BEST CYCLING BIB SHORTS
After testing a dozen cycling bib shorts for cycling enthusiasts doing multi-hour rides in late spring, summer, and early fall temperatures, I picked the Assos Mille GTS C2 the Best Performer for its great fit, chamois pad, and comfort. It’s available for US$220/£165/€210 at recommended stores here, here, here, here, and here.
A good pair of cycling bib shorts is key to a great day on the bike. Bibs with a comfortable chamois pad, breathable material, supportive leg muscle compression and useful shoulder straps all with the right cut and fit for you are part of what separates the good ones from those that just looked good when we bought them.
But that’s a lot to consider when trying to make a choice. And there are other important things to think about too like how well the panels stretch as you move around on the bike, what the seams and grippers are like, how well the bib shorts will hold up after a couple of seasons of wearing and washing, who makes it, what it looks like, and how much you’ll have to pay for it.
Worse yet, there are a ton of cycling bib shorts to choose from, very few objective measures to compare them as you have with gear, and new models coming out every season.
Fear not, my fellow cycling enthusiasts. While I’m not here to save the day, I have done one of my ad-free, influence-free, comprehensive, and comparative evaluations, this one centered on men’s cycling bib shorts. My fellow tester Aiyana has done a similar review of women’s bib shorts.
To keep this both focused and real, I picked over a dozen widely available bib shorts from known brands, most of which cost US$200/£170/€200 or so. I also chose those we can wear at least from late spring through the summer and into early fall on the kind of 2+ hour-long rides we serious roadies love to do.
I’ve worn all of them enough times and through enough washes to know them, dare I say, inside and out.
I’ve stayed away from summer-only or heavier shoulder season cycling bib shorts and those intended for short races or rides designed with smaller and thinner chamois.
And while I’ve tested several that cost between US$50 and $100, I’ve not found any of them good enough for the kind of riding most enthusiasts do. I’ve reviewed one of the more popular ones to compare as an example.
Finally, I’ve grouped the bib shorts into three performance tiers and picked a Best Performer and Best Value based on their comparative cut, fit, comfort, and price. You can navigate to the individual reviews immediately below and read a summary about what evaluation criteria I used just after that.
BIB SHORTS REVIEWS
1st Tier – Comparative Ratings
2nd Tier – Comparative Ratings
3rd Tier – Comparative Ratings
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WHAT MATTERS MOST IN CHOOSING CYCLING BIB SHORTS
I look at criteria in three categories that I find matter most in choosing between shorts.
Cut – Are the cycling bibs cut for riders with a slim or standard hip width or will it, because of their construction and material, fit both types of riders?
Do the bib shorts have a standard leg length or do they run long? Some of us prefer a longer inseam to get more coverage and support on long rides while others prefer the freedom and airflow of a standard-length inseam.
How high do the bib shorts come up on your waist? Some prefer a taller waist height to help retain and support their midsection while those with little fat and a strong core don’t want the extra material and added cooling that a taller waist may require to distract them.
Fit – Once you have cycling bibs with the right cut and preferences for your body, how well does it fit? Specifically, does it stretch well with you as you move on the bike? Does it provide enough but not too much compression to your glute, quad, and hamstring muscles?
Do the grippers keep the short’s legs from rising without constricting your legs? How well do the straps work in keeping the shorts up and getting the bibs to move with you in an integrated way?
Finally, how flat do the seams lay? Do they enhance the fit, comfort, and look of the shorts or fight them?
Comfort – How comfortable is the chamois pad and other chamois materials on long rides? How flexible and comfortable are the bib short’s other materials against your skin? How breathable are they? How well do they wick your sweat during a ride? Do the straps lay flat across your shoulders without applying too much pressure on them or your back? How comfortable is the back panel, if there is one?
Getting the right cut is a given. Fit differences can be hard to tell unless a pair performs far better or worse than others to the point where you really notice. Comfort is what usually separates one set of bib shorts from another, especially from the chamois during long rides.
By assessing the things that matter most, I evaluated and came up with the comparative reviews of cycling bib shorts that follow.
A POINT OF REFERENCE
We’re all different. Let me tell you a bit about my cut, size, and preferences to give you a point of reference for the reviews below.
I’m 5′ 10″ (178cm) and have weighed between 145 and 150 lbs (66-68kg) during the seasons I’ve tested these cycling bib shorts. I have wide sit bones but narrow hips and a bony rear and prefer a firm Specialized Romin Evo saddle. There doesn’t appear to be much and certainly not enough muscle in my glutes or quads (damn!) yet my sweet tooth ensures I maintain at least a spare tube, if not a full spare tire around my midsection.
The way a lot of companies size their cycling bibs seems to have shrunken. Without changing my dimensions, it seems my cycling bib shorts size has dropped from medium to small over the last couple of years. Before you buy anything new, I’d suggest you closely examine the sizing chart for each company to make sure you get the size in the bib shorts you are considering today, not the size you have historically worn.
Even though I ride a 155mm saddle rather than a standard 143mm width one, I generally fit best in slim-cut or Italian-cut bib shorts rather than standard hip-width or American-cut ones. While most cycling bib shorts are standard length and I’m fine with that, I love longer ones that cover and provide compression to more of my hamstrings and quads.
Most of my outdoor rides range from 2 to 4 hours over rolling terrain. While I have and wear, slightly heavier bib shorts or bib tights when temps get below 50F/10C, lighter weight summer cycling bibs on scorching hot days, and racing ones with smaller, thinner pads on 1hr, interval training rides, I’ll almost always wear the kind of cycling bib shorts I’ve reviewed below for the late spring, summer and early fall rides of over 40 miles/65km long.
I’m not particularly fast (18-20mph/29-32kph average) or flashy (black is standard, navy makes me feel like I’m stylin’). But after wearing probably a dozen and a half brands of bib shorts and countless models, I have developed a pretty good sense for what makes a pair perform well and doesn’t, and certainly what I prefer and don’t.
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ASSOS MILLE GTS C2 BIB SHORTS –THE BEST PERFORMANCE AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE
I’ve bought and worn a lot of Assos bib shorts over the years and gushed about them in past reviews. This review won’t be any different. Assos bib shorts, in general, and the Mille GTS C2 Bib Shorts I’m reviewing here are simply the best at what they do.
And while Assos bib shorts are usually far more expensive than those from most other top brands, the Mille GTS C2 Bib Shorts aren’t any more expensive and actually less expensive than some shorts intended for the same purpose.
Assos Mille GTS C2 Chamois rear and center (left) and front sections
At the top of the list of what separates all Assos bib shorts is their uniquely comfortable chamois. I don’t know and don’t care to bore you with all the design details, but I find there are enough of the right things in the right places to make the comfort and performance of Assos bib shorts, including these Mille GTS C2 Bib Shorts stand apart from those of other brands.
Like most other bib shorts I tested for this comparative review, there’s enough padding under my sit bones for a comfortable 4-hour or longer ride. I also like that the padding goes back far enough to provide comfort whether I’m in an ideal aero or semi-aero position or sitting up as we’re all likely to do on climbs or breaks during the course of a long ride.
Inside the Mille GTS C2 chamois
Unlike cycling bib shorts from other brands, the Assos Mille GTS C2 is padded on either side of my perineum but leaves only the chamois’ thin, perforated, and somewhat lowered top layer sitting between the pads. I find this eliminates any pressure during a long ride on that tender spot and allows for better airflow than other cycling bibs with either a thin or full-thickness pad that can cause more opposition and sweat on a hot day.
The 4mm or so foam fabric that makes up that top side of the chamois has a pattern of 10mm wide octagons that are perhaps only half as thick. It’s like a breakfast waffle of variable depths that I find varies the pressure on my butt and inside legs. Functionally, it’s akin to beaded car seat covers that cab drivers and long-haul truckers use to keep the blood flowing in their back, butt, and legs on long shifts.
On my long rides, I find the Mille GTS C2 chamois is the right width to cushion my glutes without rubbing the inside of my legs during pedaling. It’s long enough to cushion my privates without being restrictive.
No, it’s not the loose, soft, microfiber “kukuPenthouse” layer Assos builds into their ultra-distance Cento bib shorts. But it’s comfortable and has a series of small perforations to keep from getting sweaty balls.
A center section that is free to move with you rather than you moving against it
There’s one more thing that makes the Mille GTS C2 and other Assos bib shorts the most comfortable and efficient I’ve worn. The edges along the middle section of the chamois are not sewn into the cycling shorts themselves. This allows the chamois to stay with you rather than needing it to accommodate the dynamic action of your legs and the static force of your saddle. The result is less opposing pressure and more comfort.
The Mille GTS C2 model fits between the shorter-ride, more race-oriented Equipe RS S9 that has a similar chamois with slightly more venting upfront and narrower padding in some locations and the longer-ride Cento Evo bib shorts that has thicker padding under your sit bones and the aforementioned kukuPenthouse. (A+ to the marketing genius who came up with that one).
Yes, I own both of the RS S9 and Cento and am more than happy to wear either on a 2+ hour ride. But I find the Mille GT is the porridge that this Goldilocks finds just right rides of that length.
From the moment you put on the Assos Mille GTS C2 bib shorts, you feel compression. It’s comfortable and even and supportive. It has felt the same each time I’ve put them on, and I haven’t noticed the compression easing during a ride.
