While some purist stick-in-the-muds will say cargo bib shorts are a cardinal sin, akin to putting a mini pump on your frame, I say they're the best thing since sliced bread. While they began as a gravel-oriented wardrobe item, and still primarily are marketed as such, I wear them more or less exclusively in the summer. The only thing stopping me in the winter is that many of the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best thermal cycling shorts are yet to have pockets added, but it's only a matter💮 🤪of time.
More storage, in the form of pockets that sit completely flush with your legs when empty, has no downside in my book, and as someone who likes to carry all sorts while riding (camera, painkillers, a whole malt loaf) I've spent plenty of time sorting out which ones work and which don't quite cut the mustard. If you don't need quite so much haulage space then be sure to check out our guide to the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best cycling shorts, which has the top picks from all of our cycling shorts guides across a range of bu♒dgets.
Comfortable, understated, well made, and with the best pockets of the bunch. A dual-si✅ded mesh tube sits on the small of your back, e🍬asily accommodating a waterproof jacket while on the move.
With a pr🌱ice that's significantly below the brand's more premium cargo bibs, but a performance that is far from diminiꦓshed as a result, these are a sure-fire winner for those on smaller budgets.
Nothing ༺matches these for comfort in my experience. The materials are sublime, the chamois is brilliant, and the leg grippers and straps never bite. Comfort comes at a high price though.
If you're concerned about crash damage then these should be on your rad🔥ar. As well as being comfortable, as you'd expect from Cast🌱elli, they have Dyneema fibres woven into the hips to resist abrasion.
If you are bold enough to look beyond black bibs, then🏅 these are top-of-the-pick. They look great but offer a compression and performance that goes f🌳ar beyond just a fashion item.
Of all the cargo bibs, the POC Rove to me felt the most like a normal pair of road bibs, happiest in a more a𒐪ggressive position. If you aren't going gravelling, these should be on your radar. Plus, they come in brown!
Checked the products, removing any out-of-date products and ensuring all the specs are up to date. Buy if/Don't buy if boxes were added to provide streamlined buying advice for each product.
The best cargo bib shorts available today
Best Overall
(Image credit: Will Jones)
1. Albion ABR1 Pocket
Best cargo bib shorts overall
Reasons to buy
+
Best pockets
+
Simple, understated aesthetics
+
Very comfortable
Reasons to avoid
-
Fans of compression will want to go elsewhere
Buy it if
✅ You want excellent storage solutions: The Albion ABR1 Pocket bib shorts offer a unique and highly functional rear mesh tube pocket, making storage effortless and efficient.
✅ You want comfort and versatility: These bib shorts are extremely comfortable, well-made, and have a subtle design that pairs well with any jersey or t-shirt.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want traditional rear pockets: Unlike many cargo bibs, these don’t mimic jersey-style pockets, which might not suit everyone’s preferences.
❌ You want ample leg storage: While the leg pockets are adequate, they don’t stand out as much as the innovative rear pocket design.
To my mind, the selling point of cargo bibs is the ability to store things (controversial, I know!). None do storage better than the Albion ABR1 Pocket bib shorts. The two-leg storage pockets are perfectly adequate, but where it shines is in the rear pocket department.&nbs💫p;
Most cargo bibs, for some reason, seek to emulate the rear pockets of a jersey, often adding two or three small pocket꧟s at the lower/mid back. I presume this is to appeal to those riders (myself included sometimes I must admit) who wear a t-shirt in place of a jersey. Albion does things a bit differently, instead opting for a large mesh tube, open at both ends, at the very bottom of your back, right where your pelvis b﷽egins.
You can easily stuff a jacket on the fly into this tube without missing a pedal stroke. The ꦦrear pocket doesn't look to replace jersey pockets, it supplements them, and does it brilliantly. Especially in changeable weather, these are the shorts I reach for most.
In addition to the brilliant pocket setup they are als𒁃o extremely comfy, well made, and nicely understated, meaning they'll pair with more or less any jersey you can think of... or 🐠that baggy t-shirt!
✅ You want comfort: These bib shorts are super comfy, making them great for long rides and multi-day trips.
✅ You want great value: They offer impressive performance for the price, even outperforming some of the brand's premium options.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want high compression: These bib shorts lack the compression found in more race-oriented options.
❌ You want a thinner chamois: Th﷽e ch🧔amois is thicker than some competitors, which may require saddle height adjustments.
If you're after a good jumping-off point into the world of extra pockets, you could do an awful lot worse than the Rapha Core Cargo bib 🌠shorts. While they lack the compression of more race-oriented options, they are super comfy and offer up a slightly thicker chamois than the rest of the competition, which is ideal if you want a bit more cush for your tush. Be mindful that a thicker chamois can sometimes mean you need to drop your saddle height a fraction.
