Bellwether Pinnacle Short
By Jon Sharp

When I first got the Bellwether Pinnacle short, there were two things that worried me. First, since I prefer bibs to plain shorts, I was concerned that they would not provide the comfort I've grown to love in bib shorts. (They don't even have a drawstring waist.) Second, the Dryline fabric felt thick. I was worried these shorts would be too hot.

Let me say first, then, that the Pinnacle is one of the most comfortable shorts I've ever worn. Though they don't have a drawstring, the waist fit me perfectly, and combined with the thickness of the fabric, these shorts didn't sag or slide down.

As for the "thick-feeling" fabric. Dryline has a fairly smooth outer surface—though not as slick as standard lycra. The inside, however, is very porous and soft. It is designed this way to speed the wicking of perpiration. The porous surface also created a micro-climate which seemed to insulate—keeping me cool on warm days and warmer on cool days. I found that this was good for keeping you warm on some chilly mornings. Surprisingly, because they were so good at transporting moisture, I found these shorts excellent on hot days, as well.

The legs have gripper elastic to keep them in place, but no fancy logo for those of you who like to flip up the elastic band. The chamois is Bellwether's Multi Level Pad—which tells you exactly what it is. Though not elastic, the pad has a multi-density design to keep it from bunching up in all the wrong places. It is neither too thick, nor too thin, and I found it quite comfortable for all but the longest rides (where I wished for an elastic pad to cut down on some of the friction).

Summary: The Bellwether Pinnacle is a no-nonsense type of short. It is simple, comfortable, and it wicks moisture very well. As the testing period wore on, I found myself going for these shorts over and over again—many times chosing them over a pair of bibs—for their comfort. I really like the Dryline fabric, and—though it might be psychological—I appreciated their warmth on brisk mornings, or early season rides.

Jon Sharp is a contributing editor for GearReview.com. Read his blog.

For more information, contact:
Bellwether
info@bellwetherclothing.com