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Harlot H4M Hawkeye Shorts
June 26, 2009
Hot summer days on the trail need a good short, and it is even better if you can wear the shorts out when you are not on the bike too. Harlot Wear has made such a short with the H4M Hawkeye. Harlot has been making great women's clothing and has made this great men's version of their popular Houlihan short. I am not the biggest fan of camo, but some how this rugged and every fading camo short has become a favorite.
The Hawkeye has all the basics and they are done well. Two pockets that are deep and big, easy to get your hand into, and easy enough to fit a wallet into as well. The shorts have a double button and velcro at the waist, so these are staying put when you are riding, but just incase, there are belt loops all around. In the crotch there is a great four way stretch panel the provides for easy movement. Everything seems to have been thought out.
The fit is amazing. They are half way between a pair of board shorts and your favorite cut off jean shorts. And I say that in a good way. They are loose enough to fit over any body armour but not super baggy either. They fit true to size which is one of the nice things about Harlot Wear, I find that I need to go up a size in a lot of bicycle specific clothing.
On the bike the shorts are technically great. Easy movement of my legs, and since they are not super baggy I did not snag them on the seat at all. The one down fall came when the shorts ripped. This was early in the review stage and they have not ripped any further, but for a short with "tough, abrasion resistant polyester/cotton" this was not a good thing. I was not even on the bike at the time. The rip occured at a seem, but it was the actual material that ripped and not the stitching. This was a major disappointment.
These are still one of my favorite shorts, despite the rip, so that shows how much I like them. I have used a buch of Harlot clothing in the past and feel like this was just some random bad luck but, still it should not happen. I would however not hesitate to get another pair, they are just that nice.
Price: $70 USD
Details: Some of the nicest shorts I have found, except for the rip!
Pros: Made in USA, great fit, comfy
Cons: Ripped within first 10 wears
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars (would have been 5 if they did not rip!)
Harlot Wear
Reviewed by: Ryan