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review

Vermarc Relax bib shorts

9
£63.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Brilliant value for money bibs with quality pad for long or short rides
Weight: 
200g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Vermarc may be a Belgian company but a large proportion of their kit is made in Italy to their design by APG in Verona. They might sound familiar as they also make Alé and Giordana kit among others. It's something Vermarc are very proud off and their Relax bibshorts show why they should be.

Unlike the anatomical cut of their race-orientated shorts the Relax bibs have a more traditional cut for a range of riding disciplines and rider styles. The simple eight panel construction is stitched together using flatlock seams to avoid irritation and builds into a very comfortable pair of shorts. Vermarc say they are basic, standard fitting shorts but they are so much better than that.

The Power Lycra provides supportive compression to your muscles and it feels soft against the skin, as do the bibs which have reasonably wide straps and a full back section. All of this is mesh so breathability isn't an issue. One thing I do like is that the Lycra material comes up over your lower stomach providing plenty of comfort and warmth so you can wear them into chiller conditions when paired with leg warmers.

The legs are kept in place by silicone grippers and don't move at all once your legs have started spinning. The length is traditional too, finishing between mid-thigh and the knee, about an inch or two shorter than the latest fashion for longer race shorts.

The Elite pad is the top of the line chamois in the OmniForm range. OmniForm is a process that uses high frequency sound waves rather than heat to bond the different layers of the pad together, leaving the foam softer because no heat is involved. Enough to notice a difference over more traditional methods? I don't know for sure but its certainly an unbelievably comfortable pad.

There are various sections of differing density foam and channels to apply and reduce pressure plus the central section uses gel as a shock absorber. It works very well as minimal road buzz makes it through to the rider regardless of how harsh the bike or saddle are.

The material is also just the right thickness to take the sting out without being to padded to cause numbness or discomfort.

Overall the Relax bibs are just brilliant, a great fit, well built and the chamois is so comfortable plus when you take the European manufacture into account £63.99 is amazing value for money. I'm yet to wear any of Vermarc's kit I haven't been impressed with and that hasn't changed with the Relax shorts.

Verdict

Brilliant value for money bibs with quality pad for long or short rides

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Vermarc Relax bibshorts

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Described as a basic, standard fitting pair of bibs Vermarc are pitching these as a kind of do it all pair of shorts bar racers for which they have their pro cut. The Relax bibs are very good whether you are riding flat out or cruising along.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

* Standard fitting

* Elite Pad

* Mesh Bibs

* Silicon grippers keeps the shorts in place

* Flatlock seams to avoid friction and irritation to the skin

* Breathable fabric helps you keep cool.

* 100% Made in Italy

* Sizes - S to XXXL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Well stitched and finished.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

A nice fit thanks to multi panels.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Material feels hardwearing and the stitching stands up to a good hard pull test.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
10/10

The pad is sublime.

Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

European design, manufacture and a quality construction for sixty four quid is pretty impressive.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Really good shorts for a multiple of disciplines.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The chamois.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I wouldn't go as far as 'dislike' for anything.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

A really comfortable pair of shorts which is always the most important aspect of any piece of clothing. Other bibs have been comparable on comfort and build quality but rarely for this price. Really impressive.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Kinesis T2  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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