The pockets are solid, as are the straps, and the back design means it's good and venty. The chamois is unperforated, a point of difference to the more premium, non-core cargo bibs fro🎃m the brand, but to be honest when it's hot enough to worry about whether your chamois is perforated, things are sweaty down there whatever you do.
The lack of compression can be a bonus too, and I found them particularly comfy for multi-day rides where you often spend your time in bib 🌱shorts but not on the bike, perhaps sat at a roadside cafe sipping 𝐆an Orangina and contemplating a second pizza.
For the price, they are hard to beat, and in many ways outpe𝐆rform the brand's more premium offering, and for that, they should be applauded.
If you want to find out more about why I like these so much and why they're such good value, head to our Rapha Core Cargo Bib Shorts review.
Most Comfortable
(Image credit: Will Jones)
3. Pearl Izumi Expedition Pro
Most comfortable cargo bib shorts
Reasons to buy
+
Amazing straps
+
Luxurious feel
+
Great grippers
Reasons to avoid
-
No longer any fun colours
-
High RRP
-
No upper pocket hem
Buy it if
✅ You want exceptional comfort: The soft, almost silken material, seamless straps, and gentle leg grippers make these bibs feel luxurious on the bike.
✅ You want perfect compression: The fit provides the right balance of support without feeling too tight or restrictive.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want secure pockets: The 🍒pockets are limited in size and lack a secure seam on the upper lip, making storage less reliable.
If comfort is your number one concern, and I'm not only talking about the chamois pad here as that's very much a persဣonal choice, then th🔯e Pearl Izumi Expedition Pro cargo bibs are second to none.
The material is soft to the touch to the point of almost being silken, the straps are seamless with ꩵraw edges so they never dig in, and the leg grippers are minimal and never bite, with raw edges. When they're on, they don't even look like they have leg grippers.
The pockets are a little small and don't have 𒈔a seam on the upper lip to keep things secure,ꦕ so storage is perhaps where these fall a little short, but if I want to feel truly luxurious on the bike (as much as is possible when riding a bicycle), I choose these shorts.
Sadly, they no longer come in the floral pattern that I still have, 𒅌but what has remained are the super-stretchy straps that allow you to relieve yourself without having to take your jers🐼ey off completely.
The compression is also spot-on for me. Tight enough to feel supportive, butജ never any m💯ore.
Dyneema Protection
(Image credit: Will Jones)
4. Castelli Free Unlimited
Best cargo bib shorts for crash protection
Reasons to buy
+
Abrasion resistance where you need it
+
Raw edge leg grippers
Reasons to avoid
-
Dyneema panels look a little odd
Buy it if
✅ You want reinforced protection: The Dyneema material on the hips offers extra durability in case of falls, making these bibs ideal for gravel riding adventures.
✅ You want secure storage: The large pockets comfortably hold a smartphone and other essentials without the need for leg grippers.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want stretchy straps: The bib straps are quite unyie𒆙lding and can feel uncomfortable, especially for taller riders.
If protection is the name of the game then the Castelli Free Unlimited are the cargo bibs for you. The hips, traditionally what tends to end up rubbing along the ground in aജ spill, are reinforced with Dyneema.
While it may look a little unorthodox, Dyneema really does work in the event of an unscheduled lie-down. My colleague, Tom, 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:rode into a wall to test some reinforced kit and was suitably impressed. It's not going to ﷽match up to motorbike leathers, or offer any padding, but especially on gravel where things get lairy more regularly it can be a handy mental win knowing you aren't going to immediately shred your shorts if things get out of hand.
The pockets are suitably large, easily holding a decent-sized smartphone, and the moderate compression keeps things in place in the absence of any leg grippers - a particularly comfy setup that's being utilised more often by brands🍨.
My main criticism is the straps, which are rat𒆙her unyielding. If you're too tall for these shorts you're going to know about꧂ it in the straps before you will do in the fit of the legs. They also feature a few slightly bulbous joins, and while they're never enough to be a genuine annoyance, they also aren't a contender for most comfy straps.
As with most Castelli shorts, you'll probably want toဣ size up one size.
✅ You want a well-measured fit and comfortable chamois: The bibs have a well-sculpted pad and stretchy straps that enhance comfort during long rides.
✅ You want a stylish pair of cargo bib shorts: Maaps detailing sets the Alt_Road shorts apart from alternative options.
Don't buy it if
❌ You don't want high compression: The high compression means you may need to go up a size for your preferred 🌄fit.
Cargo bibs came out of gravel riding, and like it or not there's very much a fashion element to that particular segment of the cycling world. I'm fine with that; I🥀 have a moustache, I wear neckerchiefs unironically, and I think these are the coolest cargo bibs on the market.
