Cyclist
Best thermal bib shorts reviewed
Thermal bib shorts are an interesting offering sitting both between and alongside regular bib shorts and bib tights with a bit of crossover either side. They offer better insulation and weather-proofing than regular bib shorts, but generally offer more versatility than bib tights thanks to being able to be paired with leg warmers or without.
When combined with leg warmers, they can offer better insulation than bib tights due to the dual layer of material on the thighs, while without leg warmers they are often best effective from temperatures between 8-18 degrees. This also allows you to start a morning ride in the cold wearing leg warmers, and then remove them when the temperature picks up later on.
Many thermal bib shorts combine a mix of thermal materials on the legs and the front, while providing some breathability at the rear and in the straps for higher paced efforts during the winter. Many also feature additional weather-proofing tech such as windproof front panels, Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatments or in some cases full waterproofing.
Given the focus on thermal insulation, things to look for are the internal material’s insulation, the length of the short legs, and the height of the front to keep your core warmer.
Best thermal bib shorts at a glance
- Castelli Tutto Nano Bib Shorts: RRP £130 – Buy now from Tredz (£80)
- Isadore Signature Thermal Bib Shorts: RRP £175 –Buy now from Isadore (£112)
- PNS Mechanism Deep Winter Bib Shorts: RRP £240 – Buy now from End (£259)
- Q36.5 Woolf 2.0 Bib Shorts: RRP £209 – Buy now from Bikeinn (£144.49)
- Santini Adapt Shell Bib Shorts: RRP £170 – Buy now from Bikeinn (£100)
Also Consider
- Assos Mille GTS Spring Fall Bib Shorts C2: RRP £190 – Buy now from Cyclestore (£190)
- Café du Cycliste Cecile Bib Shorts: RRP £265 – Buy now from Café du Cycliste (£265)
- Endura FS260 Pro Thermo Bib Shorts: RRP £109.99 – Buy now from Cyclestore (£91.29)
- Le Col Pro Thermal Bib Shorts II: RRP £195 – Buy now from Le Col (£195)
- Sportful Fiandre NoRain Pro Bib Shorts: RRP £150 – Buy now from Bikeinn (£82)
How to choose the best thermal bib shorts
What’s the difference between thermal bib shorts and regular bib shorts?
Thermal bib shorts feature a very similar structure to regular bib shorts. The main difference is the use of thermal fabrics, especially at the front of the shorts where the wind hits. There is also often a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment used to aid in weather-proofing. The fit can be a little different with the legs of the shorts normally longer, coming down right to the knee as well as a raised front, both adding extra insulation.
Why use thermal bib shorts instead of bib tights?
Thermal bib shorts offer a bit more flexibility than bib tights. When paired with leg warmers, they offer similar levels of insulation to bib tights, if anything a little more due to the double layer of fabric on the thighs. The benefit over bib tights is that in changeable conditions, you can start a ride with leg warmers under the thermal bib shorts, then remove the warmers if the temperature increases.
What temperature are thermal bib shorts best for?
Most thermal bib shorts have an effective operating temperature of around 10-18 degrees Celsius when used by themselves. When combined with a pair of thermal leg warmers, this operating temperature can be around 2-12 degrees, dependent on the level of insulation the shorts offer.
What should you look for in a pair of thermal bib shorts?
Ideally you want the shorts to feature a brushed fleece material internally, as this helps boost insulation while also being comfortable. A DWR treatment is preferable to limit the amount of water ingress and associated wind chill. Longer length legs and a raised front also help with insulation. Finally and most importantly, look for a quality chamois, ideally with a dual density material for shock absorption and channels internally for added breathability; you don’t want to sacrifice saddle comfort in the quest for extra warmth.
How do we test and why trust our advice?
All of our product reviewers are avid cyclists who have been riding for many years. They have all built up a huge array of experience from riding in various conditions and testing what kit works and doesn’t work in these situations.
Testing these shorts through the months of January and February in the United Kingdom, all have well and truly been put through their paces to test their insulation qualities, weatherproofing, water repellency and comfort along potholed roads. There have been 0-3°C rides, rides through wind and rain storms, rides that have started at 5° and finished at around 18°, even some indoor ride testing. These conditions allow us to test every element of these thermal bib shorts to gauge their performance, comfort and usability.
Best cycling thermal bib shorts 2024
Castelli Tutto Nano
RRP £130 | View offer
- Great value for money
- Really solid insulation
- Chamois a little thin
The Castelli Tutto Nano bib shorts use Castelli’s NanoTech 3G fabric which combines a soft fleece interior with their latest generation of NanoTech water repellent nanotechnology to provide weather-proofing. This is paired with mesh bib straps to allow greater breathability and thermal regulation, and reflective insets on the rear of each leg for enhanced visibility. The chamois is Castelli’s Kiss Air2 pad which offers decent comfort over shorter rides, but beyond four hours can become a little uncomfortable.
