Rapha Pro Team Cargo Bib Shorts

The Rapha Pro Team Cargo Bib Shorts have an excellent pad, a lightly compressive fit, and two useful pockets. That makes them a great option for long days out, especially in changeable conditions where you want to carry additional items.

These feature Rapha’s Pro Team single-density chamois, which feels slightly thicker than others I’ve tested. I thought it was excellent. I wore them on everything from long gravel epics to tough chain-gang efforts, and I found the chamois worked well no matter the conditions.

There’s a perforated top sheet to aid breathability and reduce weight. I never felt the chamois get overly sweaty, even in warm conditions.

The fabric strikes a nice balance between support and comfort. It’s noticeably thicker than some ultra-light race bibs, which creates a more secure and slightly compressive feel that still avoids getting overly warm on summer rides.

Despite the thicker feel, moisture management is excellent, and they never felt clammy during harder efforts or long climbs. The fabric also seems robust: after repeated gravel rides with plenty of snagging vegetation and regular washes, there’s no visible damage, loose stitching or other signs of wear.

Rapha recommends these for temperatures between 6-25℃. I’d say that’s on the low side. I would definitely be too cold in these at 6℃, but I have been more than happy at over 25℃.

For cargo you get a pocket on each leg, and I personally found them useful for a phone or some snacks. The feel really secure, and I was never worried about my phone (a standard-sized Google Pixel) falling out during a ride. This was particularly useful on a cycling holiday where I wanted easy access for taking photos.

I also tested these a lot on spring rides with cold starts, and normally I struggle to find places for my gloves, gilet and arm warmers once it warms up – these pockets, though, solve that. They’re useful enough that I missed them when switching back to standard bibs.

The Pro Teams are close-fitting without feeling overly aggressive or race-oriented. They have light compression on the legs, and felt supportive on harder efforts or long rides.

The legs are on the longer side, stopping a few centimetres from the knee (I’m 178cm and wore a large). It was the perfect length for my taste, and I don’t think they’d be too short even if you’re much taller. They won’t suit if you like short shorts, though.

The legs are held in place nicely by a band of small grippy dots, and I never had any issues with them rising.

The straps are excellent; they’re wide and breathable (as is the rear mesh between them), and even on six-hour rides I didn’t really notice they were there. I think you might find them a touch short if you have a long torso, however.

The shorts come up relatively high at the front, but the material is stretchy enough to make mid-ride comfort breaks easy. The front panelling didn’t fit me quite as naturally as some rival bibs and occasionally felt slightly awkward on the bike, however, which is not something I’ve really experienced with other shorts.

Sizing

The size guide had me between a medium and a large; I tested the large, though I think a medium would have also been fine. If you are between sizes, it might be worth considering the smaller one – I’d say the size guide was accurate to what you’re getting.

These come in six sizes from XS to 2XL, which covers a broad range of riders, so you should be able to find a size that suits you.

There are four other colours if you like a bit more interest, too, including a pretty stylish raspberry and white option. As usual with Rapha, they have a big logo on each leg, and one is white while the other is reflective.

Value

At £195, these are undoubtedly premium shorts, though not at the very top of the market – you can find plenty of shorts at £300 or more. You can still find good cargo shorts for less, however.

Matt thought the Sportful Supergiara 2 bib shorts had a great fit and a good pad, and those are £175.

Iwein really liked the Universal Colours Mono Cargo bib shorts, finding few faults, and they’re cheaper at £140.

If you’re really looking to spend less, the Galibier Pro 7 Cargo bib shorts are only £74. We haven’t tested them, and of course much would depend on the pad, but most Galibier stuff we test does really well.

Overall

These are very comfortable shorts that perform well over a wide range of rides. The supportive pad works well over long distances, and the cargo pockets make them especially useful for gravel rides, changeable conditions and just regular real-world use. They’re not the cheapest, but for the quality and performance you’re getting they feel worth the money.