dhb Aeron bib shorts

The dhb Aeron bibshorts have long been favourites of mine, and thanks to some updates to the fabric and pad these 2019 versions are the best yet.

• Pros: Brilliantly comfortable pad, excellent fit
• Cons: Barely anything

dhb has gone with Italian fabric manufacturer MITI and its Granfondo material for the bulk of the new Aerons. It's a fabric with a fair amount of stretch but with a slight amount of compression to it, and it feels great against the skin.

The multi-panel cut fits like a glove when working with the fabric's properties and no matter how hard or fast you are riding the shorts let you move fully with no feeling of restriction. There is no rucking or bunching of the material anywhere.

At the time of testing we haven't exactly reached summer temperatures yet, but it's been warm enough to work up a sweat, especially when smashing it in the hills. The Aerons dry quickly once the effort is over and remain feeling comfortable the whole time.

The leg grippers are unobtrusive, with the silicone section taking up about two-thirds of the circumference while the other third is an elasticated strip of fabric. I find this style works best for securing the bottom of the leg as it works whatever your thigh diameter without putting any unnecessary pressure on the skin.

The bibs use a thin mesh fabric which is lightweight and very breathable, plus the back section is narrow to leave your shoulders and most of your upper back exposed. That should help when the summer heatwave hits.

Elastic Interface has been the pad manufacturer of choice for dhb for many years, so it's no surprise to see that it has remained with EI although the Aerons now come with its Paris HP pad.

Like a lot of the modern pads I've been seeing it looks rather simplistic, with a lot of the channels and sections found on other pads completely done away with. This just uses three different densities of foam along the length of the pad, with the thickest being directly under the sit bones. For pressure relief there is a small central channel front to rear, and up front there are ventilation holes although it's hard to detect how much difference they make.

The quality is up to dhb's usual high standard, with excellent stitching throughout, and the whole piece of apparel feels much more upmarket than the price would have you think.

The sizing is spot on to dhb's guide, which should take out the risk of buying online without trying them first, and they come in a range of colours too.

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Their price of £75 is very good for what you are getting. Looking through previous reviews, they stand up well to something like the Orro Bibshorts which sound like they offer similar comfort and quality for £109. Or the Nalini AHS Marmotte bib shorts, which again are great quality and comfortable but for £110.

On the whole, dhb has made a great pair of bib shorts even better while keeping the price very competitive.

Verdict

Excellent quality, comfort and performance for an impressive price