Harlot Clothing Co. sent us two of their sweet women’s cycling shorts to review, the Habit shorts and Scarlet-X knickers.  Not being a woman cyclist myself, I passed them along to Marisa (above, our resident triathlete girl) and Leesa (below, a mountain bike girl) to review.
Hit ‘more’ for the full review and more pics…
HARLOT CLOTHING CO. SCARLET-X KNICKERS
REVIEWER: Marisa (triathlete)
DESCRIPTION: The Scarlet-X Knickers are made with a 85% / 15% stretch nylon/polyester shell featuring a Dryon water- and stain-repellent finish.  Side stretch panels boost mobility and air flow, and they’re equipped with Harlot’s X-Static liner and BCZ padding system, which is essentially a very thin padding built into the shorts. The X-Static is a silver fiber technology to provide natural anti-odor, anti-static, and thermodynamic properties. They have a contoured, no-chafe waistband and two back pockets.  They have a 17″ inseam and are sewn in the USA.  Available in Black, Moss and Grass in XS, S (tested), M, L, XL and XXL.  MSRP $80.
REVIEW: Harlot is probably better known for its casual riding and mountain biking line of clothing for women as opposed to road cycling, which is what I mostly do. However, its line can easily carry over to bike commuting, which I also do a good bit of. What I like most about their style-philosophy is their no neon, tight lycra, pink ribbons and bows policy. Neutral colors are the theme and their red star logo gets smacked on all their pieces.
I wore the Scarlet-X Knickers as my commuting shorts this summer. The fabric is virtually stain resistant and does repel water. The nylon polyester blend stretches right along with my rear end (which is not tiny) and my quads (which also are not tiny). I’m a fan of the length of these knickers, capping off right below the knee, style-wise, just seems to be a flattering design.
As for the inner lining/padding, my butt loves it! It’s very soft, very comfortable, and not too diaper-like. However, if you choose to run errands wearing them after commuting or riding the trails, beware, the lining rides up. Or should I say, it rolls up, and looks as if I have some sort of band around each of my thighs…weird. I frequently needed to pull the lining down and at times reach down inside the Knickers to unroll it (that didn’t look too cool in public places).
Breathable was a word used in the description of these Knickers on their website. I would have to disagree. These suckers are hot. I’ll definitely continue to wear them, but in temps 70 degrees and below.
In general, I loved the fit. Low-waist is an absolute must-have feature for me and these were right on. Low enough to be comfy but not too low so that when I bend over those behind me saw a little more than they wanted to see.
Overall, I like them and I will certainly consider buying more from their product line!
Pros: comfortable, stretchy, great butt padding, and Made in the USA!
Cons: Inner lining rides up, best for temps between 50-70 degrees.
Harlot Clothing Co. Habit Short.
REVIEWER: Leesa (Mountain Biker)
DESCRIPTION: The Habit shorts are unlined, versatile shorts for various active pursuits. They’re a 98% / 2% Nylon/Spandex 4-way stretch shell that’s sanded for a soft feel.  They’re tear resistant and water repellent and have a shaped and lined wicking waist band.  No pockets, but they have belt loops. Zip fly.  They’re available in Black and Loden (reviewed) in S, M, L and XL.  Harlot recommends you size up if you plan on wearing over padded shorts.  MSRP $70.
REVIEW: The shorts are made of really nice, sturdy, stretchy materials. They look super-cool, and I got lots of compliments, which is always sweet! Plus, they were a size “small”, which made me feel pretty nice! I’m 5’9″ and 137 lbs. and don’t usually fit into “small”-sized anythings! A “medium” would have fit nicely I think, too, for a slightly less “fitted” look.
The velcro, plus snaps, plus zipper is all comfy, yet gives a good feeling of not busting out of your shorts.
I raced in them up at Scheitzer Mtn. and they really held up to the gnarli-ness of those trails. There is A LOT of up and down in the saddle, and I never felt conscious of the shorts, like they were in the way, or bulky, or going to get caught on the saddle nose, or anything, yet they seemed loose and stretchy enough to not be restricting, and they move with you.
One weekend, I wore them on a long, cross country ride on single track, and lot of old logging roads. It was a really hot day, and the shorts were nice and cool. They really seemed to wick the moisture away and help keep me cool.
I also wore them a few times riding out at the Mineral Point, Lost Lake, and Mudd Lake trails, which, I must say are trails with some of the most gorgeous views I’ve ever seen…and a lot of fun, too! That’s where the pictures were taken.
After the ride we sat on the beach at Green Bay (another stunning spot) and swam and played and had some beers. Once out of the water, they dried super fast.
I also like the styling on the shorts a lot. We had to make a quick stop at the grocery store before the ride one day, and I walked around the store feeling stylish, rather than self-conscious about wearing traditional spandex shorts.
On all my rides, I wore a pair of moderately padded spandex bike shorts underneath the Harlot’s.
I give these shorts a hearty “thumbs-up”.
