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Hi all,
I am after some new bib shorts for mountain biking. Simple solution was to go back to Morvelo and Attacus where I got the last ones that have been good but Morvelo seem to have have gone pop and Attacus ones were £200+ so on the hunt for something new.
Decent quality is a must as I seem to suffer if the pad is not good so accept I will probably need to pay a good whack but looking for recommendations.
I've got Scott, Sportful Classic and Galibier.
The Galibier's are the ones with the best pad and really nice feeling fabric. I've a pair of bib shorts and bib 3/4's, but both models have changed I think. I'm about to order a new pair.
The Sportful's are a close second, being better cut/ designed, but I don't find the pad as good. Perhaps I needed the next model up for a better pad.
I think these are the ones I'm using. They're certainly from this brand.
https://www.galibier.cc/product/classique-bib-shorts/
Great balance of comfort and price.
Castelli work for me but you do need to size up
I got some Assos Mille GT this year and been impressed. Substantial straps are very comfy, good pad, and at £125 not ridiculously expensive. Been fine for MTB and gravel. Perfect on a 200km gravel ride recently.
Depends on whether road cut differs to MTB much (I've never really worked that one out) but the Stolen Goat ones I bought recently are very nice. I've only used on the road. Shorts are not dissimilar to Rapha on pricing but my measurements seemed to match the size chart bands better.
I think the Stolen Goat ones are/were made by Bioracer, and funnily enough the Bioracer Epic is my go-to short, good compressive fabric, generally robust feel (straps aren't the nicest material but I never notice when riding) and the pad is brilliant, very dense and quite thick, probably the reason they are my go-to for gravel rides in particular. They seem to size up pretty accurately as well, although still a bit 'Euro' as I'm a XXL ☹️
I've also got some Altura Endurance bibs, they retail at £100 but I got them cheaper. Less compressive than the Bioracers but more abrasion resistant panels on the sides which I like, the pad is generous also. The fnishing is a tiny bit cheaper, i.e. some of the fabric around the edge of the legs looks a bit 'furry' as if on its way to fraying, but for the money I'm very pleased with them, my go-to for long rides on the MTB or gravel bike.
Sportful Giara are really nicely finished, nice compressive feel and also some abrasion resistant bits. The pad is 'nice' but I think a bit narrow, I sit a bit squint on the saddle and can end up sitting on the edge of the pad or seam which I don't notice as much with the other shorts. I use them for shorter harder days, will swap between them and the Bioracers for e.g. CX racing where the compression is a nice wee psychological boost! 😎
Rapha core stuff often on sale and if you are wearing baggies over them, their bib liner shorts are great - very comfy and light, not really wearable on their own tho !
+1 Galibier. Good company to deal with direct and a great product. I wear their 'classic' bibs, pad is excellent despite the relatively low price.
I tend to buy lusso as they're made just up the road from me and decent quality
Another vote for the Galibier bins, bit two pairs now and both really good. Also got a rather lovely summer weight merino top from them which had become a favourite
I bought Galibier 3/4 bibs last year and, based on my experience of those, I'd be getting right back to them if I wanted new bibshorts.
Albion ABR1 are my preferred shorts
I also find the Santini models with their FoamBio pad in really good (I got some a few months ago on sale at Sport Pursuit, think they'd sold out last time I looked though). They have gel inserts in the pad so felt a bit weirdly squidgy at first but very comfy still after a few hours
I tend to buy lusso as they're made just up the road from me and decent quality
Do you kind their shorts comfy after a couple of hours? I have a lot of Lusso kit, inc. several pairs of bib shorts (Paragon and Perform range). I was getting a bit frustrated about saddle discomfort on rides over a couple of hours so tried Albion ABR1's instead and it was a revelation, no discomfort at all until about 4 hours then just mild after that (but that's more me rarely riding past 5 hours I think).
To show how individual this is, bibs are the only Galibier thing I don't get on with.
My recent purchases have been Rapha - sorry. Either the Core or the regular stuff in the sales - Pro Team range is too race snake for my love handles.
