The Abacus brand from Sweden has a strong reputation for high-quality and stylish apparel. They offer a wide range of waterproof gear and here we review one of their latest offerings in this range; the Bounce Waterproof shorts.

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Abacus Bounce Waterproof shorts review: NCG Summary

NCG SUMMARY

These Bounce Waterproof shorts are comfortable, smart and surprisingly useful. They will make an excellent addition to your summer golfing wardrobe.

PROS

Waterproof and comfortable
Quality construction
Stretchy and quiet
Very practical

CONS

Limited colour choices
Pricey

First Impressions

When these Abacus Bounce Waterproof shorts landed on my desk I didn’t give them much of a thought. Admittedly it was early April. The weather was certainly wet enough to test waterproofs but far too cold for shorts. And I didn’t really feel that a pair of waterproof shorts was going to fill a yawning gap in my ever growing golfing wardrobe.

But, a couple of months later and these are a go-to item when I’m heading out to the course. What has led to this transformation I hear you ask? Well let’s rewind a few years. A decade ago, as far as I was concerned, shorts were to be worn on a golf course when I was abroad on holiday. Serious golf on my home course with serious rules on sock colour and length meant that wearing shorts was a hazardous and stressful occupation. Then (thanks to equality stuff?) it was all change, regulations relaxed and apparel manufacturers started producing some really smart, tailored shorts.

But waterproof shorts? A quick internet search revealed that I could buy waterproof sailing shorts and/or waterproof cycling shorts. But I couldn’t unearth any waterproof golfing shorts. So I think this is a ‘first’ from Abacus. Now I have already tested the Bounce Rainsuit (jacket and trousers) and the Bounce waterproof trousers. All are made from exactly the same StretchDry 15,000 fabric.

The StretchDry 15,000 fabric is a three-layer build with a waterproof and breathable membrane sandwiched between two identical soft and stretchable layers of fabric.

The fabric is described as a 4-way stretch, it stretches crossways and lengthways – it’s certainly very stretchy. The shorts are waterproof to 15,000mm, which makes them waterproof in all but the heaviest rain. They are also breathable to 15,000 g/sq metre, although that’s less relevant for a pair of shorts. They come with a 3-year waterproof guarantee. All seams are fully sealed with soft and flexible tape.

On Course Testing

In trouser fittings, I am generally a pretty consistent 32-inch waist, and this garment fitted true to size. They come in one length and I needed to get them turned up an inch or so to suit me.

The waistband is nice and stretchy, so there’s a bit of leeway with the waist size. There is a press stud and velcro closure at the top of a zippered fly. A minor point is that there was no ‘gripper’ waistband that is present in some of the other top trouser/shorts brands (which helps to keep your shirt tucked in position).

I have worn these shorts on a number of occasions beginning in May this year. They function perfectly well as a standard pair of shorts and are comfortable to wear. There is a pleasingly sensible pocket configuration with two roomy front pockets and two more at the rear. Where they really come into their own is if you’re caught in a shower sufficient to require putting on a waterproof top. I’m not an umbrella fan and so water tends to fall off a rain jacket or shirt and land on the top of my shorts/trousers. This can be quite uncomfortable, but with the Abacus Waterproof shorts there is no such issue – the rain just falls off. When the rain stops, the fabric dries quickly so these are really very practical.

Where I don’t think they work well is if you’re going out to play and prolonged rain is forecast. I’ve just watched The Open at Hoylake and the last day would not have been appropriate shorts weather. I tend to find that I get cold in persistent wet weather and so the insulation provided by a waterproof trouser is preferable in that situation.

Other than that, these shorts have become a staple of my warmer weather golfing gear. Currently they only come in two colours – navy and black. This is a bit limiting for warmer season apparel and I hope that Abacus introduce some further colour options in due course.

The 19th hole

So here we have a pair of shorts that are smart, functional and comfortable. I am wearing them regularly on the course and also for other outdoor activities such as hiking and dog walking. There’s no excessive logoing going on. They are easy to care for and seem really durable.