Scott RC Warm WB +++ Tights review

The trickily named Scott RC Warm WB +++ Tights are designed to put cold-weather protection to the fore, while imbuing an extra level of water resistance over the brand's RC Warm +++ Tights.

Scott manages this at a relatively competitive price, with the tights providing ample warmth and coverage from the elements.

However, the chamois lacks sufficient cushioning for longer winter rides and the leg panel seams could be more comfortable.

Scott RC Warm WB +++ Tights details and specifications

The Scott RC Warm WB +++ Tights employ Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper fabrics in key zones on the front-facing sections and lighter, stretchier fabrics on the back.

In theory, this should offer weather protection for the most exposed areas, but keep things more breathable and flexible elsewhere.

The non-Infinium equipped areas – the lower portion of the lower leg, lower bib panels and inside leg (next to the chamois) – are fleece-lined for warmth.

The bib tights have been subjected to a DWR (durable water repellent) treatment.

The bib’s upper section has a ventilated central section for breathability, surrounded by elasticated bands, which seamlessly form the whole straps.

At the other end, the cuffs are elasticated but don’t feature zips.

The waist is cut generously. While slim, it’s noticeably less narrow than, for example, the racier-feeling Sportful Total Comfort or Rapha Pro Team Winter Tights with Pad II.

This bodes well for those with extra girth in their midsection – my size large offered plenty of excess space without feeling too loose there, or in the leg.

Scott makes five sizes of the RC Warm WB +++ Tights (S-2XL).

At £134.99, they could be considered a value purchase compared to more expensive bib tights.

However, before you rush out and buy a set, testing has revealed a couple of factors that should be reckoned with.

Scott RC Warm WB +++ Tights performance

The Scott RC Warm WB +++ Tights undercut all of the bib tights they were tested alongside.

They're £25 cheaper than the Gore C3 Windstopper Bib Tight and £45 cheaper than the dhb Aeron Lab Winter Bib Tights, with some variation depending on territory.

While a relatively cheap price tag might raise eyebrows, for the most part, it needn’t.

As the name suggests, the Scott bib tights excel in cold conditions, delivering wind-resistant performance that keeps the worst weather at bay.

Inside, the front-facing panels aren’t fleece-lined on the inside. Perhaps surprisingly, this has little bearing on their overall warmth (especially in dry weather), but the Scott tights don’t feel as luxurious against the skin as the more expensive bib tights.

Some of the seams on the inside are noticeable. While not in any areas that could cause chafing, I could feel the edges of the yellow and off-black Scott-branded panels against my thighs, especially.

Scott has chosen the water-resistant Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper fabric below these panels over the knee, rather than opting for an even thinner, more compliant fabric.

The downside is the fabric doesn’t stretch brilliantly over the knee, which means it doesn’t feel quite as comfortable as the best bib tights.

However, should you suffer from cold knees, the wind and water protection offered here is a boon when the weather is wet.

The other panels, which use the Infinium fabrics, are also customarily good at resisting water ingress.

The rear side of the bib tights, thanks to a thinner construction with a fleece lining, is much more comfortable against the skin.

This approach is applied all round on the lower legs, in direct contrast to the Sportful Total Comfort Bib Tights (and others), where greater protection is applied.

Your lower legs are typically more exposed to road splashback, which makes Scott’s application of fabrics a curious one. In the wet, I soon got sodden shins, which became cold.

That said, it wasn’t a problem in the dry, fitting me comfortably around the shin and over the calf, while it was easy to push my large feet through the unzipped ankle hems without causing any stitching to pull.

The bib section was comfortable and distributed tension across the shoulders well. There was plenty of room for my winter overhang.

For those wanting to engage in long winter miles, the chamois may come as a small disappointment.

I found it adequate for rides of around two hours, but began to miss the plushness of thicker, denser pads by this point.

What works for me may not work for you, but it’s notable that (aside from the colour), the pad is visually very similar to the very competent Elastic Interface model used in the dhb Aeron Lab Winter Bib Tights.

However, it’s noticeably less densely padded here, and this impacted on my comfort and desire to ride longer distances with it.

Scott RC Warm WB +++ Tights bottom line

On one hand, the Scott RC Warm WB +++ Tights represent a compelling value-for-money deal.

The fabrics perform well, providing essential wind and rain protection – and a good amount of warmth – in wintry weather. The cut is considerate and the bib section feels well-designed.

That said, the curious application of those fabrics (notably, over the knee), prominent seams on the thigh panels and a middling chamois are negative points to consider.