I've always been very happy with Lusso, been using them for years. I've done back to back 100 mile road rides with their Carbon bib shorts and I've a couple of pairs of theirs with their highest rated pad. Longest ride in those was 14 hours all off road on a rigid bike. Bought a pair of the terra bibs recently and did another SDW in a day ride and they were great.
I did have a bit of stitching come loose during that ride and they took them back and repaired them and it's always nice to see companies who do that rather than just dispose and replace.
A bit left-field but our cycle club gear was made by Impsport and the bibshorts have been amazingly comfy.
Ah this is brilliant, some new ideas and brands; thanks all.
I use Castelli, but only for the road bike which are great. really comfortable and always find something on sale. Sizes are a bit bonkers though. I would normally wear large in most stuff (34/36inch waist). Castelli stuff i need 2XL!
Castelli with the top levels pads (progetto and kiss?), when on sale, check the sizing as you will need to go up at least one size.
Giordana FRC, whatever is in their latest sale in whatever stupid colour is cheap. My go to short for many years now.
Castelli are good, Kostume are better. Amazingly comfortable on very long audaxes.
+1 for the Castelli bibs. Have never paid full price, there's always some on sale (SportPursuit, Merlin) and your arse will be happy. Yes on the upsizing.
rapha core or castelli. both excellent. I’m a medium in both (30” waist, no arse) but medium rapha tops don’t fit well. or go full MAAP/Pas Normal/United Colours poseur to blow the budget. but Castelli are lovely.
I’m mainly been using my Assos shorts this year and they’ve been great
Rapha Brevet and also core cargo here. Most excellent on all rides inc long rides (60+ miles etc). Cargo great because of all the pockets.
I have no idea how they would work for mountain biking but for gravel and road I really really do like the kostume shorts. They're not cheap at £200 a pair but they are very good. I have lecol shorts for winter and for turbo trainer, but if I'm out on the bike the kostume ones are absolutely perfect and you can also go to toilet wearing them without stripping off layers
Hadn't heard of those Kostume ones before, might give them a try
United colours are my new go to. Not expensive despite the comments above. Perfect fit on me (slimish, long legs, short torso). After about 6 hours though I start to wish I was wearing the Rapha pro team ('long' fit) but hey they are over twice the price. Don't get on so well with castelli, other raphas, cafe du cyclist, velochio. Shorts are quite individual, you need to try a few.
I really rate the Decathlon (Van Rysel) £40 cargo/gravel bib shorts I bought recently. Love the pockets! The fit, pad and quality are all great.
Another option to check out is DHB. They seem to be doing a bit of a DFS (EVERYTHING HALF PRICE!) sales tactic and the RRPs are insane but they seem good value at their sale prices. I have some bib longs I bought although I’ve not worn them yet.
The replies show how variable we all are! Also a fan of Lusso perform carbons, not a fan of rapha core, castelli endurance are new favorites - more comfortable than their rc aero race which have the same pad and are more expensive. I'm about 65kg and wear a small Lusso but medium Castelli. And also a big fab of Pearl Izumi Pro's but they don't come up on sale very often and are far too expensive for me at list price
Castelli work for me but you do need to size up
^^This, as the pads (for me)sit in exactly the right position.
I have these and they are as good a pair of bib shorts I have had. And probably half the price of shorts of similar quality, especially with a first time purchase discount.
Decathlon van Rysel cargos have been a revelation to me. At £39 each you could have 9 pairs and still have change from £200!
They are very comfy, fit well and seem to be lasting through many washes. Comfy enough without chamois cream up to 80 miles
Comfy enough without chamois cream up to 80 miles
I think a lot of shorts will be good enough for that use case.
Decathlon van Rysel cargos have been a revelation to me. At £39 each you could have 9 pairs and still have change from £200!
maths might be a bit off there?
I took like Van Rysel stuff, have some shorts that were about £80 I think and they are excellent. The £40 cargo bibs I have are however less comfortable for me but are good for shorter rides, I have some I use for comuting