Technical shorts are a summer essential for adventurers looking to explore comfortably in the mountains. This is especially true for runners taking on some of the biggest races in both the UK and further afield. #TeamMontane athlete Marie Cheng is regularly seen on the UK race circuit and has been testing our Slipstream shorts this summer. Her verdict is in.
Montane Slipstream Shorts Review
My name is Marie Cheng and I’m a Peak District based runner. I spend a fair amount of time in the Lakes and Snowdonia, either running or working on races!
With the recent weather we’ve had of late, you’d be right in thinking that with summer looking a little like a wash out this year in the UK, why would we need a shorts review! Well, whilst it’s been pretty wet, temperatures have stayed pretty warm and often been quite muggy. And, with that, ideally you would want a pair of lightweight shorts that can dry out much quicker than trail tights.
New for 2023, Montane has brought out the Women’s Slipstream 4” Trail Shorts. Available in both a normal and Twin Skin version, they both are made from a lightweight fabric and come in either an Eclipse Blue or Saskatoon Berry colour.
Race Overview
The Copper Sky Trail is the little sister of the Snowdon Skyrace and is based from its event centre in Rhyd-ddu in Eryri/Snowdonia. Don’t be deceived by the 24km distance as it packs in a punch with over 1750m+ of elevation over technical terrain and rocky trails. For runners looking to move into more technical and mountain/sky running, this is an ideal race to get your teeth into, including a great little scramble of the Y Lliwedd ridgeline.
In typical Welsh June weather fashion, it is always difficult to forecast quite which way the weather would go, and on race day we definitely saw some sunny spells, but also some quite heavy downpours for a few good hours! 
How did the Slipstream 4” Trail Shorts perform?
With the nature of the race and the need to slightly clamber over the rocks on the scrambling sections, the shorts were ideal in terms of their close fitting tailored fit, allowing me to move freely over the terrain. They also have an elasticated waist and drawstring cord to keep the shorts firmly in place!
The Aeroflyte QD stretch polyester lightweight fabric meant that when they did get wet in the rain, the shorts weren’t heavily weighing me down and allowed them to dry off much quicker.
On the race, I also had the Montane Gecko VP5+ running pack with me so I didn’t require the pockets in the shorts. But if you were out for a shorter training run or race, there are two side pockets in the waistband to store gels, as well as a slightly larger YKK zipped pocket at the back for things such as keys or, in my case, my dog’s poo bags!
Lastly, the shorts pack down incredibly small, which is ideal if you’re heading to warmer climates to run and race and want to minimise your luggage space!
Get your Montane gear
Marie reviewed our Slipstream Trail Shorts for women, These are also available for men. Looking for more shorts options for running or a wider range of activities? See our full shorts range.
For more #TeamMontane athlete insights, don’t miss ultra runner Galen Reynolds’ thoughts on our Phase Nano Waterproof Jacket, recently named by Trail Running magazine as their best running jacket of the year.
