Quality cycling shorts make your riding more comfortable and, consequently, more enjoyable.
Of all your contact points with the bike, the saddle-to-posterior interface has to bear the majority of your body weight while pedalling seated.
To keep your backside comfortable, you need the best bike saddle for you set at the right saddle height and the best cycling shorts for your needs.
Padded road cycling shorts are essential if you're spending serious time in the saddle. Prices range from around £25 for the cheapest options, up to almost £250 for the most expensive.
As you might expect, there are more duds than bargains at the lower end. But if you shop carefully and pay attention to independent reviews, quality padded cycling shorts needn’t cost the earth.
In this article, we've included the best men's bib shorts, but we also have a guide to the best women's cycling shorts.
For more detail on essential bib short features and advice on what else to look out for, we've got a full buyer's guide towards the end of this article.
Best cycling shorts in 2024
Assos Mille GT Summer Bib Shorts GTS
- £165 / $230 / €190 / AU$330 as tested
- Pros: Excellent breathability; comfort; inspired and supportive fit
- Cons: Price
The Assos Mille GT Summer GTS Bib Shorts are the second generation of the premium Mille shorts, aimed at riders who demand top performance for long days out.
The bib shorts have an all-new design that makes them suitable for wearing in the heat of summer. The legs use the lightweight, thin and mildly compressive Ossidia fabric, and the Xbib straps minimise bulk underneath your jersey, helping more heat to escape.
Assos has used its C2 GTS summer seat pad in the shorts, which has a double-layer memory foam construction with a honeycomb-style top layer. The pad is slightly wider than others and proves comfortable even on five-hour rides.
These are high-performing shorts that are totally comfortable too, and some of the best warm-weather shorts BikeRadar has tested, with only the price being a drawback.
Rapha Core Cargo Bib Shorts
- £110 / $150 / €135 / AU$195 as tested
- Pros: Nifty pockets; breathability; chamois pad comfort; well-priced
- Cons: None
The Rapha Core Cargo Bib Shorts do everything well without costing a fortune. They are the lower price-point version of the Rapha Cargo Bib Shorts and share many of the same details but, as expected, forgo some premium features.
The main difference is that the Core Cargo shorts aren't water-resistant. But similarly, they do have large mesh pockets on the thighs, making them suitable for gravel or endurance riding.
The shorts perform much like many more high-end bib shorts. Rapha uses a compression-free, dense-knit fabric for the legs, which were a perfect length, and the high-stretch upper bib straps never got too hot in testing.
The Rapha Classic seat pad looks basic but provides excellent cushioning and dries out quickly.
For women riders, Rapha has its Core Cargo Shorts.
7mesh MK3 Bib Shorts
- £150 / $200 / €175 as tested
- Pros: Comfortable; lightweight; great fit
- Cons: Expensive
Designed for long distances, the 7mesh MK3 Bib Shorts don't disappoint. Delivering exceptional comfort, they led us to ask whether they are the perfect set of cycling shorts.
7mesh has made these shorts from Miti Gravity Interpower, which is 38 per cent elastane and 62 per cent warp knit nylon. The result is a fabric that is super-soft against the skin and is slightly compressive, aiding blood flow and reducing fatigue in the legs as a result.
The seat pad uses a high-density foam that has been designed to reduce numbness in the perineum area, and almost completely eliminates any unwanted pressure.
Up top, the shoulder straps aren't excessively tight, giving you room to move, but they still hold the shorts perfectly in place. They are also thin enough to let any heat dissipate.
Overall, if you're looking for a sleek set of shorts with superb comfort and excellent quality, you can't go wrong with these bibs.
Assos Mille GTC Kiespanzer C2 bib shorts
- £210 / $270 / €240 / AU$420 as tested
- Pros: Excellent fit; cargo pockets are well-designed; chamois pad comfort
- Cons: Price; rear cargo pocket a little awkward to access
The Assos Mille GTC Kiepanzer C2 shorts are a first good attempt at gravel-specific bib shorts from the Swiss brand.
