The best cycling bib shorts you can buy in 2020
WHILE they might seem a bit extreme to some, bib shorts are the best thing to wear on your bottom half when riding your bike – be it a race-ready road bike or even an off-road-only mountain bike.
Their design is built with comfort in mind, and once you invest in your first set, you’re not likely to go back to anything else.
Bib shorts are similar in design to a standard pair of waist cycling shorts, but instead of being secured by a waistband, a set of straps – similar to braces – keep the shorts in place.
They have a number of similarities with waist shorts – they’re skin-tight to minimise friction from loose fabric, include a chamois (the padding that boosts comfort between the bike’s saddle and your nether regions) and can be worn under a pair of looser mountain bike shorts if you want to keep your modesty intact. Oh, and you don’t need to wear underwear.
The most noticeable difference between bib shorts and waist shorts, other than the inclusion of some straps, is their cost, with the former tending to be more expensive. This is because of the additional material required, but also because bib shorts tend to include more advancements in cycling clothing technology – be it a better chamois, improved sweat wicking or a more breathable fabric.
Not sure where to start in your search? Here are seven of the best bib shorts you can buy in 2020, whatever your budget.
1. Van Rysel RR 900 Cycling Bib Shorts
- Van Rysel RR 900 cycling bib shorts, £49.99 from Decathlon – buy here
Decathlon’s in-house clothing brand, Van Rysel, does a great line of kit that belies its entry-level price, and its RR 900 bib shorts are no different.
Designed in conjunction with a professional development team, these shorts have been created and tested in some of the most testing environments around, so should stand up for whatever you’ve got planned.
The triple-density chamois includes gel inserts for even more comfort when in the saddle, while mesh straps and a quick drying polyester and elastane fabric should keep you dry when things get tough.
At 1p under £50, they might be some of the cheapest bib shorts around, but can rival those twice their price.
2. Dhb Aeron bib shorts
- Dhb Aeron bib shorts, £60 from Wiggle – buy here
Another in-house clothing brand from a big retailer, Dhb is Wiggle’s own kit line but don’t let that put you off.
Its Aeron collection offers up endurance-focused designs for less, and the line’s updated bib shorts combine all-day comfort, ride after ride.
The brand claims that the updated chamois should provide seven hours of comfort – making them ideal for long-distance sportives or rides – while Italian fabrics keep things breathable and ventilated, even on scorching days.
The mesh straps support the shorts without digging into your shoulders, and a panel between the two helps with moisture wicking on your back.
Finally, the legs are kept in place with some silicone grippers, ensuring they don’t ride up and your summer tan lines stay nice and crisp.
3. Sportful Bodyfit Classic Team bib short
- Sportful Bodyfit Classic Team bib short, £85 from Wiggle – buy here
The Italian clothing specialist Sportful is preferred by those in the know for its combination of top-of-the-range technology for mid-tier pricing.
Its Bodyfit Classic Team is the entry-level model in its bib short range, but don’t let that put you off.
The main selling point is the brand’s BodyFit Pro seat pad – a chamois that has been worn during numerous World Championship wins by road cycling ace Peter Sagan, and is renowned for its comfort and capabilities.
The shorts combine Lycra and an aero-focused compression material that helps minimise friction and chaffing while also supporting the muscles in your leg.
Up top, the mesh fabric used for the straps and back support has been design with comfort and moisture wicking in mind.
The shorts are finished in a flourish with a black, green or gold band around the bottom of the thighs, allowing you to mix and match with the rest of your wardrobe.
4. Rapha Core Cargo bib shorts
- Rapha Core Cargo bib shorts, £110 from Rapha – buy here
Although renowned for its eye-watering prices, premium British brand Rapha has introduced a more affordable Core range that opens up its kit to the masses without noticeably affecting its quality. The Core Cargo bib shorts are a perfect example.
Almost half the price of their range-topping sibling (which cost £195), they are certainly not half the bib short.
