RH+ Creek bib shorts

The RH Creek bibshorts are well-made shorts with a good seatpad, suitable for rides of two or three hours.

I'm not a big one for counting shorts panels – I don't think more necessarily results in a better fit – but, for what it's worth, these are 10-panel shorts. In my experience, a better indicator of comfort is holding the shorts up by the braces: the more they hang like someone is wearing them, the more comfortable they'll feel when you put them on.

Manufacturers like to call this 'preformed anatomic construction' or something like that. However you describe it, the Creek shorts pass that little test and, sure enough, when you put them on they feel great without any tight areas or any baggy bits. They just feel right.

One of the best features is the super-wide leg gripper. It's 70mm wide, fact fans – much wider than that of any other shorts I own. RH call this Grip Fit Xlight and it works really well; tiny non-slip silicone dots all over the inside of the gripper hold the shorts in place perfectly without the need for too much pressure.

The inseam length on our size large shorts, by the way, is 26cm, if you want to compare that with other shorts you own, and I wouldn't have wanted it any longer.

The graphics on the gripper are printed so it's impossible for them to come off in the wash, while the reflective trim on the back of the gripper is sewn-on tape, so that's not going anywhere either. The reflective dotted lines on the side panels are transferred on. I'm not sure if they'll stay forever but several washes in and they're looking good so far.

RH use mesh for the bib section with a slim Lycra band down the centre of the back. I can't say I noticed any difference in performance from that strip, good or bad. I found the bibs comfortable, breathable and secure, so all good on that front.

The seatpad is a high-quality option from Elastic Interface. It's pretty thick (up to 10mm) although the foam isn't as dense as you get in some pads (it's 70kg/m3 in parts, if you speak that language). I'd say it's good for rides up to about two or three hours although you might want more density if you're going to be on the bike for much longer than that. If you're doing a 100-miler, say, you'll probably want to be a bit more isolated from the road.

Like all the Elastic Interface pads I've ever used, it's super-comfortable next to your skin thanks to a soft microfibre surface fabric that shifts moisture fast, and plenty of channelling.

All-in-all, these shorts feel great and that pad is probably suitable for most of your rides. If this all-black version is too conservative for you, other colour options are available.

Verdict

Well-made shorts with an excellent leg gripper and a good seatpad that's suitable for rides up to about three hours