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Endura Pro SL Biblong

9
£139.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Windproof, water resistant and thermal with brilliant fit, enhanced by the pad width options
Weight: 
350g

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Endura's Pro SL Biblongs are excellent: they're windproof, fit superbly, and the pad comes in three widths, offering a little customisation.

At the core of the longs is the four-way stretch windproof, breathable fabric with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish front and seat panels. This panelling of fabrics gives the longs a very comfortable fit. On the bike, they fitted me perfectly with no bunching of material at the back of the knee.

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The windproofing is very effective and kept me nice and toasty down below zero. The density of the fabric is brilliant and results in no cold spots where the material is stretched. With others, my knees can get quite stiff in the cold; no such problems here.

Endura Pro SL Biblong - front full.jpg

Endura has included Thermolite rear panels with DWR finish to 'provide insulation and comfort'. Windproofing isn't as important on the back of your legs, so this is an area that allows a little more breathability. A little water resistance, on the other hand, can be very useful, especially if you don't use mudguards. For the most part, I used these with mudguards, so the only water to hit the DWR fabric were splashes and a little rain, and it coped easily with no water getting through. The real test came when I was warming up for a cyclo-cross race: I caked the legs and rear section in really wet mud and can happily say they weren't troubled by that either.

Endura Pro SL Biblong - back.jpg

The pad is something that Endura has looked at as an individual component rather than a 'one size fits all' solution. The 700 Series pad is computer cut with a 'continuously variable profile' (CVP). The pad features an antibacterial finish and is available in three widths. My test pair came with the medium width pad which fitted well (for reference, I use a Specialized Toupe saddle in the 143mm width), with a firm, supportive core. The channelling meant I experienced no folds in the pad and the fabric remained soft after several washes.

Endura Pro SL Biblong - pad.jpg

Towards the top of the bib longs, Endura has added a lot of 'supportive cosy-touch' fabric to complement the close-knit Lycra mesh that makes up the back panel and straps. There is also a handy front zipper to assist those mid-ride pee stops. With no fabric backing the zipper, I was concerned that it would get very cold and possibly also cause irritation, but had no issues, and in fact didn't even notice it was there.

Endura Pro SL Biblong - zip.jpg

Rear-facing reflective strips on the ankle aid visibility – a good place to put some shiny material, I think, as the pedalling motion helps highlight you, especially if the car behind has its headlights dipped.

Endura Pro SL Biblong - ankle.jpg

Endura is so confident in its bib longs that it offers a 90-day 'Comfort Guarantee'. Don't like them after the best part of three months? Take 'em back. That also gives you a great amount of time to test them for wear. Ours have been washed many times (but not tumble dried; I've ruined too many water resistant coatings in the pursuit of faster drying) and are faring well. Left to hang, they will dry overnight.

> Check out our guide to the best winter cycling bib tights

Although £139.99 is a lot to invest in Lycra, when you consider the performance of the tights I would say it's okay value. They are £40 more than dhb's Aeron Deep Winter tights, while Castelli's NanoFlex Pro Bibtights are £150.

The Endura Pro SL Biblongs are really, really good. The basics of fit and fabric are spot on, and they perform superbly, even in the nastiest conditions. If you can afford them, they're worth it.

Verdict

Windproof, water resistant and thermal with brilliant fit, enhanced by the pad width options

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Endura Pro SL Biblong

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?

From Endura: "Definitive windproof legwear with multi-width pad precision."

It's a short statement but these deliver: windproof and with three different pad sizes.

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

From Endura:

4-way high stretch Windproof, breathable fabric with DWR finish front and seat panels

THERMOLITE® rear panels with DWR finish provide insulation and comfort

700 Series pad, computer cut 'continuously variable profile' (CVP) stretch pad with antibacterial finish available in 3 pad width options

Ergonomic, pre-shaped panel construction

Supportive cosy-touch mesh upper with high stretch Lycra® bound straps

Rear facing reflective on ankle

90 Day Comfort Guarantee

If it's good enough for Nairo and Valverde ...

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Can't fault it.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

They're windproof with a water-repellent finish and have kept me warm and dry for hours. The pad is brilliant.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

I've had no issues. They come out of the wash looking good as new.

Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10

The Lycra is supportive enough to keep everything in place without restricting movement.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

The mediums on test came with about a 32in leg which was just right for me.

Rate the product for weight:
 
6/10

350g is respectable for bib longs.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

I was concerned about the zip, thinking it would be cold. I didn't have any issues though. The Lycra is soft, the pad is comfy for well over four hours and the straps are well proportioned.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

£139.99 is quite an outlay, but you do get a lot of performance for that.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

No shrinking or loss of water or wind resistance that I could spot.

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

Very windproof, warm and keep out quite a lot of rain.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

When you forget you're wearing them, it's a very good sign.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

There's no gripper on the ankle but it's only a possible issue for the very tall and skinny.

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

They are pretty much faultless.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 22  Height: 177cm  Weight: 64kg

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Di2  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, general fitness riding, I specialise in the Cafe Ride!

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3 comments

Avatar
flyingpitman | 4 years ago
0 likes

My go to bib tights,and I have others from top brands.I nearly didn't buy these when reading reviews on websites.

People banging on about no zip @ankles. To me that's a plus.They are warm,and keep you dry during showers.They fit really nice and the pad is as good or maybe even better than the progetto x2. I have no bother putting them on or taking them off.I always take mine off inside out to wash any way.

I have ridden 2000 miles in mine now according to Mr if it's not on there you didn't do it site.Washed after every ride,and they still look as good as new.

Nice reflective bits where you need them.The biggest bonus for me was I got them from the top retailers after a bit of a wriggle,for £64 so pays to shop around.Like all of you we have gear that we swear by and becomes our go to gear.Well these are mine,and made me look at other stuff they do.I have now bought their Pro SL overshoes,and they seem good up to now about 3-400 miles,will comment on them after winter.

Avatar
Richard D | 6 years ago
0 likes

Watch for the ankles, though.  They are tight - very, very tight.  It takes me quite a bit of time to ease them over my heels - far longer than faffing about with zips takes - and I'm convinced that the fabric is going to split.

They're also quite long on me, especially at the calves.  That's down to my short legs rather than any sizing issues.  I suspect can sort both problems - too-tight ankles and too-long calves - with a pair of scissors.

Avatar
sammutd88 | 7 years ago
0 likes

I have some of the pro sl bibshorts. They are the best of the bibshorts I've tried which include dhb' asv range. About to get delivery of some Assos bibshorts. Whichever is more comfortable out of endura or assos will make my decision on purchasing bibtights. 

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