Fit

The Gore C5 Trail Light Shorts have a snug fit, but are constructed of very stretchy fabric, there is plenty of freedom of movement even when pedaling hard from a seated position. We never had a problem with the shorts snagging on the seat on dismount. They are held up by a stretchy drawstring, which is absolutely adequate given the shorts very light (just 125 grams) weight.

Style

Cross-country race inspired, the C5 Trail Light Shorts have a very sporty look, a single color with black accents that are the thigh and lower back vents and the waistband. They’re about as close to an all-spandex racer-head getup as you are going to get in a draping short.

Comfort

These are the lightest, best ventilated shorts in the test by a long shot. There are ten-inch long see-through mesh vents over the thighs and across the low back. Even without them, the lightweight fabric won’t trap much heat. The stretchy fabric ensures easy movement. Not a great choice for cold-weather riding.

Features

In the spirit of staying light, the C5 Trail Light Shorts are skinny on features, with just a single hip pocket. As for that one pocket, it’s plenty roomy enough for a plus-sized phone, and is positioned low and to the side to keep said phone from bouncing across your thigh. Also nice is a subtle pattern of silicone grip tape on the back of the waistline to help keep the shorts from slipping down.

Protection

Despite the race-inspired look and weight, it’s a standard-length endure style short with a 14-inch inseam, long enough to bridge the gap to knee pads and protect from road rash in a crash. The fabric is pretty thin, though, and wouldn’t do much to turn aside a cactus spine or a pointy stick. Luckily we didn’t have to test such an eventuality. The seat, inner thighs, and waist band are made of a slightly tougher fabric, mainly to prevent normal wear and tear from friction.

Our testing team tested the shorts in and around Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota; Sedona and Tucson, Arizona, Jackson, Wyoming and Moab, Utah over a period of two months on asphalt, gravel, and singletrack in temperatures ranging from the low 40’s to the mid-90’s and on distances that ranged from six miles to 56. Our testing team did not intentionally set out to test the durability of each pair of shorts in a crash. Instead, to judge the shorts’ ability to withstand impact, they scrutinized their construction materials, the weight of the fabric and the stitching. Though, there may have been some crashes anyway.