Altura Progel 3 Bib Shorts

The Altura Progel 3 bib shorts sit at the more affordable end of the spectrum, but while the fabric and build feel impressively good, for me, the gel pad doesn't really beat a regular foam one for comfort, and their long legs mean fit can be an issue.

• Pros: Well made, lightly compressive fabric, good price
• Cons: Gel makes the seat slippery, long legs can limit size options, extra weight

The well-shaped Progel 3D pad is flatlock stitched into the shorts and sits comfortably without rubbing anywhere. It does feel slightly liquid and squishy under the sit bones, especially for the first hour or so, though after that it seems to compress slightly into a harder-feeling, less supportive form.

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It's not a huge drop-off in comfort, but it doesn't really outperform regular foam pads at similar prices. It wicks away sweat just as effectively and doesn't trap any more heat, but the gel is noticeably heavier, and at 224g for size Large, these are on the heavy side for summer shorts.

Another downside is that the outer fabric is free to slide across the smooth gel, leading to a slippery feeling in the saddle. I found it mildly annoying on flatter sections, where I had to brace slightly to stay in position and not slide down to the saddle nose. It only wastes a tiny bit of energy, but still.

If your thighs are long or average in length, fit and sizing is good, but these aren't the only bibs with fashionably long legs that limit my choice of sizes; on my 185cm tall, 89cm inside-legged frame (so relatively long torso), the size Large sit right on top of my kneecap when I first put them on. (It's not me in the photos.)

In use they slide up to the lower thigh, where the broad (5cm) elastic and almost full-width silicone gripper do a good job of keeping them in place. The cuff size is well judged for that location, which is where they should sit. However, with the XL's legs being 10mm longer and 5mm wider still, there's no real option for riders like me to size up for more room in the torso (a useful extra 2cm on the XL).

The good news is that the 80-20 nylon/spandex fabric is springy enough that, despite the legs riding up, you never end up with saggy material at the crotch. Consequently, there's no uncomfortable bunching or rubbing. If, like me, you're on the low-waisted side, the only thing you have to deal with are the strong elastic straps.

Happily, the broad mesh panels of the straps provide effective cooling, and they're wide enough not to dig in even under some stress. None of the overlocked seams between the 'ErgoFit' panels caused any discomfort either, again despite a pretty tight fit. Comfort is very good, even when rain-soaked, and they dry quickly too.

The fluorescent yellow stripe on one leg looks a little minimal for safety, but while the elastic cuffs look grey in daylight, they glow white under headlights thanks to Altura's 'Darkproof' retroreflective treatment. This works the same way as road signs, to very efficiently bounce light back towards its source with a minimum of scattering. 

Overall value is good thanks to a strong but not bulky build and an impressive price – considerably less than the vast majority of our recent tests. It's not impossible to find some quality competitors, though: for just £5 more, Alé's £65 Corsa bib shorts are good looking, light and blessed with an excellent pad, while tightish grippers may help the short-of-thigh stay comfy.

> Buyer's Guide: 22 of the best cycling bib shorts

Lusso's Pro Gel bib shorts also come in at £65, with a more classic look than the Alturas, while dhb's highly rated Aeron bibs were £65 when tested but officially £75 now – and discounted to £52.50 at the time of writing.

Verdict

Well made and keenly priced, though the gel in the pad adds more weight than comfort, and fit won't suit all