stretchy characteristic to it, making them perfect for most types of riding.
Attention to detail. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
Shredly, quietly creative. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
The bling factor is high. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
Length
Don’t let the “long” concern you with these shorts. They’re not long long. If you know what I mean. They’re actually the perfect length for XC, Enduro and all mountain riding. Hell, most riding to be honest. The only reason Shredly brand them as “long” is because they also do another “MTB short, aptly named MTB SHORT, which is 3 inches shorter. The MTB LONG falls just above the knee when standing.
That ready to shred look. Pic:©tyres and Soles
Waist
The shorts were a perfect fit, there was no need to make any adjustments. The Shredly sizing seems to be spot on. There’s a contoured waistband for extended coverage and some neat little elasticated tabs, if you do feel you need to tighten them a little, but why would you need to do that? You obviously need to get back on the beer and tacos…NOW!
The slightly stretch fabric makes everything that much more comfortable. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
Thigh
The shorts have a relaxed yet slightly tailored look to them, giving them a flattering fit. The fabric is made from a lightweight, durable and slightly stretchy fabric. On the front thigh area is a vertical zipper, almost invisible to the eye, which can be opened to allow extra airflow on warmer days.
Can you see them? Pic:©tyres and Soles
Feature List
- Internal waist adjustment system
- Relaxed yet flattering fit
- Lightweight, durable and slightly stretchy fabric
- Contoured waistband for extended coverage
- Gusseted crotch for ease of movement and extra comfort
- Invisible zipper thigh vents
- Side pocket to stash your essentials
- Length falls just above the knee
- Chamois liner sold separately
The zipper vents when open, provide a good level of air flow. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
Waist adjustment tabs. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
On The Trails
It was time to hit up the local trails and put these things of beauty to the test. We tested the shorts over a period of several months on our favourite trails which have a healthy mix of cross country, all-mountain, gnarly steep terrain and we threw some bike park stuff in for good measure.
Out on the trails, the shorts lived up to all expectations. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
These shorts seem to have a goldilocks fit, they’re sort of a perfect fit really. That may sound like a cop out and a way to avoid writing a granular review about the fit, but it’s sort of true. Getting up and out of the saddle to the attack position and even the hike a bike sections, all felt very comfortable.
The slightly stretch fabric helps to prevent any pulling or tightness in the thigh area. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
The slightly stretch fabric prevented any uncomfortable tightness in the thigh area and the gusseted crotch and contoured waistband all added up to a very comfortable experience.
The shorts were tested on some very hot conditions and although the thigh vents were something we thought more of a gimmick and rarely going to be used, Rebecca actually ended up using them a lot. They made a huge difference on the hotter days.
Let the the air flow freely. Pic: ©Tyres and Soles
Geting our Shredly on!. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
The Short Sleeve ALL IN ONE Jersey
Bold and simple colours make a perfect match with the shorts. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
Look and Feel
The ALL IN ONE jersey adopts the less is more approach with its big bold colours, nicely placed branding and a no pattern approach. We like the way Shredly have done this. It makes sense. If the jerseys were as busy and creative as the shorts, then it would all be a little too much. This way, you can pick any of the shorts and just grab a jersey to match without having to spend ages trying to get the combo looking right.
Fit
The ALL IN ONE jersey has all the lines of a classic in the making. You know, that one jersey that you have in your collection that just feels great. The V neckline is stylish and helps keep you a little cooler on the warmer days. The cut is flattering around the waistline and bust area with a sporty feel.
The length is good overall, with a slightly longer aspect in the rear to cover the lower back area. All of the panels have been designed to give a sporty look and feel but not insanely tight like gym tops. It seems to have the right balance of slack and taughtness in all the right places.
A sporty fit but not overly tight. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
The V neckline helps keep you cooler. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
Feature List
- The jersey that does it all.
- Featuring DRY-THRU fabric that has incredible moisture wicking, fast drying, breathable capabilities.
- Mesh top and side panels to increase air flow where it counts.
- Invisible-zipper back pocket or essentials that need to be secured.
- Contoured seams designed to flatter the natural female figure.
- lightly longer in back to offer the perfect amount of coverage.
The ALL IN ONE jersey features a large rear zip pocket. Pic:©TyresandSoles
Out On The Trails
We tested the jersey on a pretty warm day so it was a relief to have the DRY-THRU fabric doing its job. It definitly helped to keep Rebecca cooler and drier. It’s a high wicking fabric that sucks the sweat off the body, then pulls it through to the outer surface, where it dries off very quickly. Perfect for our hot Australian climate.
Scoping lines. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
The zippered rear pocket is cavernous. We got a Backcountry Tul bag in there and still had room for snacks. However, a larger zip pull than the one fitted would make it a little easier to open and close, especially when wearing gloves.
The jersey felt great with or without a pack and the extra length in the rear helps to stop the jersey wriggling its way up your back. After a long day riding in hot conditions, there was no annoying rubbing or chaffing around back of the neck area or under the armpits. All in all, a very comfortable jersey.
The ALL IN ONE jersey felt very comfortable in all riding positions. Pic:©Tyres and Soles
The short sleeved ALL IN ONE jersey by Shredly…Simple, bold and very functional. Pic:Tyres and Soles
Price
- Shorts: the G Women’s MTB LONG $95.00 USD
- Jersey: ALL IN ONE $55.00 USD
Conclusions
[wp-review id=”4655″]
