Review: Dusty Gear Trail Shorts
Dusty Gear impressed our testers with a locally made high-quality short ideal for everyday trail riding.
There is much to love about the Dusty Gear range of women’s, men’s and kid’s specific trail shorts. Designed locally and made from recycled plastic, the 4-way stretch fabric is comfortable, stylish and very pedal friendly.
Features & Comfort
Velcro fit adjust 
Soft 4-way stretch fabric made from recycled plastic
What’s to love? | The material is marginally more robust than some of the featherweight trail shorts on the market yet it does not bind or create any discomfort while riding and moves well when pedaling. Dusty Gear claims the elasticity of the 4-way stretch fabric is permanent and after many rides and washes, I see no reason to dispute this. They feel just as comfortable now as on the first ride. The velcro adjustable fit closures are easy to reach making on-the-fly adjustment pretty easy.
The inseam is slightly shorter than an Enduro style short meaning they are perfect for everyday trail and cross-country missions. If you are running knee pads you’ll need a taller pad to prevent ‘pad gap’. My first consideration was around heat management as there isn’t a ton of ventilation built into the Dusty Gear shorts. Having said that, they worked fine and when riding in mid-summer temperatures close to the 40-degree mark they felt no warmer than other trail shorts I’ve used. This was confirmed by another tester, Dawn Herbert. Dawn also said; “The shorts were made for me! The fabric feels great against your skin, the waistband is flattering and I like the slightly higher coverage at the back.”
On a wet ride, the water-repellent properties of the fabric are evident. Caught in a sudden downpour, the fabric effectively shed rainwater and splashes. Two zip pockets are perfectly positioned over the thighs and are deep enough for large smartphones and anything else you’d need to carry on the ride. The pockets are wide enough that whatever you are carrying sits slightly on the side of your leg so it doesn’t interfere too much with your pedaling. The closure system is a traditional push-button with zipper and has performed well.
The Range, Sizing and Quality
Plain black 
Pink Protea 
Dragonfly
The pricing ranges from R1400 to R1800 and although that’s a little spendy it’s not bad for a soft Swiss fabric manufactured in a sustainable BlueSigned approved factory. The quality of construction appears to be very high, and despite their relatively soft feel, the material is robust and seems to be very durable. Dusty Gear offers five sizes and seven color options in their Women’s range. The youth range extends through five sizes and four colors. See the range here
Takeout
Their lack of bulk or excessive bagginess is a big part of what we like about these shorts. The soft 4-way stretch fabric makes them very comfortable and that’s why we love these shorts.
| IMAGES: Gary Perkin | LEARN MORE: dustygear.co.za |
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