Craft Verve Glow Bib Shorts

Craft's Verve Glow Bib Shorts use a multitude of various fabrics to create a close, compressive fit for those who like a bit of support for their muscles when riding hard. Add to this a decent pad and the shorts offer a lot, although they are a bit expensive compared with the opposition.

I like the cut of these bib shorts, as everything is snug and in proportion. The straps, for instance, are taut enough whatever position you are riding in, holding the bibs in position without being overly tight to cause pressure points on the shoulder – thankfully, as the thick seam between the two fabrics would definitely make itself known otherwise.

The mesh rear panels mean breathability is pretty good, plus you also get an open mid-section at the base of the back which helps.

The bottom half of the shorts are made up with a large array of panels to mimic your body shape when you are in the saddle, and in a variety of fabrics.

The main front leg panels are made of a thicker yarn than the rest of the shorts which gives that supportive feel for your muscles; it's something I like to see in a pair of shorts as I'm a big fan of compression fabrics. The only downside is that the fabric isn't the softest against the skin, giving an almost scratchy feeling, especially on longer rides of three or four hours. The same can be said for the front sections of the bib straps – you definitely want to wear a baselayer underneath.

The rest of the panels use a more traditional knit of Lycra which is smooth and comfortable, and the legs are held in position by large leg grippers that don't move one bit whether you are in or out of the saddle. The left one comprises reflective stripes that offer near 360-degree visibility from car headlights. It's a neat idea, as early spring and late autumn rides in the dark can still be completed in shorts or obviously with knee or leg warmers.

Two of the seams are also reflective, running down each leg, which is a nice touch, plus the Craft logo will also bounce the light back.

The most important part of any shorts is the pad, and the Infinity C1 found in these is pretty good for such a simple design. There are a couple of raised sections either side of a central channel. These are 14mm thick, with the surrounding area being just 3mm so there was little in the way of bunching of the material. The cushioning is fine for rides of up to a couple of hours, but I found if I was riding for any longer the pad wasn't quite as supportive as I'd like.

Eighty pounds is a substantial amount of money to spend on a pair of bib shorts, although the market place is quite busy. As with the Verve Glow jersey I tested, I think the pricing is a little too high – by about £10 to £15.

They aren't bad shorts – in fact they are pretty good – but they just lack that all-round refinement found on some other shorts of this price in terms of overall quality, comfort and performance.

Pairs such as the Endura M90 Graphics or the Fat Lad at the Back Stealth Reflective look to offer more for very similar money, while the excellent Sportful Giro bib shorts are £20 cheaper.

> Buyer's Guide: 22 of the best cycling bib shorts

I wouldn't say I dislike the Craft Verve Glow bib shorts, but I'm not especially enamoured by them, especially at full RRP.

Verdict

Decent all-rounders, but there is tough opposition at this price point