Of all the pieces of cycling kit you use, bib shorts are the most important and the most difficult to get right for both men and women. While cycling is a sport with a vernacular and culture that celebrates suffering, this is one area where you definitely shouldn’t just be gritting your teeth and digging in.
There are obviously significant anatomical differences between men and women that make it necessary for bib shorts in particular to be designed in different ways. That's why wearing the correct women-specific shorts is absolutely essential: it can mean the difference between enjoying your ride and never wanting to look at your bike again.
The comfort of the chamois is of course paramount, but there are other things to consider. The fit of the shorts can vary – too-tight silicone grippers that leave leg marks are to be given a wide berth, for example. Breathability, compression, and bib-strap design are all factors in any bib short buying decision, and whether they have an easy-pee feature or not – and how well it works – is also worth thinking about.
Here are our favourite shorts of 2024 – we've done the mileage in them and these are our impressions.
In some of our articles you will find links to buy products from various external retailers. These links contain an affiliate code, and it means that Rouleur may receive a small percentage of the money you spend if you choose to buy that product via the link. This does not affect the amount you pay. All products are independently reviewed and selected on our judgement of them, not on whether they offer us affiliate revenue.
Assos UMA GTV C2 EVO
Containing Assos's plushest women's pad, these are classified as 'ultra-distance' bibs – and they have a clever comfort-break feature too
Assos is renowned for its super comfortable bibs, the Swiss brand has been at it for a long time (40 years to be precise) and anyone who has had their ear chewed off on a club run by an Assos evangelist will be aware of their reputation. But there’s no smoke without fire, Assos shorts really are that comfy, and this women-specific offering more than lives up to expectations.
The chamois in the Uma C2 has a dual-layer construction, comprising 9mm of Assos's high-density microShock foam with 10mm of ultralight filterFoam under the sitbones. Assos says this is its plushest women's insert and categorises it as 'ultra-distance'.
It has strategically placed perforations designed to create a whirlwind of cooling rather than a unidirectional breeze and the pad itself is stitched into the shorts only in certain places which allows it to move freely with your body and reduce chafing.
Bisiclick is Assos's all-new magnetic clasp at the rear of the bibs which is an easy-access way of removing the shorts for nature breaks. It is efffective and user friendly but is visible below the jersey hem if you're wearing one with a highish cut.
Overall a premium pair of bib shorts from the brand that started it all.
Price: £235
Pros
- Super comfortable chamois
- Easy-to-use magnetic clasp
- Great build quality
Cons
- Clasp mechanism visible below the jersey
Reviewed by Rachel Jary
Castelli Espresso
Good-looking and versatile shorts made from a fabric engineered especially for them
I was a big fan of the women’s Espresso jersey, and I am also a big fan of the shorts. The Doppio fabric, which Castelli engineered especially for its Espresso range, is so luxurious and soft that these shorts feel like a second skin. It has a matte finish rather than a shiny Lycra look.
The Espresso shorts have the brand’s Progetto X2 chamois, which I found to be comfortable on all-day summer rides and didn’t feel bulky in any way.
The aesthetic is very minimalist, with only a red Castelli logo on the back of one leg and another Castelli logo on the side of the other. The shorts have a seamless design, which I found comfortable. The mesh straps were super stretchy and sat nicely over my shoulders. The waist came up quite high at both the back and front and paired well with a short jersey, but the waistband I found did have limited stretch, so cut in slightly at my sides – however, this is a very small factor against all the pros of these shorts.
I wore the gunmetal grey colour and found that they didn’t show sweat marks – a bonus for those hot summer rides. I also wore a small and found them to be just the right fit, minus the tighter waistband at the sides.
One element I particularly loved about these bib shorts was the small hidden pocket at the waistband at the back. I stored my keys here when I was going out for a quick ride.
Priced at £160, they are around middling in the market for bib shorts, but I would highly recommend them for all types of riding.
Price: £160
Pros
- Super soft fabric
- Great colour range
- Additional pocket
Cons
- Waistband on the tighter side
Reviewed by India Paine
Rapha Pro Team
Designed for peak performance, Rapha’s Pro Team shorts are designed for racing rather than longer rides
Rapha’s Pro Team range is designed specifically with road racing in mind, made up of the brand’s most performance-focused garments and worn by Rapha’s sponsored WorldTour teams. The Pro Team bib shorts are a crucial part of the Pro Team offering, said to be lightweight, aerodynamic and featuring a race chamois.