The positive compression is joined with unrestrictive stretch, the kind that gives you the flexibility to move around on or out of the saddle with a feeling like you’re bib shorts aren’t even there. There’s no getting in the way of your efficient pedaling or feeling of total freedom getting in and of the saddle.
Part of what I think makes this work are the straps on these Mille GTS C2 bib shorts. They seem to be anchored to the shorts in just the right places and at unique angles. They’re crossed in the back and seem to have just the right amount of stretch to keep the shorts moving and grooving with you, yet don’t put added pressure or stress on your shoulders.
The Mille GTS C2 inseam doesn’t feel any longer than average, but the 2.5″/65mm tall grippers keep the cycling bibs in place without changing the compression you feel from the rest of the shorts.
They also breathe brilliantly! I don’t know what material Assos uses – they have some crazy silly name for what is likely a very scientifically engineered weave – but they don’t feel any warmer or cooler depending on the outside temperature or the amount of work you put in. They somehow seem to regulate your temperature at a comfortable setting.
And seams? One runs up from the back of your legs and turns horizontally, which meets just above your sacrum. Another swoops down from either side of the inside of your straps in a semicircle that covers your abdomen and privates. Finally, there’s the stitching in the front and back to connect parts of the chamois to the shorts.
Overall, it’s a very clean look unmatched by others.
While I’ve got slim hips, the way these Assos bib shorts stretch makes me suspect they’d be fine for enthusiasts with full-size ones. I have known quite a few riders with wide bottoms and big glutes that fit Assos bib shorts just fine.
Beware – The Mille GTS C2s’ low-cut shorts can lead to a little overflow
On the other hand, if you’re a handful of pounds or kilos overweight, you may not appreciate the low-cut waist and lack of coverage over your love handles. This might create the dreaded middle-aged male “muffin top” effect.
The only real fault I can find with these bib shorts is a potential confusion around the name. Assos calls it the MILLE GT SUMMER BIB SHORTS GTS C2. Retailers name it the T GTS Mille GT C2 Bib Short or just the Mille GTS.
While it breathes wonderfully in hot, humid weather, it’s not just a summer bib short and is clearly different from the Mille GT Bib Shorts model that preceded it. (No S after the GT, and those earlier bib shorts have a back panel that the current GTS C2 model reviewed here doesn’t).
I rate the Assos Mille GTS C2 as the Best Performer in this category of cycling bib shorts for long rides.
Here are links to where you can find them at stores I recommend for their competitive prices, wide enthusiast gear and kit selection, superior customer satisfaction ratings, and reader support. That and US$220/£165/€210 will make them yours at Competitive Cyclist, BTD (BikeTiresDirect), Performance Bicycle, Sigma Sports, and BikeInn.
ELIEL MEN’S EL CAPITAN BIB SHORTS – FOR THOSE IN A HURRY
If there were any doubts from the moment you put them on, the Eliel Men’s El Capitan Bib Shorts (US$280) and Ascent El Capitan jersey are clearly for those in a hurry.
The shorts portion of the cycling bibs is one piece, with seams only going up the back of your legs. They hug and support you with both even compression and ample stretch across your leg and butt muscles.
At my 5’ 10’’ height, the size small cycling bibs I tested have a long inseam, easily reaching just above my knees. On a ride, they stay in position thanks not only to the tall band of silicone beads at the end of the legs (no separate gripper panels) but also to the compression at and above it.
On cooler days, the length is ideal. However, on warmer ones, I can pull the end of the shorts up an inch or so to mid-calf length. The fabric regroups, chameleon-like without a wrinkle, as if it was always meant to be the same length as you find on most bib shorts. (Eliel also makes the Men’s El Capitan Short Length Bib Shorts if you prefer not to ever wear them long.)
The material feels relatively thin, with the slipperiness of an aero stocking but the robustness of a thicker pair of bib shorts.
El Capitan’s chamois comes up high enough and is wide enough in the front to fully protect your junk. The ventilation is good, with a half dozen 3mm diameter holes added in that section of the chamois to aid the cooling.
Moving back from there, the padding is on the narrow and thin side. Narrow is good if you are using these to race or ride fast and don’t want anything unnecessary to get in the way of your legs. And thin doesn’t seem to be a problem from my experience on fast, hard rides as it’s sufficiently dense in the right places to cushion my contact with the saddle.
The straps are 45mm, 1 5/8” wide and thin, but do the job without much notice. The breathable back panel is as wide as the area between my shoulder blades and attaches to the straps just above them.
These bib shorts are cool, breathable, and definitely suited to warm weather. They feel light and don’t restrict my movements, reminding me of that cliché of wearing a second skin. But, in the case of these cycling shorts, that second-skin freedom comes with supportive compression that keeps my muscles fresh.
For a couple of hours of hard riding, the El Capitan is hard to beat. The leg length options, uniform compression, light and slippery fabric, and chamois comfort compare favorably against the other cycling bibs I’ve tested over the years.
If I’m riding longer than that or at a more casual pace, however, I’d rather be in cycling bib sorts with a bit thicker and slightly longer chamois that gives me a bit more support when I’m riding in a more upright, endurance position.
Ascent El Capitan jersey with Bib shorts moved into at standard height
The same goes for the Men’s Ascent El Capitan Jersey (US$180). It’s stretchy and fits tight with no gaps. If you’re lean and have good core strength (that’s code for no love handles, muffin top, or even a winter belly), you’ll fit fine and look good in these. If not, or you’re out to do a relaxed ride, zip up another jersey.
With a seriously strong and tacky waistband that keeps the Ascent in place, the El Capitan’s short length and high neck make the jersey most comfortable and likely quite aero when you use that core strength to lean forward and minimize your CdA. The pockets also sit higher than on most jerseys, best suited for an infrequent reach for a mid-ride gel by a rider with flexible shoulders.
SANTINI UNICO – COMFORTABLE PERFORMANCE TRUE TO ITS NAME
The Santini Unico bib short, true to its name, is made from a material I find uniquely comfortable for a pair of bib shorts. It’s soft against my skin like Merlino wool, yet breathes and wicks on hot, humid days as comfortably as any synthetic material I’ve worn.
It wraps and stretches like a second skin with my quads, hammies, and glutes. That allows Santini to use just one welded seam on each leg that you can’t see from the outside or feel on the inside from the bottom of the laser-cut shorts up to the back panel.
Santini uses its well-established, top-of-its-line chamois in the Unico that’s somewhere between performance and comfort-oriented. The pad is comfortably thick and supportive under my sit bones and thin elsewhere. It has a welcome and protective pecker pocket (my term, not Santini’s) in the extended section of the pad up front. But it doesn’t encourage me to ride upright for long with its limited padding beyond my sit bones in the back.
There’s no compression I feel against my muscles coming from the Unico fabric and no dedicated grippers with silicon beads at the bottom of the legs. And while I miss the compression on high-intensity rides, these shorts found their way and stayed at a mid-calf length typical of where Assos, Ale’, and most other bib shorts land on my legs.
I’m a fan of the compression that Assos, Ale’, Eliel, and other performance bib shorts provide. Yet I kept putting on the Santini Unico shorts when they came back through the wash well after I had worn them enough times to write this review.
Maybe I’m getting soft (or perhaps I am already soft), but the Unico’s unique feel and comfort keep me reaching for them.
The straps are stretchy and wide, easily conforming to my torso and shoulders. A wide, elastic back panel seems to do most of the work, keeping the shorts in place. It has tripod-shaped perforations cut into it that provide ventilation on hot days and a rubbery strip on the jersey-facing side for reasons I don’t understand.
My midsection and love handles are reasonably well covered and partially contained by the same material that extends up from the shorts and acts as a starting point for the straps and back panel.
And if I haven’t used the word unique enough times already, the yellow, pink, and blue underside of the Unico’s straps and back panel are truly that. Likely influenced by the fashion industry surrounding Santini’s Italian operations, it’s a curious choice, at least to me, to put this beautiful array of colors where no one else can see them but me when I kit up before my ride.
As if to slyly wink at what lies underneath, the Santini logo on the right shorts leg gives off some of these colors in the sunlight. Perhaps there’s a bit of psychology to go along with the fashion and comfort of the Santini Unico.
Whatever it is, it works for me. Wearing the Santini Unico is a welcome change of pace for long rides where I’m out to enjoy myself and riding buddies at a good pace on a spring or summer day rather than hammering on the most competitive ones.
You can buy them from US$270, €200 using these links to Competitive Cyclist and BikeInn.
ENDURA PRO SL – CHAMOIS, COMPRESSION, AND FLEX FOR FIT AND COMFORT
The Endura Pro SL bib shorts excel in three ways that are key to long-ride performance – chamois comfort, leg compression, and material stretch.
Unlike other cycling bibs, you order the Pro SL in a size based both on your waist dimension and the width of your sit bones (more on this below). That extra specification gave me a chamois with just the right amount of side-to-side padding.
I found the pad itself to be quite dense the first couple of rides but seemed to form to the contour of my bottom the more I wore it. After a half-dozen rides, it seemed as if the shaping was complete, and I felt the support was where I needed it to give me comfortable rides.
Like the Santini Unico and, to a lesser extent, the Assos Mille GTS, there’s also a soft pad slot up front. But perhaps, as suggested by the competition orientation of the bib’s Pro SL name, there wasn’t any extra padding behind to cushion me if I sat up for long (competitors don’t).
