The Cadence got a slight shift in the burnt rose hue of the short, which also comes in a balsam green, and black (not pictured). While the inseam and style remain the same, there is new pocket detailing. You can also purchase the short with a padded liner these days. We never recommend doing so, however, as we've yet to buy a stock liner that is remotely comfortable. Find the chamois brand for you and stick with it!
Sizing has also shifted. Previously it was numerical (26,28, 30, etc.). Now all you've got to work with is small, medium and large. Their Fit Guide has always helped us find the right size in the past, so we suggest using it.
The Cadence has minimal frills — no pocket options or fancy panels to help customize fit. The testers loved the Cadence for the stretchy, slinky feel of the fabric and the casual urban look of the short. More petite ladies may not love the shorts, the straight leg and the longer inseam may catch on the bike seat.
The Cadence features belt loops — yes! Though belts really don't work for mountain biking, it adds a distinctive street style. Fortunately, there are also internal waist tab adjustments, that work well and don't add too much bulk to the waistband of the short, which is why it scored about average in fit and comfort. There is a slight rise in the rear waistband, which minimized any sort of unsightly gap. We simply followed Dakine's measurement chart and the Cadence fit true to size.
We can say with confidence that the lightweight, polyester/spandex blend is pretty snag proof; they held up fine charging through the white thorn of Tahoe Mountain. We'd be hesitant to take these shorts to the top of the Mammoth gondola and slay the pumice, however. With a long 13-inch inseam, most testers felt well protected even without knee pads, but the fabric is a little light for the burliest riding.
The Cadence features two open pockets on the waist. Generally speaking, we're not huge fans of pockets without zippers; we like knowing that our keys and phone are going to stay put even if we fly off the bike, so we didn't rank the Cadence too high on the pocket metric. Unless you carry everything you need in your pack, there are other shorts in the test with more functional pockets for riding. We did find that the Cadence's pockets work just fine in a casual setting. Unless, of course, you're doing cartwheels.
We like the easy style of the Cadence. Not too form-fitting, not too baggy. These remind us of the 90s skater style that rides right above the hip and falls straight legged to the knee. These shorts are fast drying and would double as fantastic board shorts for that celebratory dip in the lake.
These are very affordable. They scored higher than many other pairs of shorts and at almost half the price! The Cadence offers plenty of lightweight protection for the rider who is looking for a stylish multi-sport short.