In practice the shorts work across a wide range of temperatures, being breathable enough for indoor turbo sessions, while being insulated enough for temperatures between 12-20° or 5-15° with leg warmers. At £130 they also offer great value for this level of performance, and although they may not perform as well as more expensive competitors, they offer potentially the best value for money.
- Read our full Castelli Tutto Nano thermal bib shorts review
- Buy now from Tredz (£80)
Isadore Signature Thermal Bib Shorts
RRP £175 | View offer
- Brilliant thermal and weatherproofed qualities
- Useful cargo pocket
- Great fit and comfort levels
The Isadore Signature Thermal Bib Shorts use an internally combed fleece material to provide insulating thermal properties, with an external fluorine-free DWR that prevents the ingress of water from showers or road spray. The chamois is made of antibacterial high-density bio-foam and offers a good level of support and comfort. A high front, long legs, and fleeced yet breathable rear strap results in a very warm pair of shorts that allows some breathability and performs best in temperatures from 3-15°.
The shorts are exceptionally well insulated and the addition of a cargo pockets makes them great for long endurance rides in changeable conditions. Coming in at £175 also makes them very good value for this level of performance as a thermal bib short.
- Read our full Isadore Signature thermal bib shorts review
- Buy now from Isadore (£112)
Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Deep Winter Bib Shorts
RRP £240 | View offer
- Great insulation and weather protection
- Chamois pad performs brilliantly
- Straps are on the short side
The Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Deep Winter Bib Shorts are brilliant in cold and windy conditions, thanks to a Windtex outer and fleece lined inner. They offer good water repellency, although the seams do allow some water in.
The chamois is fantastic and provides great support in a range of positions on the saddle, while the race fit keeps material close with no chaffing or rubbing, and the mesh rear allows for heat to be dissipated nicely. However, the straps are on the short side and can dig into your shoulders when sitting more upright, plus these are also some of the most expensive shorts on test.
- Read our full Pas Normal Studios Mechanism thermal bib shorts review
- Buy now from End (£259)
Q36.5 Woolf 2.0
RRP £209 | View offer
- Work well in a wide range of temperatures
- Fit is compressive yet comfortable
- Great chamois aside from an odd seam/ridge
The Q36.5 Woolf 2.0 thermal bib shorts are best suited for temperatures between 5-20°, thanks to decent thermal properties that are not quite as insulating as others for lower temperatures, but offer great breathability and thermal regulation. The DWR treatment is ecologically friendly and also performs brilliantly while external seams don’t allow water ingress.
The fit is superb while compressive legs mean no rising even without silicone grippers. However, the chamois pad, although mostly comfortable and offering great support, breathability and coverage, does have a seam/ridge along its rear centre which can be noticeable when riding on a saddle with no cut-out or a less pronounced one. Given that this is the main weight-bearing contact point while cycling, it can detract from the shorts. Even at a higher price, the rest of the performance of these shorts is great, but the chamois seam does let them down a little.
- Read our full Q36.5 Woolf 2.0 thermal bib shorts review
- Buy now from Bikeinn (£144.49)
Santini Adapt Shell Bib Shorts
RRP £170 | View offer
- Really great weatherproofing
- Insulated yet breathable
- Leg grippers can rise when worn with leg warmers
The Santini Adapt Shell bib shorts use Polartec NeoShell material to give genuine waterproofing rather than water repellency. This is combined with fleece lining in key areas to focus on keeping you warm where the wind impacts you. The rear of the shorts offers more breathability so as to better regulate temperature. The chamois pad is Santini’s GITevo pad which features both foam and gel to enhance comfort and shock absorption, which works very well in practice.
The only small gripes with these shorts are that the chamois is a little narrow at the front for a more aggressive riding position, and the leg grippers aren’t very secure with leg warmers. However, the weatherproofing is fantastic and breathability very good too, meaning that a price of £170 makes them fairly reasonable compared to the competition when balancing price and performance.
- Read our full Santini Adapt Shell thermal bib shorts review
- Buy now from Bikeinn (£100)
Also consider
We’ve also reviewed the thermal bib shorts below. Although they are all good choices, we found one or two features of their performance that didn’t quite match up to the best thermal bib shorts we tested.
