DHaRCO Ladies Gravity Shorts Reviewed

DHaRCO Ladies Gravity Shorts – Deep Orchard

AUD $115

Once you find the right pair of MTB ‘baggies’ the world’s a friendlier place. Not only are you no longer cringeing as bits of your ass poke through the slats in a chair lift, but you’re not as afraid of riding in wet, muddy conditions because your bum stays that bit dryer. You don’t think twice about having to stop for a few groceries on the way home, and you can stop crossing your legs self-consciously at the café because you’re no longer forced to endure ‘chamois-time’.

The problem with finding a good set of shorts is that there are a lot of moving parts to cover, and when fabric’s in the wrong place, or there’s just too much of it, pedalling equals chafing. After a few hours of that, padded, skin-tight chamois-lined Lycra can actually seem a viable alternative. I’ve always opted for the slightly-embarrassing Lycra over baggies, choosing comfort over good looks, but DHaRCO Gravity Shorts are so comfy that I’m now enjoying the best of both worlds.

A lot of this comes from extensive R&D done by the small team at DHaRCO before they launched their range of gravity shorts, jerseys, and t-shirts. Established by a small group of Sydney gravity riders, the brand’s grass-roots origins have really worked in its favour, leading to really meaningful, careful testing with the rider’s best interests at heart. The team took over two years to explore hundreds of fabric and design options, and have made just the right choices. The Gravity Shorts are cut just right for the athletic movements of pedalling, crouching, walking, running, and standing that a day out with the bike requires, and four-way stretch fabric means you could probably do gymnastics in these shorts with no worries at all. I also loved the low-cut waist… too many women’s shorts manufacturers seem to think it’s 1980, and that women like having their shorts hiked up just below their ribs when they’re riding. We don’t.

I found the two Velcro adjustable waist tabs looked cool and meant I could tighten or loosen the waist as I wanted to, and the little rear pocket was perfect for a phone and some change – and positioned so that these heavier items in a rider’s inventory didn’t get in the way of pedalling.

These shorts are also made to last, with heaps of effort gone into making all the little details where a lot of brands scrimp to expand their profit margins – zippers, stitching, buttons – heavy duty and high-quality. Available in blue, black, and deep orchard, you’ll have no trouble working out a very cool ensemble with the range of DHaRCO ¾ Jerseys, Gravity Jerseys, or Tees out there. All of the shorts feature lovely little details, like patterned inner waistband with the brand’s ‘No ordinary life’ tagline, that make them just that little bit special to wear.

A note on the size: DHaRCO shorts are a pretty small fit, so don’t be surprised if you have to order a size bigger than usual. Check the website’s size chart to ensure you order the right size.