Craft Storm Bib Tights

Craft's mid-price Storm Bib Tights keep you warm, dry and comfortable when the mercury dips and the weather turns foul. Their weather-cheating prowess is equal to, if not better than, several similar contenders I've used recently.

The spec is impressive throughout. The Storms are a mix of heavy duty polyester/spandex polyurethane, with wind and water repellent panels that do their job very convincingly without feeling restrictive – whether you're hurtling along or mooching around at cafe stops. They are much easier to don and remove than their relative bulk might suggest thanks to generous ankle zippers and ergonomic panels.

Find your nearest dealer here

Buy these online here

Water tends to bead up and roll away, so doesn't get a chance to soak in, although in real terms we're talking three, maybe four hours' persistent rainfall before they'll saturate. The membrane breathed better than I was expecting and the thin pile fleece shuts the door to chill.

The bib and braces are similarly spot on, providing just the right levels of support without compromising movement. They seem to breathe more efficiently when riding hard in milder weather – say, 8 degrees, with only light winds. I was slightly disappointed by the lack of zippered fly, although road/trailside comfort stops were fairly straightforward.

Fluorescent sections are always good for murky weather, and new for this year is a big block at the lower back, presumably designed to be visible when riding in the drops. Unfortunately it's easily obscured by jacket tails, though the long strips on the calves and retro-reflective stitching more than compensate – even at relatively modest cadences.

Other commentators have suggested that sizing is generous and I'll concur. Our mediums were absolutely bang on for my 33.5in inseam (it's not me in the photos), although the outer membranes showed a curious tendency to wrinkle. This was never intrusive, it just looked a little peculiar.

I couldn't fault the pad insert, though, which employs varying thicknesses of EVA foam ranging from 4-10mm and reckoned fully effective for riders hitting 100kg.

Comfort is superb, allowing four hours steady cruising, by which point I was ready for some serious refuelling. The low-density side wings solved minor chafing issues I experience on my rough stuff tourer, which is another definite plus.

>> Check out our guide to the best winter bib tights here

The outer shell also seems very rugged, coping handsomely when blasting along bridleways, suggesting they're a good option for competitive mud-plugging.

We've yet to enter a seriously cold snap, but on the basis of these past few weeks I'm confident they'll keep me temperate and agreeable when it's several degrees below freezing.

Verdict

Extremely comfortable bib longs for cooler days