Primal Mai Tai Evo Bib Short

The Mai Tai Evo Bib Shorts are, as the name suggests, part of Primal's Evo line-up, a range designed for the performance cyclist thanks to their multi-panelled design and snug-fitting fabric. A decent pair of shorts is probably the most important part of your cycling wardrobe and the Evos certainly fall into that category thanks to an excellent pad and compressive materials.

The fabric for the main body is an 80% polyester, 20% spandex mix called Vero, which Primal claims has a 40 gauge knit – 40 stitches per inch, basically – and offers 'top-notch compression and abrasion resistance'.

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The thinking behind compression material is that it increases blood flow in the muscles, which is why it is mostly used in recovery garments. More blood in means more blood out to remove waste products.

Using it in a less dramatic way, as you find here with the Evos, means that the material is quite supportive of your muscles, stopping vibration when riding over rough surfaces, reducing fatigue. It's minimal but still a benefit, especially on longer rides.

With lots of panels to create the shape there are obviously plenty of seams going on, but Primal has done a very good job of keeping them as unobtrusive as possible and they are flatlocked stitched too.

The legs are held in place by a silicone leg gripper which does the job, although if you have very large thighs they can feel a little tight after a fair few hours in the saddle.

The bib part of the shorts is made from mesh, which helps keep you cool – especially when paired with the lightweight Mai Tai Evo jersey. The mesh is breathable and it's good to see nice wide straps so you don't get any pressure points on your shoulders.

Of course a decent chamois is key for riding comfort, whether going long or short, and the Evos definitely have one with the E6 Carbon. It uses four layers to create a multitude of channels and pads to provide support where needed. The whole thing moves with you as you pedal and never bunches up, so it's beautifully comfortable.

Primal states that the chamois uses Resistex anti-static carbon fabric which promotes blood flow and the reduction of lactic acid. I'm not going to argue, it might well do, but I couldn't feel any noticeable difference.

Size-wise I'd say the Evos come up more generous than most, while still maintaining a close, contoured fit. The sizing is more realistic for our nation's shape compared with, say, Castelli and other European brands where you need to size up at least once if not twice.

As for value, there is a lot of competition in the bib shorts market, especially at the £90 price point, but the Evos do a pretty good job of justifying their price not only in terms of comfort but also in construction and durability. I have other pairs of Primal Evo shorts from a good few years ago and they are all still going strong.

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Up against pairs like the BTwin Aerofits, though, or dhb's Aeron bib shorts, things become a little trickier, with those two coming in at £54.99 and £69.99 respectively, although both have the advantage of being in-house brands.

For excellent all-day comfort, a very welcome bit of muscle-supporting compression and a splash of colour, the Evos are well worth considering.

Verdict

Well made, slightly compressive bib shorts that offer a very good all-round package for the money