Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to REVIEWS
review
Shorts & 3/4s
Shutt VR Standard Bib Shorts Shutt VR Standard Bib Shorts Shutt VR Standard Bib Shorts Shutt VR Standard Bib Shorts
Shutt VR Standard bib short

Shutt VR Standard Bib Shorts

7
by Mat Brett
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Apr 5, 2011

1
£39.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Basic bib shorts at a good price; you don't get the highest quality features here, but that's reflected in the cost
Weight: 
182g
Contact: 
www.shuttvr.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Shutt VR's Standard Bibs are decent shorts considering the £39 price tag. You don't get the high-end features of more expensive offerings but for this kind of money, you can't complain. You might be able to get bib shorts a little cheaper than these if you hunt around, but not by much.

The Lycra used here isn't the thickest or most supportive fabric ever, and it's pretty shiny stuff but, you know... 39 quid. The six-panel legs are a little shorter than normal; sitting a few inches above your knee, they're held in place by old-style grippers - the sort with wavy strands of elastic rather than silicone bands - that work well enough to stop them riding up too easily. They're not high tech but they do the job.

These shorts are flat stitched throughout and there has been no uncomfortable rubbing on long rides. On the latest version, unlike our pictured pair, the stitching is contrast coloured, and Shutt's colour-bar tab is slightly different too - check out Shutt's website for several pics.

Obviously, you're not going to get gel padding at this price. Instead, you get a simple foam seatpad that does an okay job. It squashes down quite easily so I found myself yearning for something with more cushioning on rides longer than about an hour, but it provides basic protection. The pad is stretchy enough too while channels in the padding add a degree of ventilation and the CoolMax face fabric shifts sweat away from you well. Similarly, the mesh bib section allows air to circulate around your upper body while the straps are wide enough to spread the pressure comfortably.

Overall, these are reasonable shorts. Okay, none of the various features is top-quality, but that's to be expected for the cash. Personally, I'd prefer to spend more on a higher performance, but that's a question of priorities. If you're on a budget and you want something that'll do a basic job, these are a good buy.

Verdict

Basic bib shorts at a good price; you don't get the highest quality features here, but that's reflected in the cost

road.cc test report

Make and model: Shutt VR Standard Bib Shorts

Size tested: Large

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?

Shutt VR say, "Constructed from super soft lycra these six panel SVR bib shorts offer supreme performance in a very stylish package. With flat locked contrast stitching, mesh back and DuPont CoolMAX pad, they are designed with comfort in mind... With contrasting stitching on the straps and the Shutt Colour band on the leg these look every inch the quality bib shorts they are. The design is cut slightly higher on the thigh than more contemporary designs hence customers referring to them as the 'Sean Yates Shorts.' A firm favourite with our customers, men and women, they regularly give us 10/10 for fit and value, telling us that they are by far the best bib shorts for under £50."

I'd rather pay more for shorts with higher-level features, notably when it comes to the seat pad, but at this price you won't do any better

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
5/10

The level of performance is basic, but that's reflected in the price

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
6/10

As with overall performance, comfort isn't especially high because that's largely down to the seat pad, which is basic. But for the money, it's still good.

Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Value is where these score highest.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yeah, they're basic, but do a reasonable job

Would you consider buying the product? No, I'd rather spend more for higher quality shorts

Would you recommend the product to a friend? For someone on a budget

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 190cm  Weight: 74kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding,

Shutt VR Standard Bib Shorts
Shutt VR
Mat Brett

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

Add new comment

1 comments

Avatar
seanieh66 | 12 years ago
0 likes

Looks like a bird in the tree above him has crapped on his leg 3

Oh btw, why the need for the helmet.

S

Latest Comments