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review

Gore Inner Lady Tights+

8
£34.99

VERDICT:

8
10
High quality, well designed and very breathable liner shorts that deliver good levels of comfort
Weight: 
139g

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Liner shorts can be a good option at times, allowing for mid-length-distance cycling comfort in even the most innocuous and non-technical of outfits – flying under the radar if you will. The Gore Bike Wear Inner Lady Tights+ are specifically designed to be low-profile undershorts, for use with all Gore Bike Wear women's looser fit shorts, but just as useful with any other outfit.

For those times when the Lycra look just isn't what's required, liner shorts can be worn under looser fit 'baggies', cycling capris, a dress, or pretty much anything else really.

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The Inner Lady Tights+ are super-lightweight and feature large mesh panels, making them very suitable for wearing under something else without causing overheating.

The Contest Women pad is aimed at short to mid-distance rides, but I'd be quite happy to take it out on mid-distances with no worries at all. It's well shaped and contoured well to my body, thanks to the more traditional Lycra panels surrounding it.

There are still leg grippers to give a secure and comfortable fit, and thankfully they didn't result in the sausage effect that some shorts cause, making them relatively easily hidden. The length finished mid-thigh for me (5ft 5in), good for wearing under other clothing.

The broad elastic waistband, with loops for attaching to Gore outer shorts and trousers, was also comfortable and kept the shorts nicely in place while riding, with no discomfort. The mesh panels were fairly discreet so didn't shout out 'underwear!'.

Ride comfort was good, thanks to the mesh ventilation and the pad, and though they are on the expensive side, for dedicated liner shorts they're a definite cut above cheaper ones I've tried, and well worth the money.

Verdict

High quality, well designed and very breathable liner shorts that deliver good levels of comfort

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Gore Inner Lady Tights+

Size tested: Black, Size L/40

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?

Designed as a liner for short to mid-distance rides, primarily to be worn under Gore's baggy shorts and trousers.

Definitely up to the job for mid-length rides and spot on as a liner short.

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

Main Fabric - 80% polyamide/20% elastane

Mesh- 86% polyester/14% elastane

Comfortable elastic waistband

Contest Women seat insert

Loops at waistband for attachment with outer pants

Gripper elastic on bottom edge

Mesh inserts for better ventilation

Available in sizes XS-XXL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Very well made using high quality fabrics and with a good level of finish.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Very comfortable and exceptionally breathable.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Seem robust despite the mesh panels.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

Nice and lightweight for under other shorts/trousers.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

Breathe well and pad is definitely comfortable enough for mid-length rides.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Not the cheapest liner shorts but considerably better quality and performance than most cheaper options, so a sound investment.

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

Very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Mesh panels, traditional Lycra around pad to help it remain contoured to the body, length of leg, quality of pad and fabrics, waistband.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

Well made and well designed – not cheap but a sound investment

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 73kg

I usually ride: Boardman Hybrid Fi  My best bike is: Specialized Ruby Elite

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mountain biking

 

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

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