Endura’s tag line is “We are built on baggies” so when I was sent a pair of their Humvee Lite mountain bike shorts to review my expectations were pretty high. Endura has been in the bike clothing game for quite some time garnering a strong reputation for quality. The Humvee line has been a stalwart in the Endura line up with jackets, pants, jerseys and multiple variations of shorts including the newly minted Humvee Lite. The Humvee line was originally designed by working with bike messengers in London to meet their riding needs. Mountain bikers quickly adopted the line due to its comfort and flexibility on and off the bike. The Humvee quickly became one of Endura’s most popular product lines.
The $90 Humvee Lite comes in Black and Azure Blue, featuring all of the goodness found in the standard Humvee, but with a lighter weight fabric for warmer climates. Based in Scotland, Endura knows cool and wet riding conditions, but has little to go by when it comes to scorching Midwestern summers. Fortunately, they’ve been receiving enough requests for a lighter weight baggie, so we now have the Humvee Lite.
Here is a list of available features:
- 4-Way stretch nylon fabric
- Front hip pockets
- Elasticated waistband, zip fly and popper closure
- Rear snap pocket
- Zipped cargo pocket
- 200 level insert liner featuring their “ClickFast” attachment system
Big Hits
I’ve been riding the Humvee Lite shorts for about 2 months now. They’ve seen multiple four-hour solo gravel rides, trail sessions, and a couple of COVID-safe group outings. What I’ve come to appreciate about the Humvee Lite is the comfortable fit, liner system, and soft nylon material for the outer shell. They are super comfortable without the liner as a casual pair of shorts. The ClickFast attachment of the liner is super durable and holds fast. Frankly, it’s the best system I’ve seen for keeping a liner in place. The chamois is in their mid-level for pricing, but I found it to be very comfortable, particularly after a number of trips through the washing machine.
The side hip pockets are ample enough to carry your keys or whatever you like to pocket without worrying about things falling out when you sit down. I typically wear a medium in most brands and found the Endura fit to be just right. I’ll call it “true to size”.
On the bike the shorts give you the freedom and movement to rip single track or comfortably tick off miles of gravel. The four way stretch material is cut somewhat slim with a modern cut. That is a plus for me because there is no bunching where you don’t want it or overbuilt like some shorts for enduro racing and downhilling.
Endo
There really isn’t much to be critical about in the Humvee Lite. One change I’d like to see is to get rid of the snap rear pocket. I’ve found that snaps get snagged on seat covers and fabric often damaging car seats. I think closures on rear pockets unnecessary. I prefer a small, concealed zipper or nothing at all. How often are you riding with something in your rear pocket anyway?
The Final Word
I’ve been moving away from wearing “the kit” for trail riding, so I’ve been hunting for products I like. The Humvee Lite baggies from Endura hits the sweet spot for price, comfort, and all-around quality. If you’re in the market for a pair of shorts I recommend giving them a try. Endura is not a factory direct brand so you will have to track them down at your favorite retailer. There is a handy search feature on the Endura web site to help you track down a local dealer.
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