TESTED: Rubber Side Down Women's Apex Technical Shorts

Rubber Side Down are a refreshing addition to the Aussie MTB clothing scene, with a strong commitment to environmental and social sustainability, they’re proudly Australian and, wherever possible, manufacture their clothing on our shores.

Read the Rubber Side Down story here! 

They started with a modest selection of jerseys and cargo undershirts aimed at our gravity-wired MTB scene just a year or so ago, and we were impressed to see native clothing designed carefully with hot summers and bright sun in mind. The brand has recently expanded to include trail shorts and gloves (tested here). We were fortunate to get our hands on one of the first pairs of shorts off the presses.

First Look

The Apex shorts are made from a lightweight, four-way stretch Nylon/Spandex blend that’s smooth to the touch, and are finished beautifully, with no loose threads and perfect seams. Some notable features include a high back yoga style waistband made of soft, stretchy fabric, a zip and double press stud closure, and beautifully finished right and left pockets with an additional zippered phone compartment inside the left pocket and a key holder in the right pocket.

Even in the size XS tested, the shorts are relatively long, falling to the knee of your lanky testing subject (at lower thigh when pedalling). The fabric is Bluesign approved, which means that each layer of the supply chain and manufacturing process meets social and environmental standards–so no dodgy labour, no nasty chemicals, and efficient water and energy use are all a part of the story of these shorts, so you can buy with confidence.

On the trail

The Apex shorts feel great when you pull them on, owing a lot to that yoga waistband, which provides a smooth, firm fit across the hips without any sense of tightness in the waist when you button up or when you’re pedalling.

The fit is pretty narrow in the leg (although definitely not tight), which I loved because it meant that when pedalling I wasn’t experiencing the swish-swish of loose short-legs brushing against my bike frame and didn’t have to deal with hot, unnecessary swathes of fabric. The elasticity of the four-way stretch made for plenty of movement and give–I barely noticed these shorts, even while I was trying to keep my mind on testing them–always a sign of comfort and good design. The waist sits at mid-height, feeling best on or just above the hips.

Both side pockets are incredibly deep so that you can shove your whole hand in past the wrist. If you stick a snack or your phone in them, the item ends up sitting on top of your quad when you ride–this is good! Instead of slipping around to the side or sticking into your (oh so tight) hip flexors, carrying stuff is comfortable and stable, although I’d recommend putting valuables into the zippered compartment in the left-hand pocket, which is generously sized (it’s actually a bit like a hidden second pocket, sitting directly behind the main, open one)–big enough to take my phone and small ride wallet, with room to spare. Don’t forget that the right pocket has a key holder. It may not be right for today’s chonky electronic car keys, but it’s useful for a house key, an antique car key (like mine) or other clippable item. 

Even with my pockets thus packed out, the leg gave generously and still felt comfortable pedalling and working the bike, a huge bonus when cargo capacity is so often overlooked by trail clothing manufacturers. Pairing these shorts with Rubber Side Down Cargo undershirt would give you enough pocket space to do an all-day epic without having to stop at the shops for a refuel–you can take it all with you!

I paired the Apex shorts with the Rubber Side Down Element short sleeve jersey in steel blue, which has recycled, ethically sourced materials constructed for our summers, with a lighter weight Italian fabric for breeziness on the front, and a UV30 recycled, Italian fabric on the sleeves and back for additional sun protection. When paired, the high back waistband of the shorts and the longer back panel of the jersey worked together to prevent any unsightly ‘windowing’ of my lower back to innocent trail users and made for a summery, lightweight, comfortable ensemble that looked good, carried my stuff, and allowed me to move freely.

Our take

The Apex trail shorts are an impressive addition to a carefully constructed line up of clothing tailored to Australian conditions by a proud Australian designer and manufacturer. Like most of the Rubber Side Down lineup, there’s a raft of thoughtful features, like their Bluesign certified, quick-dry, water and stain repellent fabric paired with smart design for excellent functionality.

RRP: $134.95
From: rubbersidedown.com.au
Hits:

• Awesome deep pockets that carry all your stuff
• Stretchy yoga waist band for comfort and coverage
• Perfect fabric and cut for pedalling and freedom of movement

Misses:

• Not sure the key fob is as useful as another hidden zippered pocket would be, but it’s hard to fault these shorts!