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0800 4321 3350 x149
Sugoi are a Canadian company who, unusually, actually manufacture their clothing in Canada. They're based in the freeride hotbed of Vancouver but their range encompasses everything from heavy-duty baggy stuff to aero roadie garb. The Bully Project shorts are their mid-range baggies, sitting between heavy-duty huckers and lightweight trailsters.
Style and fit
The Projects are on the baggy side of baggy, which may prove a little too flappy. We didn't have any problems but if your local trails are given towards brambly underbrush you may experience snagging. There're no drawcords on the legs so if they're too baggy for you you're stuck with it. They're fairly long in the leg without being preposterous, sitting just above the knee. There's no scope for waist adjustment, but this Medium pair were a comfy fit on a 32in waist. They can be had in sizes from S to 2XL. The general look is functional and understated. This is the Coffee/Black version, there's also a Navy/Black and a stealth Black/Black.
Construction
The Project shorts are made from Sugoi's Bully fabric, a 300 denier nylon that looks dull and canvas-like while being reasonably soft and flexible, and Riptide, a Cordura blend with extra tear resistance. The Riptide fabric is used in the side panels and the inside of the thighs and bum - all the potential high-wear or snagging areas.
There's seven main panels in the shorts. A single panel runs up the inside of one leg and down the other, so no seams in awkward places. Each leg has a Bully panel front and rear and Riptide panels on the outside. The waistband is elasticated and there's a false fly panel detail.
The liner is a lightweight nylon/spandex number with a simple cahmois. It's just stitched in at the waistband, leaving the leg grippers to look after the bottom end.
Features
These are fairly simple shorts, not over-burdened with features. You get a big front pocket each side that are fine for hands or gloves when you stop, but there's no closure on them so don't put your keys in there. Round the back are two more pockets with Velcro closures. Apart from a neat little rubber Sugoi tag, that's about it.
On the bike
If you like your baggy shorts baggy, you'll love these. Even though we could have got four of our legs into them, the respectably weighty fabric meant that they didn't flap about distractingly, and the one-piece crotch panel keeps them snug and avoids any catastrophic saddle snagging. They're very comfy, and strike a great balance between airy and burly.
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Verdict
There's very little bad to say about the Projects. The fit is good enough that we don't miss an adjustable waist and leg drawcords, they're great to ride in and have been hardwearing so far. The only real gripe is with the price. £59 is a lot of money for a fairly basic pair of shorts. It's tough for us to justify the extra money over a pair of Enduras, but if you value a burly feel and Canadian heritage, they're well worth a look.
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Rich Wood
