For trail running in the summer, light and airy is the order of the day. The more airflow the better. Rab’s solution for summer trail running are the Talus Ultra Shorts, with their lightweight, breathable fabrics and comfortable design.
Rab Talus Ultra Trail Running Shorts Features:
- Matrix™ Aero stretch fabric
- Flexile™ 100 stretch waistband
- Mesh rear lumbar pocket with separate ID sleeve
- 5-inch length
- MSRP: $75
Lightweight running shorts indeed
Impressed with Rab’s 2022 offers so far, I’ve been exclusively trail running in their new, ultralight Talus Ultra Shorts. Compared with all other shorts I’ve got, these are certainly the airiest of them all. The thin Matrix Aero stretch fabric is effectively see-through on its own. But, don’t worry yourself… you won’t be showing off anything to your running partners. Just understand that this fabric is really, really breathable.
Since these are so breathable, you’ll absolutely love the airflow and running and walking speeds. It simply feels awesome. Likewise, the liner is comfortable next-to-skin and provides sufficient support. I would appreciate a little fuller brief to better cover my backside, but your mileage may vary (I’ve never been known to have a small bum).
For my 33″ waist, I was torn between the medium and large. For the most part, I tend to wear medium shorts in Patagonia and others, so that’s what was ordered. Well… my aforementioned bum prevented me from even getting the size medium past my backside. So, a quick swap for the size large and I was in business. Since the large is aimed at a 34″ waist, I had some side-effects from that that I’ll dig into below.
As far as running goes, I’m a big fan of the Talus Ultra. I can run at any pace. I can climb and descend and the shorts never impede my stride in any way — even on steep ascents. I feel like they breathe well and the liner does its job well.
As far as utility of the Talus Ultra, that’s where things go a little sideways. As I mentioned, I’m right between sizes, so the Flexile 100 stretch waistband (though comfortable), lacks a drawstring. Without that drawstring, the lumbar mesh pockets aren’t very useful. Items within there tend to sag and pull my shorts down in the rear. For kicks and giggles, I did run with a SiS gel back there and that’s about all it can handle without showing more backside than anyone would appreciate. In addition, when the waistband is saturated, it’s almost impossible to gain entry to replace items in there. And, you can pretty much forget returning that ID or credit card go that little sleeve.
All those issues would likely be resolved had Rab chosen to include a humble, stretchy drawstring. With that, the waistband would have maintained its position for easier entry into the rear pocket area.
Fit: I’m 5’11” and 175 lbs with a 33 inch waist and I’m wearing the size large.
The Good
- Very lightweight
- Fabric is downright airy and extremely breathable
- Dries in a hurry
- Really comfortable for trails of all types
The Bad
- A drawstring would improve the fit
- Rear pocket isn’t really useful without a drawstring (and the mesh fabric is weak)
- Liner could be a little fuller for my bum
The Bottom Line: Rab Talus Ultra Shorts
If you are searching for the ultimate in lightweight shorts without any extra features, the Rab Talus Ultra is a great option. You’ll get ultimate breathability and comfort on even the hottest days. But, the lack of drawstring does affect the fit and utility of the pockets for anyone between sizes.
Buy Now: Available from Rab
