Showers Pass Gravel Shorts and Apex Merino Tee Review
Reviewed by Jerod Foster
Images by Justin Rex
Showers Pass has long been thought of as a stellar manufacturer of dependable, thoughtfully designed technical cycling clothing and gear. Although their entrée into the world of gravel cycling isn’t new, one might think about jackets and waterproof layers when Showers Pass comes to mind. Their offering is much more broad than outer layers, though. The brand’s new Gravel Shorts and Apex Merino T-shirt caught Gravelstoke Development Team member Jerod Foster’s eye during the summer before embarking on a Great Plains Project route research trip, and he’s been testing them out since July for a report back here.
The Gravel Shorts
I’ve been dying for a pair of great gravel shorts that don’t feel like mountain bike baggies, yet aren’t so flesh-clinging they defeat the point of wearing them in the first place. Enter the Shower’s Pass 10" Gravel Shorts. Doing a quick web search doesn’t bring up many options beyond your typical bib short, but good on Showers Pass for actually naming them Gravel Shorts. First rule of online sales: name your product with search terms folks are going to use (not sure if that’s the first rule…). All jokes aside, though, the Gravel Shorts offer more than just a search engine optimized naming strategy.
But, before we get to what I like and don’t like about them, I want to answer the question that may linger annoyingly through this review: why wear gravel shorts to begin with? I mean, we’ve been sold the idea and image of wearing form-fitting elastane garb for decades. Don’t we already have bib shorts with pockets? Most of us would be wearing chamois-fitted bibs or shorts under them anyways, so why bother wearing a looser pair of shorts with more lines of stitches over them in the first place?
I’ll tell you why: because not everyone wants to look like a cyclist. That’s really about it. Don’t get me wrong. The cyclist look ain’t all that bad—it has its aerodynamic function, physical benefits when you’re pushing yourself on the bike, and it signals to other cyclists, “Hey, my people!” To be honest, it’s also a relatively non-threatening look, not asking for trouble. But, it’s not the most practical look and doesn’t comprise the most practical materials for the moderately practical among the gravel, touring and bikepacking communities. Looser fitting shorts don’t draw attention like a “kit.” For me, it’s not about the pockets, or even the trendy cool factor shorts are getting right now. It’s about adapting to the environments gravel rides and adventures will take you (both social and natural), and, if I’m being completely honest, the layer of protection they provide for those horribly expensive bibs I’m wearing under them.
So, with that said, here are my thoughts on the Showers Pass Gravel Shorts. Overall, I’m enamored by them for several reasons:
The Gravel Shorts are built well. I put 320 miles on them over eight days this summer and another 300 miles or so since then. This may not sound like a lot of miles, but it’s plenty to know whether or not the textiles will hold up beyond that threshold. I’ve ridden through thick, skin-scraping brush, sat on rocks and rough granite outcrops, and had more than one dog jump on me (off the bike, of course) with them on, and there’s not a mark on them. Likewise, at the end of a long ride or full day of hiking (or just simply wearing them on the daily), they don’t loosen to the point where I’m looking for a belt (even though they include belt loops) or adjusting the internal Velcro waist cinch system. They stretch, but hold form, and the stitching is durable but fine.
They don’t slip. When worn, a rear band of silicone sits against your bibs/bike shorts, and they move very little when you’re riding. This may pose problems for those of you that go commando while riding, but then again, is that really the problem?
The front zipper, clasp and snap buttons are durable, work extremely well, and like a good blues rhythm section, don’t draw too much attention. They work, they’re not coming apart anytime soon, and they just make sense. Likewise, the zippers on three of the six (yes, count them, six) pockets work very well and don’t snag. I didn’t have much occasion to use them (the pockets, that is) since I’m not a huge fan of having things actually in my pockets whilst riding, but they came in very handy off the bike.
On that note, these shorts have all-day wearability. They are comfortable, fit snug without being restraining, and I’ve found myself reaching for them against other comparably priced “outdoors” shorts for their comfort. There’s a certain springy quality to the Gravel Shorts that I personally like and complies with my gait and movement. Truthfully, I may pick up a couple more pair for my everyday shorts.
And, to that end, the shorts look good. They’re understated appearance is a boon for them. The inseam is just right at 10 inches (for context, I’m 6’2” with a 34” pant inseam), and the Dark Shadow color I have (it’s a dark gray) pairs well with just about anything. They are high waisted enough to rise well when you go low, and their lines cut a great look on or off the bike. It’s also worth saying they look pretty nice with a pair of Gravelstoke socks in the mix.
Want to know my very first thoughts on the Gravel Shorts? The minute I put them on, this came to mind: I don’t feel compelled to shave my legs wearing these. Guys (in particular), that may sound like a small, superficial thing, but there’s a certain bit of extra that has to take place to have that cyclist look about you. Shaving your legs is paramount to completing it, resulting in time taken out of your week (or day) for maintenance, and in my world, that is time away from work, family, and riding. I know the benefits of shaved legs, but for me, the shorts say, “It’s okay, Foster, no one cares when you’re wearing me.” And, I don’t either. I promise, I don’t talk to my clothes.