Assos Mille GTS Spring Fall Bib Shorts C2
RRP £190 | View offer
- Incredible all day comfort
- Mille GTS C2 pad is the standout feature
- Thermal and weatherproofing qualities are lacking
The Assos Mille GTS Spring Fall Bib Shorts C2 feature some innovative technologies from Assos to aid comfort such as the ‘floating’ Mille GTS C2 chamois pad, the X-Frame strapping, and the highly stretchy and breathable RX Evo material. For all day riding performance the shorts are incredibly comfortable and work brilliantly between temperatures of 8-20° thanks to the high levels of breathability in the materials and pad.
However, the thermal qualities of the shorts are lacking compared to many of the competition so they are not really practical to use in the winter months. The water repellency is also poor and allows a fair amount of water ingress. Value-wise, at £190 they are not cheap, but fall around the median price for bib shorts in this group test. If this review were being written based purely on endurance comfort, these shorts would be outright winners, but as a pair of thermal bib shorts they just lack the thermal and weather-proofing qualities of competitors.
- Read our full Assos Mille GTS Spring Fall Bib Shorts C2 thermal bib shorts review
- Buy now from Cyclestore (£190)
Café du Cycliste Cecile
RRP £265 | View offer
- Premium feel and comfort
- Water repellency isn’t the best
- Very high price
The Café du Cycliste Cecile shorts are made using OEKO-TEX approved fabric, which is also used in skiing race suits to provide insulation, flexibility and compression, with a chamois pad from Italian chamois specialists Elastic Interface. The shorts have a premium feeling brushed fleece lining which provides decent levels of insulation in temperatures from 8-15 degrees. There is a DWR treatment which repels water well, but the cuffs of the legs allow water to ingress, impacting the effectiveness of the water repellency.
The fit and the comfort of the shorts is great and the bib straps are very comfortable. The shorts are also very effective for fast paced training sessions as the breathability and compressive performance is really good. However they don’t offer as much thermal insulation as many competitors and the price is the highest in this test.
- Read our full Café du Cycliste Cecile thermal bib shorts review
- Buy now from Café du Cycliste (£265)
Endura FS260 Pro Thermo Bib Shorts
RRP £109.99 | View offer
- Great value for money
- Really good insulation and water repellency
- Some comfort elements are lacking
The Endura FS260 Pro Thermo Bib Shorts are very effective thermal bib shorts thanks to the Thermoroubaix fleece material used, combined with the DWR M treatment to prevent water ingress and aid insulation. There is also a raised zippered front, long legs, and a fleece lining on the bib straps. The Series 600 chamois performs well thanks to variable density foam and gel inserts for added shock absorption.
All this performance comes at the lowest price of any shorts on this list making them superb value. The only issues are a few comfort gripes with the fit, leg grippers, and rubbing of the front zip. Aside from that, these shorts perform brilliantly, especially for the price.
- Read our full Endura FS260 Pro Thermo thermal bib shorts review
- Buy now from Cyclestore (£91.29)
Le Col Pro Thermal Bib Shorts II
RRP £195 | View offer
- Great thermal fleece lining
- DWR treatment works very well
- Chamois pad is comfortable but can feel bulky
The Le Col Pro Thermal Bib Shorts II have been designed for high paced racing and training in colder conditions. They feature a fleece lined interior which offers great thermal insulation with a DWR coating which works well in light to moderate showers. However in heavier rain there is an ingress of water. The straps are made up of a mesh fleece material to keep some heat in but allow excess to escape.
The chamois pad is made using memory foam inserts to offer great shock absorption qualities, with air channels for decent breathability. However when riding out of the saddle the chamois can feel a little bulky. Price-wise, they fall short of the £200 mark, which a few of these thermal bib shorts go over, although there are better value options available.
- Read our full Le Col Pro Thermal Bib Shorts II thermal bib shorts review
- Buy now from Le Col (£195)
Sportful Fiandre NoRain Pro Bib Shorts
RRP £150 | View offer
- Great weather-proofing and insulation
- Superb breathability for temperature control
- Comfort for all day riding is not the best
The Sportful Fiandre NoRain Pro bib shorts use NoRain fabric to provide both insulation with a brushed fleece inner, and weather-proofing with a water repellent outer. This is then paired with a perforated upper to allow good levels of breathability and temperature control, giving these shorts a really wide range of effective operating temperatures.
The TC Pro chamois offers a great amount of support and coverage, however it lacks overall thickness for longer rides. The straps also pull down into the shoulder a bit too much when in a more relaxed riding position. These shorts are good value, offering great thermal and weather proofing qualities for the price, although comfort is a little compromised.
- Read our full Sportful Fiandre NoRain Pro thermal bib shorts review
- Buy now from Bikeinn (£82)
Read our guide to the best packable cycling jackets for stuffing in your pocket.
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