Most of the cargo pockets work well apart from the rear pouches, which are tricky to get to.
The top-notch fit and comfortable chamois pad are typical of Assos. But so is the high price.
Castelli Competizione bib shorts
- £110 / $140 / €100 / AU$168 as tested
- Pros: Excellent fit; tried-and-tested chamois; silicone grippers; appearance
- Cons: Some loose stitching on outside of pad
The Castelli Competizione bib shorts score highly for their superb fit, comfy chamois pad and silicone leg grippers.
Considering such performance rivals the best bib shorts in the business, their £110 / $140 price tag seems relatively modest.
The only fault, if we're really nitpicking, is that some stitching unravelled on the edge of the pad.
Castelli Espresso bib shorts
- £160 / $169.99 / €149.95 / AU$250 as tested
- Pros: Excellent fit; wonderfully soft material; chamois comfort; available in a wider range of sizes and colours; innovative bib straps
- Cons: Pad could sit higher up at the front; unnecessary rear pocket
Castelli's Espresso bib shorts place an emphasis on comfort and performance, with the brand boldly proclaiming they’ll become “your go-to for just about any ride”.
That proved to be the case in testing, with their excellent fit, outstanding chamois and luxurious feel against the skin. The Espresso bib shorts fit near-perfectly, with a close, form-fitting feel. Our only nitpick was that the front of the pad could have come up a little higher.
True to the brand's word, the Espresso Doppio fabric feels very soft against the skin while offering a satisfying amount of compression. The fabric is well-ventilated and the Progetto X2 Air seat pad is a tried-and-tested performer.
The bib straps are wonderfully airy with their open-panel design and the minimalist silicone gripper felt akin to not having a gripper at all.
We felt the rear pocket was a little unnecessary though.
Decathlon Triban RC 100 Bib Shorts
- £29.99 / $40 as tested
- Pros: Well-priced; impressive fit; good support
- Cons: Material is less stretchy than some
The Triban RC 100 might be budget-priced shorts, but the neat panelled design gives them a look of something more expensive. A matching jersey is also available.
The fit is impressive and tight enough around the legs to provide good muscle support without feeling overly compressive.
The legs sit in place thanks to the overall fit and wide bands that stop them riding up. Mesh upper bibs do a solid job of keeping everything in place while helping to keep you cool.
These are less stretchy than some, but fortunately the shoulder sections offer more give.
Inside, the pad performs better than expected at this price. It’s well-sized, uses a variety of thicknesses of padding and is perfectly located to soak up road feedback. There are also air channels to stop things getting overly sweaty.
Decathlon also has bib shorts for female riders priced under £40.
Endura FS260 Pro Thermo Bibknicker Bib Shorts
- £100 / $135 / €100 / AU$160 as tested
- Pros: Warm; water-resistant; breathable and comfortable
- Cons: Not windproof
The Endura FS260 Pro Thermo Bibknicker bib shorts fight far above their weight for the money.
Durability, wet-weather performance from a water-repellent coating and a superbly comfy chamois pad mean these three-quarter lengths don't come up short.
Their breathability and lack of windproofing suit faster winter riding better than properly chilly conditions.
Q36.5 Gregarius Pro bib shorts
- £181 / $251 / €190 as tested
- Pros: Excellent fit; chamois comfortable over long distances; innovative gripper design; lots of attention to detail
- Cons: Could feel right seam on harder efforts
Q36.5’s Gregarius Pro bib shorts are the cheapest in the Italian brand's catalogue and are designed for long-distance training rides. Bar one unfortunately placed seam, it’s tough to find fault.
The Gregarius Ultra bib shorts fit close to perfectly and the chamois is a particular highlight. Our tester was happy on all his test rides up to five hours, and he'd have no reservations about using them for longer.
The bib straps are unnoticeable when riding and the raw cut at the bottom of the leg panels felt luxurious. The shorts performed brilliantly in a wide range of temperatures and the rough section of material underneath where the chamois sits is a neat touch to prevent abrasion against the saddle.