Compression across the length of my quads added to the comfort the Endura Pro SL provided and limited the fatigue over a long ride. I especially appreciated that muscle-soothing wrap the compression provided on a recovery day after a hard ride.
The Pro SL’s material and panel arrangement added to a great fit. These shorts move with you without a gap. I remember looking down during one ride to see where the seams were and couldn’t quickly spot them. There aren’t many, and I do notice that they’ve left their signature on my legs when I take the cycling bibs off, but I’ll gladly take that for the compression and stretch the shorts offer.
The front straps do most of the work of holding the shorts in place. They’re tighter than most but aren’t uncomfortable.
On hot summer days starting around 85F/29C, the Pro SL shorts and back panel materials didn’t breathe nearly well enough. I realize that’s pretty warm, but it seemed to be where these Enduras were most vulnerable.
As I’ve noted in the comparison chart, some cycling bib shorts are cut for and have chamois pads that best suit riders with slim hips, while other bibs are better for those with more standard-size bottoms. And the widest cyclists among us, those “barn-door” types we love to draft behind, often have to put up with bib shorts whose pad width is sized for a standard rider.
With their Pro SL bib shorts, Endura is trying to get you a pad suited for your bottom by offering 3 width options. In addition, they also offer each bib option with a normal length inseam or longer one. And then you need to choose your bib size – you know, small, medium, large, etc. – based on your waist measurement.
Sorting through the choices was enough to give me a headache. It almost put me off from trying what sounded like a good pad sizing idea that failed in the analysis paralysis that often comes from having too many choices. Add to that, Endura and most of their online retailers do not explain when you should pick a Pro SL Narrow, Medium, or Wide (which Endura also calls “Relaxed Fit” despite fitting just right for those with wide sit-bones but otherwise slim hips like me).
Competitive Cyclist’s Endura Pro SL product page descriptions did help me break the code. And once I did, it was stupid simple for even a guy like me to figure out.
Here’s how you pick the right one: If your saddle width is less than 134mm, get the Pro SL Narrow. If it’s wider than 146mm get the Wide. And if it’s between 134mm and 146mm, get the Medium or one that isn’t called Narrow or Wide.
Don’t know your saddle width? Take a look at your saddle. There should be a marking on it.
While I got no guidance on this from Endura or anyone else, I’d suggest sticking with the regular length unless you are very tall or know that you have the legs of someone who is probably 6′ 2″ (188cm) or taller. The Long adds 1.5″ or 40mm, far more than most shorter cyclists would want. I typically see about half that added length on cycling bibs I call “long” in my comparative chart.
All in, the Endura Pro SL allows you to ride with a semi-custom fit and comfort in most conditions. If that’s what you are looking for, it sells for US$230, £125, €150 through these links to Competitive Cyclist, Performance Bike, Merlin, Sigma Sports, Amazon, and BikeInn.
MAAP TEAM BIB EVO – PERFORMANCE AND COMFORT FOR FIT RIDERS
Strapping on the MAAP Team Evo tells me it’s go-time.
The slim cut, low waist, and slightly longer inseam all but ask me if I’m fit enough to ride this Team Bib EVO. If my belly shows the effects of too much pizza and beer or missed visits to the gym have made my quads more quaint than stout, there’s no place to hide it in these MAAP bib shorts.
But by the time I’m ready to switch from base to race or, in my case, riding a long, fast pace, I really like wearing the MAAP Team Bib Evo to get the most from my rides.
The tall, 2 1/2’”/65mm grippers give me good compression. At the same time, the cut and stretch of the shorts make for a second-skin feeling that moves with me as I crank out the miles.
On hot days, and we certainly had our share during the summer months when I tested the Team Bib Evo, the material breathes quite well. My glutes and quads never felt hotter than the uncovered skin below them.
The chamois is firmly padded under your sit bones and on either side of your perineum. There’s no padding elsewhere. This design leaves room for your non-contacting points to breathe. Along with a dozen and a half 3mm vent holes in the front, this configuration combines to give the chamois a good balance between padding and airflow that makes for quite comfortable rides 2-3 hour rides and just short of the best comfort for longer ones.
The 1 ¾”/45mm wide elastic straps are quite sturdy and designed to do a job. They do that job – holding the front of your shorts up and keeping the vertically meshed, also elastic back panel supporting your back – quite well.
In the front, the MAAP Team Bib Evo straps are attached to the top of its low waist cycling shorts and again another roughly 3”/80mm further down the inside of the shorts. It’s a design Assos also uses on some of their cycling bibs but always outside the shorts and usually just in the back.
I find the double front attachment points highly effective in keeping the bibs in place and the chamois from shifting around. The downside of this is that the straps always feel like they are being stretched and working a bit more on your shoulders than others.
Given the option, I’d much rather have straps that work and let you know they are than those that lay peacefully on your shoulders while your shorts move around with the jewels inside them insufficiently supported.
The only nits I’d pick with the Team Bib Evo are the inside seams that connect the back and side panels to the shorts. While all the other inside and outside adjoining seams are “flat lock” style, ie. are attached on both sides of the seam, the particular ones I take issue with are well-sewn yet come off the shorts panels by a ¼”/5mm or so.
If you are looking for something other than black bib shorts or want another color to match a favorite jersey, these also come in navy, olive, burgundy, fog, or charcoal. And, depending on how brand conscious you are, you can get the black and navy shorts with a white MAAP logo on the legs or in a faded tint on any of the shorts.
All in all, these are top-tier bib shorts that, while not inexpensive at US$295/£195/€250 I’m happy to wear most any day I’m up for a fast, fit ride. You can order a pair for yourself online at recommended store Competitive Cyclist and Sigma Sports.
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7MESH MK3 BIB SHORT – BORN AS A ROAD SHORT YET AVAILABLE WITH POCKETS
In my review of gravel bike shorts, I included 7Mesh’s top model, the MK3 Cargo Bib Short. I opened the review by writing that they were more like a road bib short than any of the other gravel cycling bibs I’ve tested.
That’s probably because it’s the same MK3 Bib Short that 7Mesh makes for the road, just with pockets.
Since that review, I’ve continued to ride the MK3 both on dirt and gravel and, more often, on paved roads, sometimes carrying gels in the pockets for easy access.
Overall, these are comfortable cycling bib shorts cut for standard hip-width enthusiasts. The material is sufficiently stretchy to move well with you on the bike yet provides good compression across the bottom half of your quads.
The MK3’s construction clearly pays close attention to detail. The seams are thin and pinstripe-wide on the outside and have minimal overlap on the inside. No chamois edges are exposed, yet you can hardly see or feel how they’ve been stitched to the shorts.
The top edges of the panels that meet your waist and back, including where the straps are sewn in, are reinforced. But I couldn’t feel them. Continuing this aesthetic, no separate gripper bands are sewn to the legs. Instead, the MK3 has 1.5″/35mm bands of silicone microbeads wrapping the inside bottom of the shorts.
The 7Mesh MK3 chamois is more comfortable as a road cushion than a gravel pad. It’s thickest on either side of the center channel from front to back but thins out quickly just inside or outside of your sit bones, depending on how wide yours are.
Since I spend more of my time out of the saddle or hovering over it riding gravel than I do on paved roads, I prefer the thickest part of my pad to have a little wider landing area than the MK3 provides. But on paved roads where I’m seated most of the time, I can position myself well within the pad’s target zone.
The front straps are set wider than most. Yet, it’s the rear 1.75″/45 mm wide single center strap that is even more unusual. It’s a very stretchy strap that junctions into two and runs from the top of your back over your shoulders and down to the below-the-belly-button front panel.
This makes for a very comfortable and sufficiently supportive setup without anything in your rear pockets or, I’d assume, in the unpocketed MK3. With rear pockets loaded, though, it didn’t provide the tension needed to hold up my shorts.
Plenty of room in the pockets for nutrition on long rides
If you plan to do the occasional gravel ride or a longer unsupported road ride, I find it handy to have the extra space in the 7Mesh MK3 Cargo Bib Short leg pockets rather than overstuffing your jersey ones. But, if you’re looking strictly for road cycling bib shorts, save yourself a few dollars and go with the unpocketed MK3 Bib Short.
You can order the men’s MK3 Bib Short for US$200 and the cargo version for $230 through this link to my top-ranked store, Competitive Cyclist.
RAPHA PRO TEAM BIB SHORTS II – THE KIT EQUIVALENT OF AN ALL-AROUNDER
When you want a wheelset that performs well on most terrain and most types of rides and is well suited for a range of serious riders, you look for an “all-arounder.” It wouldn’t be the ideal wheelset for alpine climbing or riding at aero-speeds or for the weekend warrior on a supervised budget. But it would be a great first choice for most enthusiasts doing a lot of riding in a range of situations.
The Rapha Pro Team Bib Shorts II is the cycling bib shorts equivalent of an all-arounder. It does most things well, suits most ride situations, and should fit many riders. It wouldn’t be the first pair of cycling bibs I’d reach for on a hot day or if I were doing an FTP test or if I preferred modest kit fashion. But for most riding and riders, especially if you are willing to spend a little extra for a signature kit brand, the Pro Team II is a good choice for a long, spirited effort.
It’s a cover-up!
