Troy Lee Designs Skyline Review

The Troy Lee Skyline offers the best balance of performance, comfort, and style we have observed in our long experience testing mountain bike shorts. We rode these shorts in all kinds of conditions and wore them out on the town. We cranked uphill and flowed down, and these shorts exceeded our expectations in nearly every conceivable application.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

Comfort is paramount. As such, we made a careful inspection of the Skyline's cut, fit, waist design, pocket positions, and construction materials in the context of lengthy rides on varied terrain. Our tests revealed this short to be a leader in its class and a joy to use.

A cavoite to tester's glowing endorsement of the Skyline's comfort is that the short is a bit baggier than some may appreciate. Yet the 13 3/4" inseam does well with riders on the big end of the sizing while remaining sporty and suitable for longer rides in warmer weather. The Skyline uses 4-way stretch “Aero Tech” micro ripstop panels at the small of the back and at the inseam, making the short's mid-weight, somewhat stiffer body feel light and springy. Even the hip pockets provide easy, discreet storage of every day carries like a cell phone, keys, and ID.

Fit and Pedal Friendliness

As the heading suggests, the fit and peddle friendliness metric evaluates the models best suited to being in the saddle. The Skyline is definitely on the looser end of the spectrum for focused piston pumping. However, the short is not so baggie on the bigger riders in the size — the wider leg opening produces better knee pad compatibility but is not too flappy.

Another factor contributing to the Skyline's suitability for those cranking out the miles is the short's construction material. The body of the shorts is mid-weight polyester that conforms well enough with a body in motion. However, the masterstroke is the 4-stretch mesh panels at the back and inseam. This well-placed material makes the short feel much lighter and more pliable. Finally, the waist adjustment ensures a proper fit, and the pocks allow for storing every day carries while limiting rubbing.

Features

We formalized our features analysis by focusing on key design components such as pockets, vents, and waistbands. Testers agreed that the Skyline did a nice job balancing a full suite of features with functionality and minimalism.

There are 2 hip pockets on the Skyline that are secured with YKK zippers making for easy access when in the saddle. These pockets are mesh, making them more breathable, and are sown in so their contents stay in the most comfortable position. The vents do a good job keeping rides well-adjusted to the air temps (and they're nice and stretchy, too). Finally, the waistband offers secure adjustability. Our only concern with this feature is the waist closure which, unfortunately, is secured with a single snap button.

Durability

While we do not do long-term durability testing, we did run these shorts through their paces on miles of single track. We rode hard, soaked these shorts in sweat, and even took some spills here and there. Despite the heavy use, the Skyline showed no sign of degrading, stretching, fading, or fraying. These shorts are constructed of high-quality materials down to the thread used for the robust stitching. The seams are joined with surged stitching to prevent the edges fraying, and stitching is redundant in high-wear areas. Moreover, the zippers are sourced from the ubiquitous and ever-reliable YKK. The zippers are heavy-gauge at the fly and medium gauge at the pockets, all but guaranteeing long-lasting smooth pulls.

All told, these shorts represent some of the highest-quality manufacturing we have observed in the mountain bike industry. In fact, our only concern where durability is concerned is with the shorts' waist closure. Inexplicably, the waist lacks redundancy, coming together with a single snap button. Well, even the best shorts have room for improvement.

Style

Many readers will recognize that style is in the eye of the beholder. However, certain design characteristics make a bike short a bike short. Within that box, some models have a sharper cut than others, or at least that's the theory. Based on this understanding, the Skyline is the leader of the pack.

The Skyline's minimalistic, utilitarian look and low-key labeling belie a highly functional piece of athletic equipment. These shorts do just as well at Sunday barbeques as ripping wet dirt – that is, until they get scuffed up. Yet, the Skyline comes in various colors that may help mask the stains for a time and add a little flair to the riding attire.

Protection

Truth be told, mountain bike shorts don't offer much in the way of protection in the event of a bad fall. Yet, a tough pair of shorts is certainly better than nothing. Case in point, the Skyline's mid-weight polyester and heavy-duty stitching does offer a barrier that will limit abrasion when the tires come loose, and the thigh comes up against dirt, stone, branch, or bush.

The Skyline's looser fit also adds a measure of protection. Allowing the short leg to overlap the kneepad like shakes on a roof can help to prevent the shorts from riding up and presenting tender skin to coarse rock. That said if rowdy riding where crashes are a constant risk is the terrain of interest, mid-weight shorts like the Skyline are probably not the best choice.

Should I Buy the Troy Lee Design Skyline?

Yes! This short was loved by all who have used it. We are so impressed by this model that we believe the only people that won't like it are those who it doesn't fit properly or those looking for a dedicated cross-country or downhill short. If do-it-all mountain bike short is in order, the Skyline is the ticket.

What Other Mountain Bike Shorts Should I Consider?

If you want a heavier-duty version of the Skyline, check out the Troy Lee Ruckus Short Shell. This model shares many of the same design concepts but is more robustly constructed with gravity biking in mind. On the other hand, if you want a lighter, more simplistic short for pure cross-country, have a look at the Pearl Izumi Summit Shell Short. These shorts are gossamer thin, and extremely well-ventilated. Moreover, they hug the body snuggly while giving when in motion. The combination suits them for long, intense rides on hot days.