Words Lester Perry
Images Thomas Falconer & Jamie Fox
RRP $229 Men’s Dirt Roamer Bike Shorts 12″ | $349 Dirt Roamer Liner Bike Bibs
Distributor Patagonia NZ
“Don’t buy these shorts”
In 2011, the brand Patagonia made headlines with their “Don’t Buy This Jacket” ad campaign in The New York Times. This was a shout out to anti- consumerism and their lifetime repair program that aims to ensure garments last forever, rather than be turfed on a rubbish heap and replaced.
Let’s rewind the clock back to the 1950s. Yvon Chouinard, a blacksmith, was producing a line of reusable Pitons (climbing anchor points) for local Californian climbers. By the early 1970s, climbing was booming and Chouinard pivoted, launching the Patagonia brand to offer climbing and outdoor soft goods with a focus on sustainability and durability, which he felt were lacking in the market at the time.
By the early 2000s, Patagonia was not only covering mountain sports but also starting to dabble in water sports, initially making some wetsuits for its staff. Then, in 2008, they launched a range of non-neoprene wetsuits, using limestone-based rubber, reducing dependency on petrochemicals and adhering to the company’s eco-friendly ethos.
In 2012, the team took another leap forward, offering an entirely plant-based rubber wetsuit range. By 2019, Patagonia was beginning to dabble in a different type of surfing: dirt surfing, AKA mountain biking, and by 2021 they had a tight but comprehensive range.
Around the same time as MTB apparel was breaking cover, Chouinard announced the transfer of Patagonia’s ownership to a trust and nonprofit to fight climate change, their $100 million+ yearly profits now going to environmental causes.
Drawing on experience and technologies from their existing ranges, they now offer quality, durable and eco-conscious shred-ready gear at a price. They’re sticking to their tried- and-true block colours and aren’t diving too hard into the latest trends—no garish “this will last a season” all-over prints here; just dependable, timeless silhouettes and colours.
There’s a reason Patagonia has been referred to as “Pata-Gucci”: their gear trends towards the premium end of the spectrum, not just in quality, but in price. If you can look past the price tag, there’s a lot on offer with Patagonia MTB gear, but you need to be prepared to take advantage of what’s on offer to really get the most from your investment. It requires a mind shift to buck the current industry trend of fast fashion. First off, if it doesn’t live up to the hype or expectation, take advantage of their “Ironclad Guarantee” for a refund, replacement or repair. Ripped a hole in a crash? Worn something out? Check out their free repair program, and you can either DIY repair with a patch kit—which they’ll send out—or send your gear in for repairs.
Patagonia’s strong environmental and social stance steers each decision made during garment production. Beginning with the goal to create better gear that lasts longer, meaning consumers buy less of it. With a key business goal being “cause no unnecessary harm”, their efforts to reduce environmental impact sometimes seem counterintuitive, but I guess this proves they’re walking the talk. Prioritising recycled, organic and plant-based materials, over 80% of Patagonia’s range is Fair Trade Certified, and their factories ensure staff receive a fair, legal wage and working conditions. Each part of their supply chain is optimised to ensure minimum environmental and social impact, while publicly available data ensures transparency, keeping them accountable.
Back to the MTB range. Split into two streams, the “Dirt Roamer” is lightweight, breathable and designed for big backcountry days in the saddle, while the “Dirt Craft” collection puts more focus on durability and less on lightweight, lending itself more to heavy-trail and bike park use.
Men’s Dirt Roamer Bike Shorts – 12″
Slicing open the package, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear I’d been sent a pair of board shorts. Fortunately, I do know better, and what was in the package was in fact a pair of Patagonia Dirt Roamer 12” bike shorts. My first impressions were about the short’s weight, or lack of it, and their construction. Similar to their boardshorts, the stretch fabric is seam- welded rather than sewn, keeping the weight low and comfort high with no stitched seams rubbing.
The fit is ‘regular’ and true to size. I wear 32” pants across most brands, and these 32” shorts are right on the money. There’s an adjuster to customise the waist if required. Lengthwise, these sit partway down my kneecap, an ideal length for pedalling with or without pads.
