Fit has always been key to Assos' appeal, with the Swiss brand going to great lengths in order to ensure that its shorts and jerseys "click-on" once you're situated in the saddle. Given that insistence on perfectly body-hugging harmony, the RALLY Cargo Shorts may seem out of character. After all, they're baggies, and Assos' off-road gear has, to this point, been every bit as form-fitting as its road shorts—all of which is a laborious, round-about way to noting that the RALLY Cargo Shorts are more like a semi-baggy than a proper baggy fit.

The front panel is designed based on the paneling in Assos' S7 road shorts. Though it's not as form-fitting, it does closely follow your body in order to reduce catching the saddle nose or place a bunch of unnecessary material between you, the saddle, and—ultimately—the trail. The material is the same as used in the tight T.rallyShort, too, so it stretches to reduce restriction while pedaling up a climb or throwing the bike around in chunky terrain.

The shorts are equipped with mesh in order to manage internal moisture, but that additional material doesn't add bulk, so they still pair perfectly with the H.rallyBoxer. Excluding that mesh and the front panel, the shorts are made entirely from Type 498 fabric, a material that repels water, dries fast, and is built for longevity in the face of daily trail abuse. Fit is dial-able through the inclusion of waist and leg zippers, and Assos itself describes that fit as "casual." We suggest that's a bit of a miss-categorization, though, as the S7 DNA evident throughout the fit and design means that they're anything but casual.