
Details

Detachable liner with breathable Lycra® mesh.

Softail™ Pad delivers unparalleled comfort for those gnarly long days in the saddle. Differential density, multi-level foam construction provides additional padding at pressure points without increased bulk. 3D anatomical shaping and seamless construction hug your body for a performance fit. Polyester-knit face fabric against your skin disperses heat and moisture. Anti-bacterial finish maintains hygiene. Dries rapidly after washing.
Reviews
What Mountain Bike - Jun 10
With their heavy-duty fabrics and chunky pocket zips, these shorts look fairly old-school. The nylon outer can look after itself in a slam, particularly the back and inner leg panels, but the Juggernauts do hang on to lots of moisture if you get them soaked with sweat or rain.
That hard-wearing character translates into quite a bit of warmth, although the zipped vents in the front of the legs provide effective aeration and you can undo the mesh-lined hip pockets for a bit more.
A springy yoke panel lets you stretch forward and takes up the slack when you get off the bike while a partially elasticated waist holds them up okay but there's no adjustment.
The detachable mesh inner is impressively breathable, but the low-rent grippers couldn't stop the legs riding up and we found the seat pad too skinny on longer jaunts. As usual with Ground Effect, there's a puncture patch sewn in there somewhere - a quirky little feature but we like it.
By Mat Brett.
Australian Mountain Bike - Feb 06
The Ground Effect Juggernaut is perfect for long, hot, summer epics. The lightweight shorts feature a removable liner that makes them a little flexible - ideal for dips at watering holes mid-ride and helps keep them fast-drying. A zippered fly with a press-stud at top allows for a comfortable fit, and a nylon belt keeps them secure. The shorts are clearly designed for warm weather, with zippered hip pockets and zips on the thighs to provide added ventilation. The New Zealand-based company has designed the Juggernauts to sit around the knees, and they're a little longer and baggier than most of the other shorts on test. While not long enough to be a hassle for most riders, this could be something to bear in mind if you're of lesser stature.
Pros: Lightweight, comfortable design.
Cons: Long cut may not suit shorter riders.
Rating: 8/10

