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review
Shorts & 3/4s
Sugoi Evolution bib shorts Sugoi Evolution bib shorts
Sugoi Evolution Bib Short

Sugoi Evolution bib shorts

9
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Jul 13, 2011

5
£70.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Hugely impressive shorts for the money
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.sugoi.com
How we test

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Sugoi's Evolution bibshorts are at the lower end of their performance orientated range but the quality and ergonomics belie the price tag.

The eight panels are stitched together using flat seams providing a close contoured fit. The 'Evoplus' material made up of 68% Polyamide (Nylon), 18% Polyester and 14% Elastane (Spandex) feels soft to the touch but also has a solid, close knit feel to it minimizing stretch.

Obviously getting the correct fit becomes more important with a material like this but get it right and you get a feeling similar to that of some compression garments on the market. On longer rides you notice this supportive effect due to less muscle vibration meaning that your legs feel fresher.

The Evoplus material along with the mesh bibs come together to form a highly breathable and good wicking pair of bibs while the textured material means no sliding about on the saddle. The RC Pro pad contains various contoured pads that mold to the body and reduce vibration, while a centre channel runs the full length for ventilation and pressure relief.

No bunching or movement of the pad while in the saddle kept things comfortable and miles bent over onto the nose of the seat in a race position caused no irritation either. Inseam length is 9' on all sizes finished off with elastic leg grippers, these never moved once the ride had started and were so comfortable they were never even noticed. Available in black, black & white or charcoal the Evolutions's should blend well with any style of jersey you're wearing.

Verdict

Quite simply these are hugely impressive pair of shorts. The fit is good, very good in fact plus they certainly feel built to last. They've had a good few washes and still look good as new. Wicking is good keeping you dry while the pad is comfy for both long or short rides no matter what the intensity. For £70 rrp they're good value but shop around and you'll find them for less than fifty and at that price they're quite simply the best shorts I've worn.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Sugoi Evolution bib shorts

Size tested: Medium, black

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?

Sugoi say the Evolution is for the race/speed end of the market. The fit is certainly aimed at that market plus the pad keeps things comfortable no matter how hard you push.

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

The Evoplus fabric is designed to be high wicking and it does seem to work. Full details of Pro RC pad are on Sugoi's website

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

The stitching quality is good and the welding on the seat pad should avoid any unwanted chaffage.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Good fit plus that tight compressive feeling helps when a lot of hours are spent in the saddle.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

These shorts have done some serious hard miles over the test period and plenty of washes and still look the same as when they were delivered.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10

The bulk of the test miles have been put in on my fixie and with two downhill sections reaching 130+rpm a lot of bouncing in the saddle and friction on the seat is the norm, the Evolution's have shown none of that.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

At £70 I think they're good value but shop about and you'll get them loads cheaper making them great value for money.

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

Brilliantly, simple as that

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit and the pad comfort.

Did you enjoy using the product? yes

Would you consider buying the product? yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? yes

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 32  Height: 180cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Genesis Flyer  My best bike is: Ribble Gran Fondo

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

Sugoi Evolution bib shorts
Sugoi
Bib shorts
Stu Kerton

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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