Having tested several dozen bib shorts over the years, I can tell you that there are a great many ways of getting this garment wrong. Whether it's leg grippers that are too tight, seams in the wrong place, insufficiently cushioning chamois - insufficiently breathable fabrics - bib straps that are either too tight, too narrow or not stretchy enough, or are equally flawed at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Of course, that's not an exhaustive list - and I'll never presume that I won't be surprised by the new and inventive ways brands can end up missing the mark. But on the flipside, when a pair of the best bibs shorts do clear the bar, I am proportionality appreciative.
And when a quality pair of bib shorts does get combined with a hefty discount, well, that is something worth shouting about. As it happens, the bibs I used for cycling 100 miles across the mountains of deepest darkest Wales - and the set I used for cycling across the High Atlas mountains in Morocco - are both currently on such a sale.
Pearl Izumi Attack bib shorts
The list price of Pearl Izumi's Attack bib shorts is around the mid-range point. Or, in the context of bib shorts which have the requisite performance and comfort for all-day rides, they are one of the very cheapest shorts that is actually up to the task.
Using these shorts for a bikepacking trip across the Cambrian mountain of central Wales, I can fully attest to the long distance comfort of both the chamois and the fabrics. These are, quite simply, a very impressive set of bibs for the price.
But, being entry level, there are naturally a few downsides. The bib straps don't distribute their pressure quite as well as some top-end models. Although the chamois was comfortable, there are comfier chamois's out there - particularly those spec'd in Swiss brand Assos' shorts. And the fabric, though breathable and wicking, isn't as light nor as luxurious to the touch as some top-end bib shorts.
But then again, those shorts can be as much as three times the price - six times at this current discount! Though there are higher-end shorts out there, these bibs are hard to match for value - competing directly with dhb, Endura and Rapha's more budget-oriented options.
7mesh Industries MK3 Cargo Bib Short
Quite amusingly, my ride across the Atlas mountains of Morocco presented much harsher, colder and wetter conditions than my ride across Wales - which was actually turned out to be hot and dry!
It's not too much of a surprise: Wales isn't completely impervious to summer, and traversing a mountain range which reaches over 4,000 meters in the middle of February means that snow is very much on the cards. The high point I reached was 2,500 meters, starting from a height of about 400 meters.
So whilst I wasn't pushing the boundaries of their breathability, the long days in the saddle slogging up mountain roads did present its own challenges. The stretchy straps, comfy fabrics and the storage space for various layers as I crested and descended the rolling terrain really proved its worth.
These are amongst the most expensive cargo bib shorts out there, but the quality and performance means that you won't be disappointed with the investment. You can read more about the shorts in our guide to the best gravel clothing over here. For more of the best discounts we've found in the run up to Black Friday, you can find our Black Friday clothing deals page here, and our main Black Friday bike deals hub page with all of the best discounts from across the web over here.
-
2024 should be the year of achievable cycling goalsDon’t overstretch yourself or push too hard, but aim for targets you can hit
-
Larry Warbasse claims what could be the world's toughest Strava KOM
The 89.5km Mauna Kea climb in Hawaii rises from sea-level to 4,214 metres with steep gravel sections on the way
-
Muc-Off’s chamois cream is my all-time favorite and now it's in the Cyber Monday sales - I wish I hadn't just topped up my supply
Muc-off’s my go to, but there are plenty of other discounts on other chamois cream, too
-
Now’s the time to upgrade your comfort with a 3D printed saddle - up to 31% off Specialized, Fizik and Selle Italia
Here’s our top picks of models we’ve tried and tested
-
Castelli bib shorts are just £50 in the Sports Direct Cyber Monday sale - plus five other deals across Giro, Abus and Endura
Sports Direct has slashed prices across its cycling range. Here are some of the best offers
-
Moka pot vs Aeropress: which makes the best trailside coffee? And which is the best buy this Cyber Monday?
I've used both hundreds of times and each has its strengths and weaknesses - but there's only one that I truly love
-
Forget Tubolito, Pirelli, Schwalbe - I'm getting these TPU tubes from Amazon for a third of the price
A small pack size and significant weight savings doesn't have to lighten your wallet by an equivalent amount
-
Cyber Monday: Seven stocking filler deals that we love and recommend for the cyclist in your life
Act fast! These are easily some of the best deals that we have seen and will help you to get your shopping done nice and early
-
Boutique vs Budget: Pumps, multi-tools, bottle cages - we put the most alluring and the most economical Cyber Monday deals head-to-head
Sometimes the basics are all you need, other times a little over-engineering fully has its place...
-
Five cycling jackets I’ve been testing this winter are now cheaper than ever, starting from just $111.49 / £96.00 in the Black Friday weekend sales
The warmest jackets from Rapha, Velocio, dhb, Endura and Pearl Izumi are all on sale right now. Here’s how they stack up
