ENDURA HUMMVEE SHORT & MT500 THERMAL L/S II REVIEW

CLASSIC SHORTS AND HYPER-VERSATILE TOP

Words by Robert Johnston  |  Photos by Sam Howard

We’ve been thoroughly enjoying the Endura gear we’ve had to test over the past year, from their ultra-airy MT500 Burner Lite kit through to their helmets and more. A few months ago we received the updated Hummvee shorts – a piece of defining gear for Endura – and added an updated colorway in their MT500 Thermal L/S II jersey to the kit bag, and have set about putting them to the test across the UK and Europe. While I’m tending towards pants more and more these days, the Hummvee shorts are undoubtedly a solid offering, and the MT500 Thermal L/S may just be the most useful piece of gear in my kit bag. Read on to find out why.

ABOUT THE HUMMVEE SHORT

The Endura Hummvee short has been a mainstay product in the Endura lineup for years. With a key focus on durability, the Hummvee short is designed to be a versatile baggy short that will stand the test of time. They’re made from a Nylon mini-Ripstop fabric, with double stitching in key areas and a seamless seat panel to ensure they can handle the abuse. This fabric is given Endura’s PFC-free DWR coating to fend off puddle splashes and light showers without harming the environment.

The Hummvee short is given a total of six pockets: two zip hand pockets; two “cargo” pockets on the lower thigh, and two rear pockets of which one is zippered. In front of the cargo pockets are zip thigh vents equipped with mesh inside, allowing the rider to increase airflow for the hotter days. There’s an elasticated waistband present, with a button fastener and adjustable belt included to tailor the fit.

As standard the Endura Hummvee short is supplied with one of their Clickfast liner shorts. The clickfast system is found on most Endura legwear, and allows for the secure fastening of a liner short inside with easy removal for washing. The included liner is made from a lightweight stretch mesh, with an elastic waistband and silicon grippers ensuring it can be worn in another set of shorts or pants if desired. The padding is Endura’s 200-series pad, which is said to wick sweat and ensure comfort all day long.

The Endura Hummvee shorts are available in the regular short and a 3/4 length option. The shorts retail for £69.99/$99.99, and are offered in Men’s sizes XS-4XL in seven colors or a Women’s fit in XXS-XL in a choice of three colors.

ABOUT THE MT500 THERMAL L/S II

The Endura MT500 Thermal L/S II is designed to be a highly versatile long sleeved zip-up jersey for colder conditions, which can be worn on its own or as part of a layered outfit on cooler days. This long sleeve zip hoodie is made from an Elastane and Polyester mix, giving stretch properties to let it move with you, and with a soft inner to allow it to be worn comfortably against the skin if used on its own. The cut is fairly slim, avoiding excessive material for a layered system, but with enough stretch to add a layer underneath.

Key areas on the front of the torso and sleeves are given windproof paneling to keep the rider comfortable without adding excessive heat, and to bolster durability in the more susceptible areas. An under-helmet hood is added to add further insulation if desired, using an elasticated design to allow your head to move freely. The rear is dropped to add extra protection when riding, and is given elasticated toggles to snug it down and help to keep it fixed in place.

There are two large zip pockets on the lower body, and an internal zip pocket on the chest. The shoulders are given silicone print to keep a bag more secure in rough terrain. The feature-packed MT500 Thermal L/S zip hoodie is offered in a choice of five colors in a unisex S-4XL size range, at a retail price of £99.99/$139.99. Endura backs all of their MT500 range with a 90-day satisfaction guarantee, letting you get your money back if you’re unhappy with the item’s performance.