A high-cut waist between your front straps and even higher coverage of your sides helps physically and visually support any extra weight you may carry around your midsection. It’s hard not to feel or at least look trim wearing the Pro Team IIs.
While I’ve got narrow hips and am relatively light, I could easily see these Rapha Bibs working well for a fit or getting fit wide-body rider. I dare say it’s an American cut or at least the antithesis of an Italian cut pair of bib shorts.
The wide, hemmed, soft, and stretchy mesh straps and back panel integrate well with each other and with the shorts. Together they give you the feeling of everything working together as a team, or perhaps a Pro Team. It makes for a very comfortable fit.
You also get a couple of 2.5×5″/65x130mm radio pockets at the bottom of the back to communicate with your Director Sportif. One pocket just fit my iPhone 12 mini, but I didn’t find it very comfortable back there. Oh, and I don’t have a DS, but it’s kind of cool to know that if I ever get one, my Raphas will be ready.
The Pro Team II has quite a few panels throughout the lower and upper half of these cycling bib shorts. Some companies argue that more panels give their designers the ability to create a better fit, while others promote the unidirectional stretch of their fabrics in creating the desired fit with fewer panels.
While there are more and larger flat seams that go with the Pro Team II bib shorts than most others I’ve recently reviewed, the fit is good, with no bunching or puckering that I could feel getting in my way on rides.
Compression is limited to the 4″/100mm tall gripper panels that wrap around your quads. While the actual microdot silicone grippers cover only the bottom 1/3 of those panels, the height of the panel itself is about 2x the height of most other cycling bibs with separate gripper panels.
Then again, several bib shorts from the “fabrics-not-panels” wing give you compression over a greater area of your leg muscles than do these Rapha bib shorts.
Chamois can be a way for some bib shorts makers to set themselves apart. However, unlike others in this review, Rapha doesn’t appear to do that with the Pro Team II.
Don’t get me wrong – the Pro Team II chamois gives you a comfortable ride. It’s just not the minimalist chamois you see with racing shorts (as Rapha markets the Pro Team II to be) or the highly sculpted, standout chamois you often pay a premium for (as you do with these bib shorts).
Rather, the Pro Team II chamois is another example of what makes these an “all-around” pair of bib shorts well suited to a wide range of riders and rides.
The pad covers more area and is wider than most but isn’t as thick as others under the sit bones or as varied in thickness for the apparent needs of other areas. There’s a little dimpling in the pad but less than some other cycling bibs. It splits nicely on either side of the perineum but oddly has stitching running down the center of the chamois from back to front and no perforations for airflow anywhere.
While I didn’t find a lack of cooling to be an issue with the chamois areas, I did sweat a good amount across my abdomen and lower back when I put in hard efforts wearing the Pro Team II. It didn’t much matter whether I was doing intervals on the trainer at 65F with my fan cranked up or riding hard on the road on a sunny, 75F day with nothing other than the apparent wind from my forward motion to do the cooling.
Over a longer ride, especially if the temperature were to rise or drop a good deal, I’d want better breathability and sweat-wicking than what the Pro Team II offers.
Rapha’s signature horizontal bands get hidden by your jersey, but the brand name is prominently displayed on both your legs.
Of course, Rapha has created a style and brand that many want to be associated with. Your jersey will hide their signature bands on the left strap of these cycling bib shorts. But you do get the Rapha name in 1.5″/ 35mm tall white lettering on the left gripper band and the same in black on the right one to make it clear to everyone whose kit you are wearing.
You can get a lot out of bib shorts that are good all-arounders. These Rapha Pro Team Bib Shorts II also seem like they’ll last a long time based on the many washes they’ve now come through unfazed.
That said, it’s hard to get behind paying more for these US$290/£195/€?270 Rapha bib shorts whose performance doesn’t excel in any area unless you are one of the many fans of Rapha. If that’s you, these cycling bib shorts will complement your other Rapha kit. You can pick them up at Competitive Cyclist and Sigma Sports.
GIORDANA FR-C PRO – A RELAXED FIT FOR THOSE THAT PREFER IT
Choosing between bib shorts that are the right cut for you – hip width, waist height, leg length – is always the best place to start. Once you’ve narrowed your options to those with the right cut, you can pick between those that give you the fit you want, for example, how much leg compression and strap tension. and material stretch you prefer at a price you’re willing to pay.
While I think most enthusiasts want a more supportive fit, I get that there is a place for looser-fitting bib shorts for some of us. If that’s you and you are a bigger rider than most, the Giordana FR-C Pro is a bib short worth considering.
Yes, the FR-C Pro comes in all sizes. But the M, L, and XL sizes each span a 4-inch, 10-cm range. For example, with my 31-32″ waist, I went with the M, which the size chart says will fit those whose waists run 28-32″.
And it’s a generous cut. The hips are standard width, the waist is moderately high, and the inseam is longer than most. Add to that, the FR-C Pro catches but doesn’t provide much opposition to your gut and love handles. Nor do the straps work very hard keeping the shorts in place, or do the shorts themselves give you any compression.
They aren’t overstretched with gaps or loose as I’ve felt with worn bib-less shorts or several under US$100 pairs of bibs or cycling shorts. But neither are they the kind of second-skin, flexibly stretching, muscle-supportive bib shorts I prefer for fast, long rides.
I actually felt quite relaxed wearing these Giordana and thought these were a pair of bib shorts I could learn to love if I were 5-10 lbs over my target weight. (I was 3-4 lbs above where I wanted to be when I tested them.) But when I hit that next climb, my legs start telling my head not to fall for bib shorts that could cut my mid-section any slack.
The chamois looks like a basic foam pad. But it’s wide and long on both ends and thick enough to give me a comfortable ride. Adding to the comfort, I found the back panel and shorts material on the inner thighs and under the pad to be sufficiently breathable on hot days.
I haven’t tested many bib shorts recently with the kind of flatlock, visible seams that used to be the standard design you get with the Giordana FR-C Pro. But these are just as comfortable as the hidden outside, longer inside ones on most of today’s top bib shorts.
As a slim-cut, moderately trim enthusiast that prefers close-fitting and responsive bib shorts, the Giordana FR-C Pro isn’t for me. But in an age of “you do you”, the more relaxed feeling you get riding these may give you an option that suits you even at their bigger US$250 price.
You can order them at this link to recommended stores Competitive Cyclist, BTD (BikeTiresDirect), Performance Bicycle, and Amazon.
PEARL IZUMI PRO BIB SHORT – BETTER THAN BEFORE, BUT ROOM TO IMPROVE
When I was a recreational weekend warrior type of rider, I exclusively wore Pearl Izumi shorts, not bib shorts. I liked how they fit, and their $60 price seemed right. I’d keep 2-3 pairs around and replace the oldest pair yearly with a new one of the same model I had always bought.
It was like wearing the same two or three dark suits to the office when I used to wear suits and people used to go to an office.
When I became a cycling enthusiast (zoom-zoom), I discovered bib shorts and the world of high-priced, long-lasting kit. I no longer considered Pearl Izumi, associating them with my formative cycling life and subconsciously moving forward.
Snobby, right? Guilty.
Well, Pearl Izumi has stepped up its game, or at least its price, and now sells bib shorts in the $200 or so price range.
My latest experience with Pearl Izumi’s Expedition PRO Bib Short indicates they are moving in the right direction but are not yet competitive with the top tier of performers.
PI uses a new chamois in the Expedition PRO I rode about a dozen times for this review and in their other PRO bib shorts models that they call the Levitate. While it doesn’t literally or figuratively cause your butt to rise and hover in the air, it is a step up from the pad they used in last year’s PRO that I tested.
While the padding is improved and provides adequate comfort on typical 2-3 hour rides, it’s no better or worse than the average chamois across the bib shorts I’ve worn. I’d prefer the material to be a bit softer, extend a bit further up front, and have ventilation holes to bring more airflow to that area.
I also found it an odd and, at times, uncomfortable design choice to rub up against the PI logo that’s recessed into the top front of the chamois.
Seems a rather odd and, at times, uncomfortable place for a logo.
The short legs are nicely form-fitting. I got the sensation of compression, especially in the 2”/50mm silicone-beaded, integrated gripper area. There’s not much elasticity or two-way stretch in the material, however, so I couldn’t tell if the compression came from the material’s properties or the shorts being cut a little smaller than usual around my quads.
Further up around my glutes, hips, and midsection, the Expedition PRO is more of a standard width cut. The limited amount of stretch and the contrast in how the cycling bibs are sized or cut above and below the glutes makes for an uneven fit.
Add to that, the straps are essentially inert. They are made of the same less-than-elastic material used in the shorts. As such, they provided no help in holding up the midsection panels of the PRO shorts and the glute and hip area that already felt a bit looser than the area below.
I do like the smart-phone size pockets sewn into each leg. Rather than using a see-through mesh, the pocket tops also use the same material as in the shorts. This gave me the sense that I could tuck away gels or wrappers without disturbing the look of the shorts.
The side pockets and just barely larger single rear pocket likely led Pearl Izumi to name these bib shorts the Expedition PRO. Compared to the best cargo or gravel bib shorts we’ve tested, there’s a good deal less storage space. These are better suited to a mid-length road ride than a self-sufficient off-road one. I also found the height and location of the rear pocket hard to access unless I stopped.
