Breathable waterproof shorts?

nosuchuser

Member
Jun 10, 2020
91
75
London
This is all very interesting stuff. Just come back from getting soaked by puddles and mud and the cold wet pad in my liners was not ideal for the hours drive back home. I like the idea of the all in ones but have an endura singletrack waterproof shell I quite like and am thinking about the mt500 spray trousers, just to keep my arse dry.


Any views on them?
 

Hamina

E*POWAH Master
Mar 22, 2020
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I have tested the MTP heavy goretex trousers couple of weeks ago in heavy rain. One could think that with this type of cutting it would be impossible to ride a bike but it was actually pretty ok. They could be more fit and have suspenders. The lightweight version seems to be a bit more fit.

The jacket has nice high collar to protect from wind. The set has been excellent for snowmobile riding as outer core. The jacket is too spacious(?) for riding bike.

Btw. bought the "CBRN peeler suit" for samekinda use. Will test it also for cycling even though that will not be the main purpose.
 

carlbiker

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Sep 15, 2020
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Cheers I’ve put a pin in this one :). I’ve a gore jacket and just bought some gore shorts, I’ve not tested either yet, maybe they will work okay if they breath right. I’m a light sweaty type but I do avoid stuff like polyester if I can for example.

out of interest do you have any product recommendations for a top/shorts you may have seen or used or you feel goretex is a win here?

i kind of liked this but bet it’s sweaty Dirtlej Pro Edition - Cycling Skinsuit | Free UK Delivery | Alpinetrek.co.uk

Shoe wise I tested out some 510 trailcross today whilst getting muddy AF, it wasn’t the one I wanted to take as it wasn’t waterproof like the Vaude Moab but it was so tight on my foot I could feel it tingling, being synthetic leather too I doubt it would break much....length is fine it’s just bloody narrow for my platapus feet! The TC fit amazingly well and expands in width with it being meshy....it’s going to get wet but has drainage channels and I bet will dry quickly. By your reckoning sounds like the ideal one possibly

I didnt want a mid boot only useful for biking especially if it’s not waterproof but your comments have me rethinking things. I was hoping for a hike a bike shoe ideally good for hiking too and the vaude looked epic for all that
 
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carlbiker

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Sep 15, 2020
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I am going to say Race Face Agent again, had mine for two winters and are brilliant, proper 3L construction, not just a coating

Oh mate just seen them! Ok time to send the goretex back!!!
 

Doomanic

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The army gore-tex trousers I bought from ebay have full length leg zips so don't lend themselves to being cut down.
 

carlbiker

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Sep 15, 2020
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Maybe just get a pair of army surplus gore tex trousers which are super cheap, and cut them into shorts? I have a pair of the over trousers and used them for when it rained on my motorbike, doing 20,000 miles a year in all weathers.


another total gem crikey! You should create hotmtbdeals.com!
 

carlbiker

🛡️🚵🛡️
Sep 15, 2020
1,047
455
leeds england
I have tested the MTP heavy goretex trousers couple of weeks ago in heavy rain. One could think that with this type of cutting it would be impossible to ride a bike but it was actually pretty ok. They could be more fit and have suspenders. The lightweight version seems to be a bit more fit.

The jacket has nice high collar to protect from wind. The set has been excellent for snowmobile riding as outer core. The jacket is too spacious(?) for riding bike.

Btw. bought the "CBRN peeler suit" for samekinda use. Will test it also for cycling even though that will not be the main purpose.

The ripstop would be a good bet if anyone’s looking at this kind of thing. I was chatting with an ex forces guy today in trespass and he used to wear this stuff, said it was great!
 

#lazy

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Oct 1, 2019
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I bet the British Gov payed more than £35 for these for the police ! Probably a Turkish DEL Boy middleman made a fortune ?
 

Hamina

E*POWAH Master
Mar 22, 2020
500
396
FIN
Maybe not the best of best, but best available today in the wardrobe. I'm not recommending this setup, but it does it's job in heavy rain.

notthebestbutavailable.jpg
 

carlbiker

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Sep 15, 2020
1,047
455
leeds england
Maybe not the best of best, but best available today in the wardrobe. I'm not recommending this setup, but it does it's job in heavy rain.

