Pearl Izumi Summit Shorts

We’re big fans of Pearl Izumi’s entire Summit line, but the Summit Shell Shorts were certainly a standout. Biking with a phone in your pocket can be absolute torture, but the Summit Shell’s pocket placement—parallel to your IT band—is such that you can hardly feel a phone at all while riding.
 
The pockets were no doubt a standout feature of these standout shorts, but the rest of the construction is on point, too. The DWR-treated material is durable and can handle light rain. Testers judged the fit baggy enough for kneepads and found the 14-inch cut offers plenty of protection. A skinnier rider loved the hook-and-loop waistband, which is secure and snug without feeling constricting while in the saddle. All told, these may just be our new favorite mountain bike shorts.