That rear pocket could have benefited from a mesh top too. Either the double layer of shorts material in that area or the large size of the lower back panel made me sweat more than normal in that area on most summer days. There are also a fair number of internal seams around there and in the shorts that can get annoying at times.
The Expedition and un-pocketed base PRO models come in a range of colors and prints that can add some life to your dull, black bib-shorts existence. Some of the most colorful highlights get covered by your jersey but the inks and shimmer in the shorts alone set them apart from most cycling bibs I’ve seen on the road.
The Pearl Izumi Pro Bib Short and Expedition Pro Bib Short, which sell for US$225 and up, can be ordered at these links to Competitive Cyclist, BTD (BikeTiresDirect), Performance Bicycle, and Amazon.
TREK VELOCIS AND CIRCUIT BIB SHORT – FOR TALLER, THIN CYCLISTS DOING SHORT RIDES
Trek’s new Velocis and Circuit bib short models are so similar in their cut, fit, and comfort that it’s hard to tell them apart. Even their prices, while slightly different, are both less than most of the men’s bib shorts we’ve reviewed here.
For these reasons, we’re reviewing them together. And because of the cut of these Trek bib shorts, Nate was the best one of the In The Know Cycling reviewing team to test them out.
Trek Velocis Bib Short above and Circuit Bib Short below (photos by Kenji; flower gardens and modeling by Nate)
At 6 feet/183cm and 155lbs/70kg, even Nate’s favored Assos bib shorts in size Medium tug down on his shoulders slightly and are a bit shorter on his legs than he’d prefer. The Trek bib shorts fit his added trunk and leg length better yet aren’t cut wider across his hips and quads, something he’s often found in other shorts made for taller riders.
The recycled nylon/elastane combination knit material is soft and supple from the suspenders on down through the shorts. Both the Velocis and Circuit give you that “second-skin” feel with the right amount of stretch and breathability combined with their dialed panel sizes to almost make you initially forget that you are wearing bib shorts.
After an hour or so, the reality that you are wearing bib shorts, and specifically these Trek bib shorts, does kick in. That’s because the chamois on both are “woefully underpadded” in Nate’s experience and are a big disappointment because, for him, they are otherwise “almost perfect.”
Under 30 mile/50 km weekday morning group rides or commutes to work? Fine. Anything longer than 2 hours? No, not unless you have a heavily padded saddle (or butt) or you enjoy long coffee shop breaks and don’t want that diaper-like feeling you get from some other shorts.
The chamois on the Velocis and Circuit have the exact same shape and amount of padding and are sewn into the bibs in the same way. While the Velocis feels slightly smoother in his hand, Nate said his behind couldn’t tell any difference.
How do you tell them apart if not the cut, fit, or chamois? The Circuit bibs use a separate panel for the quad grippers. However, both shorts use silicone dots to hold the shorts in place on your thighs. And, the leg length and compression seem to be the key to preventing the shorts from moving up your legs.
The Velocis has an extra panel made of a somewhat different material around your midsection. It’s hard to tell what the purpose of that panel is; it didn’t seem to affect anything in Nate’s ride experience. Both bib shorts are cut low enough in the front and have enough stretch in the suspenders to gain quick access for a roadside “nature break.”
Price appears to be the only noticeable difference between the two cycling bibs, but it’s hard to tell why. Available by clicking these links to their online store, Trek sells the Velocis cycling bib shorts for US$145/£110/€135 and the Circuit cycling bib shorts for US$115/£85/€110. If you are a taller, thin cyclist planning on doing shorter rides, either of these will work for you, but I don’t see any reason to spend more for the Velocis.
On the other hand, these same shorts with a far better chamois would give Trek a great, long-ride bib option for riders who find many cycling bibs a bit shorter than they would prefer for their size. Perhaps Trek will add this to their higher-end RSL line, which currently lacks a bib short model.
Trek does make RSL and Circuit LTD cycling jerseys Nate tested and which, in contrast to the bib shorts, are quite different and seemingly purpose-built.
Trek RSL Cycling jersey
The RSL Cycling jersey is sheer and hugs you like a second skin with nary a wrinkle. There are no extraneous seams or panels. And it’s not too tight or constrictive, so you don’t have to suck in your belly to get the zipper started.
Nate proclaimed, “This jersey is a go-to for any warm weather ride where I would typically wear a 1-piece skinsuit, that is, if I owned one.” Think short-time trials on warm summer days, 25 mph/40 kph average speed group rides, or other road races where aero is important, and you don’t have to wear a custom team kit or jersey full of logos.
The RSL jersey definitely feels like a pro-level design. But don’t plan on carrying your max-size smartphone or a lot of gels or anything that you need to regularly access from inside its small pockets. Wouldn’t be aero. Wouldn’t be enough room either.
On the flip side, the Circuit LTD cycling jersey fits well, though is not nearly as snug as the RSL or aero-oriented. It’s also not a summer weight.
Trek Circuit LTD jersey
Instead, the Circuit and its warmer, heavier weave is the kind of cool Spring or Fall morning jersey you put on when it’s a day you’ll also be ready to put on arm warmers for part of your ride.
The collar comes up noticeably higher on Nate’s neck as well, adding to its cozier feel. The dimensions are dead-on for his neck diameter so it doesn’t feel too tight when zipped all the way up, nor too baggy or overly ventilated.
Its three back pockets are normally sized. The Circuit also has a 4th, smaller pocket unsecured by a zipper that’s sewn onto the back of the left pocket. While nice to have that extra pocket, it doesn’t have a clear purpose, and being somewhat unconventional, it’s easy to stick your fingers into it when you’re actually trying to pull out something from the larger pocket that it sits on top of.
You can order the RSL (US$175/£110/€125) and Circuit LTD (US$90/£65/€75) cycling jerseys from Trek’s online store.
CASTELLI PREMIO BLACK BIBSHORT – GREAT LEG SUPPORT BUT SHORT CHAMOIS
Castelli updated their Premio bib shorts in 2021 and renamed them the Premio Black Bibshort. Despite the name, they come in both black and navy or Savile blue.
As best I can tell, the Premio Black is very similar to the original Premio it replaces. They both use the same shorts fabric and chamois and the cut is the same – slim, longer inseams, a low waist but higher sides. The strap material, length, width, and stretchiness are also unchanged.
The new Premio Black has grippers with a rubberized elastic weave that eliminates the need for the silicone ribs employed by the earlier model. It has a somewhat taller back panel that doesn’t integrate the straps as before. Whereas the original Premio had fire-engine red straps, the Premio black now matches the colors of the straps with the shorts, be it black or blue.
With little, if any significant change (the original grippers and back panel were already quite effective), what follows is the review I wrote about the original Premio.
The red straps are replaced by black ones, but the cut, fit, and chamois are the same in the new Premio Black model.
The Castelli Premio has three unique leg fit characteristics that I found worked well on longer rides.
First, the inseam or leg length is particularly long, an inch or two longer than most, and falls within an inch or so of your knee when you are out pedaling on the bike. As I’ll explain just below, that positively affects muscle compression and gives your upper legs a more even response to the riding temperature.
Secondly, unlike some cycling shorts that provide compression just from the grippers or from there and the material just above (or not at all), you feel compression with the Premio bib shorts everywhere. And because the bib shorts run nearly the full length of your quads and hamstrings rather than just the half or 2/3rds that most bibs cover those muscles, you get that compression on the lower parts of your quads and hammies that you don’t normally.
Third, the straps are such that they hold the back panel securely against your lower back and provide support to your muscles there. That’s something I’ve never noticed in other cycling bibs but something my back and I very much welcome on a long ride.
Likely to maintain that back panel support, the straps themselves are sturdy but not very stretchy. They’re just stretchy enough for a bio break without having to take your jersey off and lower your straps.
While they are perfectly fine while underway in a riding position, the straps aren’t terribly comfortable when you are sitting up on the bike. It’s almost as if they are telling you to get back into an aero position. They also fit a bit short walking around or sitting down at a cafe as you might expect. I’m probably average height for my waist size (5’10” and 31-32 inches), but if I were taller than average, the strap length and lack of stretch might be a bigger problem.
While both the Premio and Castelli’s Aero Race cycling bibs use the same Progetto X2 Air Seamless insert, I found the chamois material used in these bib shorts doesn’t extend up as far as I would have liked in the front. While the Forza woven bib short material Castelli uses in the short is perfectly comfortable and breathable, I found that having part of your privates resting against that material while other parts are tucked inside the chamois is a bit of an odd sensation.
The chamois padding itself is sufficiently thick for 2+ hour rides but not as comfortable as others in this review. I’ve found they give your support directly under your site bones but when you get out of the aero position, there is no padding for the fleshy part of your butt behind them. I’m likely to be out of the aero position if not sitting up a fair amount on longer rides and would appreciate the added padding that I find in most other cycling bib shorts.
Like most things Castelli, these are cut slim. If you have standard-width hips or prefer a more relaxed fit, this cut likely won’t work well for you.
The Premio Black is available for US$300/£200/€242 using these links to Competitive Cyclist, BTD (BikeTiresDirect), Merlin, Amazon, and Sigma Sports.
GORE C7 LONG DISTANCE – LIGHT AND AIRY BUT FIT AND CHAMOIS BELOW PAR
Gore’s built its reputation around fabrics, most notably the waterproof and windproof yet still highly breathable Gore-Tex. In its C7 Long Distance cycling bib shorts, Gore’s heritage of fabrics shows up with very light and breathable, quickly wicking, and comfortable shorts and strap materials.
