A surprising 7-year long term test for the Patagonia Dirt Craft MTB Shorts – Written by Nicola Bonetti (2 mins reading)

“Surely the most durable but probably the best MTB shorts I ‘ve ever had.”

Nobody is expecting such a long-lasting test for a technical apparel and neither do I, but when I did some math, I realized that I have been testing the Patagonia Dirt Craft MTB shorts for quite some time, actually seven years!

I still remember when I received the delivery from Patagonia Europe a while ago: a pair of MTB shorts, a zip tee, and a light waterproof jacket. At that time, being a Patagonia user and a fan of the brand for the values it epitomizes, I was quite excited when the shipment arrived. Finally, I had the first MTB specific production item made by Patagonia, one of my favourite technical mountain apparel maker. After 7 years of continuous use, I can say what a result! The Dirt Craft MTB shorts look like time and use never passed by and work as brand new. This is a real statement on durability and in line with what the company promotes on sustainability for clothing.

First of all, if you like to be a fashionista or flashy regarding your MTB apparel style, you are in the wrong place. The Dirt Craft are minimalistic but unmistakably stylish especially in black, and the only concession to sophistication is the zip pocket on the lower left side, that by the way is perfect for a smartphone even if it is on the larger side like an I-Phone Pro Max. The other two pockets do their job to keep your keys, cash and even a small wallet safely while the polyester & elastane mixed fabric is good in keeping you fresh during the hottest days of the summer and gives you an extra outer layer over your tights during the winter. Thus, even if the Dirt Craft are a tight fit, they could accommodate your protection gear without any fuss.

However, the Dirt Craft don’t come cheap. A pair of those, will set you back at around 170 EUR including the inner liner. Definitely they are on the upper side bracket of the price spectrum for MTB shorts, but they will repay you with long years of service, a feature not vey common for a great part of?the MTB gear.

But let’s go back to business and talk about the Dirt Craft durability. As introduced, after seven years of intensive use the zip, the fabric and the stitches don’t show any signs of wear and tear. The waist adjustment hook and loop system works as the first day because over the years the elastic band did not loose any of its initial stretch capability. The same is true for the included liner, the perfect completion for the shorts as intended in the original project made by Patagonia. Comfort wise the Dirt Craft are perfect for both enduro use or long cross-country rides even if they are on the tighter fit region. On the appearance side, black remained black and the Dirt Craft look and feel the same as the first day of use, even the two logos did not loose any of their letters.

As introduced, I have been using the Dirt Craft for everything, from bike riding to hiking, and they become an essential part of my summer wardrobe. In addition, if you just wear them without anything under, they are good even for an occasional swim because they dry quite easily and in a reasonable time, without having the sensation of wearing a cotton sack. In addition, they have convenient straps with metallic clips to hang them wherever you want.

Over the years, the Dirt Craft changed slightly construction and colours availability and the range of MTB shorts models offered by Patagonia is now enlarged by a few additional items, but I am pretty sure they all retain the DNA of the first act. My conclusion is that if you want a pair of MTB shorts made to last, the Dirt Craft is the pick of the bunch. Congrats to Patagonia for a work of art on durability that is true to the values of the brand.

#patagonia #patagoniaeurope #MTB #longtermtesting #sustainableclothing