Funkier Hawk 3/4 Mountain Bike Short

Review: Funkier Hawk 3/4 Mountain Bike Shorts

The company Funkier first caught our eye when they claimed a 2011 Eurobike award for best baggies (2nd time winner). Up until then, there wasn’t much said about Funkier in the US as that particular short was not available here. The design of the short was interesting and with the award to bag them up…I knew we had to get in a pair to review on Bike198. During the process, the Funkier Hawk shorts became available in the US through FunkierBikeUSA.com.

Funkier Hawk 3/4 Mountain Bike Short

What first struck me as unique about the Funkier Hawk was the length of the short. While there are definitely other short manufacturers that have released longer shorts for the mountain biking community, the way the Funkier Hawk tapered and catered to those riders looking for something a little bit longer is just about dead on.

Funkier Hawk 3/4 Mountain Bike Short

For riders like me that have crazy long femurs, many of the baggies that come to market can seem a little bit short…not the case with the Funkier Hawks that came to my kneecap will riding. The lower portion of the shorts are actually even sewed so they fall in line with your knees as you ride. The bottoms also feature velcro to adjust the width of the opening at the bottom which I basically just left alone. One issue I did have with the lower leg opening was that is isn’t quite wide enough to go over larger knee pads like the Kyle Strait’s from 661. They should be find over the EVO’s and other lower profile pads.

Funkier Hawk 3/4 Mountain Bike Short

The outer shorts are made out of 100% nylon which makes for a light and durable shell. Through wrecks, slides and general trail beating, the shorts still look like new every time I grab them out of the wash. The construction of the outer shell is also not bulky or overly thick, so movement while riding is not inhibited. There are also two zippered front vents that allow for air passage if you are riding on a really hot day. The back of the knee sections are even vented which helps with a short that is 3/4 length like this.

Funkier Hawk 3/4 Mountain Bike Short

Overall, there are 6 total pockets (2 back, 2 cargo, 2 side) that will hold more than you probably want to carry while riding out on the trail. That many pockets does give you the ability to pick where you want to put gear but I would never fill them all up with anything. The front button is secure and there was a draw string on the inside for adjustment…until it fell out in the wash…with elastic built into the waistband. If I really needed more adjustment there are belt loops but the shorts fit fine as is.

Funkier Hawk 3/4 Mountain Bike Short

The review set came in with Funkier’s BS622 E2 Boxer Shorts internals. The lower leg grips kept them stable while there were also attachement points at the top fo the shorts to the shell to keep the Hawks from riding low while on the bike. The chamois on this set actually felt HUGE at first. I can remember putting them on for the first time thinking I really didn’t even want to walk in them, but after a couple of rides they broke in and were more comfortable. I found them capable for really long rides but a little bit too much padding for just a quick spin in the woods. The material itself dried quickly on warmer days which did aid in the overall comfort.

When I look for a mountain bike baggie that I want to wear…there are basically several features that need to be in place. They need to be light enough so I don’t overheat in the southeast US during the summer. They need to fit my style. And they need to be comfortable enough for multiple styles of riding. After being on the Funkier Hawk 3/4 mountain bike shorts for awhile, I can see why they have won multiple Eurobike awards. They hit all three of those for me with the only downside that the leg openings are a little small for big pads. They are also great for riders like me that have long femurs and need a little bit longer short.

However, that does come at a price. The Hawk’s retail for $94.95 which does price them out of the market for a lot of riders. Every year I run across one mountain bike apparel item that I want to wear on every ride. This year…the Hawk’s have been the pair of shorts I do not want to ride without.

To pick up yours…hit up FunkierBikeUSA.com.

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