In fact, they include the exact same chamois – one of the thickest around – so comfort is boosted even on the roughest terrain.
Savings have been made in the fabrics used elsewhere, but as this is Rapha, you can still expect a premium looking and feeling kit.
Their most interesting feature though is the inclusion of side pockets, which act like those on the back of a cycling jersey and are handy for storing food, multitools or even stuffing a jacket in.
5. Pedal Ed Heiko bib shorts
- Pedal Ed Heiko bib shorts, £111 from Pedal Ed – buy here
Premium Japanese-designed, Italian-built clothing maker Pedal Ed isn’t as well known as some of the other brands featured on this list, but its Heiko bib shorts simply had to be included in a round-up of the best cycling bib shorts.
The chamois is high-density and can rival Rapha’s for thickness and comfort. This helps ensure your performance isn’t affected by saddle sores deep into a long ride.
Meanwhile, the lightweight fabric is extremely breathable and perfect for hot summer days, while the oval back support helps take the pressure off of your shoulders during epic sessions in the saddle.
Plus, at £111, they can be considered great value for a pair of bib shorts that rival some of the more premium inclusions on this list.
6. Pactimo Summit Stratos Bib
- Summit Stratos 12hour Bibs Men’s, £126 from Pactimo – buy here
If you’re after one of the most comfortable sets of bib shorts on the market, and money isn’t an issue, then look no further than the Summit Stratos bib shorts from American brand Pactimo.
At £126 they aren’t cheap, but not many competitors can match their bottom-protecting properties mile after mile.
The shorts are designed with ultra endurance races in mind, and Pactimo even refers to them as the “12-hour bib”.
But even if you’re using them for a twelfth of that time, you’ll still feel the benefits.
The chamois is soft to touch but acts as a strong barrier between yourself and the saddle, and specially designed vents keep air circulating.
The fabric follows this trend and has ceramic particles bonded to its exterior to reportedly help wick away sweat.
The straps keep things in place without restricting movement, while at the other end a thick line of silicone grippers on the leg openings prevents the shorts from riding up.
7. Cafe Du Cycliste Mathilde bib shorts
- Cafe Du Cycliste Mathilde bib shorts, £235 by Cafe Du Cyclist – buy here
Out on its own, almost twice as much as its nearest competitor on this list, lies the Mathilde bib shorts by the French brand Cafe Du Cycliste.
While many would balk at the cost alone, others would argue that you can’t put a price on comfort, especially when undertaking multi-day trips where you require one set of bib shorts that will perform day-after-day.
The Mathilde is this set of shorts. Each individual leg section is made from a single piece of fabric – increasing support while minimising seams and opportunities for chaffing. The grippers at the end of each thigh are even woven into the fabric to boost comfort even more.
The high-density chamois foam offers assistance at all of your pressure points to keep you going in the saddle for longer, while its upper layer is perforated to help wick sweat away and keep your undercarriage moisture-free. The bib straps and rear panel are made from mesh to help keep you cool even on the hottest of summer days, and the cut is slightly wider than most to prevent digging into your shoulders.
Finally, a reflective detail is located at the top of the short section for improved visibility in low light.
Do padded cycling shorts make a difference?
Padded cycling shorts can make a big difference to your comfort levels, especially if you’re regularly spending upwards of an hour in the saddle.
Your average bike seat won’t be built for comfort, so any contact points you have with are going to get pretty sore, pretty fast unless you have some decent padding.
What is the advantage of bib shorts?
There’s numerous benefits to wearing bib shorts.
Firstly, because there’s no elastic waistband like you’d find in a pair of standard cycling shorts, there’s one less area of your clothing that’s prone to chafing.
Plus, waistbands tend to gather moisture when you get sweaty, which can’t happen with bib shorts.
Finally, standard shorts, and their protective chamois, have a tendency to shift position as you cycle which can lead to discomfort, something that’s negated by having the shorts fixed in place with shoulder straps.
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