Hydroslides

Splash through streams 'n' puddles... and sneer with derision in the face of track-splatter with these composite baggies.  HydroFoil™ Plus keeps your rear dry while Hi-Impact Stretch™ delivers bulletproof durability up front.

+Features

• Combination Hi-Impact Stretch™ and HydroFoil™ Plus fabric.
• Waterproof tape-sealed seat and back of legs.
• Gusseted crutch with double layer in gusset and lumbar for durability.
• Smooth fitted waist with zipped fly and adjustable velcro Trim Tabs™.
• Mix with Innuendos, Underdogs, Stowaways or Flatliners mesh liners for increased performance.
• Zipped thigh security pocket.
• Long legs hang around your knees.
• Vents on lower leg - zip 'em down to keep your cool.
• Secret tube repair patch.
• Designed & made by us in Aotearoa | New Zealand.

+Tech

  Weight: 220 gm

+Hi-Impact™ Stretch

Hard wearing and quick drying nylon fabric. Super stretchy for a closer, performance fit. Tight double weave 'looped' construction combines bulletproof durability with next to skin comfort.

• Composition: 89% nylon; 11% lycra.

+HydroFoil™

Specifically developed for high aerobic activities, HydroFoil™ Plus combines a lightweight ripstop nylon shell with a composite membrane that is completely waterproof, totally windproof and extremely breathable. The outer fabric is the latest new-generation Pertex® Shield+ membrane. It is more than twice as breathable as most other quality waterproof-breathable fabrics, and has a small amount of stretch allowing a closer fit. The outer fabric is treated with a durable water repellent finish that encourages rain to bead up and roll off, while there is a lightweight tricot mesh on the inside for greater durability and improved moisture dispersion.

• Composition: 100% nylon with PU laminate.
• Waterproofness: 23,000mm hydrostatic head with durable water-repellent finish on face fabric.
• Breathability: 33,000gm per sq.m per 24hr.

+Luxury Liner

These baggies are supremely versatile. Add the Innuendos, Underdogs or Stowaways lycra mesh liner to deliver no-nonsense performance in the saddle. Whip ‘em out for washing or when moving into après ride mode. Winterise by using a pair of Geronimos or Montezumas three-quarter length shorts as the liner.

+More than Kiwi Made

Ground Effect clothing is crafted right here in New Zealand. Has been ever since we started back in 1994. Manufacturing locally works for us. We operate a quick-response system - holding minimal stock of any one item, but churning out a few more quick-smart when the pile gets low. The upshot is that we are seldom caught with our shelves empty, so orders get despatched the same day you place them.

+Compare

	Hydroslides	Juggernauts	Snipes
Fabric	HydroFoil Hi-Impact Stretch	Hi-Impact Stretch	Hi-Impact Stretch
Liner	Separate	Separate	Separate
Trim Tabs™	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leg Vents	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leg Length	Mid-Knee	Mid-Knee	Above Knee
Sizes	S - XL	S - XXL	S - XL

	Double Happys	Slim Jims	Supertankers
Fabric	Hi-Impact Stretch	Hi-Impact Stretch	Hi-Impact Plus
Liner	Integrated	Separate	Separate
Trim Tabs™	Yes	No	No
Leg Vents	No	No	No
Leg Length	Mid-Knee	Above Knee	Mid-Knee
Sizes	S - XL	S - XL	S - XL

+FAQ

+Baggy vs Lycra

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. However, baggies are the default choice of battle-hardened cyclists off road, on tour and around the streets. They combine a loose but not super-baggy fit with an optional mesh liner and moulded pad... providing the performance benefits of conventional stretch shorts with minimal compromise.

▸ What's the difference between these and regular baggies?

Hydroslides are the same fit and length as the Juggernauts. They share the same features except for the absence of hand pockets. The waterproof-breathable fabric around your backside and back of your legs protects your bum from track splatter and when splashing through puddles and streams.

+Washing

• All Ground Effect clothing enjoys a warm 40ºC machine wash. Try to avoid cold-water detergents and those with bleach, 'oxygen whitener' or fabric softener.
• The cold-water varieties have little enzymes that are super-charged to brave the cold but can damage technical fabrics and cause skin irritation. 
• Bleach rots natural fibres like merino, strips the dye, attacks laminates of waterproof fabrics and can also cause skin irritation.
• Sodium Percarbonate (the main ingredient in oxygen whitener) can make colours run.
• Fabric softener and stuff containing it like wool wash destroys the water repellent finish on waterproof and water resistant fabrics, and can cause colours to run. 
• As a rule of thumb, a product that is easy on the planet is also easy on your body. Select a mild plant-based soap like Ecover, Ecostore, Earthwise or Aware.
• Hand washing is sometimes the only option on tour, but a washing machine rinses more thoroughly and is preferable if you have the choice.
• Most Ground Effect gear dries super-fast so hanging on the line or drooping over the bedpost is generally the best option. High heat can damage some fabrics so if you do take your threads for a spin, set the device on 'medium' or 'warm' rather than hot. A lap in the dryer is recommended for your rain jacket, after it has dried on the line, as it helps recharge its water repellent finish. 

• Wash with any of the plant-based products listed above. You can also use a specific sport wash like Grangers Extreme Cleaner, Nikwax Tech Wash or Atsko 'Sport Wash'. Around NZ$30 from most outdoor shops. Any stubborn stains should be dabbed not rubbed clean. For grease spots you can use a degreaser like Swarfega. It's aggressive stuff though so take care - it might be best left alone as added character.
• Keep it clean, but don’t wash too often. General wear along with washing progressively removes the water repellent treatment from the outside the fabric. This treatment helps rain to bead and run off - and enhances the overall performance of the fabric. Dirt, body oil, sunscreen and sweat also attack the water repellent treatment and can cause the waterproof-breathable membrane to delaminate. Wash frequency depends on how often and how hard you use your garment. We suggest washing after a particularly grubby ride or after say a dozen sessions in the rain. Use your judgement - if the garment looks dirty, the fabric is 'wetting out’ too quickly, or feels clammy then it's probably time for a clean.
• You can help restore the water repellent treatment after washing by line-drying your jacket, then chucking it in the dryer using a warm (not hot) cycle. This 'recharges' the treatment so it lasts a bit longer. When this trick no longer does its magic you can beef up the original treatment to some extent with a product like Nikwax TX Direct - $39 from Ground Effect. A bottle is good for two or three rounds with your jacket. The effectiveness of this process depends on the age and condition of your jacket. Expect ok results if the fabric is only 'wetting out' in patches (the 'mid-life' crisis). If the entire jacket is 'wetting-out' rapidly in light rain then it already has one-foot-in-the-grave and beading is unlikely to improve much from the treatment, the money may be better put towards a new jacket. Note that while the fabric's wetting-out impairs performance, particularly breathability, the HydroFoil laminate should still be waterproof.
• Always ensure your HydroFoil garment is completely dry before storing. Putting it away damp can destroy both the DWR and the waterproof coating. Hanging on a hook or coat hanger is best. Take care of your gear and it will take care of you.