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review

Oneten Primo Bib Shorts

7
£49.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Although lacking stand-out features, these are good, all-round summer shorts
Weight: 
211g
Contact: 
www.hotlines-uk.com

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The Oneten Primo bib shorts put in a solid performance for summer riding.

The shorts are made from six panels of a mid-weight polyamide/elastane that are cut to give a good anatomical shape. The wide leg grippers are made from a double thickness of similar (though not exactly the same) fabric. There's no silicone inside there, though, so they don't hold onto your legs as well as some. I found they could slide up a little in use – not loads, but a bit.

That also means there's nothing to hang on to knee or leg warmers so you can occasionally be left with a band of uncovered skin. Those logos on the left leg, by the way, are printed – they're not of the iron-on variety – so they won't crack and fall off.

The chamois is made from XP1 perforated foam with some pretty large holes in the layer closest to your skin. It's not the most sophisticated pad ever but it does a reasonable job. It's deeply cushioned but not all that dense so you start feeling the saddle a bit more than you'd like towards the end of long rides. I'd have preferred the deepest section of padding to reach a little further forward for riding down on the drops and for it to be a touch more stretchy, but it does a good enough job for the money. The best feature of the chamois is that it is very breathable. Even on hot rides in the midday sun, it handles moisture well.

 

The straps are mesh and they provide plenty of breathability, especially around the back where large holes in the fabric let moist air escape. Oneten say these straps feature 'unique one-way stretch technology, meaning the fabric will only stretch horizontally in order to prevent sagging'. I have to disagree. They stretch more horizontally, but they certainly stretch vertically too - not that I had a problem with them sagging, so that's largely academic.

Thoughtfully, Oneten have stuck the label on the outside so it won't irritate you. Everyone should do that. It's covered by your jersey so no one can see it.

We've seen very similar shorts from Italian brand Pissei but that doesn't alter the fact that, although lacking standout features, these are a good all-round offering.

Verdict

Although lacking stand-out features, these are good, all-round summer shorts.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Oneten Primo Bib Shorts

Size tested: Black - L

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?

Oneten say, "A punishing training schedule, a packed competitive calendar or a simple love of long Sunday spins – there are many ways to log long hours in the saddle but only one to make sure they stay bearable.

We've designed the OneTen Primo bib short to be a faithful and dependable companion through those hours and miles spent turning the pedals, with a 3D-engineered fabric construction designed for effective regulation of heat and moisture, and a modern synthetic chamois for ultimate long-ride comfort.

Body-mapping technology means we use different types of fabric in the areas where they will be most effective:

* Bib front and legs: The upper bib and legs are manufactured from a blend of 220g polyester and Lycra offering the perfect balance of flexibility, fit and moisture wicking capability next to your skin.

* Rear: A 3D-structured open mesh panel at the back enables internal air flow, allowing moisture to evaporate and heat to escape. Features OneTen's unique one-way stretch technology, meaning the fabric will only stretch horizontally in order to prevent sagging.

* Leg grippers: Fabric bands provide a secure and comfortable grip on the upper legs to maintain the shape of the garment.

They're single bound seams rather than anything fancy but the materials are decent enough quality.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

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

Good performance for the money.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Good cut, logos that aren't going to crack and fall off.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I prefer silicone leg grippers to hold the shorts in place properly.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, they're pretty good.

Would you consider buying the product? I'd prefer a better seat pad.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Possibly.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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