Main photo: Guy weaves a tangled web. Marlborough Sounds.
Photo: Dave Mitchell
Hi-Impact Plus
Hard wearing and quick drying nylon fabric - tightly woven to deliver
bulletproof performance. Gruntier than the standard Hi-Impact fabric.
Also sports a cotton handle and finish.
> Composition: 100% Nylon
Hi-Impact
Hard wearing and quick drying nylon fabric - tightly woven to deliver
bulletproof performance.
> Composition: 100% nylon
Sizing
This chart is a guide only – if you fall in-between sizes, the right size for you will depend on your body shape and how loose or tight you like to wear your clothes. It's no hassle to swap it, if your first choice is not the best fit.
| Unisex | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XS |
S |
M |
L |
XL |
|
|
Height |
154 -
164 cm |
163 -
172 cm |
169 - 178 cm |
175 - 185 cm |
183 - 191 cm |
|
Chest |
84 - 90 cm |
91 -
97 cm |
98 - 104 cm |
105 - 111 cm |
112 - 118 cm |
|
Waist |
66 - 72 cm |
73 - 79 cm |
80 - 86 cm |
87 - 93 cm |
94 - 100 cm |
|
Hips |
78 - 86 cm |
87 - 95 cm |
96 - 103 cm |
104 - 111 cm |
112 - 120 cm |
Unisex vs Women's Sizes
Most Ground Effect designs are unisex. The jackets, tights
and baggy tops generally fit both men and women equally well.
Fitted garments like cycle shorts and some tops are more gender
specific so there is generally a women's version in the Outskirts
range.
Super-sized shorts for those who prefer living long and loose. The detachable liner delivers no-nonsense performance in the saddle while being supremely versatile. Whip it out for washing or when moving into aprés ride mode. Or winterise your Juggernauts by replacing the liner with a pair of Montezumas three-quarter length shorts. Hoo-hah!
> Tough Hi-Impact™ nylon outer.
> Detachable liner with breathable Lycra® mesh.
> Softail Pad - 3D anatomical shaping, multi-level foam, rapid drying, seamless synthetic 'chamois' pad with anti-bacterial finish.
> Easy-Rider™ stretch lumbar and hip panels.
> Smooth fitted waist with zipped fly.
> Single layer mesh pockets reduce bulk and enhance cooling.
> High Impact™ Plus gusseted crutch for increased durability.
> Vents on lower leg - zip 'em down to keep your cool.
> Long legs hang around your knees.
> Secret tube repair patch.
> Made by us in New Zealand.
> The Softail is Ground Effect's premium pad. It delivers unparalleled comfort for those gnarly long days in the saddle.
> Differential density, multi-level foam construction provides additional padding at pressure points without increased bulk.
> 3D anatomical shaping hugs your body for a performance fit. Ribbed polyester-knit face fabric against your skin disperses heat and moisture.
> Anti- bacterial finish maintains hygiene.
> It requires no special care and dries very quickly after washing (it loves a warm wash!).
> There are two main differences between the women's-specific and men's-unisex versions of the Softail pad. While the molded part of the pad remains the same the pad is shorter at the front in the women's version with no black foam padding. The position of the pad in the short is also gender specific, with differently shaped Lycra panels in the short's gusset supporting the pad.
What's the difference in performance between baggy and stretch shorts?
> A stretch short will always deliver more performance than a baggy number as there's no surplus fabric bunched up between your bum and the saddle. Baggy shorts can be more challenging for technical mountain biking, as by definition there are more baggy bits to inadvertently snag on your bike - but are still the preferred choice of many gun riders who don't appear to suffer any problems.
> The Supertankers, Juggernauts, Double Happys, Tom Thumbs and Martinis are made from lightweight, quick drying Hi-Impact nylon, and Hi-Impact nylon Plus. They combine a loose, but not super-baggy fit, with a mesh liner and moulded pad to provide many of the performance benefits of conventional stretch shorts with minimal compromise.
What's the difference between the Supertankers and Juggernauts and Double Happys?
> All are loose fitting shorts made from tough Hi-Impact nylon fabric.
> The Supertankers are constructed entirely from the gruntier Hi-Impact Plus. The Juggernauts utilise Hi-Impact Plus through the gusset while the rest of the short is made up of the same standard Hi-Impact nylon that the Double Happys are constructed from.
> The Juggernauts and Double Happys have an integrated liner and moulded pad - making them more suitable for longer rides and more technical trails. Of course you can throw a pair of Underdogs under the Supertankers to get them up to speed.
> The Supertankers are long suckers - hanging around your knees. The Juggernauts are about 2-3cm shorter and the Double Happys 2-3cm shorter again.
> The finish on the Supertankers has a distinctly urban edge. A smooth fitted waist, belt loops, open hand pockets and a zipped rear security pocket.
What's the difference between the Juggernauts and the Double Happys?
> The Juggernauts are our premium baggy short. They have a detachable liner to provide greater versatility - take it out for washing or to use as casual shorts. Or winterise your Juggernauts by replacing the liner with a pair of Montezumas three quarter length shorts. They use gruntier High Impact Plus fabric through the crutch and bum for increased durability.
> Both the Juggernauts and Double Happys use a simliar performance liner providing a firmer fit and more precise pad placement.
> The Juggernauts and Double Happys also have a stretch lumber panel at the back, Easy-Rider stretch gussets on the hips, and mesh lined pockets that double as air vents when you zip 'em open. The Juggernauts have additional vents on the lower leg.
> The Juggernauts are long - hanging down around your knees, the Double Happys are around 2-3cm shorter in the leg.
Should I wear underwear with these shorts?
> Hell no. You want to have as smooth an interface as possible between your bum and the saddle. The seams on your underwear will inevitably be in the wrong place - causing rubbing and saddle sores. Also underwear is generally cotton - nice for everyday use but damp skin below is more susceptible to chaffing.
Washing Instructions?
> Ground Effect shorts enjoy a warm machine wash. Try to avoid cold-water detergents and those with bleach. The cold-water varieties have little enzymes that are super-charged to brave the cold but can damage technical fabrics and may cause skin irritation. Bleach strips dye and can also cause irritation.
> With shorts in particular, cold-water detergents and those with bleach can cause 'nappy-rash' so if you're experiencing issues in that department try a warm wash and a change of cleaning brew. As a rule of thumb, product that is easy on the planet is also easy on your body. Plant based soaps like Ecover or specific sport wash formula are recommended.
> Hand washing is sometimes the only option on tour, but a washing machine rinses more thoroughly and is preferable if you have the choice.
> The shorts and pad dry super-fast, so drying on the line or hanging over the bedpost does the trick. Or use a dryer on a warm (not hot) cycle.
> UV rays accelerate the decay of Lycra. Our fabric is knitted so the Lycra component lies on the inside of the fabric - shielding it from the sun when you're out riding. Consequently you should avoid drying these shorts inside-out. It's not a bad idea to do so occasionally as the sun does help keep the pad hygienic - although it is treated with an anti-bacterial finish anyway. But drying in this manner is a trade-off with the damage done to the Lycra.
> It's common practice to not wear underwear with your riding shorts so you need to wash your shorts daily.







