In this article I’m going to give you the best endurance cycling bibs for long distance comfort.
Now, opinions may vary about what exactly constitutes endurance and long distance. Depending on the person you ask the answer may vary significantly.
To keep things simple I’ve taken into consideration those cycling bibs which will allow for sufficient levels of comfort for over three hours or more. That would roughly mean that you can expect a significantly reduced risk of saddle soreness for 60 miles or more (20 miles per hour average).
With that being said, a number of the cycling bibs you’ll find on this list are actually being used in the pro peleton, and are considered top-of-the-line in my opinion. That would mean the cycling bib should do its job for 6 hours or more.
Whatever you choose, this list of the best endurance cycling bibs will literally save your behind for those epic journeys.
Castelli Free Protect Race Bibshort
The Castelli Free Protect Race Bibshort is a cycling short meant for riders who appreciate added level of protection in case of a crash.
It features Castelli’s top-of-the-line Progetto X2 Air chamois made for comfort for ambitious cyclists. Men’s specific pressure points are more supported with an added layer of perforated padding, besides a skin layer, and dual density foam layer. This means a further reduction of saddle soreness when riding for many hours.
Mesh straps are attached to bibs made from compression fabric and having strengthened side panels made from Dyneema® Composite Fabric, which is stronger, lighter, and more abrasion resistant than comparable nylon fabrics. So should you ever fall with this fairly expensive piece of cycling apparel, chances of you actually tearing them are significantly reduced.
If you take your riding and safety seriously and you want an exquisitely designed cycling bib, the Castelli Free Protect Race Bibshort should be at the top of your list.
- Abrasion resistant bib short
- None
Castelli Premio Black Bibshort
The Castelli Premio Black Bibshort are the most expensive shorts in the Italian brand’s lineup.
The first thing is that Castelli did away with the traditional silicone strips or dots in the leg gripper. This makes them far more comfortable, especially if you don’t shave your legs.
Furthermore the gradient stretch woven fabric has varying degrees of thickness, with thicker bands wrapping themselves around the quads, achieving superb levels of compression without intricate paneling.
The bibs come with their best Progetto X2 Air, a pad that features inserts at pressure points, a soft skin layer, multi-density foam layer with varying thickness and great ventilation properties. It’s one of the most comfortable long distance pads on the market.
Castelli always makes great-looking products, and this cycling bib is no exception. Combine that with outstanding compression and comfort qualities and you’ve got yourself one of the best cycling bibs for long distance riding.
- Well designed, performance-oriented, compression bib short for long distance touring
- None
Castelli Superleggera Bibshort
Yes there are cycling bibs for weight weenies, and one of the best is the Castelli Superleggera Bibshort.
Weighing in at less than half of more traditional cycling bibs, the short still delivers the best-of-the-best in terms of comfort.
It does so with the help of Castelli’s top-tier Progetto X2 Air chamois, which is a multi-layered, multi-density pad with added inserts for pressure relief.
Made from the same compression fabric as its heavier brother, the Premio Black bib short, the fabric has varying levels of thickness. The further down the leg you move the thinner it becomes, without becoming awkwardly transparent in the back.
It also has the same innovative leg gripper, with an elastic band woven into the fabric itself.
Maximum levels of moisture-wicking and breathability in an extremely lightweight package made from the best compression fabric worth your money. The Castelli Superleggera Bib Short is the ultimate hot weather cycling bib.
- The ultimate hot weather cycling bib
- None
Giordana Men's FR-C Pro Bib Short
Well made and hard-wearing is what the Giordana Men’s FR-C Pro Bib Short is.
Made from HC50™ High Compression Power Lycra, it basically means they used more threads per inch than in your standard material. As with other well-made compression fabric, the cycling bib feels tight initially, but is soon forgotten after you start pedaling.
Their top-level Cirro-S chamois ensures comfort for long distance touring, with an incredibly thin 4-layer construction. This cycling bib offers an ultra-soft top layer followed by an open-cell foam layer for moisture management, and memory foam for pressure relief.
Soft elastic leg cuffs keep the short in place, and elastic straps attached to a mesh back ensure perspiration can evaporate quickly and effectively. Reflective elements finish the bib.
While not the most expensive in Giordana’s lineup, this short does make sure you get pro peleton worthy apparel from the Italian brand.
