Bib shorts are pretty much the staple clothing item for cyclists. We sit on a saddle for hours on end, so a pair of cycling shorts can make or break a ride. They are generally designed to be used between temperatures of 10 degrees C and up, although thermal bib shorts will go cooler and can be paired with leg warmers. Specialist bib shorts in particular are often used for temperatures over 30 degrees C.
Bib shorts consist of the shorts section, the chamois (or seatpad) and straps that go over the shoulders to help keep everything secure, reducing movement and friction when riding. You can also purchase bib shorts with pockets on the rear or the side of the legs, so you can store items if you want to ride in a T-shirt or just bring more food on longer rides.
Key factors to look for are comfortable materials used on the legs with appropriate grippers to prevent the shorts from riding up, a good quality chamois with ample support and padding, and bib straps that spread weight over the shoulders without being too warm.
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Reviews of the best men’s cycling bib shorts
- Assos Equipe RS S11 bib shorts: RRP £215 – Read our full review
- Q36.5 Dottore Pro bib shorts: RRP £228 – Read our full review
- Santini Unico bib shorts: RRP £178 – Read our full review
- Castelli Espresso bib shorts: RRP £160 – Read our full review
- Rapha Pro Team PowerWeave bib shorts: RRP £300 – Read our full review
- Maap Team Evo Cargo bib shorts: RRP £240 – Read our full review
- Poc Essential Road VPDS bib shorts: RRP £160 – Read our full review
Also Consider
- Sportful SRK bib shorts: RRP £110 – Read our full review
- Le Col Hors Categorie II bib shorts: RRP £210 – Read our full review
- Café Du Cycliste Augustine bib shorts: RRP £225 – Read our full review
- Pas Normal Studios Essential Light bib shorts: RRP £225 – Read our full review
- Assos Equipe R S9 bib shorts: RRP £155 – Read our full review
How do we test and why trust our advice?
All of our product reviewers are avid cyclists who have been riding for many years. They have all built up a huge array of experience from riding in various conditions and testing what kit works and doesn’t work.
The shorts below were tested between March and June, in a range of different temperatures and weather conditions, on long rides over five hours, to one-hour fast-paced group rides, to virtual races indoors. These rides and conditions over the course of thousands of kilometres allow us to put these shorts through their paces and deliver the good, the bad, and the ugly facts straight to you.
Why bib shorts, not shorts?
Some people might be wondering why you should go for bib shorts rather than standard shorts. When we cycle, we usually wear cycling-specific shorts that feature a chamois pad that can aid comfort particularly on longer rides, and also reduce the chance of chafing.
Bib shorts help with this further by using straps that go over the shoulders to keep the shorts in place and further reduce the chance of irritation, friction and rubbing. The bibs are particularly useful to keep the pad in place through the repeated standing and sitting typical of a bike ride. They also avoid the need for a waistband, which can cut into you when riding in a semi-crouched position.
What should I look for in bib shorts?
There are a few key features to look for in a good pair of bib shorts. The first is the seatpad, as this is what the majority of your comfort when cycling will be down to. Multiple-density foams are good as they provide different levels of support to different areas. Most pressure goes through your sit bones, so additional padding here can be preferable, while less padding around the crotch can help relieve pressure to that area.
You also want to ensure the pad suits your type of riding. If you are racing, then more coverage or support at the front may be needed, while for more relaxed riding, a wider seatpad, along with silicone inserts for shock absorption, could provide better support when sitting more upright.
Other features to look out for are fast-drying and moisture-wicking materials, as they help regulate temperature, especially in warmer weather. Bib straps that are wide and not too tight will make your rides more comfortable by removing pressure from the shoulders. The type of leg grippers is important to consider as well, since some people can find silicone irritates their skin, while no grippers can lead to shorts rising, bunching and rubbing against skin.
Compressive or not compressive?
Cycling shorts tend to fall into one of two camps: compressive performance materials, or more supple relaxed fit materials. Compression around the legs has been shown in some studies to improve blood flow and reduce fatigue, which should be ideal for high-intensity training sessions, group rides or races.
However this may not be to everyone’s taste, and for focus on all-day comfort at lower intensity a more supple second-skin feeling material may be preferable. It all depends on the type of riding you intend to use the shorts for.
The best cycling shorts for men
Assos Equipe RS S11
£215 / $280 / €250
- Superb quality
- Leg half-grippers increase comfort
- Multiple available leg lengths
The latest version of the Assos Equipe bib shorts is the Assos Equipe RS Schtradivari S11, to give them their full name. They have, according to Assos, been worn for over 200,000km by the brand's sponsored Tudor Pro Cycling team. Expect a race fit with a new, more elastic and compressive, lighter fabric and new features with quirky names to enhance the fit.