Sportful Total Comfort Bib Shorts
- £130 as tested
- Pros: Comfort; top performance; great ventilation
- Cons: Narrow bib straps
As the name suggests, the Total Comfort Bib Shorts from Sportful are designed to deliver the most comfortable ride. They are a good choice if you are looking to do big days on the bike in warm weather.
The seat pad brings a lot of the comfort. Wider than many others, it feels slightly too big at first, but when you start pedalling the 18mm of padding is a dream. This extra padding is perfect for long days but also for those who prefer a plush ride.
The legs of the Total Comfort Bib Shorts are cut long and have mesh side panels that, paired with the airy uppers, make the shorts ideal for hot days. However, the lightweight design does make the shorts more delicate than others.
The bib straps are slightly narrow but work just fine. There's also a women's-specific version available.
Alé Strada bib shorts
- €100 / $120 as tested
- Pros: Very comfortable chamois; excellent fit; wide range of sizes and colours
- Cons: Chamois softened slightly after a few washes
The Alé Stradas are good-value bib shorts with a chamois that remains comfortable on long rides.
Initial washes softened the pad but not to the detriment of long-term comfort.
The fit is spot on (with a broad size range) and more minor features, like the leg grippers, work well.
Alé makes a women's version of the Strada bib shorts too.
Alé PRR Green Bib Shorts
- £145 / $175 / €145 / AU$220 as tested
- Pros: Smooth fabric; environmentally friendly; wide shoulder straps
- Cons: Pad is a little cumbersome
The Green shorts combine race performance with top environmental credentials, using recycled materials.
Alé uses its smooth Denali Green fabric in the legs, and this provides good overall fit and support without feeling overly tight. The wide leg grippers use a thinner fabric with an inner silicone print to keep things in place.
Small reflective mesh panels on the rear add to their breathability. Plus, they offer UPF50+ sun protection. Wide shoulder straps help with comfort on longer days and the stretchy mesh rear prevents overheating.
Inside is Alé’s new 4H Green 12mm pad featuring high-density open-cell foam that’s made from recycled polyamide. It’s wide covering and feels cumbersome at first, but works well once pedalling. Perforation holes and stitching channels help with ventilation and breathability.
Alé offers a women's-specific version of the Green Road Bib Shorts.
Assos Equipe RSR S9 Targa bib shorts
- £255 / $350 / €290 / AU$499.95 as tested
- Pros: Chamois pad comfort; rugged construction; compressive fit
- Cons: Durability of skinGrip material; not as comfortable as a dedicated endurance short
The Assos Equipe RSR S9 Targas are premium, race-orientated bib shorts with a compressive fit and extensive ventilation.
The chamois pad is seriously impressive, as is the level of comfort provided.
Considering the hefty price, the deterioration of the skinGrip material during testing was disappointing, however.
Assos Equipe R Bib Shorts S9
- £155 / $210 / €180 / AU$370 as tested
- Pros: Great fit; comfortable bib straps; effective grippers; suitable pad for its racing intention
- Cons: Front panel oddly low cut; not as comfortable as a dedicated endurance option
Assos' Equipe R Bib Shorts S9 are the brand's entry point to its Equipe race-oriented line, sitting below the Equipe RS and Equipe RSR S9 Targa.
They inherit many trickle-down technologies from the aforementioned shorts to achieve a more palatable asking price.
The shorts performed excellently in testing, with an inspired fit and the lack of seams particularly impressive, especially how the pad is stitched to the front and back panels. The Lycra feels a touch heavier and slightly less breathable than its spendier siblings, but we'll take that for the price saving.
The only major criticism is the oddly low cut of the front panel, which is much lower than rival shorts and even other Assos designs.
Castelli Endurance 3 Bib Shorts
- £130 / $160 / €130 / AU$200 as tested
- Pros: Excellent pad; well-rounded performance
- Cons: Long legs
As the name suggests, these Castelli shorts are designed with endurance riding in mind.