- Pro-level, performance-oriented compression bib short
- None
Giordana Men's SilverLine Bib Short
The Giordana Men’s SilverLine Bib Short is an extremely durable bib short with a great fit for a reasonable price.
It has their 3-layer 13 mm. Cirro chamois. It’s a top-of-the-line chamois for male cyclists. While I’m unsure whether it actually heals skin, courtesy of the Aloe Vera layer, the comfort of various waffle-textured open cell layers is unmistakable. And as with other high-end chamois, it has tapered edges seamlessly connected to your bib.
The straps are wide and comfortable and end in a large back panel to ensure a smooth and comfortable fit without any ride up.
The hems are made from an elastic woven fabric to keep them in place without digging in, and they do so perfectly.
For a respectable price the Silverline bib short is a great choice to obtain characteristics of quality, durability and comfort in a fashionable package.
- Durable, great-looking mid-tier bib short
- None
Pearl Izumi Men's INTERVAL Bib Short
The Pearl Izumi Men’s INTERVAL Bib Short are high-quality cycling bibs offering a wealth of comfort for long rides.
The shorts have the dual-layer ELITE Escape 1:1® chamois, which sits one level below their pro offerings. It means there are dual layers with different densities to spread load away from the sit bones. Attached front and back they can move independently from each other, offering flexibility while riding while at the same time reducing friction.
The Elite chamois does not have an added soft top layer for the longest of rides. But the pad does offer tapered edges sealed seamlessly where it connects to the bib.
The INTERVAL bib short is made from ELITE Transfer In-R-Cool® fabric, which is a cool name to describe a material that transfers heat and adds added sun reflectiveness.
The hems are laser cut and seamless, but do stay in place thanks to the silicone gripper.
- Comfortable performance-oriented hot-weather bib short
- None
Pearl Izumi Men's PRO Air Bib Short
The Pearl Izumi Men’s PRO Air Bib Short is their premium offering made from PRO Transfer fabric compression fabric.
The cycling bib has an amazing fit with fantastic cooling capabilities, thanks to the coldblack technology, which reduces the buildup of heat, is UV resistant, and transfers heat better than traditional fabrics.
The soft PRO transfer fabric might feel a little tight when pulling on the shorts, but this feeling is gone once you’re in the saddle. What remains is an overall great feel with the same fabric being used in the back panel and straps as well.
The chamois is the top-of-the-line PRO Escape 1:1®, the best they have to offer, with a total of 3 distinct layers distributing pressure away from the sit bones across a larger area. Logically these chamois are purpose-built for long hours in the saddle and they perform brilliantly in that respect, reducing chances of saddle sores.
Premium fabrics, a top notch chamois, in an overall great package make these compression cycling bibs hard to beat.
- Extremely comfortable compression cycling bibs with top-of-the-line chamois
- Very expensive
POC Ceramic Vpds Bib Shorts
The POC Ceramic Vpds Bib Shorts sits at the top of the Swedish brand’s cycling bibs.
The VPDS Contour pad has all the bells and whistles other pads provide as well, including added silicone pads for maximum shock absorption and road buzz reduction. It means that these shorts are meant for those who like long hours in the saddle with possibly less than ideal road conditions.
The long leg grippers in combination with the large back panel makes sure the short always stays in place.
The cycling bibs get bonus points for its design, with the ceramic reinforced material, not only being abrasive resistant, but also featuring a delicate ringed pattern. POC claims that should you ever find yourself in a crash, this helps to slide the material along instead of ripping. Truth be told I haven’t tested this.
POC is known for making high-quality products and these shorts certainly look and feel that way, as it should for the price they charge for these premium cycling bibs.
- High-end, abrasion-resistant, Swedish haute couture for road cyclists
- Pricey
POC Essential Road Vpds Bib Shorts
The POC Essential Road Vpds Bib Shorts are comfortable shorts for longer rides.
The Swedish brand offers cycling shorts with silicone inserted chamois. The inserts are cleverly located to relieve pressure for a male specific anatomy, and sit seamlessly atop a perforated base layer. Though these inserts are not unique to the brand, as POC claims, they do a good job of keeping you comfortable for long distance touring.
Seam-free straps are connected to a large mesh back panel, and move all the way from the front to the back of the bib.