THE DIRT

As I mentioned in the introduction, I’ve been moving towards riding in pants almost exclusively, especially during the wetter and colder months (essentially everything outside of June-September in the UK, if we’re lucky). With that, I’d have been better served by testing the Hummvee trousers, but nevertheless I braved some cold and wet shins to offer some insight for you short-wearing diehards out there. It’s safe to say that Endura has continued to offer stellar long-lasting performance in their Hummvee shorts, with a nice balance of comfort and flexibility. The cut is quite generous, affording plenty of freedom of movement and for the generously padded inner short to fit without issue. They’re on the fairly long side too, avoiding any chance of the dreaded pad gap from occurring. Details are well considered throughout, with the supplied belt allowing for their secure fastening and catering to a wide range of waist sizes.

They’re certainly not an ultra lightweight and airy short, but they’re not overly thick and heavy to the point that they’re excessively hot like a burly moto-style gravity short. They offer ample comfort for long days in the saddle until conditions climb towards the sweltering, where even the leg vents can’t avoid some temperature buildup occurring. Outside of British midsummer though, they sit in a comfortable spot. The pockets may be useful to some, but I found them a little excessive, especially when it comes to the pockets on the rear. When you consider the Hummvee’s origins as a short for bike couriers, they do make a little more sense, but for me they only serve to add a little extra bulk and the potential to snag on the saddle, so I’d rather go without. Ultimately, the Singletrack or MT500 lines are likely the more suitable for me, and for serious mountain bikers. But as an all-rounder, versatile short for more than the gnarliest of mountain biking, there’s a lot to like about the practical Hummvee.

While the Hummvee short is good, but not necessarily what I’d choose, the MT500 Thermal L/S II was an item that I actually purchased for myself a few years ago, and has featured heavily in my kit choice for fall through to spring rides. It’s an impressively versatile piece of clothing: I typically found myself wearing it as an outer layer with a jersey beneath on the drier days from 5-10 celsius (40-50F). At the upper end of this temperature range – especially on the windier days – I would wear it on its own, with its windproofing keeping temperatures comfortable and a quick unzip of the chest to half way allowing for a quick dump of heat if pushing hard on a climb. On the colder days it’d occasionally be chosen as a midlayer, often with a waterproof jacket or one-piece over the top.

The material wicks sweat well, and the windproof paneling prevents it from being overly eager to cool and allowing a chill to develop quickly. The inner lining is soft and comfortable on the skin, which is crucial to allow it to be used solo. Through all of the above scenarios, I found myself happy with the performance of Endura’s versatile zip-up hoodie, and it’s stood up to a serious amount of abuse over these years without flinching. The “blueberry” version photographed is a new colorway that I’ve not ridden in as much, but my original is showing that this new one is going to be with me for a long time too.

The fit is fairly slim, but the MT500 Thermal L/S II packs a large amount of stretch to let you get away with it. This is important when being used as a midlayer, as it prevents any bunching of material and keeps everything a lot more comfortable. The pockets are smartly made, offering up loads of room in the front to stow whatever you may need, and the inner chest pocket holding a phone tightly enough that it’s not annoying in the slightest. The under-helmet hood isn’t something I found myself using all too much, but did come in handy to keep a little more heat in on the particularly cool days, without restricting movement at all.

My only minor gripe is that it could serve to be a touch longer at the rear, with the elasticated waistband struggling to keep the rear down when you’re riding, even when the toggles are tightened. I’m short in the body, too, so fear that it may come up particularly short on some, though my large butt doesn’t help matters, encouraging the hem to migrate upwards. With this in mind, I suppose Endura’s 90-day guarantee on the MT500 range is particularly good to see, where you can try this item and see if it works for you. I hope you have the same experience as me and keep it, because it’s a truly excellent item to have in the kit bag.

The Wolf’s Last Word

As an all-round versatile short, the Endura Hummvee continues to be a solid offering. Their MT500 Thermal L/S is the star of this show though, offering adaptable performance to keep a rider warm – but not too warm – out on the trail, with great effect.

Price:
Hummvee Short w/Liner – £69.99/$99.99
MT500 Thermal L/S II – £99.99/$139.99

Website: Endurasport.com

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