Mavic Stratos H20 Short: Reviewed

For some people, a good riding jacket may be the extent of their Winter riding wardrobe. Those people are jerks. But if you ride in a wet climate like the Pacific Northwest or Easty places like Vermont, I can offer you a good deal: get yourself some waterproof shorts, and I guarantee you will ride more through the Fall and Winter.

Fifteen years of riding on the Shore and the Mavic Stratos H20 Shorts were the first true waterproof shorts I’ve had, but they make wet rides more enjoyable. Our old Roach Indys offered some  protection, but those fabrics and designs weren’t waterproof. At all.

The Stratos H20 are a knicker-length short, but no one ever mentioned the Isle of Capri while I was wearing them. The knee coverage is very welcomed in wet or cold conditions, even when wearing knee pads, over which the Stratos fit comfortably. Two different 3-layer waterproof fabrics that Mavic calls Dura Rain SL and Dura Rain ST pair up to do the Get Lost Water dance with fully seam-sealed construction to kick out a 10,000mm waterproof rating. Dura Rain SL is the thicker, more durable of the two, while ST is lighter and has some stretch, so it is used on the back panel and sides of the leg, giving a slender fit with a great range of motion.

A slash pocket on each thigh gives you limited storage, and by limited I mean that your iPhone 6 will not fit in there. In a deluge you wouldn’t want your phone that exposed, but that is where I put mine for a large number of my rides, so it was a minor gripe that only developed in the last few weeks, since my old iPhone fit just fine. A front fly and two snaps keep the front done up. The waistband is elasticized, but there are no belt loops or other ways to tighten the waist.

These are intended to be used as overshorts or even tag into the action if a storm creeps up on you and backs your not-so-waterproof gear into a corner. They weigh just 150g and bag-stashing them is feasible, so I can see why the design was kept minimal, however their inability to be tightened at the waist reveals my only true complaint. My test pair in size M (equivalent to a Euro size L) are slightly loose around my 33 inch waist, however the length is perfect – and I’m 6’1″ – so the fit is not conventional. If you’re a bean pole, you could be 6′ tall and opt for the S, and they’ll work well for you. They stay in place very well when pedalling if you’re in and out of the saddle or in the flats, or when descending, but on sustained climbs I have to pull them back up once every 10 minutes, which is the usual routine for me unless I’m using a belt.

Otherwise, these shorts are fantastic. Construction is superb, with nothing but taped seams and a nice blend of fabrics which fit great and aren’t bulky. While slightly noisy to pedal in compared to a typical AM short, it isn’t bad; after 10 pedal strokes you won’t even notice. They are comfortable while riding or perched on a bar stool, and they breathe well enough when working hard that I’ve never felt the slightest bit clammy.

What about in shitty weather? ‘Waterproof’ is not an empty claim: these babies are truly hydrophobic. In fact I didn’t realize just how much it sucked to have a soaking wet body basement until I rode in the Stratos H20 in the same soggy week as another, non-waterproof short. Staying dry meant being warmer, obviously, but also far more comfortable. Cold, wet chamois is more miserable than a hairless cat in a cold bath.

Mavic Stratos H20 Short $189 USD

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What’s the deal with hairless cats?