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Specialized Enduro Pro Review

A fully featured short with a functional high performance design
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Specialized Enduro Pro Review
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   Specialized
By Jeremy Benson ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 9, 2018
78
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort - 20% 8.0
  • Fit and Pedal Friendliness - 20% 9.0
  • Features - 20% 8.0
  • Durability - 20% 7.0
  • Style - 10% 7.0
  • Protection - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

Throughout our testing, the Specialized Enduro Pro shorts quickly became a tester favorite. Form follows function for these thoughtfully designed shorts that have a slimmer performance fit and user-friendly features. On the bike, these shorts were comfortable and pedal friendly and proved to offer great versatility despite their “enduro” focus. We feel the Enduro Pro shorts are also a great value, as they come with the super comfortable 3D Mountain chamois. We were impressed with the performance and functionality of these shorts, and we think you will be too.
REASONS TO BUY
Functional slim fit
Great features
3D Mountain chamois included
Good value
REASONS TO AVOID
Not the best quality control

Our Analysis and Test Results

Specialized has discontinued the popular Enduro Pro shorts. They may still be available in some bike shops or from some online retailers. We look forward to testing some of their new trail riding shorts in the near future. -May 2021

Specialized is one of the biggest brands in the cycling industry, making everything from road and mountain bikes to shoes and apparel. Specialized has latched onto the Enduro moniker for a variety of their products, most notably their mountain bikes, to denote their versatile and enduro race capable gear. The Enduro Pro shorts are undoubtedly good for enduro-ing, but throughout our testing, they proved to be a tester favorite, offering a fully-featured design with a functional performance fit and versatility for all riding styles.

Performance Comparison


specialized enduro pro - the enduro pro shorts had a great fit and features made for charging...
The Enduro Pro shorts had a great fit and features made for charging both up and down the hill.
Credit: Heather Benson

Comfort


Testers found the Enduro Pro shorts to be incredibly comfortable both on and off the bike. The fit is designed to work with the included 3D Mountain chamois or Specialized's SWAT bibs when worn together. The outer shorts are made from a slightly thicker and tougher material than the super soft fabrics used on several other models we tested, but it still feels good against the skin. The shorts offer a good amount of stretch and allow for plenty of freedom of movement.


The 3D Mountain chamois liner has a comfortable pad and a stretch mesh body that breathes quite well. These shorts used to come with SWAT bibs, which are now sold separately and worth splurging on, in our opinion. Testers did feel that the ventilation of these shorts was a little lacking and could be improved, but the Vaporize material dries quickly.

specialized enduro pro - laser cut vent holes in the on the inner thighs of the enduro pro...
Laser cut vent holes in the on the inner thighs of the Enduro Pro shorts help to cool things off.
Credit: Heather Benson

Fit and Pedal Friendliness


The Enduro Pro shorts have a slimmer fit that seems oriented towards function and performance as opposed to the way they look off the bike. The size 34 waist test pair fit true to size, and the waist adjustments offer several inches of adjustment. We found the articulation of the waist to be spot on with a very comfortable fit when seated and pedaling, a stretch panel on the back below the waistband also provides some additional give in that area. The shorts sit just above the knee when pedaling and don't add any resistance to the pedal stroke.


The fabric isn't the softest or the stretchiest in our test, but it was very well suited to any length of pedaling mission you could throw at them. The slimmer fit gives the shorts a lower profile reducing wind resistance and preventing any material from flapping around at speed. The shorts also have a high cut crotch that never hangs up on your seat, which is nice when descending. The Enduro Pro shorts are available in even waist sizes 30 through 40 inches.

specialized enduro pro - the enduro pro shorts have a great fit for climbing with a shorter...
The Enduro Pro shorts have a great fit for climbing with a shorter inseam and a tailored fit.
Credit: Heather Benson

Features


The Enduro Pro shorts are nicely featured, and it seems Specialized has thought of just about everything. They have external waistband adjustments, a comfortable 3D Mountain chamois, a classic zipper fly with velcro backed snaps, and well-designed pockets.