Unfortunately, the cut, fit, and comfort performance of these Gore bib shorts is average or off the back. Most notably, the sizing, compression, and chamois pad don’t keep up with most of the other bib shorts in this review.
I’ve worn a few pairs of Gore bib shorts designed for cooler, windier spring and fall temps and usually found them cut for standard hip-width riders. Before ordering the C7 Long Distance bib shorts, I studied the Gore Size Guide that includes not just waist ranges for their shorts but also inseam length and hip width ones. As I fell smack in the middle of the 2″ waist and hip size ranges for a Small, I expected a cut that would work well for me.
It doesn’t. If you’re interested in these cycling bibs, it’s probably best to be a stockier rider. Order it one size smaller, or order two sizes and return the one that doesn’t fit.
I also found that the C7 Long Distance straps, while very comfortable, don’t do anything to help keep the shorts in place. At 5′ 10″, I’m not short for size Small bib shorts. Perhaps the straps are just tall or aren’t designed to do the work of keeping your shorts in place.
Compression is also absent from these Gore bib shorts. The grippers work, but that’s where the hold on my muscles ended. 
I’m most disappointed by the C7’s chamois pad. It’s one of the many models made by Elastic Interface, which supplies pads for Gore and many other brands. But the EI model that Gore chose is too narrow in some spots and too wide in others, more of a rectangle than the hourglass or sculpted shape you see with most chamois pads.
The C7 pad’s widest, thickest section, which is supposed to go under your sit bones, it’s only 155mm across. That’s about 25mm narrower than most of the better pads I’ve tested and only about 15mm wider than the average saddle width. And in my groin area, the pad’s edges rubbed quite a bit against the inside of my legs.
It’s also a relatively thin pad. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but with a narrower pad and lighter material with little compression, that’s putting all the responsibility on you to keep your butt centered in just the right place on your saddle over a long ride.
Of course, kit is a personal thing, and your cut, fit, and comfort experience may differ significantly from mine. But for me, these bib shorts just don’t work.
If you’d like to give the Gore C7 Long Distance bib short a try, you can order them for US$200/£149/€183 at Competitive Cyclist and Amazon.
THE BLACK BIBS ULTIMATE – BEYOND THE PRICE, NOTHING I LIKED
Low price and great performance are the yin and yang of many cycling enthusiasts’ existence. We search for these two seemingly contrary characteristics that are often interdependent to our ability to enjoy and afford our passion.
What is the price of great performance? What performance can you attain at a low price?
While my understanding of Chinese cosmology is rather shallow and mystical, my pursuit of cycling gear and kit price and performance is deeper and more tangible.
When it comes to bib shorts, I’ve found you usually get what you pay for.
Yes, you can overpay for performance. Some of the bib shorts I’ve reviewed above that sell for US$250 or more are no better or even as good as those selling for around US$200. I’ve been clear about that in my reviews.
You can also get some deals on good performers but it’s usually when those that usually go for around US$200 or so are on sale at 20% to 30% off.
And while I continue to look for well-performing bib shorts that sell for US$100 or less and have reviewed models from dhb, Mavic, Hincapie, and a couple of other club bib shorts in that price range, I’ve not found any of that I would be happy to wear regularly or recommend for the number of rides and miles most of us enthusiasts do.
The Black Bibs have been quite a popular topic of discussion on cycling forums over the last several years. Bicycling rated them their Best Value cycling shorts in 2020 and gave them a great review. The base model sells for only US$40, the Plus for US$60, and the Ultimate for US$80.
Seeing this attention and after hearing from one of your fellow readers who said he wears either expensive Assos or $40 Black Bibs most of the time, I decided to buy and review them to add to this post. To give The Black Bibs the benefit of the doubt, I splurged on the $80 Ultimate.
To put it kindly, I was disappointed. Beyond the price, there was nothing I liked about them. I wore them on the trainer, on a couple of 2-hour outdoor training rides, and for one 4-hour, hard group ride.
They were so uncomfortable in so many ways that I stopped wearing them after my fourth ride.
For me, the chamois pad is both overly dense and too narrow for my 155 mm wide saddle. (143mm is the average or medium saddle width.) The first time I wore the Ultimate, I actually got off my bike after riding for 5 minutes, thinking the back of the saddle had been tilted up since my last time out. It wasn’t, and I later realized the sensation came from the stiff pad keeping my butt from settling on my saddle as it does when wearing other bib shorts.
While I washed them before that first ride and, of course, after every ride thereafter, the pad never loosened up. Neither did the straps, whose hems have so little stretch in them that I had to dip my shoulders to get into the cycling bibs.
The material that makes up the shorts themselves, however, did loosen. While never feeling any compression in my Ultimate size Small in the first place, they started to feel too loose and didn’t move or stretch with me at all.
The waist is cut high with the same tight strap hems continuing down across my midsection and sides of the Black Bibs. High and tight meant I could barely get my manhood out to take a pee.
The Black Bibs Ultimate isn’t nearly as breathable as other bibs I’ve worn, and its 5mm wide seams connecting its numerous panels aren’t very comfortable.
Yes, The Black Bibs do deliver on their claim of an affordable price and no labels. If that appeals to you, click this link to buy them directly. But if performance and comfort are important to you, put that money toward one of the better pairs of bib shorts I reviewed above. You’re likely to wear them far more often and lower the cost per ride below or on par with that of The Black Bibs.
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Thanks, and enjoy your rides safely! Cheers, Steve
Couldn’t agree more, although some of brands I haven’t tried admittedly. I do have the Castelli chamois in a pair of tights, and there really is no comparison. Assos has always had it for years, and years. Once you wear them, nothing else comes close. I have a pair of Centos, and S9’s on your recommendation. Yea, they’re expensive, but you really get what you pay for with Assos.
Being a bigger guy, I can understand your fit issues with Pearl, but once I sized down, from large to medium, most of the issues you described with your experience disappeared for me. I find mediums for my 5’10”, 180lb wider hipped frame to be just about perfect.
Additionally one of the things I appreciate about Pearl Izumi’s chamois is the simplicity of its design. With the 1/2 dozen other brand bibs I’ve worn (Rapha, Specialized, Castelli, Pactimo, Giordano, etc), I’ve found the channeling in the chamois to be almost over-engineered with the many, multiple, sometimes seemingly extraneous channels folding onto each other and becoming very uncomfortable to ride on after 45-55 miles (they’ve been relegated to my short range ride pile). It’s almost like the industry decided if 1-2 channels were good, then marketing declared eleven-teen channels would be even “better” and the “channel” wars commenced ?.
Anyways, just wanted to share my positive experience with Pearl Izumi. Interestingly, my next favorite bibs are from Assos and I use their tights exclusively for cold weather riding.
I’ve been cycling for over 40 years and feel the market is out of control! I am not paying $200+ for cycling bibs, unless they have jet packs on them! Shop around there are good reasonably priced well fitting bibs out there. Maybe I missed the point of this article but enough is enough!
Excellent article as always. I’ve heard for years that Assos are THE shorts/bibs. After reading the article, I took the plunge and purchased the GTS bibs. Very impressed. I was hoping for a bit more butt comfort, but I’ve had that problem with every pair of shorts and bibs I’ve used because I am very lean and don’t have much meat on the butt.
I was wondering if you have looked at the DeSoto 400 mile bibs. I ride in them and they are excellent in quality, fit, and comfort.
Thanks again for all your hard work.
Mal, thanks for your feedback and support of the site.
Looked up the DeSoto 400s. Interesting. 14mm thick chamois – about 50% thicker than anything I’ve seen before – and pockets on the thighs and across the back like the gravel cargo bib shorts I reviewed earlier this year would definitely qualify for a lonnnng ride.
Cheers, Steve
Just to update, I purchased the ASSOS MILLE GTS BIB SHORTS and have used them on several rides. They are excellent, as you have described. The compression fit is very different but feels great and is very supportive. That being said, the DeSoto 400 bibs I originally posted are as comfortable, and I think I like the padding just a bit more than the Assos.
Hey Steve,
Very informative article, thank you so much per usual.
Would love to hear your opinion on the Search and State S4 Bib shorts. Just bought a pair and think they feel great but would love to see how it compares to the others of the pack.
Thomas, Thanks, I’ll check them out. Steve
Thank for your usual in depth analysis, but at 6’6″ I’ve yet to try bibs just due to the sizing issues. I wear the tall size shorts from Aerotech and really have no issue with them except that while everything else about them seems upsized, the chamois seems the same as in normal shorts. Just wonder what your taller friends find works for them.
Great information, but I have to disagree with your assessment of the Black Bibs. I am 52 years old, 200 pounds and 6feetvtall and I ride an average of 250 miles a week. I ride everywhere In the Texas hill country and have been using the black bibs for over two seasons now. I love them and choose them over the higher priced brands
Steve, Thanks for your comment. Tell me/us more. What do you love about The Black Bibs and what other bibs have you tried and chosen them over? Thanks, Steve
Thanks for your review; great content as always. I figured I’d give my two cents as I just tried two on the list. I purchased the GTS and FRC this week and the GTS virtually disappeared on my first ride. Extremely comfortable; probably the most comfortable bibs Ive ever worn. I’m interested at how much more comfortable the GTS could possibly be considering the $350 price tag. However, compared to the Equipe S9, I did miss some of the compression that short provides. I also feel like the bibs come up higher than the Equipe, which is a good thing in my book.
