If you were to draw a Venn diagram and put cycling apparel in one circle, hiking in another, and Scandi-cool in the third, where they meet in the middle, the words Fjällräven cycling range would be written.
This isn’t the brand’s first foray into cycling kit. Its first was a Specialized co-lab that brought us adult rompers, anoraks and flannel. At the time, this radical take on bike kit firmly challenged even the more open-minded riders on what a new kit day should look like.
Four short years on, although Fjällräven has moved on from banana-yellow colour schemes, there has been a boom in bikepacking and ‘gorpcore’ fashion (yes, it’s a thing), and we cyclists have become far more accustomed to wearing multi-use cycling attire.
This trend has been a springboard for the new Fjällräven Hoja collection, the brand’s first fully in-house-designed, dedicated cycling and bike-packing line-up, with the Hoja bib shorts at its core.
But while they may well tick the on-trend box, do they tick the best cycling shorts box?
A key feature is the drop tail for easy access for toilet breaks mid-ride
(Image credit: Future)
Technical details
Fjällräven says it has constructed the main body of the shorts using 70% polyester (recycled), 30% elastane, and, according to the brand, buying using what it calls a circular knit offers a structured and supportive fit. And thanks to hydrophilic properties, they also stay dry.
The upper torso of the Hoja bibs ups the polyester (and recycled) level to 92% polyester (recycled) and 8% elastane, which aims to create ventilated, comfortable straps.
Looking deeper into the brand’s environmental credentials, it’s one of the better ones for presenting an audit chain for its sustainable credentials; however, I haven’t been able to, as yet, get sight of the source of the recycled fabric, as its last sustainability and CSR (corporate social responsibility) report was back in 2024.
It’s safe to say, however, that the fabric will be PFAS-free and ethically sourced, in line with the usual Fjällräven standards.
In the middle of the Hojas sits ‘floating’ chamios. This reduction in secured layers, stitched or otherwise, means the shorts dry much faster, which is key when washing and wearing them on back-to-back riding days.
The other key feature is the drop tail for easy access for toilet breaks mid-ride. I’m pleased to see that Fjällräven has kept to its ‘clean’ design ethos and kept this as simple as possible by simply inserting a split design between the bibs and shorts at the back.
It’s interesting to see that this is a feature on both men’s and women’s shorts, whereas it’s normally just the reserve of women’s. In fact, the only gender-specific feature is the sizing – notably the short length, with the women’s leg measuring 22cm, one centimetre longer than the men’s version.
Back to generic features, and you’ll find a mesh cargo pocket on each leg and a very generous strip of high-vis fabric running parallel to the pockets on each leg, too.
There’s a mesh cargo pocket on each leg and a very generous strip of high-vis fabric running parallel to the pockets
(Image credit: Hannah Bussey)
Performance
Donning bib shorts for the first ride requires the chamois squish test. It’s immediately apparent that the Fjällräven Hoja have done something radical here.
The seat pad is tacked in place front and rear, and that’s it. You can feel the foam padding sections beneath the layer against your skin – but there are no thermally welded channels or stitched contours.
Sliding them on for the first ride, I worried I’d be taken back to my first pair of Impsport shorts, which had all the technical padding of a reusable nappy. After a hot, sweaty 10-mile ride on tougher-than-traditional ‘gravel’, my fears were eased. My backside returned friction-burn-free. It turns out we may have all been overthinking how much contouring our padding needs.
They also gave me enough protection for back-to-back riding days. Admittedly, I’m not riding more than three hours at a time, and I can ride pretty much any slimline saddle, cutout or otherwise. So the Hoja Body Geometry Contour Chamois will work for some people and not for others.
I can also confirm they dried quicker than a regular pair of bib shorts. For full transparency, I used a washing machine, not a mountain stream, and dried them on a washing line, not a rock, with a three-rider household – I could directly compare them with a pair of Lusso and Peal Izumi (both with foam contoured padding).
After a few more rides in the Fjällräven Hoja shorts, I realised I hadn’t thought about the bib straps or torso elements. This instinctive reaction puts the shorts firmly in the excellent, comfortable-fit category. Not even noticing how the straps fit on my shoulders, across my back, or around my middle speaks to their comfort.
There’s nothing fancy or high-tech about this upper design, which confirms my stance on all women’s cycling shorts: ‘stop over-complicating the structure’!
Even with a dropped seat for quick pit stops, a feature I usually detest, it wasn’t an issue. The team behind the Hoja simply attached the straps to the sides of the shorts, not the back – and hey presto, you can pull them down while staying fully clothed.
I’ve not yet tested these shorts on full multiday rides in the wild.
So far, I’ve just put a few ride snacks on one side (right) and litter on the other (left). But they are huge and would take a jacket, phone, tools, etc. In fact, they’re probably too big for me, as even lightweight stuff bouncing on my thigh annoys me; the idea of a multi-tool sliding around with every pedal stroke would be sensory overload and wreck my ride.
The only other thing I’m considering is size. I’m nearly always a medium in cycling shorts, but these are on the loose side; even after checking the size guide, they are generous. Something to consider if you want a racier fit.
Value
At £195/ $245, the Fjällräven Hoja Bib Shorts sit squarely in the premium tier of the cycling apparel market. They are competing directly with the very best in gravel bike clothing and have topped the prices of some of the top brands in the field, such as Assos Mille GT and Rapha Core Cargo.
So presenting value at such a high price point, in an already highly competitive market, is a tough gig.
Fjällräven has gone all out for bikepacking optimisation: Features like the fast dry time of the floating chamois and the seamless drop-tail functionality (in a non-convoluted way) solve real, tangible problems for adventure cyclists.
But if you’re not looking for multiday unsupported rides, then these might be somewhat over-specc’ing your ride requirements.
That said, you will get a very comfortable pair of bib shorts with the Fjällräven stamp of sustainability and eco-friendly manufacturing; you won’t be disappointed.
Tech spec
- Price: £195/ $245
- Weight: 197-233g
- Chamois style: Floating
- Storage: Two double-stretch mesh
- Leg type: Shorts
- Colours: Black
- Sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL
