Waterproof mountain bike shorts have a hard life; getting incessant water, grit and mud rubbed in for hours on end would test any garment's mettle. The Mudride is Sweet Protection's opening gambit in the waterproof short market, and they have clearly taken that to heart and built them very tough indeed.
Heavy denier Cordura type fabric lines the high wear areas of the backside and thigh, while the rest of the fabric used is lighter but still tough. Although it does add up to a heavy short, it all feels as bombproof and new after the test as it did before, so if you are not so concerned about pedalling marathon distances they could be the ones for you.
The cut is excellent, ending just below the knee with drawcords we tended to snug up when the going was cold and wet, or open out to ventilate when the weather improved. Sweet have articulated the knee so that pedalling comes more naturally to the cut, and they certainly didn't feel as cumbersome as their weight would suggest.
Long ventilation zips down the back of the thigh help greatly with moisture management when the rain eases on our rides, and a couple of small hip pockets are there if required.
Yes they are expensive, but they really do feel like they might last a few seasons of grubby pedalling.