The Giordana didn’t do it for me. I really wanted to like them, but the chamois was way too big and felt very awkward in the front when climbing out of the saddle. I was always aware of the bib straps. I’ve always worn Assos and I’ll definitely be sticking with them.
Correction: I meant to say “GTO” when mentioning the $350 price tag, not the GTS.
Update: I just “raced” BWR NC and it confirmed that the Assos are supremely comfortable over many hours
There’s a lot of useful detail in these reviews as is usual for ITKC – thanks!. I own three of the bibs covered here: Giordana FR-C, Pearl Izumi PRO and Rapha Pro Team II (along an older Assos Equipe S7 which is sorta similar to the Mille). My experiences with these are very different than that reported here: my favorite bibs are the P.I. Pro’s (the best bibs I’ve ever owned along with a La Passione Prestige not included here), the Giordana’s are 2nd, and the Rapha’s are crap (as were the Assos Equipe S7’s I briefly owned).
Why such a difference? To me it’s one thing to evaluate features of a bib objectively (e.g.,, density/shape/ventilation of a chamois); however, it is impossible to conclude from these features anything about whether a given bib will or won’t best for most everyone. And ITKC saying that “these bibs did not work for me but they might for you” only proves my point. The reason: there’s too many variables involved with people’s sizes, shapes, riding position, sit bone & perineum sensitivity, concerns about “muffin tops” & “love handles”, the type of saddle they use, riding position etc. along with the variables involved in each bib design.
Therefore I find ITKC’s need to list the bibs here in order from best to worst to be a disservice. For example, I do not like low waisted bibs since (at age 66) gravity is having it’s way even with the tiny body fat I have and therefore I don’t want to own a bib which accentuates this (so for me the Assos quickly goes to the bottom of the list…ITKC did mention this and the pics show it but it must not be a priority to him). OTOH higher waisted bibs (many of those at the bottom of the list) rise to the top but only if the material above the waist is mesh rather than Lycra (I ignore the lack of mesh above the waist issue with the P.I. PRO’s since no bib is perfect). Therefore ITKC should forget listing these bibs from best to worse and instead focus more on how each one’s features might be better for some and worse for others and let the reader figure out which bib might be the “best” for them.
Additionally ITKC also focuses on certain aspects of bib design as if they are fundamental to a great bib. One example is muscle compression. I personally have never experienced any benefit in my muscle “performance” (even on 100mi. rides) from a bib that is more compressive than another (my Giordana’s are more compressive than my PRO’s yet I feel better on long rides in my PRO’s). Instead I look at compression completely differently: if that compression is what’s needed to keep the legs from creeping up and chamois moving around then I’m all in.
Finally it’s possible that a lot of what ITKC is finding here is based on variations due to the size selected. ITKC’s description of the P.I. PRO sounds like he either got a 2nd or is in the wrong size since it doesn’t fit like mine (and I am a skinny 125lbs. that doesn’t have the wider/fuller frame that ITKC thinks these bibs are designed for). I don’t know how big he is but these bibs do run large like most brands not from Italy and so I bought a sz. XS (which might be what he needed). I could imagine that I’d think the same way about these bibs as ITKC I if had bought them a sz. Small. And ITKC has to be the only reviewer of the Giordana FR-C’s that has ever said that they are “relaxed”. Even in a sz. Small the FR-C’s are Castelli-like snug and compressive on me so, again, maybe he got the wrong size.
Ira, Thanks for sharing your experience. As your comments and the ones above them show, we’re all different and what works for me doesn’t work for everyone. I welcome everyone’s experience and different opinions.
While I do appreciate your third-person references to “ITKC” perhaps so it doesn’t look like you’re criticizing me, Steve, directly, I make no pretense to suggest this is anything but my evaluation of the cut, fit, and comfort of these bib shorts on me, according to what I describe matters most. That’s actually the format of most of the reviews on ITKC be it ones like these where I’m the only one to test the kit or gear or others where my fellow testers provide added perspective that I include in the reviews.
If it came across that my view or bib ranking is the only one worth considering, I missed the mark. It’s just my view, take from it whatever you like.
While I do try to suggest who might prefer some bib shorts more than others based on things like leg length, waist height, compression, etc., my ranking is clearly based on my experience with the bib shorts. I do detail what I think matters most to me and other enthusiasts and provide details about my height, weight, saddle/sit bone width, etc. and cut and fit preferences in sections at the top as reference points.
So while I generally agree with you that we’ll all have different sizes and preferences or rankings when it comes to bib shorts and that I’m sharing mine in the ratings, I will defend myself when it comes to the PI Pro.
These came directly from PI in PI packaging so not a 2nd. While my waist size is 31-32″, I ordered the small which is listed by PI as 29.5″-31.5″ on their size chart. Further, all the user reviews for these shorts on Competitive Cyclist say the shorts fit “true to size”. So getting them a size smaller wouldn’t have made sense from a pure size or fellow user experience standpoint. I may have gotten a mislabled pair but the other things I mentioned about the straps, chamois, and compression were generally independent of size.
But again, that’s my take and I respect am glad to hear they work for you.
Best,
Steve
All good and, despite my critique (and my response to the “rankings”), the information provided is of great use!
I just bought a pair of the Santini Tono Dinamos based on this review. I am very happy with them so far. The material is excellent and fits my body better than any other bib shorts I’ve tried (I’m 6’3″, 215 lbs with a barrel chest, thicker thighs and no butt). My only gripe right now is that there is quite a bit of padding in the front center which is putting a little more pressure on soft tissues than I would like, but that is probably more of a saddle problem (or maybe just in contrast to the last pair that may have had too little there).
Also, those leg grippers are GRIPPY. Like, caught on my ankles and had to work to get them up from there. That said, once they are in place you totally forget about them and the bibs stay in place wonderfully (same goes for the chamois).
Thanks for the great reviews and detailed comments on gear.
Josh, thanks for your feedback. Steve
I have the same “caught on my ankles” issue with my P.I. Pro’s and La Passione Prestige bibs (they both have raw-cut bandless leg openings with sticky applied silicone). I just flip the bottom of the legs up when they’re just below my knees, pull ’em up past my knees to where they’ll sit and then flip them back down…otherwise the lycra will probably stretch out faster than necessary (or worse)? I’m happy to go through this ritual since it tells me that the legs won’t be creeping up anytime soon. Hope that helps!
Steve (or anyone else): I’m tempted to try the Ale R-EV1 Hammer’s but I recently learned that there is no applied silicone to the leg openings to help hold them in place (I didn’t see this information in Steve’s review but confirmed this via an email to Ale in which they replied “it will hold it’s place due to the compression of the fabric”).
Nevertheless I am a bit leary about how well the legs will stay in place without the help of grippy silicone. My experience is that the generously applied (i.e., thick) silicone on the P.I. PRO’s keep them locked in place while every other brand with less silicone (e.g., the light/thinly applied diamond pattern of the Rapha Pro Team) do not stay in place as well, and I once owned a Gore C5 bib w/o any silicone at the leg openings and they would speedily creep up my legs. I’ve learned the hard way that bibs need to fit me very tightly at the leg openings (regardless of any “sausage leg effect’) so I don’t think that’s the issue (esp. since the P.I. PRO’s don’t use the most compressive lycra). Anyway….
Any thoughts about how well the Ale R-EV1 Hammer’s legs stay in place via “compression only” (preferably based on a number of uses/washings since that’s a more true test of how they will perform over the year or two in which a bibshort seems to be “in it’s prime”)?
Ira, I’ve worn and washed them at least a dozen times and I’ve never noticed them creeping up on my legs. Steve
I’ve been very happy with Le Col Hors Categorie bib shorts for long outdoor rides as well as indoor trainer. I will probably give the ASSOS MILLE GTS BIB SHORTS a try too now. Thanks for the great reviews and please keep them coming!
Hi Steve,
Thanks very much for the comprehensive comparison. Always enjoy your reviews very much.
Am looking for a long distance bib currently and i have Endura Pro SL in mind.
Do you mind telling me what size was the one you tested? I think we’re pretty much the same built and their size chart doesn’t say much.
Thanks. Appreciate your help.
best regards,
Ken
Ken, I ordered the Endura Pro SL in size small, wide pad. You can see it by clicking this link. Steve
Note: Site may earn a commission when you order after clicking on store links.
Thank you Steve. Appreciate your help.
Hello Steve,
Could you please comment on the Assos Mille GTS sizing and fit rcompare to the Cento Evo model ?
Tnx
Nir,
I’ve found they fit the same. In my experience, Assos sizing is consistent across their kit. Steve
You can order the Mille GT here and here for US and Canadian residents and here and here for those living in the UK or other countries around the world.
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Hi Steve,
Thank you.
Usually in the “Long distance” Assos bib like the Cento S7 + Evo serires i needed to downsize to get a snug fit. I am 191 cm tall, 73 ks and wear size S. The problem is that the insea is a bit short.
When i tried the RSR (most compressed fabric) in size MD, i had extra fabric and foldings near the groin.But it is more a fit isuue rather than size.