There's a new, softer top layer to the seat pad and leg grippers which just cover the rear of the hems, allowing movement of the fronts when pedalling. It all adds up to a pair of shorts which we reckon are racy but luxurious and pared-back but robust.
- Read our full Assos Equipe RS S11 Bib Shorts review
Q36.5 Dottore Pro Bib Shorts
£228 / $317 / €241.97
- Packed with innovative tech
- Great levels of comfort and performance
- Environmentally conscious company
The Q36.5 Dottore Pro bib shorts offer something quite special. The compressive elements are great for high-intensity sessions, while the lumbar and gluteal support really do help on long rides in an aggressive position. The material is fast-drying thanks to the addition of silver thread, while the straps are supportive and breathable.
The chamois is also exceptional with great levels of support across the sit bones and perineum when in a more aggressive position. The low-friction surface and fast drying materials also make it great in warmer weather. The price is high at £228, but perhaps justifiably so given the performance of these shorts. The environmental credentials of the company are also a nice bonus.
- Read our full Q36.5 Dottore Pro Bib Shorts review
- Buy the Q36.5 Dottore Pro Bib Shorts from Alpine Trek (£226.54)
Santini Unico Bib Shorts
£178 / $199 / €199
- Brilliant comfort with minimal panels
- C3 seatpad is superb
- Great size range
The Santini Unico bib shorts owe a lot of their superb performance to the high thread count, high density fabric, which requires no silicone grippers to keep the legs in place while also being incredibly soft to the touch and highly breathable. Minimal panels are used to reduce the number of seams, while the straps feature a perforated rear panel to aid in breathability and are themselves nicely supportive.
The proprietary C3 chamois with gel inserts is also incredible for all-day comfort, shock absorption and breathability. There is no focus on aero here, just comfort for all-day riding, and the huge size range is nice to see for accessibility. They are not cheap, but they are pretty much perfect as a pair of shorts.
- Read our full Santini Unico Bib Shorts review
- Buy the Santini Unico Bib Shorts from Alpine Trek (£159.91)
Castelli Espresso Bib Shorts
£160 / $169.99 / €149.95
- Progetto X2 Air chamois is great
- Doppio fabric feels premium
- Large range of colours
The Castelli Espresso bib shorts use a new Doppio fabric to offer great levels of comfort for all-day riding while limited silicone grippers on the hems keep the shorts in place. The Progetto X2 Air chamois is superb and gives brilliant support across a range of cycling positions thanks to varying densities of foam, low friction, and fast-drying materials.
The shorts are incredibly comfortable and, although not the coolest in hot weather, the fast moisture-wicking makes up for this. Price is also decent for the quality and a huge array of colours are available. However the fabric can be prone to pilling from zip rub on jerseys.
- Read our full Castelli Espresso Bib Shorts review
Rapha Pro Team PowerWeave Bib Shorts
£300 / $380 / €345
- Best compressive qualities on test
- Great in warmer weather
- That price though!
The Rapha Pro Team Powerweave bib shorts are an exceptional pair of bib shorts at an exceptional price! The Powerweave material offers the greatest levels of compression of any shorts tested and is superb for higher intensity training sessions or races. The fabric is also fast-drying and great for moisture wicking so it performs brilliantly in warmer conditions.
The chamois is thin but very comfortable, and gives great support. The straps pull you into a more aggressive position, but are a bit too short on my body and are very warm. At £300, these shorts can’t afford to be anything less than perfect.
- Read our full Rapha Pro Team PowerWeave Bib Shorts review
- Buy the Rapha Pro Team Powerweave Bib Shorts from Rapha (£300)
Maap Team Evo Cargo Bib Shorts
£240 / $315 / €265
- Pockets are useful and sleek
- Comfortable male-specific chamois
- Decent compression
The Maap Team Evo Cargo bib shorts have become a go-to for me for my longer rides or for rides where the temperature starts cooler and then heats up. The two cargo pockets really are superb for stashing away spare clothing items as well as food wrappers or even your phone if you like taking lots of snaps while riding.
The material itself on the shorts offers a good level of compression, which is good for high-intensity efforts, while the upper features decent breathability and very supportive straps. The chamois is great for all-day riding with the male-specific anatomical fit being very comfortable up front, although the shorts can get a bit warm in temperatures over 25 degrees C. At £240 they are also very expensive, however for those who want all-day comfort and plenty of cargo options, they are fantastic.
- Read our full MAAP Team Evo Cargo Bib Shorts review
- Buy the MAAP Team Evo Cargo Bib Shorts from MAAP (£240)
Poc Essential Road VPDS bib shorts
£160 / $180 / €180
- Decent value
- Great straps
- Fast-drying
Poc's bib shorts are a good option if your ride position isn't too aggressive, as the front of the Elastic Interface seatpad is a little narrow and lacking in support. They offer a high degree of compression, helping to keep the pad in place well, and flatlocked seams. We liked the straps, which lay flat and are broad and well ventilated.
