7mesh Strategy Jacket and Glidepath Short

Glidepath Short

This is really the piece that lives up to 7mesh’s “7day” monicker. Since I’ve had them, I’ve worn these shorts every day I’m on the bike, rain or shine. A problem with many bike shorts is that they look like bike shorts. They might perform well on the trail, but you look like a neon abomination everywhere else. The Glidepath definitely falls at the casual end of the bike short spectrum and their styling and performance means they’re the kind of shorts I could (and actually have) worn any day of the week, in any conditions.

Fit

This is the one item that I had a little trouble with the sizing. I wear size 32×34 pants, which translates to a Large in most shorts. Unfortunately, that’s very rarely a smooth translation. I very often end up in shorts that fit lengthwise, but are way too wide at the waist, or shorts that fit my waist but make me feel like some kind of 60’s tennis player length-wise. I opted to disregard 7mesh’s size chart, which labeled my 32” waist as a Small, and I went with a Large instead. Not the smartest play, but I’d rather have some extra room around my belly than subject the world to my blinding thighs.

I was pleasantly surprised by the fit of the Large Glidepath. Yes, they are a little roomy around the waist, but they cinch up nicely, and the ~16” inseam means they fall just below my knee. They are a little more baggy than I would prefer, but not ridiculously so.

Cy Whitling reviews the 7mesh 7day collection for Blister Gear Review.
Cy Whitling in the 7mesh Strategy jacket and Glidepath short, Driggs, ID.

I would probably recommend a Medium for anyone with a ~32” waist who doesn’t mind a slightly shorter cut. The opening around the knee is also very roomy; there’s plenty of space for kneepads.

The waist adjustment on the Glidepath is secure and easy to use. I prefer the plastic buckles over velcro, since they are less likely to shift and they won’t get stuck on anything in the wash. The belt loops are a nice touch, especially if you are planning on wearing these shorts in a non-bike setting. The belt really helps them look less like technical wear and more like casual clothing.

The cut of the shorts is such that there are no seams over the more tender anatomical regions. That should help with chafing, and I’ve yet to experience any, even on a few rides without a chamois (I know, barbaric). The shorts don’t come with any padding or loops for a chamois built in, which I personally like. It’s much simpler to swap in your own padded shorts

Features and Performance

The Glidepath has four pockets: two hand and two zippered lower thigh phone pockets. It has plastic and webbing waist adjustments on each side, along with belt loops. Like the rest of the line, there are not a lot of features on these shorts. Instead, the ones they do have are designed with performance in mind.

The hand pockets are fine. I don’t put anything in them when riding since they don’t have zippers, but they are nice to stick your hands or gloves in if you’re standing around. The thigh pockets, however, are the most useful pocket I’ve ever used on a bike short. They are roomy enough for a phone and wallet or energy bar, and they feature an inner stretch pocket for your phone. This keeps the phone from shifting around while riding. That inner pocket, combined with the position of the thigh pocket (low and back on the leg) mean that when I’m in riding position my phone hangs perfectly out of the way and never whacks my leg while pedaling. I didn’t really expect this feature to work, but this is the least I’ve ever noticed my phone in my pocket while riding.

Cy Whitling reviews the 7mesh 7day collection for Blister Gear Review.
7mesh Glidepath Short phone pocket

Even though these shorts have no vents, they breathe very well. I’ve taken a few rides in 70 degree heat and not had any issues. They have a little bit of stretch and are very light, so I never noticed them bunching or restricting movement while riding.

Apparently the Glidepath has a DWR coating, but I didn’t really notice them being very water resistant. What I did notice was how quickly they dry. I put these shorts through some very wet rides, deliberately riding through every puddle I could find for the sake of the review (ok, I would do that anyway), and while it didn’t take long for the shorts to soak through, they dried out very quickly, faster than any bike short—or even any swim suit—I’ve worn. That’s great since I really put the 7day moniker to the test, wearing these shorts for every ride since I’ve had them without ever washing or drying them. So far, they’ve passed with flying colors: no stink or any other issues.

I did pull one of the zipper loops off of the thigh pocket, but that was in the midst of a campfire breakdancing session that I wouldn’t really expect any article of clothing to come out of unscathed. The fabric is surprisingly burly for its weight, and the stretch helps keep them from catching and tearing. I’ve taken more than a few tumbles in these shorts and have yet to run into any durability issues.

Bottom Line

7mesh’s Glidepath short performs very well on the bike, and dries faster and stores a phone better than any other short I’ve worn. I’m no judge of style (just ask any of my female relatives), but its conservative cut and colors make it a great option for rides that could end somewhere more casual, without sacrificing any performance. I’ll continue to wear this short—both on and off the bike—in any situation where I need to carry my phone securely and want a quick-drying, technical short.

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