Initially, I thought the pockets were a bit odd. Rather than being a more traditional ‘hip’ pocket, these are lower down the leg on the thigh; not wrong, just different. A zipped opening keeps belongings in place, and there’s plenty of space to load them up. Internally, there’s an envelope-style flap that gives access to pockets of a liner short. Clearly intended to be used with the Dirt Roamer Liner Bibs, the opening lines up perfectly with the liner’s cargo pockets. This is something unique that I haven’t seen before, and ideal if you’d rather stow gear in the liner, with it being firmer against the leg rather than looser and able to move around in the pockets of the baggy outer shorts.
The lightweight fabric breathes well and feels soft against the skin. As they say on the tin, these are a trail short designed to pedal in, and they’re ideal for this. I’ve put in some decent 3+ hour rides in them, and at no point did I find them lacking. The fit was spot on, just baggy enough not to appear too XC-like, but slim enough so as not to snag on the saddle or flap around unnecessarily. The welded seams look like they will continue to be sturdy and secure, and as long as the fabric continues to be wear-free, I’d see these shorts lasting a long, long time.
Men’s Dirt Roamer Liner Bike Bibs
I’m a huge fan of a bib-style liner, but not all are created equal. I’ve purchased no less than three pairs which, after a couple of wears, have remained in the kit drawer, just not quite right. There’s a lot that can go wrong during the design and construction processes of bibs; get one wrong and they won’t be OK to wear for lengthy periods. Fit is paramount and nailing it for all body types would be near impossible—instead, design for the middle of the bell-curve and hope for the best. The layout of the panels, straps, and their associated seams needs to be just right to get that Goldilocks fit. If the seams aren’t in the right place, not only will the fit be off, but the wearer will probably get rubbed the wrong way. The chamois choice is an area a lot of liners fall short: too thin, too thick, not the right shape, not secured in a rub-free manner; there’s a lot to consider.
The Patagonia Dirt Roamer Liner Bib shorts fit me exceptionally, fitting my middle-of-the-bell-curve, medium-sized frame to perfection. The body of the bib is lightweight, breathable, and extremely stretchy; all edges are nicely welded flat. All the stretch involved means that at least the top half of the bibs should fit a wide range of heights. On the centre back is a single vertical cargo pocket, sized to fit a water bottle.
In keeping with Patagonia’s eco-ethos, all fabrics involved are made largely from recycled nylon. Downstairs, the body of the shorts is made from a power-stretch knit fabric for a comfy, taut, supportive feel. Breathable mesh panels and cargo pockets feature on each thigh. The laser-cut leg openings have a couple of rows of silicone, which, when combined with the power-stretch fabric, keep the legs nicely in place.
The Italian-designed, 3-layer chamois is a quality addition, as it should be for the price. It’s a nice medium thickness, which I’ve found offers a good level of padding and breathability, remaining chafe-free over lengthy rides.
Temperature regulation is key when running a bib liner with outer shorts; too hot, and sweat adds to chafing and discomfort. These bibs breathe well overall, keeping the temperature in check and comfort consistent, although I did find the upper body somewhat clammy at times when sodden with sweat.
These bibs are ideally combined with the Dirt Roamer shorts to take advantage of their pass-through pockets, giving ample storage across both shorts for any-sized outing. These are one of the more expensive liner options on the market, but considering their fit, chamois, and overall performance, not to mention the repair program, they’re good value in my book and should last many seasons.
Overall thoughts
I’ve been super impressed and quietly surprised by these shorts and bibs. This isn’t a case of a massive clothing brand just throwing their label on an underdeveloped, off-the-shelf garment, but a case of careful forethought, design and manufacture. A big blue sign approved green tick from me. Although they perform exceptionally, it’s up to a buyer to determine if the after-sales service and manufacturing ethos is worth the price of admission.
If you’re a keen trail rider who’s after top-tier, long-lasting shorts and liners, then look no further; just be sure to get the most out of them by using the repair service if needed.
