Ibex 3/4 Bib Knicker review

Ibex 3/4 Bib Knicker review

Mid-length bibs custom made for shoulder season rides

Our rating

3.5

165.00

Courtesy

Published: April 11, 2017 at 9:00 am

Our review
Odd length and stitching encumbers otherwise wonderful feeling and riding wool bib knickers Buy if, You're a dedicated rider who wants to put in saddle time in changeable weather

Pros:

Merino wool, warm, good chamois

Cons:

Odd length on longer legs, noticeable seam on front

Ibex touts its 3/4 Bib Knickers as the ultimate shoulder season riding option, meaning those days in the spring and fall when your ride might start off sunny and warm and end up in a wet snow shower.

Ibex's 3/4 Bib Knickers are built for the tricky rides in spring and fall
Ibex's 3/4 Bib Knickers are built for the tricky rides in spring and fall Courtesy

To be ready for all those conditions, the bibs are crafted from merino wool. Wool is renowned for its ability to breathe well, wick moisture and insulate while wet. It's also known to be a bit heavier than other leading performance fabrics and carry a higher price tag.

Ibex 3/4 Bib Knicker features

  • Made of 84% merino wool, 10% nylon, 6% Spandex
  • Inseam: S=17in, M=17.5in (tested), L=18in, XL=18.5in
  • 4-way stretch seat panel
  • 3D custom molded elastic interface chamois
  • Flatlock seams
  • Reflective stripes and logo
  • Fabric gram weight: 390g/m2
  • Garment weight: 10oz

Ibex 3/4 Bib Knicker fit

While clearly labeled 3/4, the bibs hit somewhat awkwardly right above the bend of my knees. Granted, I have very long legs (35in inseam) so of course your fit will vary. With that mentioned, I would have preferred more length to cover my knees.

While riding the legs end up above my knees
While riding the legs end up above my knees Russell Eich / Immediate Media

The leg openings don't feature any silicone or other gripper material but it was still noticeable behind my knee. It wasn't noticeable in a bad way, rather just something I could feel.

On to the bibs, the shoulder straps seemed a bit narrow but once on felt good, remaining unnoticeable for the most part.

The other oddity with the fit was the seam centered on the front above the chamois. The seam consisted of flatlock stitching, but because it was drawing together heavier weight wool material, it created a notable ridge inside the shorts and a slight annoyance at times.

Ibex 3/4 Bib Knicker in use

Ibex selected a wool weighing 390g/m2, which most wool clothing companies agree typically falls into the heavyweight category.

The heavier weight wool material was ideal for cool days on the bike. The bib is decidedly warm with a high front, sides and a nearly full back. The body of the bibs definitely provided a comforting squeeze and held my base layer snug against my skin. The downside to this cocoon-like fit was that bathroom breaks required even more bending and flexing.

Ibex gave some thought to how the bib knickers performed on the bike. The inside thighs are made of nylon for easy movement on and around the saddle. I was pleased to see an elastic interface chamois as previous versions have agreed nicely with me. The one in the Ibex bibs did as well, no complaints there.

A Cytech Elastic Interface chamois provides the padding
A Cytech Elastic Interface chamois provides the padding Courtesy

The reflective details on the inner thighs seemed to be an interesting placement. The Ibex sheep head logo on the lower left thigh front is also reflective.

Ibex 3/4 Bib Knicker feel

Forgive me for being Captain Obvious here, but the biggest reason to grab these bibs is the merino wool fabric. For me personally, I very much appreciate the feel of wool compared to the plasticy feel of oil-derived polyester typical of most cycling wear.

That, combined with the knowledge that I was likely going to be cycling more or less happy despite any possible turns of weather, meant these merino wool bib knickers came close to living up to their ultimate shoulder season billing.

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