If you are taking a garment out to get it covered in mud and water you really don't want it covered in bells and whistles, pockets and stitches, to hoard the muck and reduce breathability. Fortunately the designers at Royal have taken this philosophy onboard and designed a waterproof short with only the bare essentials. We loved that.
The cut and fabric earned these Storm shorts top marks with us too. The length - just below the knee - was perfect for style, comfort and rain coverage, while a slightly roomy style helped ventilation as we pedalled. The fabric is breathable, but not overly, so this was important as it really did reduce moisture build up.
A ratchet style fastening on the waist is unusual - similar to the ratchets found on cycling shoes - but despite initial reservations it really did work a treat. Just push it through until tight and squeeze the sides to release. A great system as we really don't want to be faffing muddy buttons with cold hands when we are cold and dripping in a car park.
Two impressively deep side pockets, waterproof zipped of course, are the only extras in evidence, and they are mesh inside to keep breathability to a maximum.
Last, and most importantly, they have survived getting grit ground into them for the whole winter, and while the light fabric is showing initial signs of wear, they are still coming back for more.
