Fit/Style

The Maloja RoschiaM run true to size with a fitted style through the hips and legs but relaxed in the legs to accommodate knee pads. There was no bunching of extra fabric to catch on a bike seat. The 11-inch inseam of the size small hits right above the knee when standing and mid-thigh when in the cycling position. An elastic waistband provided an accurate fit for our testers but cyclists with varying waist sizes may find its lack of adjustability to be an issue. Though the shorts are relaxed through the hips there is minimal bunching to get caught on a bike seat. While the RoschiaM’s do not come with an integrated chamois, we found that they accommodated any chamois, knickers or bibs.

Features

The Maloja RoschiaM shorts have a low-rise comfortable elastic waistband that fit our testers well with minimal backgap. However, cyclists with varying waist widths may find the lack of adjustability to be an issue.

Pocket number, placement and functionality are good. The Maloja RoschiaM shorts come with one zippered security pocket on the thigh and two unsecured front pockets that are deep enough to carry a packet of Gu or any small lightweight items. Maloja calls the right handpocket a “mobile” pocket and added a handy cord port and fabric flap to keep a phone from falling out. Our testers found that while this pocket was too small to hold an Android phone, and the fabric to lightweight for heavier objects, it was sized perfectly for a small MP3 player.

The zippered security pocket on the thigh works well for carrying lightweight items that need to be secured, such as a multi-tool or a car key. However our testers also found that carrying any items in the leg pockets interfered with pedaling. 

One of the most impressive features of the Maloja RoschiaA is a patch of laser-cut ventilation holes in the crotch area and along the back of the shorts. The laser-cut patch at the back of the shorts spelled out “Maloja”.

Durability

The four-way stretch fabric, triple stitching and bonded hem of the Maloja RoschiA makes them a very well-made pair of mountain bike shorts. However, the four-way stretch fabric is not as abrasion-resistant as other mountain bike shorts in the test. 

Protection

The Maloja RoschiA shorts’ very lightweight stretch fabric lends itself to minimal protection during low-impact crashes. The 11-inch inseam length easily accommodates kneepads and the stitchless hem does a decent job of minimizing the skin exposed between the hem of the short and the top of the kneepad. Our testers found that only about a half-inch of leg skin was exposed.

Comfort

The Maloja RoschiA shorts are one of the most comfortable shorts in the test. The ergonomic cut and four-way stretch fabric make them the very pedal-friendly for cross-country riding. On hot and humid days the laser-cut holes in the crotch and below the waistband in the back do an excellent job in promoting ventilation. They are also fast drying and breathable thanks to the lightweight fabric. 

Our testing team tested the shorts in and around Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota; Sedona and Tucson, Arizona and Moab, Utah over a period of two months on asphalt, gravel, 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.