To this end, the Endurance 3 shorts are specced with Castelli's top Progetto X2 seat pad and this is where these shorts really shine. The pad features a dual-layer construction with a stretchy top layer designed to stop any rubbing and padding underneath.
The overall fit is good and construction is top-notch – as you can expect from Castelli. The legs are slightly longer than other shorts and the sizing is typical of Castelli, running slightly smaller than other brands.
Castelli Free Aero RC bib shorts
- £175 / $219.99 / €179.95 as tested
- Pros: Excellent fit; airy bib straps; chamois pad comfort; a sewn rather than printed logo
- Cons: Ventilation of Forza 2 fabric
The Castelli Free Aero RC bib shorts fit well and remain comfortable on long rides thanks to the brand's X2 Progetto chamois.
The logo being sewn not printed on is one of several nice touches on these more reasonably priced (for Castelli) bib shorts.
Our tester found the Free Aero RC bib shorts' minimal ventilation left him too warm towards the top of Castelli's recommended temperature range.
Fizik Link R3 Snake Bib Shorts
- £165 as tested
- Pros: Forgiving; supportive and well-made
- Cons: Price
The Fizik Link system matches your flexibility with your shorts, and can also match them to one of its saddles.
The R3 Snake model, for more flexible riders, is designed to be paired with the Fizik Arione saddle. The shorts are cut using as few seams as possible and offer a supportive ride.
The bib straps and rear-panel construction prevent bunching. The front of the shorts is cut lower, in keeping with the potentially more aggressive riding position of more flexible riders.
Inside, the chamois might feel strange at first but once in the saddle it performs well, especially on long rides.
These shorts are a quality item, but the price is high.
Giro Chrono Elite Bib Shorts
- £170 / $200 / €200 as tested
- Pros: Luxuriously smooth; quality grippers; supportive chamois; recycled materials
- Cons: High price; lack of internal flat-lock seams
The Chrono Elite Bib Shorts largely justify their spot at the top of Giro's range.
The chamois is supportive, while the blend of recycled nylon and polyester feels lovely to wear. Breathability is great and the sun protection is rated to UPF 50+
However, the size range is small. The cost of the Chrono Elite Bib Shorts may make the model below these (the £50/$50 cheaper, but similar Giro Expert) more attractive.
Lusso Paragon Seamless Bib Shorts
- £160 / $177 / €162 / AU$177 as tested
- Pros: Soft and silky fabric; all-day chamois support
- Cons: Price; pad might not suit everyone; no rear mesh panel
The Lusso Paragon Seamless Bib Shorts are handmade to a high standard from silky smooth Italian fabric.
If you don't mind a large chamois pad, you could ride in these bib shorts all day in comfort.
Minimal rear ventilation can contribute to a sweaty back on hot rides (a version with a mesh back panel costs £10 more). You'd hope this would be included in the fairly high price of the Lusso Paragon Seamless Bib Shorts.
Buyer’s guide to cycling bib shorts
Why you should wear Lycra shorts on a bike
If you’re new to cycling, making the transition to padded Lycra shorts can be a big step. Many people worry about looking silly, for example.
There isn’t really an argument against that particular point, but, in our opinion, the performance difference is very much worth it, and the comfort levels are much higher.
Lycra shorts offer a number of advantages over clothes not designed for cycling, or even the best mountain bike shorts. These advantages include better aerodynamic efficiency, better breathability, an ability to dry more quickly and less chance of chafing or your shorts getting snagged on your saddle.
That said, though, you should ride in whatever makes you feel most comfortable and confident. If you prefer baggy shorts over your padded shorts, then that’s good too.
What to look for when buying bib shorts
The key things you need in a set of bib shorts for summer cycling are:
Lightweight fabrics
Summer cycling shorts use lightweight, stretchy and breathable fabrics, and are typically constructed from multiple panels to provide a comfortable, anatomical fit.
These are stitched together neatly with thoughtfully located flatlock seams to provide maximum comfort, while offering support. Your shorts should feel skin-tight and supportive, without causing any discomfort.
Chamois pad
Padded cycling shorts will feature a chamois stitched inside the shorts to provide relief and comfort around the sit bones.
