As a female rider it has been a challenge to find a pair of flattering all mountain bike shorts that I really like. In fact, there was a time when I thought I would never find an all mountain short that was both flattering on my frame and functional. I am a relatively tall and thin woman (5’9, 125lbs) and am not a fan of overly exposing my knees while wearing a semi-fitted pair of mountain bike shorts. I was particularly looking for a slim-fitted short that hits right at the tops of my knees, with deep front pockets, plenty of stretch – movement throughout the thighs – and is very durable (because we all know crashes happen). And since most bike shops stock little in the way of women’s apparel, I’ve had to spend my free time searching online. After spending countless of hours viewing online catalogs I came across the Maloja’s Double Distel Shorts.
Maloja mountain bike clothing has not yet become as popular in the U.S. as it is in Europe. Pronounced “mah-low-yah”, known as the “alderwoods” of the Swiss Engadin – Maloja, started off as a Swiss snowboarding clothing company that quickly ventured into mountain bike clothing as well. They’re apparently ahead of US manufacturers, as the pieces I saw looked great combining form and function. I looked at the Distel Double Shorts for at least a couple of weeks before I could convince myself to spend over $100 on a pair of riding shorts. I came to the conclusion that maybe instead of complaining about how much I disliked the current shorts I own, that if I invested more money in a product that looks good and has the description of what I am looking for (sadly, reviews were scarce), it would pay off.
The Distel Double short has a slim profile that is flattering, as opposed to the baggy shape many US manufacturers offer. Besides the obvious – these look amazing – the stretchy, durable poly twill and the lycra stretch insert that wraps around the hips and rear makes these shorts incredibly comfortable with the right amount of mobility. They come with a seamless, four-way-stretch chamois that has a multi-density foam that offers supportive comfort and adjustable tabs in the waist to dial in the fit. They are also sanitized with a treatment that suppresses odors and are incredibly stain resistant.(these shorts have literally been through the mud). I’m thrilled at how well they have been holding up on the trail. The best part is that they play well with knee pads, as they have just the right amount of opening on the bottom to sit nicely above my knee guards.
The first pair of Distel Double Shorts I purchased were in black – always a safe bet – after the first ride I quickly bought a second pair in the lake color. (blue) A few weeks later after several rides with my friends, they started purchasing these shorts as well. At the moment, they’re only available in the US via the online retailer HucknRoll. As they were on sale and it appeared they would clear out all their inventory, I became concerned I would lose my chance to order more. I ended buying four additional pairs (a second black, creek, buttercup and alpine rose) at an incredibly low discounted price.
Sadly, these are no longer available – but the Maloja Ramona M Short’s look to be the second generation. I have my eye on the garant color…sigh. This ended up being a purchase and investment that paid off. I have yet to look back (6 pairs later).
Check it out: Maloja