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Sugoi MidZero bib tights

4
£89.99

VERDICT:

4
10
Cracking performance and fit, but we found problems with durability.
Weight: 
308g
Contact: 
www.cyclingsportsgroup.co.uk

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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Hopefully the worst of the winter weather has passed now but its still chilly enough in the morning to need full leg coverage. Sugoi's MidZero bib tights are bang on for this time of year. They are made from a mid-weight fabric that's ideal for temperatures from a couple of degrees above freezing to around 13-15°C.

They get their name from the MidZero fabric, Sugoi's own design of fleece-backed material to provide the warmth. Up top the bibs have a mesh construction that gives plenty of ventilation and breathability.

The MidZero's eight-panel construction is shaped tight and close in a very snug race cut. They're so well cut for riding that they are uncomfortable to walk in because they are short between chamois pad and bibs.

On the bike though the fit is pretty much perfect with no bunching around the knees or tops of the thighs even when you're crouched right over in the drops.

There's a double layer of fabric over the knees, keeping warmth where it's needed most but without any unwanted bulk. At the bottom leg grippers work with seven-inch ankle zips to stop them riding up.

The mesh bib comes up to the bottom of your chest giving plenty of support and warmth for the lower back and abdomen. The bib straps are very narrow though and could do with being wider to avoid pressure points on your shoulders. That's only a minor gripe though.

Inside we see the same RC Pro chamois that is used in the Sugoi Evolution shorts we tested last summer and it's just as comfortable here as it was then. The pad itself contains various contoured areas that mould to the body and reduce vibration, while a centre channel runs the full length for ventilation and pressure relief. Long hours in the saddle are not a problem.

At £90 these are fairly pricy bib tights but their comfort justifies the price thanks to the cut of the fabric panels and the chamois. For all round comfort and performance the MidZero's are tough to beat.

There's a 'but' though and it's a big one. They have not proven acceptably durable. After just 10-12 hours of saddle time the fabric was wearing thin and pilling at rub points and the stitching was coming apart. After another 20+ hours of riding you can see the chamois from outside the tights.

This is a real shame. The Sugoi MidZero bib tights would be getting massive thumbs up otherwise. Their durability really lets them down even though they excel in every area.

Verdict

Cracking performance and fit, but we found problems with durability.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Sugoi MidZero bib tights

Size tested: Black, 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?

"Fleeced high-performance thermal bib short with RC Pro chamois for single layer winter cycling performance" is what it says on Sugoi's website. In terms of cycling performance they are brilliant.

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

MidZero fabric - fleeced lined for warmth

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

The actual construction of the garment is good, it's the durability of the materials that is the issue.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Performance in the saddle is brilliant.

Rate the product for durability:
 
3/10

Shocking wear rate.

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

Comfort levels are great thanks to eight-panel fit and the chamois.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

90 quid for the tights based on performance alone - brilliant. Add durability to the equation - not good.

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

On the bike they are great, comfortable and well fitting.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit and chamois.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

How quickly they wear out

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? No

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No

Overall rating: 5/10

About the tester

Age: 34  Height: 180cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Genesis Flyer  My best bike is: Ribble Gran Fondo

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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