Seams are kept to an absolute minimum including ones for the laser cut hems, which have integrated silicone grippers. Small reflective elements on the legs make you more visible in low-light conditions.
- Premium-looking, well-designed and comfortable bib shorts
- None
Sportful Ltd Shield Bibshort
The Sportful Ltd Shield Bibshort provides the ultimate solution for road crashes with a cycling bib built to last.
Anyone who’s ever been in a high-speed crash knows that besides bruises and fractures, it’s actually road rash that can be exceptionally painful. Sportful decided to create a cycling bib which specifically protects against this.
Panels made from Cordura are attached to elastic micromesh. This synthetic material was developed for the military and has now found its use for both ambitious road and gravel riders. Elastic mesh straps and panels keep the bib in the correct place.
The TC Pro chamois offers the best in performance-oriented comfort with a multi-density foam layer following the male anatomy, and alleviating pressure where it matters.
A premium cycling bib for those who demand nothing less.
- Bib short with abrasion-resistant panels
- None
Sportful Total Comfort Bibshort
In every category there are products that sit at the right end of the specific spectrum and the Sportful Total Comfort Bibshort does this in the area of their chamois. The biggest question that needs answering when offering a product that promises unparalleled levels of comfort, is whether it performs as expected. The answer to that question is yes, with a slight caveat.
With the 18 mm. Total Comfort W pad it’s by far the thickest and widest pad on this list, which will suit riders who failed to find comfort in other premium offerings. So for those who prefer triple-digits rides, these are the perfect shorts for you. There’s loads of comfort to be found in a pad that feels like you’re riding on a pillow.
To ensure a design that doesn’t look like you’re wearing diapers, the incredibly thick pad is strongly tapered and has a variable thickness. Once in the saddle they don’t feel any different from pads that are almost half this one.
These are not shorts for men who like to ride aggressively in a forward position for longer stretches. The thickest area of the pad is located at the back, preferring a more upright position. So not only will these shorts provide high levels of comfort in a more relaxed position, they’re also a perfect choice for gravel aficionados, where damping features are more highly appreciated.
The rest of the shorts are of a quality appropriate for its steep price, with the entire upper part of the shorts and wide straps made from breathable mesh. It all means these shorts target a distinctive audience with specific needs, but it does so excellently.
- Extremely thick chamois for endurance riders
- Hit or miss in the comfort department
Specifications endurance cycling bibs
Name | Price | Chamois | Straps | Material | Hems | Pockets | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Castelli Free Protect Race Bibshort | 250 USD | Progetto X2 Air | mesh straps w. mesh back panel | Forza fabric w. Vortex panels | GIRO4 leg gripper | none | |
Castelli Premio Black Bibshort | 300 USD | Progetto X2 Air | straps w. perforated back panel | gradient stretch woven fabric | integrated gripper elastic | none | |
Castelli Superleggera Bibshort | 240 USD | Progetto X2 Air | straps w. mesh back panel | gradient stretch woven fabric | integrated gripper elastic | none | |
Giordana Men’s FR-C Pro Bib Short | 250 USD | Cirro S | HC50™ High Compression Power Lycra | elastic woven | none | ||
Giordana Men’s SilverLine Bib Short | 160 USD | Cirro | seamless straps w. mesh back panel | elastic woven | none | ||
Pearl Izumi Men’s INTERVAL Bib Short | 150 USD | Men’s ELITE Escape 1:1® | straps w. back panel | ELITE Transfer In-R-Cool® | silicone leg grippers | none | |
Pearl Izumi Men’s PRO Air Bib Short | 275 USD | PRO Escape 1:1® | PRO Transfer fabric with In-R-Cool® and coldblack® | laser-cut w. silicone | none | ||
POC Ceramic Vpds Bib Shorts | 250 euros | VPDS Contour | mesh straps w. mesh back panel | stretch woven | none | ||
POC Essential Road Vpds Bib Shorts | 160 euros | VPDs Multi D | mesh straps w. mesh back panel | stretch woven | none | ||
Sportful Ltd Shield Bibshort | 240 USD | TC Pro | mesh straps w. mesh back panel | Cordura® | laser-cut micromesh | none | |
Sportful Total Comfort Bibshort | 230 USD | Total Comfort | perforated straps w. back panel | laser cut | none |
Johan van Seijen
FoundeR Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.
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