While we’ve previously reviewed the women’s version of Curious Creatures’ Ramble Scramble shorts, we were eager to try out the men’s version. To add some fun to the kit, we added in a Stretch Tech shirt from Party Shirt International.
Bring the Party (Shirt)
Since we’ve reviewed the shorts before, let’s start with the shirt. Party Shirt International calls the stretch tech party shirt ($55) a tee, but it’s really more akin to your favorite tropical shirt, albeit in a stretchy, breathable fabric that is much more suited to riding. It’s also wicking and wrinkle resistant, which means that it’ll still look great post-ride at the taco truck.
To be honest, I wore this shirt as much for summer parties as I did on the bike. Definitely not something that you can do with your average bike wear.
The shirts are available in nearly 3 dozen unique prints and the fit is unisex.
Ramble AND Scramble
The men’s Ramble Scramble short ($139) was released early in 2024 after the successful debut of the women’s version.
Like the women’s version, the shorts offers classic mountain bike styling, with a slimmer fit, 7″ inseam, front and rear pockets as well as a zippered side pocket. The fabric is polyester, with a 4-way stretch and a PFC-free DWR finish.
The fabric, while light on the body, seems to resist scratches and tears well.
Where a lot of shorts would use hook-and-loop elements for micro-adjustments to the fit in the waist, these use a simple drawstring. Honestly, it was easier to adjust on the fly than other shorts we’ve tested.
The shorts come in unisex sizing from XS to XXL.
While the sizing is unisex, it does not seem to affect the fit. To be honest, I’ve recently reviewed some other unisex MTB clothing that really was not suited to be worn by a man.
Conclusion
There are plenty of selections for mountain bike wear out there, so why would I choose Party Shirt International or Curious Creatures for your next ride? I appreciate clothing that, while designed for a purpose, have plenty of versatility. So when I reach into my drawer or closet and pull out a piece of clothing, I know I can wear it without screaming ‘mountain biker’. I also like spending my limited clothing budget on things that can be used for more than one purpose.
Sure, there are times that I want to telegraph that. There are times when it’s nice to pull into the wings joint after a ride with a few splatters of dried mud on my calves to show that I wasn’t out playing that back nine at the local golf course.
