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Shorts & 3/4s
BTwin 300 Padded Cycling Shorts BTwin 300 Padded Cycling Shorts BTwin 300 Padded Cycling Shorts
BTwin 300 Padded cycling Shorts

BTwin 300 Padded Cycling Shorts

7
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Jun 30, 2016 15:47

First Published Jun 30, 2016

0
£6.99

VERDICT:

7
10
No-frills entry-level shorts but decent performers and difficult to fault given the price
Weight: 
132g
Contact: 
www.decathlon.co.uk
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BTwin's 300 Cycling Shorts are apparently designed for short distance and recreational riding – 13 miles is their suggested, unusually precise, optimum. As pricing suggests, they're not the most high-spec, but there are no nasty surprises with this cheap and cheerful offering.

Specification-wise, we have a pair of simple six-panel shorts made from the usual polyester/elastane mix. Flat seams run throughout, so no nasty chafing, or that unsightly tell-tale branding when it's time to strip off and hit the shower.

> Find your nearest Decathlon store here

> Buy these online here

The synthetic pad is similarly no-frills. Made predominantly from polyester/polyurethane, it also has a dash of cotton. Padding density feels much thicker than racier, higher end fare, and felt a bit 'loaf of bread' for the first few minutes.

BTwin 300 Padded cycling Shorts - back.jpg

Thankfully, it settles down and I was pleasantly unaware of it after the first mile or so. Designed for novice derrières, this arrangement also proved a winner with me when testing a narrow road saddle on my rough-stuff tourer. (Said build has a more upright stance, placing greater pressure on the buttocks.)

Now, many of you will have clicked away at the mere suggestion of 13 miles, but I've regularly used these on 30-mile outings with no obvious flaws. For general bike-as-car riding/commuting or visiting friends, I often wear messenger knickers and other civilian styled kit. In these contexts, the 300 shorts were vastly superior in the comfort stakes compared with the OEM inserts supplied with said longs.

BTwin 300 Padded cycling Shorts.jpg

The elastic keeps everything just where you want it, without riding or bunching up, or spoiling the cut.

Twenty-mile round trips, with a few hours' social/business interaction sandwiched in between, didn't present any problems, or socially awkward odours. However, even allowing for decent personal hygiene, the lack of fast wicking/anti bacterial fibres means things are mildly funky at the end of a day's wear.

> Read our guide to the best cheap cycling shorts

Not what you'd want on longer-distance rides, then, let alone touring, but that isn't their intended purpose. Same goes for rough-stuff, though I'm pleased to report that the pad offers decent defence in these contexts, and despite regular frisking from foliage, the shorts remain pretty unblemished, suggesting they'd be a good choice for entry-level 'cross duties, with leg warmers. They come with a two-year warranty in any case.

Ultimately, for general, longer distance riding I'd go for their 500 stablemates (which I'm testing at the moment, review to come). Nonetheless, the 300 Cycling Shorts do exactly what they promise and represent excellent value.

Verdict

No-frills entry-level shorts but decent performers and difficult to fault given the price

road.cc test report

Make and model: BTwin 300 Padded Cycling Shorts

Size tested: Large

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?

Decathlon says: "This product has been totally redesigned by our product engineers and stylists with particular attention placed on the new pre-formed pad, more comfortable fabric, softer thigh hem and improved tailoring. Rider comfort is excellent and it really does provide excellent value for money. These shorts even come with a 2 year warranty.

"Designed for short distance or recreational cyclists."

No quibble here.

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

Shorts polyester/elastane mix Pad polyester/polyurethane/cotton.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
6/10

Holding their own so far. Two-year guarantee offers additional peace of mind.

Rate the product for performance:
 
6/10

Much better than I was expecting and price would suggest.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Wearing very well to date.

Rate the product for fit:
 
7/10

Good, especially given the asking price – work very well beneath messenger/mountain bike 3/4 length longs too.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Sizing seems very accurate – reliable enough for online purchases.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
6/10

Better than I was expecting from this price point, though best for shorter distance riding.

Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Difficult to see how you could knock them at this price.

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

Wearing very well, no signs of bobbling/other deterioration to date.

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

Overall, the 300 shorts have exceeded my expectations and have served as excellent undershorts beneath baggies. The pad initially feels loaf-of-bread-like but quickly settles down and is surprisingly supportive – even to around the 30-mile mark.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Basic, though comfortable, even for 30-odd miles.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing, given the design brief and price point.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? On balance, no I'd go for the 500.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? I'd probably steer them towards the 500.

Use this box to explain your score

Performance doesn't match better quality entry-level models and BTwin's 500 series offers better options for seasoned riders wanting inexpensive shorts for general riding. Nonetheless, the 300s still represent excellent value for money.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 1m 81cm  Weight: 70kg

I usually ride: Rough stuff tourer based around 4130 Univega mountain bike frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

BTwin 300 Padded Cycling Shorts 2016
BTwin 300 Padded Cycling Shorts
BTwin 2016
Btwin
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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