Best cycling bib shorts 2025 — enhance your comfort in the saddle with these top picks

There is no getting around the price, but the Rapha Pro Team Powerweaves are supremely comfortable bib shorts, using innovative technologies combined with noticeable compression and a superb chamois.

The material offers compression without any irritating wrinkles or creases and has very impressive wicking and breathability. To help with comfort, Rapha has used fewer seams, with the stretch of the material allowing them to build these with seven panels. Rapha has also used its remodelled race chamois, which is both slimmer and lighter than the other Pro Team models, and tester George said, "It's a truly excellent pad". 

Moving on to the straps, Rapha has slightly adjusted the straps compared with the earlier models of this bib short and they sit flat against the shoulders with no twisting or digging in when riding. There's a mesh panel at the back of the shorts that helps to let heat escape easily and keeps you nice and cool.

The Specialized Women’s Prime Bib Shorts offer incredible comfort and a superb seat pad, and they’re a very good price considering the excellent quality. These are high-quality bib shorts made from a fabric that moves moisture quickly and effectively.

The super-comfy fit is echoed by the comfort and support of the pad, a triple-density foam Women’s Body Geometry Contour 3D Chamois. Reviewer Lara Dunn reported that it conformed exceptionally well to the body, but retained its cushioning without undue compression, remaining comfortable no matter the effort or length of ride.

A magnetic buckle at the rear is designed to make comfort breaks easier to deal with. It releases quickly and easily but isn’t quite so easy to do up again so it may take a few rides to master the technique. Overall, though, these offer exceptional performance for their price.

dhb’s Moda Women’s Classic Bib Shorts are a well-thought-out design with a great fit, with straps that don’t put pressure on the chest, wonderfully comfy leg ends and minimalist styling. Unfortunately, given that Wiggle, dhb's parent company, has gone bust these shorts are unlikely to be around for much longer. That said, if you're quick and you can find a pair in your size the Modas are ideal for more relaxed road rides of two or three hours when sitting in an upright position on the hoods.

Reviewer Anna-Marie Hughes said. “The stretchy material is wonderfully soft against the skin and the seams are well positioned so that they don’t cause any irritation. The close cut is supportive, but not to the extent that it’s compressive – it’s a great balance for staying comfy on relaxed rides. The bib straps curve around the chest rather than passing straight over your boobs, so there’s no uncomfortable pressure being placed here.”

Overall, the Moda Classics are well-designed shorts, providing impressive amounts of comfort and support at a low price.

The Albion Cycling ABR1 Pocket Bib Shorts are gravel-specific, designed for long days in the saddle, and work really well on or off the road. They are a mild tweak of Albion's existing ABR1 Bib Shorts which we have also reviewed and loved. They feature side pockets and a clever rear stash pocket which can fit an item of clothing such as a gilet or lightweight jacket.

They also feature an incredibly comfortable and non-intrusive Elastic Interface pad which is designed for rides over seven hours. The shorts themselves are made from four-way-stretch recycled fabrics, with flatlock seams to prevent any kind of chafing while you ride, and a mesh panel at the rear, ideal for keeping your back cooler on hotter days.

Castelli's Entrata Bib Shorts are high-performance shorts without the price to match. Though described as entry-level by Castelli, the bib shorts feel high quality and very comfortable, with a great fit, and being very light they perform well in the heat. 

The shorts are made from a 'dry matte Lycra' designed for compression and breathability, with the bib section being mesh, helping with breathability even on the hottest days. The chamois is a Castelli Kiss Air2, and the shorts feature GIRO4 leg grippers, which in practice are fantastic at locking the legs in place.

The bib straps are comfortable, too, tight enough to keep the shorts in place without any discomfort, and being mesh helps to reduce sweat build-up in that area.

The Polaris Latitude Bib Shorts are well-designed mid-price shorts that deliver, on and off road, and you can currently get your hands on a pair for £39. They're aimed primarily at long-distance road riders, but tester Shaun found that their qualities are equally suited to gravel and mixed terrain escapes.

As mid-point shorts go, the Polaris Latitudes deliver a good balance of performance, comfort and practicality.

Being a heavier tog weight they feel toastier on the indoor trainer compared with some budget models, which are proportionately thinner, though moisture management is still good for outside riding. The thicker fabric bodes well for longevity – and the odd spill, 

The Assos Mille GTS Spring fall bib shorts C2 are a large outlay, but incredible comfort, fit and performance mean they're worth every penny. As their name suggests, these shorts are designed for use away from the high temperatures of summer, which makes them pretty versatile for the UK climate.

For the legs and rear panel Assos has used a warp-knit material called RX Evo. RX Evo is slightly thicker than you'd find on a standard pair of summer shorts, which gives a small amount of insulation. Tester Stu said he wore them in temperatures down to 5°C and even on the turbo with an ambient temperature of 18°C, they remained perfectly breathable with a fan blowing over them simulating real ride airflow.

Stu also said that the pad is excellent. It's made up of multiple layers of varying materials and densities and manages to give a plush ride without alienating you from the bike. 

The Pedla SuperFit Bib Shorts have a great compressive race fit, an excellent pad and good breathability. They are equally well suited to race efforts or long summer days on the bike. If, like me, you're new to the Pedla brand... well, it's an Australian company that focuses on performance and sustainability.

The pad is from chamois specialist Elastic Interface, and is rated comfortable for rides over seven hours long. The pad is quite thick around the sit bones but thinner elsewhere. Tester Ben said, "My longest rides weren't quite up to seven hours but I found them comfortable throughout and would be confident wearing these on day-long rides."

The mesh straps are breathable, comfortable and nice and wide on your shoulders. They are joined to a mesh upper back area that helps spread the load and to keep you cool. Ben wrote, "I have to say that the quality of the shorts is excellent – all the stitching looks perfect and the shorts look as good as new even after plenty of hours on the bike and a fair few times going through the wash."