The GripGrab PACR Bib Shorts sport a premium level Elastic Interface chamois at a below premium price level. As a result, these shorts punch well above their weight – though they are not quite in the same league as the best I’ve had the pleasure of trying.
I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing quite a few expensive pairs of bib shorts over the years, from the likes of Assos, Castelli, Velocio, Le Col and Pactimo. Quite a few use pads made by Elastic Interface, and I know my somewhat fussy derriere gets on well with these.
So it is with these PACR bib shorts. They use the Paris HCS pad, which uses high density inserts and is designed for long distance riding. It’s super comfortable, and it should be durable too, according to the blurb.
Fabric
The fabric that holds that chamois in place is a warp-knitted mix of 71% polyamide and 29% elastane. The result is a nice compressive feel and fit.
One area that betrays these shorts’ price point is the number of panels, as pointed out by my riding buddy Dan when he asked whether I was reviewing these and how much they cost.
“Are they cheap?” he asked. In answer to why he thought that, he said, “Oh, they just have lots of seams, like you see on cheaper bib shorts.”
What I’m trying to say here is that I hadn’t even noticed. All those seams are flatlock stitched and just get on with their job unnoticed. (It’s a thankless task, being a flatlock stitch.)
The elastic straps are nice and wide and attach to a large mesh panel on the back and a smaller mesh panel on the front, both helping with ventilation. The straps work, again going largely unnoticed – exactly what you want. The front and straps are stretchy enough to make ‘comfort breaks’ as easy as you want them to be.
The leg hems are made from a wide, raw cut band, again flatlock stitched to the main body of the shorts, with a dotted silicone pattern on the inside. These work well, and there were no issues with riding up or any unwanted movement.
In terms of detailing, you get three noticeable bits of reflective branding: one on each leg and one on the lower back. There’s also some smaller reflective detailing more towards the back of the legs. As reflective detailing on bib shorts goes, these are better than most, if that’s important to you.
The colour options are black, grey, navy blue and olive green.
Fit and cut
The premium level Paris HCS pad combined with the warp knitted fabric, those mesh inserts and the wide gripper hems make for an almost, but not quite premium feeling bib short.
I’ve been trying to put my finger on what exactly the difference is, and I think it’s to do with how evenly elastic and compressive the fabric is, particularly around the pad. I just find myself shifting around the saddle that little bit more with these compared to shorts twice the price.
I hope it’s clear I’m nitpicking here. But that’s because GripGrab makes bold claims about these shorts, “delivering exceptional comfort during extended rides.” That is not quite true. They are very comfortable for medium length rides of four to five hours and while they are still fine on longer rides, they are not exceptional.
What is exceptional is how comfortable these are for the price. You are getting near premium level comfort at significantly below premium level pricing. Less than half the price of some.
Sizing
I found these came up true to size. I’m usually a medium in non-Italian bib shorts. These are medium and fit me fine. Medium is also what the sizing chart suggested based on my measurements.
Sizes extend from small to XXL to accommodate waist circumferences of 75-105cm and hip circumferences of 88-119cm.
Value
£117 is not a small amount of money, but it’s towards the lower end of what you can pay for bib shorts – especially bib shorts that are this comfortable.
We were actually quite impressed with the pricing of the highly recommended Q36.5 Gregarius Essential Bib Shorts, but they still come in more expensive at £140.
Further up the scale, Castelli’s Espresso 2 Bib Shorts cost £185, Le Col’s Hors Categorie Bib Shorts considerably more at £240 and the Assos Equipe RSR Bolide Bib Shorts S11 win the prize for most expensive recently reviewed bib shorts at £295; considerably more than twice the price of the PACRs.
You don’t have to spend this much, of course. Galibier’s Equipe 3 Aero Bib Shorts cost significantly less at £73, and Paul reckoned in his review that they have an excellent chamois.
> Best cycling bib shorts — enhance your comfort in the saddle with these top picks
Conclusion
GripGrab’s PACR bibs shorts are very comfortable – as good as premium bib shorts for short to medium length rides. For longer days out, you can get some marginal comfort benefits by spending more. And in some cases, much more. At £117, these might well be the sweet spot between getting top comfort and being careful with the pennies.
Test Report
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
The GripGrab PACR Bib Shorts are designed for high performance and long days in the saddle. They are crafted from a robust stretch polyamide fabric featuring UPF50+ sun protection: a warp-knitted fabric offering a significantly higher level of compression and power compared to other traditional cycling wear fabrics.
The bibs incorporate the anatomically shaped Paris HCS pad from Elastic Interface to deliver exceptional comfort during extended rides. This top-of-the-line pad consists of ultra-high-density foam topped with a fabric that includes carbon threads, offering antistatic and bacteriostatic properties. Additionally, the pad features perforated inserts to enhance breathability and moisture management
The elastic hems with an inner silicone gripper around the thighs ensure a secure fit in all riding conditions.
With their highly elastic straps and breathable mesh insert at the back to enhance ventilation and moisture-wicking, these high-performance cycling bib shorts are an ideal choice for your epic summer ride projects.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
1. Performance fit – Crafted from a warp knitted fabric with a high level of compression
2. Ultra-high density padding – Utilising a top-of-the-line high-density foam pad from Elastic Interface with an anatomical shape (PARIS HCS)
3. Wide elastic hems – Ensure a secure fit on the legs with wide elastic hems and silicone grippers
4. Highly comfortable suspenders – Designed with high-end suspenders to enhance comfort during extended hours in the saddle
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
In terms of price, these sit around the middle of the range. You can get shorts at half, and also double, the price.
Any comments on sizing? Did it size up too big or too small?:
I’m usually a medium in non-Italian brands. For these shorts, the sizing chart suggest a medium based on my measurements and fits fine on me.
Any further comments on comfort?:
These are plenty comfortable, but do not “deliver exceptional levels of comfort during extended rides” as the marketing would have you believe.
Any issues with durability?:
These shorts have seen plenty of miles over the course of the summer and show no signs of wear so far. Looking promising.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?:
As per usual, I just bung shorts in the wash with whatever is going. No issues to report
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
These are super comfortable, really very good for the price. But I have to compare their performace to what is promised by GripGrab. The promise of “exceptional comfort on extended rides” is too lofty for these short to live up to, otherwise they would have scored higher.
About the tester
Age: 49Height: 178cmWeight: 77kg
I usually ride: All of them!My best bike is: Ribble Endurance SL disc
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 yearsI ride: Most daysI would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: Cyclocross, Commuting, Touring, Club riding, Mountain bike XC, Mountain bike Enduro, Mountain bike downhill/freeride