It also helps that they're very comfy, wi🅘th 𒁃a particularly sculpted chamois that I get on with very well indeed, and wide, stretchy straps that never seem to interfere with the day out.
The shorts we have tested are the original version, which unlike most cargo bibs these have a standard elastic pocket (one of the largest as it happens) on one side and a fully enclosed pocket secured by a zip on the other. You can easily slot a phone in here, or other valuables, and not worry about them♔ bouncing out. These have now been replaced by the 2.ꦐ0 version, which has an improved pocket layout with two elasticised leg pockets and two zipped rear pockets.
The compression is pretty high, and to be perfectly frank I decided to size up a full size꧂ versus my usual Maap shorts, and things were far morജe comfy. The stitching at the leg grippers is a little restrictive if you're between sizes and can lead to sausage legs, but in the larger size, they are perfect.
If you are bored of black, and can't be doing with the🐭 sea of gravel-specific olive green pairs out there, then give these a look and 🧸you'll feel like a million bucks.
✅ You want comfort and a road-friendly feel: The POC Rove cargo bibs feel more like traditional road bibs rather than gravel-specific ones, making them ideal for long rides, especially if you prefer a less compressive fit.
✅ You want a secure pocket design: The leg pockets feature a subtle flap inside the upper hem, helping to keep items like phones from shifting upwards during rides.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want old-fashioned leg grippers: While functional, the wide leg grippers feel outdated in a market where raw edges are becoming the norm.
❌ You want a chamois suited to a more upright riding position: The pad sits further underneath, which works well for aggressive road positions but may not be ideal for more relaxed riding styles.
Most cargo bibs I've tried have a certain gravelly feel to them, but the POC Rove cargo bibs feel more like a 'normal' pair of road bibs than any other I🌌've tried. For long days on the tarmac, especially if you don't like a super compressive fit, they're ace.
The chamois sits a little more underneath you, meaning that if you're running anꦚ aggressive position (more likely on the road than on grav) it's more likely to be in the right place. The pad itself🌼 has gel inserts where your sit bones go, but I'm happy to report that they aren't intrusive, and to be honest you can't notice them, which is high praise from someone with a princess-and-the-pea rear end.
The pockets have a really neat touch too in that the upper hem on each leg pocket has a subtle flap o🔯n the inside, meaning things that have a tendency to migrate upwards (phones, mostly), are more likely to be held in place.
The leg grippers are wide and far from biting, but in a product landscape where raw edges are becoming the norm they feel a little old-fashioned. That being said, there's nothing wrong with them, and I'm sure there are plenty of you who'd prefer these to a raw edge, particularly if you don't shave your legs - raw edges tend to ride up more easily 🐟if you're fluffy.
Also Tested
(Image credit: Will Jones)
7. Endura GV500 Reiver
Another excellent budget option
Reasons to buy
+
Sensible pocket design
+
Rear gripper a neat touch
+
Double layer hip
Reasons to avoid
-
Pockets a little small
Buy it if
✅ You want affordable quality: Endura is known for making well-priced yet high-quality bib shorts, and we found these continue that tradition.
✅ You want enhanced durability: The reinforced hips with ripstop material provide extra durability and protection against abrasions.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want big leg pockets: The leg pockets are a bit too small, which may limit their practic🌱ality for c𝄹arrying items.
Endura has a reputation here at Cyclingnews for making really decent but afforda💛ble bib shorts, and the GV500 Reivers are no exception. They were a genuine contender for the 'best budget' title but fell short in my eyes a♚s the pockets are a little small.
In all other aspects, they are a very well-appointed setup. The leg p꧒ockets, while a little on the small side, wrap further around the front of the leg than any others on test which goes some way to add support beneath heavy objects - On the side there is no leg beneath, whereas on the front the objects are supported by your quads for at least some of the pedal stroke.
The hips are also reinforced, not with Dyneema as the Castelli pair are, but with an extr💃a panel of a gridded, ripstop material over the main layer of Lycra. This extends the length of the leg to the grippers too, and b𒅌eneath the pockets in case you're carrying anything abrasive.
The rear pockets, instead of꧅ the standard pair, or triplet, sit as two pairs rotated outwards so they sit more over the hips. This makes access easier, especially to the outermost ones, but with a jersey they're still going to lie beneath the hem.
One neat touch, especially if you're pairing it with the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Endura GV500 Waterproof Jacket, is the strip of silicone gripper along the very small of your back that should help the corresponding gripper on the jacket, or the hem o🦋f a🍌nything really, grip better and resist riding up.
✅ You want premium comfort: The bib shorts have a high-end feel with excellent compression and well-distributed pressure from the back panel.
