Gravity Anomaly Shorts: Reviewed
I never knew mountain biking shorts could polarize opinions till I got my hands on these Gravity Anomaly Long Haul shorts. At first glance these shorts have a lot of features I like. Deep side pockets cut to hold things, cargo pockets, belt loops, and a long cut. That being said two out of two girls surveyed gave these shorts a big thumbs down. The styling hearkens from the 90’s with most people mentioning how much they look like old Roach gear, complete with ass patch and a cockroach logo!
The long cut works well for cool weather riding and does not interfere with knee pads.
Based out of Colorado, Made in the USA, Gravity Anomaly have a small batch of offerings, all fitting the casual outerwear aesthetic. These Long Haul shorts use a 4-ply military grade nylon shell, which is smooth to the touch, and a polyester vented micro-mesh inner to keep things cool and comfortable. Double needle stitching though-out and machine bar tacks at all stress points should keep these shorts going for years. The seamless construction in the crotch means I have never caught the shorts on the seat while descending, even though they are a size too big for me. The Velcro adjustment on the waist does a good job of holding the shorts in place, and the long cut helps to keep my knees warm in cool weather. The belt loops are a nice touch missed by a lot of other shorts.
Cargo pockets and deep side pockets cut to keep you from losing your spare change in the coffee shop couch.
At $85, they compete in price with other brands in the market, but they are also backed by a life time guarantee. As a function over fashion sort of guy, these shorts have a lot to offer in the function department. If you’re keen on current fashion while posing for smart phone photos, drinking tailgate beers or ordering coffee, you might be looking elsewhere.
An ass patch, yes really, the ’90s live in Colorado.
The design has a lot of good points, but we can’t be sure many people will want to buy shorts with a contrasting ass patch in 2014…
Comments
Bryce
9 years, 1 month ago
One of you is going to buy some used shorts from me for $100
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IFO
9 years, 1 month ago
wait! so those arent from roach ???
damn soon as i saw them i thought roach had some new gear…
either way, those shorts look awesome. everything about them looks good
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riding24
9 years, 1 month ago
I agree, function over fashion! Having grown up on the shore during the Roach years, I'm glad someone has paid homage to a brand that should never have been tossed aside. Here's to hoping that Sugoi treats Sombrio better! I've always been a fan of some of the functional elements of the early freeride shorts…yes including the butt patch! It seems that for a 100% American made short that it's a good value and having been to the website, they have less expensive alternatives. The article mentions the shorts from a women's point of view (I bring this up because my wife is looking for a new pair) but it doesn't appear that GA has a women's line yet…am I missing something?
Kudos to bringing the bug back!
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Garrett Thibault
9 years, 1 month ago
I think the mention of women in the article was about their opinion on the aesthetics of these specific shorts on the tester.
It's a funny thought that the downside of these riding shorts is that they look like riding shorts, but I like the way all of the information in the review is presented; "they're great, but they're ugly".
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Vik Banerjee
9 years, 1 month ago
BTW - the GA shorts are $85USD not $79USD and in CDN that's now about $110. 😉
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Vik Banerjee
9 years, 1 month ago
I still rock a pair of Roach shorts. Like Cockroaches those things are indestructible! GA's take on the old Roaches looks pretty good! I might have to get a pair.
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floatin
9 years, 1 month ago
These look awesome: Big pockets, belt loops, velcro-adjusters, casual fit that doesn't snag on your seat and proper styling that doesn't make you look like some lame, kitted-out, fluorescent-colored Steve Smith wanna-be. Sign me up! And for the record, anyone from Colorado knows that the logo is a stink bug, synonymous with the Colorado front range, not a lame cockroach!
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Cr4w
9 years, 1 month ago
2004 is back!
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DanLees
9 years, 1 month ago
Maybe I'm completely unfashionable (actually that's highly likely), but a reinforced arse panel in shorts is a GOOD thing for me as that's where shorts generally fail in the UK slop and grime.
To be fair compared to some of the flouro vomit shorts doing the rounds at the moment I really like those.
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