Ally Baggy MTB Shorts: Can Budget be Great?

One of my biggest issues with buying mountain bike clothing is the logos that come on the kit. I spend half my time feeling like a moving billboard, even worse is the feeling that I have paid to advertise these clothing brands. What I like to wear is nice plain clothes, and that is precisely where the Ally mountain bike shorts come in.

They are black and have zero logos. Just what I like in my cycling kit. The funny thing is more people ask you about what you’re wearing when you are out on the trail.

I guess other people are feeling the same and no longer want to be looking like race car drivers without someone paying you for those badges.

Who are Ally?

So, who is Ally? Ally looks to be one of those buying directly from China companies. You will occasionally see stories about people having issues with Chinese companies, but I tend to have a good experience with them, and so do other people that I know.

You can get these shorts from their Amazon store, it gives you a little bit of reassurance when buying them, rather than using Ali Express.

My first impressions were that they were well made. I pulled on all the zippers, a bit more forcefully than was needed, just to see how they would fair.

I have broken more than my fair share of zippers when using gloved hands and not being easy on them. I found the zippers to be reassuringly up to this task.

When pulling at the zippers, I also realized that these shorts are pretty lightweight. They will be great for a full day out on the trail. They also dry pretty quick and fold up reasonably small so may be an excellent bikepacking option if you like getting out to see the world.

Getting Fitted Correctly

To help with the fit, you will find an elasticated waistband and a heavy duty set of Velcro straps. The straps feel reassuringly robust when you tug on them, which makes them pretty good for a mid-ride tightening or loosening. Even using gloved hands while still riding you will be able to modify their tightness.

At the other end of the shorts, you will find ventilated stretch panels. Not only do these panels allow your legs to breathe but they help the shorts to go over knee pads. I found them to sit nice and easily over my TSG pads.

Above the stretch panels on both legs sits a pair of pockets. The Ally shorts have a load of storage options. You can outdo hamsters on how much you can carry with you on a ride using these shorts.

These lower leg pockets have weatherproof zippers. If you are not using them to carry anything on hot days, you can open them and gain some more ventilation for your legs.

Zip it up

The back pockets are also zippered, and I found I could fit my wallet easily into either of these pockets and then secure it. Keeping it there for the vital trail center café stop for coffee and cake. The front pockets do not have a zip and act just like the pockets on your jeans.

I generally put a gel in these pockets, as it is easy to get into when riding and I ride with the belief that the gel will prevent hippers when I fall. In case you are in doubt, it doesn’t really.

My only criticism would be the pocket rivets. They are pretty shiny, and for me, it detracts from the all black look. I will very likely darken them up myself, and it does seem to be a pretty minor gripe.

It is also one that I can thankfully easily fix and change myself. My complaint also feels pretty mean spirited given how cheap these shorts are. I can easily buy two or three pairs for the same price as my usual shorts.

In short (pun entirely intended) I love these shorts, at their price point, they are great. They fit just as well as my branded shorts.

They have zips that work, unlike some of my branded shorts. They look good. They have pretty much become my go-to short, possibly because they go with everything being plain black.

Neil Morrison

I’ve spent way more time in the bike trade than anyone should reasonably want to. In that time I’ve wanted to make cycling jargon and marketing easier to cut through to help people get the bike of their dreams.

When I’m not writing about bikes, I can be seen out bikepacking on single speed bikes or teaching kids how to ride.