The shorts work well for shorter, more relaxed rides and also on the trainer, thanks to the fast-drying, moisture-wicking fabric. A more upright position also means that you're riding more on the thicker sections of the pad, upping support.
- Read our full Poc Essential Road VPDS bib shorts review
Sportful SRK Bib Shorts
£110 / $120 / €119.90
- Superb value
- Great chamois for relaxed cycling positions
- Not great support at the front
The Sportful SRK bib shorts have been designed specifically for more relaxed cycling positions, and for this type of riding they perform admirably. The four-way stretch fabric offers decent levels of breathability and comfort, while the silicone dot leg grippers are effective without being irritating on skin.
The DMS chamois is also very effective for this style of riding with support weighted towards the rear and the sit bones, while being low volume at the front to reduce bulk and weight and improve temperature control. The lack of frontal padding is noticeable when riding in an aggressive position, and the fabric can get a bit warm in direct sunlight, but at £110 these are by far the cheapest shorts on test and perform better than some more expensive options.
- Read our full Sportful SRK Bib Shorts review
- Buy the Sportful SRK Bib Shorts from Sportful (£110)
Le Col Hors Categorie II Bib Shorts
£210 / $255 / €275
- Brilliant chamois for long rides
- Good temperature regulation
- Leg grippers aren’t the best
The Le Col Hors Categorie II bib shorts have been designed specifically for all-day comfort in the saddle across a wide range of temperatures. The fabric is very soft to the touch and supremely comfortable while also being very effective at moisture-wicking. The chamois is one of the most comfortable I’ve used thanks to varying foam densities, gel inserts, and channels to aid ventilation and temperature control. This does make the shorts supremely comfortable for long, warm days in the saddle.
The straps, however, are a little long, and while they don't affect the fit when riding, a bigger issue is the leg grippers, which rise up on hairy legs or leg warmers, leading to discomfort. At £210, better leg grippers are needed for these shorts to be the perfect all-day riding short.
- Read our full Le Col Hors Categorie II Bib Shorts review
Café Du Cycliste Augustine Bib Shorts
£225 / $300 / €230
- Superb in hot conditions
- Incredibly lightweight
- Sweat patches show through easily
The Café Du Cycliste Augustine bib shorts are brilliant warm weather bib shorts thanks to the incredibly thin, lightweight and supple fabric, which offers great breathability and moisture-wicking. It is also partly made of recycled materials and sourced from within a 100km range to reduce carbon footprint.
The Coldblack panel across the back also does help reduce temperature build-up on very sunny days while the perforated straps and front aid temperature regulation. The Elastic Interface chamois is also very comfortable and offers decent support, however it is a touch narrow for me on the sit bones and also towards the front. The fabric also shows sweat very easily, and at £225 this is an expensive pair of bib shorts.
- Read our full Café Du Cycliste Augustine Bib Shorts review
- Buy the Café Du Cycliste Augustine Bib Shorts from Café Du Cycliste (£225)
Pas Normal Studios Essential Light Bib Shorts
£225 / $280 / €255
- Brilliant moisture-wicking properties
- Useful cargo pocket
- Fit is a little loose in places
The Pas Normal Studios Essential Lightweight bib shorts are designed primarily around hot weather temperature-management. PNS has come up with a new material that feels papery to the touch and performs brilliantly when it comes to very fast moisture-wicking. This temperature regulation is aided by a similar fabric used on the bib straps as well as a perforated rear panel.
The chamois pad, PNS own design, is very comfortable and offers a brilliant level of support across a range of positions. The fit is also better than the PNS Mechanism line for all-day comfort and a more relaxed cycling position. However this can lead to a bit of loose fabric, especially around the cargo pocket, which can impact its ability to keep things in on rougher roads. At £225, these are also a very expensive pair of bib shorts.
- Read our full Pas Normal Studios Essential Light Bib Shorts review
- Buy the Pas Normal Studios Essential Light Bib Shorts from Pas Normal Studios (£225)
Assos Equipe R S9 Bib Shorts
£155 / $205 / €205
- Good value
- Great bib straps and sit bone support
- High-volume front can be uncomfortable
The Assos Equipe R S9 bib shorts include many features from the higher spec shorts in the Assos Equipe line, but do so for a big reduction in price. The Type.443 fabric offers good levels of compression for higher-intensity sessions and the shorts were great for fast paced rides and e-races while also being comfortable on the skin.
The chamois is also great, with the GoldenGate stitching and 3D waffle foam for support and breathability. The only downsides are that the fabric does get very warm in direct sunlight, and the chamois is a little bulky at the front, leading to some slight pressure at times.
- Read our full Assos Equipe R S9 Bib Shorts review