The compressive fit of the Pro Team bib shorts is apparent as soon as you put them on, especially when compared to Rapha’s ‘Core’ bib shorts which have a more forgiving fit. Once the shorts are on, the breathable mesh bib strap section is high-waisted and almost acts as a second baselayer, which is both flattering and comfortable. The leg grippers are thick and I found them to be tight on the leg – this wasn’t a problem while riding but I did notice indentations on my skin when I took the shorts off after a long ride. Rapha’s Pro Team Chamois is extremely comfortable and is definitely the stand-out feature of these shorts, there was no chafing even on hot rides that spanned over four hours.
If you are a rider looking for shorts to do the job in race scenarios then the Rapha Pro Team bibs are a good option, they’re tight but breathable and certainly feel fast. However, if all-day adventures or more leisurely riding is your thing, the compressive fit and lack of an easy-pee feature might not make these shorts the best choice.
Price: £235
Pros
- Compressive fit
- High waisted
- Breathable
Cons
- Leg grippers can get uncomfortable
- Expensive
- Tight for long rides
Reviewed by Rachel Jary
Le Col Pro II
Light, compressive and well-fitting bib shorts that excel in the heat
The British brand’s shorts are said to have been developed with years of technical learnings and feedback from some of the world’s best riders, and this is obvious – the Le Col Pro Bib Shorts II are comfortable, breathable, stretchy and clean in design. I tested the navy colour in a size small and found they were nice in terms of both aesthetics and fit. The fabric feels really thin, making them perfect for hot days on the bike and, despite being a lighter colour than black, I never had any sweat patches. The description says that the four-way stretch fabric has a highly compressive wrap, but I never felt that these shorts were overly tight or restrictive when on the bike or during harder efforts.
The legs are kept in place with a silicone leg gripper inside the leg’s elasticated band. Despite my personal preference for a raw-cut leg, I found the Le Col gripper to be softer than others, never causing any thigh bulge or imprints. The bib section is made with a lightweight, perforated fabric to optimise airflow around the torso and there’s a race-radio pocket in the back. The waist does sit quite high around the torso, and the straps do cover a lot, so eliminates the need for a base layer on hotter days.
The chamois pad was very comfortable, but I did find it bulkier than others I’ve tested. Nonetheless, this density did make it great at shock absorption. There’s no easy-pee feature for these shorts, which would have been great.
Overall, for £140 (currently on sale), these are strong all-round bib shorts for summer riding.
Price: £140
Pros
- Quality design
- Longer leg length
Cons
- Bulky chamois
- No easy-pee feature
Reviewed by India Paine
Velocio Concept Bib Shorts
With a female-first focus, Velocio’s Concept bib shorts are the best of the best when it comes to a versatile everyday piece of kit
Velocio has long been known for its extensive women’s kit offerings, and the Concept bib shorts are a flagship product in the brand’s range. Specifically designed for the needs of female riders, they feature Velocio’s ‘fly free’ functionality to make for easy nature breaks while out riding, as well as a Velocio-designed chamois pad made in collaboration with Elastic Interface to ensure comfort for all-day adventures.
The Concept bib shorts have a tight fit but also achieve impressive comfort while out on the bike. The 100% recycled Italian lycra fabric is flexible and the five-panel design ensures that compression is only in the places you need it, allowing breathability but also enhancing performance. Made of seamless Microfiber, the bib straps lie flat on a riders back to ensure no discomfort or bulkiness and the high cut at the front of the bibs adds extra coverage especially if wearing a race-cut jersey.
The ‘fly-free’ design on the Concept bibs is the most exciting and innovative feature – there are no clasps or zips, but instead the material features enough stretch to be pulled down without having to remove layers. This, combined with the comfort and breathability that the Concept bibs offer, makes them the perfect fit for all-day riding and a range of conditions.
Price: £236
Pros
- Easy-pee feature
- Comfortable fit
- Extensive size range
Cons
- Leg grippers are a bit bulky
Reviewed by Rachel Jary
Pas Normal Studios Essential
Effortlessly cool Danish bibs that look great and have a performance to match
Pas Normal Studios litters my Instagram feed with its cool-looking ambassadors in muted-coloured kits, but testing the Essential bib shorts was my first foray into the Copenhagen brand’s apparel. The small was a true-to-size fit, with the brand’s bespoke gridded fabric being super stretchy (also giving them a unique look) while also being the right amount of compressive. The fabric itself also feels premium quality, almost silky to the touch.