It’s not all roses with the Gravel Shorts, but for the most part, they’re pretty great. Here are a couple thoughts I have that shouldn’t sway anyone from them, but perhaps thoughts Showers Pass takes into consideration for the next iteration (there’s only two):
They can be a bit warm on, you guessed it, warmer days when paired with cycling shorts or bibs. They’re pretty breathable for the durability, especially when you open up the two pockets on the legs, but layering clothing still means added warmth. Deal breaker? No, they’re easy enough to take off and stuff in a pocket or bike bag. Reason for going commando? Still, no.
Personally, I only like one of the three colors in which they’re offered. I know how picky this sounds, but I’d love a southwest red or brownish orange in the mix. If I’m the only one that feels this way, however, then the market demand is pretty low (I think they’ll sell, though, SP; think about it).
At $89, they’re not the most affordable shorts for this cycling segment, but they are certainly not the most expensive (I’d love to compare them to the PedalED Jary shorts, $174) and these are extremely well-made shorts. I think there are certain things made out there that fit the cliché, “you get what you pay for,” but I believe you get much more for what you pay with the Showers Pass Gravel Shorts. I’ll be pedaling in them for a while.
The Apex Merino T-shirt
I live in cotton country, but I’m a wool fanatic. It works in a wide range of temperatures, it wicks moisture, and its sustainable. I love it, especially when it’s incorporated into technical clothing, and even more when it doesn’t look very technical. See what I did there?
If you’re like me, you frequently wear wool socks, wool base layers, wool neck gaiters, wool gloves, and other wool articles as is needed and when the temperatures call for them. Wool t-shirts, although not new, are making a big splash in the cycling scene of late, and I’m glad to be soaked (but insulated) in them.
The Showers Pass Apex Merino T-shirt is one of those technical but non-technical-looking pieces of clothing I want to wear more than most shirts, and it definitely stands atop my t-shirts (and I have a lot of “technical” tees). Why? Glad you asked:
The fit is spot on. I’m 6’2” tall and around 175 pounds on any given day. Some might say I’m a bit slight and on the leggy side. I wear a men’s medium in the Apex, and there aren’t many other t-shirts that fit as nicely. The sleeve length is moderately long and not unlike a great cycling jersey. The torso fit is not tight, but not uncontrollably loose or hanging away from the body. Snug is a bit too constraining a word. It’s an athletic fit. My favorite part about this? I don’t really feel as if I’m not wearing a jersey; it’s a performance shirt that just happens to look relatively every-day.
The Apex is soft and lightweight. If you’ve never worn wool garments and pictures of itchy old-world clothing leap to mind, come to the light my friend. Merino wool is classified as a very fine wool (as opposed to medium wool), and as such, is extremely soft and light. While it’s not the warmest wool in the world (the warmest of which is not something I’d want against my skin unless my life depended on it), it does insulate well in layered situations. Suffice it to say the Apex is a very comfortable garment to wear beyond its exceptional fit.
There’s no bagging out with this shirt. When visiting with my friend Zach, who his career repping Smartwool, about the fact the Apex does not get loose or droop after intense use and time, he said, “so, it doesn’t bag out.” I’m not sure if that’s technical verbiage, but it made perfect sense to me. The Apex is 87% wool and 13% nylon, the latter of which gives it some sustainable structure. Opposed to 100% wool garments, the shirt does not sag nor cling. It purposively stretches due to the nylon, which also gives its return back into place as it’s the core of the fibers used to make the shirt.
I have the Clay color Apex, and it’s a super, vibrant, eye-catching color. I like wearing colors that are aggressive to the eye, but I avoid neon bright garments. The Clay Apex is fashionable without being so subdued a motorist might not see you. The other two colors available, Alpine Blue and Dark Shadow are also attractive.
All this said, I do think it has a couple minor (and truly, to be expected) weak points:
Maybe it’s just the color I have (although I believe it would happen with the other colors, too), and maybe it’s just my body’s particular chemistry, but the salt I leach while sweating becomes pretty noticeable. Even riding at a lower intensity, if I sweat, there will be salt stains on the shirt. Chalk this up to the wicking power of wool, I suppose, but it’s noticeable enough to mention here. I’m not rolling into an executive meeting after my rides very often, so it’s not that big of a deal to me, personally, but it’s there.
Although Merino wool isn’t a super insulator, the shirt can get warm on hot days. I found myself wishing for a thin jersey when temperatures got above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s tolerable, but again, noticeable. That said, it’s a great shirt to wear during the shoulder season between summer and fall, and again between spring and summer, and I suspect it will layer nicely as the temperatures continue to drop.
So, who’s the Showers Pass Apex Merino T-shirt for? All of us, really, but especially those that either gravitate away from the technical cyclist look, are touring or bikepacking, or simply want an alternative, relatively sustainable cycling top that doesn’t look like it’s taking itself too seriously but has some serious intention behind it.
As a comparison, I really like Rapha’s wool base layers as standalone riding tops, as well as their technical t-shirts. The Showers Pass Apex Merino Tech T-shirt is a true riding shirt and a level up for roughly the same price as either of those alternatives. I know what I’m reaching for in the closet when it’s time to go ride.
Learn more at showerspass.com
🖊 Jerod Foster | follow | visit
📷 Justin Rex | follow | visit
Tune in on Friday Nov 20 for part two of this series, as Jerod reviews the Showers Pass Ranger Waterproof Hip Pack.
Learn more about the Gravelstoke Dev Team and apply to our 2021 class here.