Nir
Steve – I recently scored a pair of T.Cento_S7’s in a sz. XS at a ridiculously low price (which is as it should be given that they were last produced 3yrs.+ ago). I wanted to see if these would negate the bad experience I had with the T.Equipe_S7’s about 7yrs. ago due to sizing (they were a sz. Small and the chamois would ride back so far that my sit bones would no longer sit on the chamois’s padding…I only recently learned that Assos considers my 28″ waist & 35″ hips barely big enough for even a sz. XS).
Anyway the Cento’s sz. XS fixed the chamois fit issue (and the Cento’s added 2mm of padding rides like a dream…and then there’s the silly pleasure of a KuKu penthouse). But it did remind me that Assos leg lengths are unusually short. If I recall the Equipe’s were about 3″-ish above the top of my knee caps (I like it between 1″-2″ which is what I get from most other modern bibs). But with the snugger fit of the Cento’s they ride up even higher at nearly 4″ above my knees. Not quite a deal breaker though my wife said “any shorter and they’ll look like hot pants”.
Long story short does the Mille GTS or RS S9 have longer leg lengths vs. the previous S7/EVO models (not counting the Mille GTO’s “Long Length” model)?
Thanks!
Ira, I don’t think so. I’ve found Assos leg lengths to be pretty consistent across different models I’ve worn. But I’d suspect that leg length correlates with bib size so an XS may be shorter than an S. Steve
BTW I recently tried on the Assos Mille C2 GTS & GTO bibs and they both have substantively longer leg lengths than my T.Cento_S7’s (1-1/2” and 2” longer respectively). This is a great improvement since the short length of the Cento’s (along with the not-very-grippy leg grippers) means they ride up and don’t hold the chamois in place as well as I’d like. Unfortunately the fit of the GTS is a bit too loose (especially the leg bands which are also not very grippy) such that I’m afraid they will also tend to ride up. OTOH the GTO’s are significantly snugger fitting (especially in the lower leg and leg openings which also have much more effective grippers) and feel fantastic (21mm thick chamois anyone?)…so I will be keeping them despite their ridiculous price. Will report back when I have some meaningful miles on them.
I just wore the Assos Mille GTO on a 5,000’ climbing ride and I now think that they are are as close to perfect as anything I’ve ever owned. Unlike the Cento’s (and probably the GTS’s too due to their looser lower leg fit on me and less effective grippers) the legs don’t ride up which also helps keep the chamois in place (which, if it doesn’t, is my #1 reason for hating a bibshort).
Of course the chamois seems a bit overkill on paper (i.e., about 22mm in overall thickness) but the top “filter foam” layer seems more for moisture transport than padding so it probably feels in the saddle more like the GTS’s ~18mm chamois (which I’d be happy with too esp. if Assos dropped the GTO’s absurd $350 price accordingly). Either way the chamois is quite thick; however, it has a small “footprint” (it doesn’t extend beyond the sides of my saddle) so it doesn’t have that “diaper” feel, the dense lower layer of foam isolates me from the saddle and road “noise” better then even my previous endurance chamois fave: Sportful’s Total Comfort, and it transports moisture as well as much thinner chamois’.
I’d say the GTO is a step up from the GTS (or I should say it should be for its $130 premium) if you prefer a tighter race fit (except for the loose-ish waist which only seems to enhance its comfort despite my narrow 28” girth), a bit longer leg length (~1/2”), and more tenacious leg grippers; but with a similarly thick/comfy yet still dense endurance chamois. The only negative is perhaps Steve’s well-documented “overflow” issue (though the waist is higher on me than that shown in Steve’s pics so my muffin-top is mostly covered and my love handles disappear once I fill my jersey pockets). Cheers!
Thanks for the response Steve!
BTW – I’m working my way through some of your other recommended bibs that look best for me (and which I can find in a sz. XS at a reasonable discount). So I recently also bought the Endura Pro SL’s. Other than the chamois (as you noted) they are as close to perfect for my skinny body. The hips & legs as comfortably snug as anything I’ve ever worn (including Castelli Free Aero’s which are my benchmark for a snugly conforming fit). I also love the straps, leg length (2″ above my knee caps), the tenacious leg grippers and find that their “lumbar support panel” not only makes my lower back happy but seems to add to the bibs ability to keep the chamois in place. OTOH The anatomically shaped area in the chamois’ front (with the small insert of a mesh-like material) does add a slight bit of useful space & ventilation but is otherwise a lame attempt at a KuKu Penthouse (more like a KuKu Tiny House to follow your naming convention lead).
Now about that chamois. I agree with you that it doesn’t have any extra padding in the rear for more upright riding. However to put a finer point on this for me: what I really dislike is that the thickest area of padding is overall unusually small (i.e., the padding quickly tapers down in thickness towards the back/sides/center) and that unpadded center channel is very wide and becomes ridiculously wide towards the rear of the chamois. The result is that one of my sit bones can end up in the unpadded center channel and/or on one of the lightly padded side edges (or both). So far I’m managing this by making sure the chamois is in the proper side-to-side and fore-aft position when I 1st get on the bike (and the snug fit means it generally stays there). However wearing bibs on a bike ride shouldn’t be a science project so I wish Endura chose to instead maintain the chamois’ thickest padding through a much greater % of the chamois especially towards the rear (which is pretty much what most other bib makers do). Oh well!
Hi Steve,
First , thanks for all your work and experience which has benefited me tremendously. I’ve heeded your recommendations more than once and have not been disappointed.
I’ve taken the R-EV1 Hammer for a few spins and was amazed at the support and comfort, especially considering how thin the padding feels compared to my high-end Castelli’s, etc.
Question: do you find that the R-EV1 Hammer takes longer to air-dry than other bibs? When I hang my Castellis to dry after washing in the evening they’re completely dry by morning, but the Hammers have taken up to an additional half to most of a day to dry. I dry my bibs inside out (chamois on the outside). Please advise.
With appreciation,
Adam
Adam, Thanks for your kind feedback. Glad the reviews are working for you. I welcome your support of the site and from anyone who feels the same so I can keep things going. Sorry to lay that on you but your last name got me thinking… 🙂
I really haven’t considered the drying time of bibs. I’m lucky enough to have a half dozen pair that I like or am testing at any given time so usually have 2 or 3 hanging on the air-dry rack (inside out also) that I can choose from (and the rest in the laundry basket or a drawer). I get that drying time can be an issue especially if you are traveling light and need your bibs to dry for the next day. Guess the safest thing might be to carry an extra/emergency pair. Steve
a – thanks for the reviews. i’m curious on the size of your top rated assos that you tested/wore. i’m 6’0″ and 140 lbs so pretty close to your dimensions. as my racing has approached zero – i no longer wear team clothing (borah – pretty good high end stuff imo), so i’m in the game for comfy stuff. i’ll def use your links in case it helps at all. sincerely, rick
Rick. I’d suggest a small. That’s what I wear. And thanks for supporting the site. Steve
a – thanks for the quick reply on size with the assos bibs. unfortunately, small is out of stock on both of your usa links. so…. maybe those ale shorts…. but, do you have size recommendation for those also (please). ale looks tougher to find in the us (except for amazon – but hopefully ordering via your link will help you a smidge?) and there is very little in the amazon – reviews sphere mentioning sizing. FWIW (not much!) my favorite bibs have been certain runs of specialized’s top bib short – but they are not very long lasting.
Rick, check again, the Assos small is in stock at the second store link. Steve
wowzers! you have some zen magic. when i checked it said not available. i ordered this am – looking forward to checking these out! eventual next item may be changing my wheels to go with something optimized for 28 tires (and maybe tubeless if the growing pains are just about all ironed out). my current enve 5/6 have served me incredibly well with 25 tires and latex tubes, but approaching senility (55) has me prioritizing the comfort of 28 even if i sacrifice a little speed. thanks for the super quick feedback. i hope using your links helps you a bit. sincerely, rick. just in case i opt for a 2nd pair of sweet bibs and go the ale/amazon route – what size of those did you try/would you rec for 6’0″ 140lb old me?
Rick,
Wheels – Check out https://intheknowcycling.com/how-wide-wheels-wide-tires-make-you-faster/ and https://intheknowcycling.com/best-carbon-road-bike-wheels/
Bibs – I wore size Small bibs in all those tested for this review.
Best, Steve
One more comment about Assos, they last forever! The construction is superb. In the long run, they would actually be less expensive than having to buy new shorts every year.
I’d love to know what you think of Voler in your next review. I really like their kit and they are made in America.
Steve love your reviews and respect your independent assessment. I am a bit surprised at your review and positioning of the Castillo shorts in this review. I have Ale shorts with H8 pad , Assos Equipe RS S9 sbib shorts and many pairs of Castillo shorts withe the old and new X2 pad. I rate the Castillo equivalent to the S9 for comfort in both pad and fabric. Cut on the assos is probably slightly better, but feel of the Castillo is better imho. I rate both those brands as top of the tree. Ale is also very good but not quite at the level of the other 2. I am 68.5kgs and 167cm tall, so shorter version of you and just turned 60. Ps. I have used Castillo shorts on many 8 to 11 hr rides and found them comfy to the end. Keep up the great work. It is appreciated by all us weekend warriors. Regards tony
Got the Assos CTS C2, again on your recommendation. Nothing comes close! I’ve probably said it before , they last forever as well. Got a pair of Cento’s, S9’s, both are 3 years old and no degradation in chamois, or fabric.