The leg hem is finished with a wide elasticated gripper band, which did its job very well, but I felt they were quite tight in comparison to the rest of the bib shorts. Length-wise, I found the Essential bib shorts to be great, not too long or too short. They sat much higher around the waist than others on the market, most likely due to the brand’s jerseys being cut quite short. Nonetheless, I liked that they sat much higher than others as I could ride confidently knowing that I was in no way exposed.
According to Pas Normal, the chamois has been designed for lasting performance and comfort with antimicrobial membranes to help stay cool. I have to agree – I never felt any discomfort in these bib shorts, even on longer rides. The only element missing from these bib shorts, which are designed for effortless style and riding, was an easy-pee element. If this feature were included, then these bib shorts really would be effortless – effortless style, effortless performance, effortless comfort, and effortless practicality.
Priced at £175 and coming in a range of colours – black, navy, olive green, olive, and burgundy – they are a great addition to your cycling wardrobe.
Price: £175
Pros
- Great breathability
- Premium feel
- Comfortable
Cons
- No nature break function
Shop now at Pas Normal Studios
Reviewed by India Paine
MAAP Alt_Road Cargo
MAAP focuses on durability and storage in its ‘Alt_Road’ range, and these shorts are a good option for those wanting to go the distance
Australian brand MAAP has extensive offerings when it comes to specific off-road kit, with the Alt_Road range focusing on garments that are made for overnight adventures or all-day epics. The Cargo bib shorts are a key pillar of this collection, utilising abrasion-resistant materials and a range of storage options to ensure they do a good job in testing conditions.
The surprising feature of the Alt_Road bibs when first trying them on is how compressive they are – shorts that are designed to be worn all-day are often more roomy and flexible. However, this doesn’t mean that MAAP’s cargo bibs are uncomfortable when riding, they feature the optimal amount of stretch which makes them good for all-day adventures. The material used is thicker than usual bib shorts which is an asset when riding through off-road terrain as it doesn’t snag or catch easily. It’s worth noting that while this material wicks sweat well and is breathable, it is still heavier than normal lycra so wouldn’t be my go-to in the hottest conditions.
The Alt_Road Cargo bibs really stand out when it comes to the extensive storage options. There are two side pockets for added storage, one of which is open for easy access, while the other is zipped to keep valuables safe. There’s also a dual pocket at the centre of the bib shorts on the rear which is useful if riding in just a T-shirt, plus the reflective details make the shorts good for using in lowlight conditions. At £260, the MAAP Alt_Road Cargo bibs are expensive but they feel durable and tough enough to withstand a range of terrian and conditions.
Price: £260
Pros
- Storage options
- Durability
- Breathability
Cons
- Leg length
- Expensive
Reviewed by Rachel Jary
Santini Redux Speed
Aerodynamic, high-quality shorts that are great for all-round riding
Italian brand Santini’s latest performance bib shorts are said to include “innovative technology” that is designed for aero gains during long-distance road cycling. With minimal stitching and grip-less technology, the Redux bib shorts adopt a ‘second skin’ type feel which makes them comfortable for all-day adventures. With four colour options and minimal branding, Santini offers a product which will fit the needs of a range of riders and different conditions.
The comfort in Santini’s Redux bibs is apparent as soon as you put them on – the fabric is stretchy, flexible and feels like it would suit a range of body shapes. The high cut on the front of the bibs is flattering and ensures that the material doesn’t dig into the body at all when in a crouched position riding on the drops. Having a laser-cut finish on the bottom of the bibs means there is no risk of silicone leg grippers digging in, but the microfibre material ensures that the shorts still stay firmly in place when riding. I found the chamois to be extremely comfortable for long days in the saddle, and the shorts have an overall ‘barely there’ feel which makes them good for hot weather conditions.
At £197, the Redux bib shorts are priced reasonably compared to other performance bibs and their versatility means they would work in a range of different conditions. With details like UV protection and the all-day comfort that Santini provides with these shorts, they are a great choice for plenty of riders. The aerodynamic properties also make them attractive to riders looking for gains on race day.
Price: £197
Pros
- Extremely comfortable
- Aerodynamic
- Good in hot weather conditions
Cons
- No ‘easy-pee’ feature
Reviewed by Rachel Jary