Not all pads are created equal and finding a design that works for you is crucial to long-term comfort.
Once again, the fit should be snug to avoid chafing, while a breathable pad will help keep things fresh downstairs.
Most pads vary the density and thickness of padding through the chamois to provide support where it's needed most, while some use gel inserts in a bid to improve comfort.
Comfortable bib straps
Bib straps are designed to help keep your bib shorts in place, without the need for an uncomfortably tight waistband.
The stretchy straps need to be tight enough to hold your shorts in place securely, but not so tight that they make putting the shorts on difficult or uncomfortable.
If possible, we'd recommend trying shorts on for size before you make a purchase.
Leg grippers
Leg grippers help keep the ends of the shorts in place while pedalling, ideally providing a secure fit without causing discomfort.
There are a number of ways to achieve this, from a simple silicone strip or elasticated band on more affordable shorts to a laser-cut hem backed with a sticky fabric on high-end shorts.
Should you wear underwear under your cycling shorts?
In short, no. This is because the pads in padded cycling shorts are designed to sit directly next to your skin.
For a detailed explanation on this subject, see our article on should I wear underwear under padded cycling shorts?
Bib shorts versus waist shorts
The general consensus among dedicated cyclists is clear: bib shorts are better than waist shorts.
Not everyone agrees, but most find that shorts with bib straps tend to stay in place better than shorts without.
The added tightness in the vertical plane helps pull the chamois up into your body, preventing it sagging away from you when you stand up on the pedals. This means less shifting around and more consistent pad placement, and ultimately comfort.
It also does away with the need for a tight, high waistband, instead putting the emphasis on the elasticated shoulder straps to keep everything in place. This can enable the use of a slightly lower front panel as well, for increased ventilation.
What is a chamois pad?
A chamois pad, or seat pad, is the saddle-shaped padding usually found in cycling bib shorts. They are called a "chamois" because, back in the olden days, they used to be made from chamois leather, which is named after the European mountain goat it's derived from.
Today, they’re usually made from a combination of synthetic, multi-density foams and fabrics. These are designed not only to provide some cushioning for your derrière, but also to wick sweat away to help keep your crotch area dry and healthy.
Proper placement of the pad is key, so it’s worth taking into consideration the type of riding you’ll be doing. Cyclists taking part in time trials or triathlons, with aggressive, forward positions, need much more padding around the front than mountain bikers, who are likely to be sat more upright.
Of course, you also need a good saddle, and performance-oriented saddles tend to be firmer than you might expect because they’re designed with cyclists wearing padded shorts in mind.
Do you need to use chamois cream?
Potentially. If you’re getting on just fine without it, then there’s no need to start using it.
If you experience any chafing or saddle sores though, a good-quality, cycling-specific chamois cream (or simply a generic antibacterial barrier cream) can help prevent infections and reduce friction. We have a guide on how to avoid and treat saddle sores.
How much money should you spend?
As with many things in life, you get what you pay for to a certain extent.
If you’re going to be doing really long days in the saddle or using your cycling shorts fairly regularly, spending a bit more is likely to get you a more comfortable, durable pair of shorts.
That said, if you just want something for short commutes or weekend rides, one of the top-rated cheap women's bib shorts or men’s bib shorts for cycling on a budget, as tested by our expert reviewers, will do the job, and do it well.
Like with bikes, though, once you get above a certain price point (around £75/$95/€85), the returns on your investment start to get more marginal.
That’s not to say those gains won’t be worth it for some riders, but we’d certainly be happy riding all day in Lusso's Carbon v2 Bib Shorts as mentioned above, for example.
Above this price, you’re paying for more modest improvements such as big-name brand labels, more technical fabrics that take into account things such as weather protection and aerodynamics, and often nicer styling.
What colour shorts should you get?
For a long time, black was the go-to colour for many riders. But over recent years, brands have provided more and more options, with blue, grey and dark green being common choices.
Bib shorts remain pretty plain, but that does make it easier to pair them up with more jerseys.
