Best cycling bib shorts 2026 — enhance your comfort in the saddle with these top picks

7Mesh was already onto a good thing with its Mk2 bib shorts, but the Mk3s are a huge improvement. Buying shorts is a worrying experience as it’s not like you can take them back to the shop after four hours of testing and say, erm, no thanks. If you take the plunge and purchase these Mk3s, we think you’ll be very pleased.

They are incredibly comfortable regardless of the length of time in the saddle because of their hammock chamois lining, which is attached at the top of the rear of the shorts under the bib yoke strap and the front of the shorts about where the waist would be, but nowhere else, material choice and cut, and the luxurious, wide shoulder straps.

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.

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 Assos UMA GTV C2 women’s bib shorts might be expensive but they’re amazingly comfortable and excellent quality, with a fast and easy pee-break design that actually works.

Assos’ Bisiclick design works really well for pee stops, once you get used to it. Two magnetic clasps sit on the lower back (just above the bum), attaching to the stretchy straps, so there’s no need to remove your jersey.

Inside the shorts, the GT C2 pad features Assos’ goldenGate technology, where the pad isn’t stitched into place all the way along the sides. The pad itself is constructed of a 3D waffle foam to reduce weight and increase breathability, and a 9mm Superair Microshock Foam for protection from road vibrations. It provides a high level of comfort but does take a while to dry.

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.

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 Kostüme Signature Bib Short is an incredibly well-thought-out and subtly detailed garment, constructed from supple and soft Lycra, with a pad that’s incredibly comfortable and can be relied upon for very long rides. The hem of the shorts is raw cut and the straps are stretchy, wide, comfortable and made from a mesh material that keeps them airy.

Kostüme’s clothing is made from recycled fabrics where possible and practical, and its limited edition pre-order system means only the products ordered by customers get made. 

The quality of the fabric and level of detailing in the Kostüme shorts do a very good job of justifying their price, and that’s before you’ve even put them on and are five hours into a ride.

Featuring breathable mesh panels, the Le Col Women’s Pro Lightweight Bib Shorts work really well on the hottest days on the bike. They have an excellent fit and are very comfortable, though this does come at a price. Though designed for hot summer rides, the Pro Lightweight Bib Shorts also make an excellent choice for typical summer cycling in the UK. 

The pad is Le Col’s Premium Pro Chamois which is said to provide dual-density comfort and shock absorption. It’s quite a thick pad, which some might find a bit bulky, but I found it to be flexible and I really liked it.

Now in their third incarnation, these Lusso Perform Carbon Bib Shorts overhaul their eco credentials but keep all of their classic looks and excellent comfort. Recycled materials are used throughout the shorts – in the main fabric, mesh back and straps, and also the pad. The materials are sourced in Italy, but the shorts are hand-stitched together in Manchester, to minimise transport around the world.

The honeycomb style mesh used on the straps and back is very comfortable and really breathable and Lusso claims the change to recycled fabrics has made these more breathable than the V2s. 

Lusso also offers a repair service for items purchased directly from its website. This is free of charge for items within their one-year warranty, while out-of-warranty items can be repaired for an additional fee.

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.”

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, 

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 Santini Unico Men’s Bib Shorts are an excellent option if you want to ride a long way without a second thought for your nethers. They use Santini’s best seat pad and a luxurious fabric with almost no seams. The C3 seat pad (also found on Santini’s more expensive bibs) features variable thicknesses with perforations and gel inserts under the ischiatic bones to help spread the load. We really rate it.

The microfibre fabric is soft and luxurious to the touch, with more stretch than traditional Lycra. There are few seams – below the waist there is just one thermo-welded seam running down the inside of each thigh.

The leg ends are raw cut with no silicone or other grippers. The stretchy fabric does a pretty good job of keeping them in place anyway, and the lack of seams really does give a ‘barely there’ feeling.

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.

With a comfortable pad and a reasonably tailored fit, Triban’s Men’s Cycling Bib Shorts RC100 are ideal for anyone on a budget. Triban is Decathlon’s entry-level range and these shorts show that entry-level doesn’t have to feel cheap.

The quality is impressive throughout, with clean and neat stitching, and the materials feel smooth with no scratchiness. The cut isn’t as tailored as some top-quality race shorts, but these are well-designed, with no excess material or bunching anywhere. The bib straps are wide which reduces any pressure over the shoulders, while the rear mesh section helps breathability.

The pad is a good one, rated for rides of around two hours and up to 50km (30 miles), and we’d go along with that. It’s relatively firm, which means it doesn’t squish down too much when you sit on it so it feels supportive, and you don’t get any pressure points which can lead to numbness.

The Van Rysel Road Cycling Bib Shorts Racer 2 are great bibs that perform far beyond their price tag. The compressive fit and comfortable pad wouldn’t be out of place on shorts at twice the price. 

Decathlon says the high-density foam pad in these (the Endurance 2.5 HD) is good for up to seven hours, and tester Ben said, “while I’ve not had the chance to ride in them for that long, I’ve done around four hours and was impressed.”

Up above, the straps provide good support and stay comfy, and there’s mesh around the upper on the front and back for breathability.

Velocio Men’s Luxe bib shorts are luxurious indeed. They feel and fit like they’ve been sprayed on, and the pad is super comfy too. As you might have guessed, the price tag follows suit.

These bibs are made with just three panels, keeping the number of seams to a minimum. The edges are raw cut, with a two inch band of silicone print at the leg ends. The seamless microfiber bib straps are nice and stretchy without being restrictive; just right. They cross over at the back, presumably to stop them sliding off your shoulders.

The pad is a Proprietary Signature Chamois developed with Cytech Elastic Interface which tester Iwein found to be comfortable for hours on end, rain or shine.