The liner shorts have a well made 3D Mountain chamois that is impressively comfortable. The chamois is attached to a stretch mesh liner short that conforms well to the body and breathes impressively well. This liner isn't quite as impressive as the SWAT bibs that these shorts used to be sold with, but it is still far better than most liners that are included with competitor's shorts.

specialized enduro pro - it's a shame these shorts no longer come with the swat bibs, we...
It's a shame these shorts no longer come with the SWAT bibs, we recommend buying them regardless.
Credit: Heather Benson

The Enduro Pro shorts have two zippered pockets, one on the top of each thigh, which are well designed to hold items while riding. Flat items, like a cell phone, are ideal and are held securely against the thigh, so they don't move around. They have also incorporated a vertical zipper on the side of the right thigh that opens to access the SWAT pocket on the leg of the bibs or can be used as a vent.

specialized enduro pro - the thigh pockets on the enduro pro short have a functional design...
The thigh pockets on the Enduro Pro short have a functional design that holds items securely and comfortably while climbing or descending.
Credit: Heather Benson

External velcro waist adjustments are another thoughtful design feature on the Enduro Pro shorts. They are very easy to access on the fly during a ride and offer several inches of waist adjustment and a very secure velcro attachment. The shorts have a zipper fly, and two velcro backed metal buttons as a closure. The liner shorts also have fabric loops that snap onto the waistband of the shorts that also help to keep them in the right spot.

specialized enduro pro - the waist adjustments on the enduro pro shorts are on the outside of...
The waist adjustments on the Enduro Pro shorts are on the outside of the waist band for easier access. The thin yellow strap with the snap attaches the bib liners to the shorts, they can be disconnected and worn separately.
Credit: Heather Benson

There isn't much in the way of ventilation on the Enduro Pro shorts, but there are some small laser-cut holes on the inner thigh in the crotch area. It isn't much, but it works better than nothing at all.

Durability


When these shorts arrived for testing, we were a little unimpressed with the quality. There were a lot of loose thread ends on both the outer shorts and the liners.


It was a bad first impression, but we simply trimmed off all the loose thread ends, and we've monitored the stitching ever since. Over the course of a couple months of testing, the stitching held up well, and there hasn't been any additional loosening or pulling of threads.

specialized enduro pro - the enduro pro shorts had lots of loose threads like this on both...
The Enduro Pro shorts had lots of loose threads like this on both the outer shorts and the bib liners. We trimmed them all off and haven't had any problems since.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

The 4-way stretch “water repellant Vaporize woven fabric” that Specialized uses for the main body of the shorts feels sturdy and durable. It offers a decent amount of stretch and so far has held up to all the abuse we can dish out, including a crash or two, with no tears or noticeable abrasion to the fabric.

Style


With a 13.5 inch inseam, the Enduro Pro shorts hang right at the knee and have a slimmer more functional and performance-oriented fit.


They aren't tight by any means, but they fit on the slimmer side of the spectrum. When seated and pedaling, the shorts sit just above the knee. Off the bike, these solid colored shorts have a very comfortable fit and a casual look, you wouldn't know they are mountain bike shorts just by looking at them. They come in two colors, Aqua and Black (tested).

specialized enduro pro - a clean and casual style and length that sits right at the top of...
A clean and casual style and length that sits right at the top of the knee off the bike.
Credit: Heather Benson

Protection


The Enduro Pro shorts offer pretty good protection with the durable and tough material that shrugs off contact with trailside hazards like branches and bushes.


The shorter inseam of the shorts offers good coverage down to the knee, but not below it, so your knees are exposed while riding. The Enduro Pro shorts work with knee pads, but the smaller leg openings work best with thinner less bulky styles. If you want to run a more substantial knee pad, some of the bigger gravity style shorts may be a better option.

specialized enduro pro - the enduro pro shorts rise above the knee when seated and pedaling...
The Enduro Pro shorts rise above the knee when seated and pedaling and don't offer the best leg coverage, a trade-off for their pedaling comfort and efficiency.
Credit: Heather Benson

Value


At a retail price of $130, the Enduro Pro shorts are a great value. Not only do they come with a quality liner short, but they have a great design, performance fit, and excellent features. These shorts are great for a wide range of riding disciplines and styles, and they will enhance your riding experience. The other great thing about them is that the liners and shorts can be worn together or separately, giving you even more options.

specialized enduro pro - the enduro pro shorts are well designed and work really well out on...
The Enduro Pro shorts are well designed and work really well out on the trail. They are some of our favorite shorts in the test.
Credit: Heather Benson

Conclusion


Don't be turned off by the name of the Enduro Pro; these are an incredibly versatile and well-designed pair of mountain bike shorts that are great for almost all types of riding. Testers loved the functional performance fit and features, pedal friendliness, and value of these shorts. We love them, and we think you will too.

Jeremy Benson