View attachment 43532
You gave me an idea there, I’ve seen raf combos on eBay for like £45 in navy blue but the jacket length stopped me buying. Here you have some kind of wrap around bag I guessing? That would stop the jacket getting trapped behind the seat etc....

RAF GORETEX JACKET - GRADE 1 - USED - WATERPROOF - BRITISH ARMY - MILITARY | eBay this was the jacket
 
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carlbiker

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Sep 15, 2020
1,047
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leeds england
This is all very interesting stuff. Just come back from getting soaked by puddles and mud and the cold wet pad in my liners was not ideal for the hours drive back home. I like the idea of the all in ones but have an endura singletrack waterproof shell I quite like and am thinking about the mt500 spray trousers, just to keep my arse dry.


Any views on them?

I remembered your post when I saw this The best waterproof MTB jacket you can buy | Page 9 of 9 | E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine It’s jackets but I assume the trousers are the same stuff, was highly rated
 

zaykay

Member
Dec 3, 2019
93
79
Finland
At least the MT500 Spray shorts wont keep you dry even in mild drizzle. MT500 waterproof trousers are better than spray’s but their shell does not last long on muddy conditions. Mine are leaking with half an year of use. How about Leatt 5.0 shorts? They advertise 28000mm pillar, should make them pretty waterproof.
 

Doomanic

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I've got diving drysuit, might be a bit sweaty though.
 

carlbiker

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Sep 15, 2020
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I think I’m going to aim for Polycotton combo and keep a goretex combo packed up as overs given there thin/light, easy enough in a back pack...possible to get all this under £100 which is pretty amazing really
 

apac

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Aug 14, 2019
1,326
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I'm currently riding with normal riding shorts with Navy/RAF surplus goretex over trousers cut down into shorts over the top. As the goretex is very light material and quite loose they work really well. I recommend it. You can put on and take off the goretex shorts over shoes so at the end of a ride they are easy to remove if you don't want a muddy car seat. They stop my bum from getting cold and soggy and they don't impede riding. Mine cost £20
 

JoeBlow

Active member
Jul 7, 2019
729
448
South West, UK
I'm currently riding with normal riding shorts with Navy/RAF surplus goretex over trousers cut down into shorts over the top. As the goretex is very light material and quite loose they work really well. I recommend it. You can put on and take off the goretex shorts over shoes so at the end of a ride they are easy to remove if you don't want a muddy car seat. They stop my bum from getting cold and soggy and they don't impede riding. Mine cost £20
That's an interesting idea. Couple of questions though. After cutting did you sew a hem and do you wear just over padded shorts or padded shorts and baggies?

Al
 

apac

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Aug 14, 2019
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S.Wales
I just cut them quickly and roughly with a scissors... no hem.
I wear them over the top of enduro mtb baggy shorts that have a clip in chamois inside. Toasty, dry and comfy?

if you want a neat hem , superglue works well.
 

p3eps

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
Dec 14, 2019
1,982
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Scotland
I'm currently riding with normal riding shorts with Navy/RAF surplus goretex over trousers cut down into shorts over the top. As the goretex is very light material and quite loose they work really well. I recommend it. You can put on and take off the goretex shorts over shoes so at the end of a ride they are easy to remove if you don't want a muddy car seat. They stop my bum from getting cold and soggy and they don't impede riding. Mine cost £20

got mine today - I’m 6ft 2” tall, and have got shorts with a 26-28” leg ??
At work, so haven’t had a chance to try on yet, but my plan was to turn them inside out, draw a line, and cut neatly... then fold up 1/2cm and glue.
It might be that they fit as a pair of 3/4 lengths ?
 

carlbiker

🛡️🚵🛡️
Sep 15, 2020
1,047
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leeds england
got mine today - I’m 6ft 2” tall, and have got shorts with a 26-28” leg ??
At work, so haven’t had a chance to try on yet, but my plan was to turn them inside out, draw a line, and cut neatly... then fold up 1/2cm and glue.
It might be that they fit as a pair of 3/4 lengths ?

Ordered too, planning to make into a dirt suit using press studs since you can get the jacket/trousers for £45
 

apac

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Aug 14, 2019
1,326
1,173
S.Wales
The key is getting the right measurements. Army surplus always have weird measurements. The trousers are measured waist/bum/leg
 

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