Scott Trail Vertic shorts £90.99 (with pad)

These have become some of our favourite lightweight summer shorts. They’re made from a thin and airy fabric, which has enough stretch to make pedalling comfort second to none. The leg length is good, covering the top of knee pads but resisting snagging on the straps and not hanging too far over the knee. Occasionally we’ve caught our saddle on the crotch, though. The thigh cut is fairly snug, so there’s minimal flapping in the wind. Both zipped pockets are big enough for a larger phone. The waistband is broad, stretchy and soft, so all-day comfort is great. It can be adjusted with a faffy hook-and-loop system, which needs to be undone to remove the shorts. Be aware that sizing is generous – we needed a small when usually we’d be a medium. The included liner shorts are reasonable; they’re well-vented and have a supportive pad and comfortable waistband, but the legs are short, leaving a gap above your knee pads. Tom www.scott-sports.com