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review

Primal Mai Tai Evo Bib Short

8
£90.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Well made, slightly compressive bib shorts that offer a very good all-round package for the money
Weight: 
213g

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The Mai Tai Evo Bib Shorts are, as the name suggests, part of Primal's Evo line-up, a range designed for the performance cyclist thanks to their multi-panelled design and snug-fitting fabric. A decent pair of shorts is probably the most important part of your cycling wardrobe and the Evos certainly fall into that category thanks to an excellent pad and compressive materials.

The fabric for the main body is an 80% polyester, 20% spandex mix called Vero, which Primal claims has a 40 gauge knit – 40 stitches per inch, basically – and offers 'top-notch compression and abrasion resistance'.

> Buy these online here

The thinking behind compression material is that it increases blood flow in the muscles, which is why it is mostly used in recovery garments. More blood in means more blood out to remove waste products.

Using it in a less dramatic way, as you find here with the Evos, means that the material is quite supportive of your muscles, stopping vibration when riding over rough surfaces, reducing fatigue. It's minimal but still a benefit, especially on longer rides.

Primal Mai Tai Evo Bib Short - front.jpg

With lots of panels to create the shape there are obviously plenty of seams going on, but Primal has done a very good job of keeping them as unobtrusive as possible and they are flatlocked stitched too.

The legs are held in place by a silicone leg gripper which does the job, although if you have very large thighs they can feel a little tight after a fair few hours in the saddle.

Primal Mai Tai Evo Bib Short - gripper.jpg

The bib part of the shorts is made from mesh, which helps keep you cool – especially when paired with the lightweight Mai Tai Evo jersey. The mesh is breathable and it's good to see nice wide straps so you don't get any pressure points on your shoulders.

Primal Mai Tai Evo Bib Short - full front.jpg

Of course a decent chamois is key for riding comfort, whether going long or short, and the Evos definitely have one with the E6 Carbon. It uses four layers to create a multitude of channels and pads to provide support where needed. The whole thing moves with you as you pedal and never bunches up, so it's beautifully comfortable.

Primal states that the chamois uses Resistex anti-static carbon fabric which promotes blood flow and the reduction of lactic acid. I'm not going to argue, it might well do, but I couldn't feel any noticeable difference.

Primal Mai Tai Evo Bib Short - rear.jpg

Size-wise I'd say the Evos come up more generous than most, while still maintaining a close, contoured fit. The sizing is more realistic for our nation's shape compared with, say, Castelli and other European brands where you need to size up at least once if not twice.

Primal Mai Tai Evo Bib Short - full rear.jpg

As for value, there is a lot of competition in the bib shorts market, especially at the £90 price point, but the Evos do a pretty good job of justifying their price not only in terms of comfort but also in construction and durability. I have other pairs of Primal Evo shorts from a good few years ago and they are all still going strong.

> Buyer's Guide: 18 of the best bib shorts

Up against pairs like the BTwin Aerofits, though, or dhb's Aeron bib shorts, things become a little trickier, with those two coming in at £54.99 and £69.99 respectively, although both have the advantage of being in-house brands.

For excellent all-day comfort, a very welcome bit of muscle-supporting compression and a splash of colour, the Evos are well worth considering.

Verdict

Well made, slightly compressive bib shorts that offer a very good all-round package for the money

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Primal Mai Tai Evo Bib Short

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?

Primal says: "Everyone longs for white, sandy beaches on a gorgeous island. Escape to your own tropical paradise, complete with brilliant sunset and a drink in hand, hammock not provided."

It also says:

"Evo Bottom

"Features an anatomic, race-specific fit, and excellent compression Vero fabric allows for superior flexibility. A duo-base paneling system and flatlock stitching eliminate undesirable seams to redefine comfort on the bike."

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

Primal lists these details:

9 Inch Inseam

Contout Race Cut Fit

E6 Carbon Chamois

Flatlock Stitching

Promesh Bib Upper

Silicone Leg Gripper

Vero Fabric

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

I'd say the Primals have a more realistic sizing and fit than a lot of cycling kit. You might even be able to drop down a size if you are right on the cusp.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

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

Washed up clean every time.

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

The Evo bibs are very comfortable for many hours.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The pad.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The leg grippers can feel a little tight on long rides of five hours plus.

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

The Evo bib shorts are very good when it comes to all-day comfort and fit, plus I'm a fan of the bright, fun colours – especially when paired with the matching jersey.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  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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