✅ You want better breathability: Th🅺e perforated chamois and thin෴ner material help reduce sweat buildup, especially in hot or wet conditions.
Don't buy it if
❌ You don’t want aggressive leg grippers: The strong grippers can feel a bit tight if you're in between sizes.
❌ You rely on reflective details: While present, the reflective strips can be obscured if the leg pockets are full, reducing visibility.
In many aspects, these are very similar to the Rapha Core cargo bibs that came out as the best budget option. The compression is the same, the leg pockets are pretty simil🥃ar too. The cham🌃ois is thick and cushy, as is the Rapha style. What's the extra cost going towards, then?
Well, the overall feel is a little more premium. The leg grippers are among the most grippy I've ever experienced and are especially effective if you have hairy legs. If you're approaching needing𒉰 to size up, they can be a bit tight ꦐthough.
The chamois is perforated, s🎀o it is slightly less sweaty, but I only found this was the case when it wasn't super hot. Beyond a certain point, you're going to be sweaty re🧸gardless.
You have better reflective details here, with two strips on the outside of each leg. These are good, but they do get obscured if the leg p𝄹ockets are full.
The material used for the main construction is thinner, not in a way that makes them fℱeel flimsy, just less prone to feeling waterlogged in the 🌼rain, or sweat-saturated.
Finally, the back is one big mesh panel rather than two stℱraps, meaning any pressure is very well distribut🦋ed.
In short, they're better overall, but especially in hot or wet environ꧑ments.
✅ You want secure pockets: Mesh design works well and we actually prefer these pockets to those on the Pro model.
✅ You want comfortable and stretchy straps: The low-profile, super-stretchy straps provide a comfortable fit.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want an extra small: Shorter riders may find the sizing doesn't go small enough.
❌ You want a racey fit: The material doesn't offer much in the way of compression, so the chamois may require some readjustment when riding.
In the same 🌟way as Rapha, Pearl Izumi has a standard and a 'Pro' version of its Expedition bib shorts. The standard version is excellent and with a lower price tag too.
You g🌱et the same wonderful, low profile and super stretchy straps, but the material for the legs is slightly less♍ silky. It does still feel like a deluxe option compared to others at this price point, but it's not the same as the Expedition Pro.
The pockets, though, are better than those on the Pro model. They are mesh, rather than a flat layer of lycra, and have an upper hem, which makes things feel a lot more sec💟ure.
The leg grippers are pretty low profile, definitely better with shaved legs but they do the job well enough and are super comfy. The lack of compression makes them great for all-day wear, especially at a cafe/camp. My♏ only real bugbear with the fit is that the rear end isn't quite snug enough around my behind, so the chamois can feel a little mobil༺e. If you're blessed with a more powerful posterior than I then you'll probably be fine.
Also, there is no 🏅XS option, which is a shame as I know for a fact I'm not as small as some cyclists and I wear a size small.
Yes, I know mine are gr𒉰een, but the green ones have been sadly discontinued. Black is what you'll get now, but in all other aspects, they're the same.
(Image credit: Will Jones)
10. 7Mesh MK3 Cargo
Another luxury option
Reasons to buy
+
Mesh-lined crotch
+
Great grippers
+
Low front
Reasons to avoid
-
Central rear pocket a little baggy
Buy it if
✅ You want a premium feeling bibshort: High-quality materials and medium compression feel great and perform well.
✅ You want a chamois to be locked in place: 7Mesh's double-layer design ensures the chamois is securely held in position.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want secure rear pockets: The m🍒esh used on the center rear pocket is a bit looser so better suited to storing soft items, rather than a phone or tools.
These are a challenger for the Pearl Izumi Expedition Pro, though I got on slightly less well with the chamois in this case - as ever, this i⛦s down to my anatomy, and yo🍌ur mileage may vary.
The materials used fee꧋l very premium, there's a lovely moderate com♛pression, and the front is cut low which is excellent if you have an aggressive position. The combination of the low front and the double-layer, mesh-lined crotch does put me in mind of some Assos shorts, which is high praise.
The pockets aren't all that big, definitely more for snacks, and wrappers than any heavy cargo. They are secure, however, and feature the same inside flap along the upper h𒅌em that helps keep things in over ♏rough ground.
The pockets in the sma🔯ll of the back are fine, though I so rarely use thꦇem. I am nitpicking but the central pocket is a little baggy, so if you are wearing these with a t-shirt rather than a jersey then just be a bit careful of what you put in there.
Like the Pearl Izumi options, the straps are raw-edged, stretchy, and fade into unconsciousness. They're a little firmer though, ☂and feel more supportive of the lowers.
How to choose
Cycling shorts, be they standard, cargo, thermal, race, or budget, are ultimately a very personal purchase. Sadly, as a product tester, my rear end won't be the same as yours, and so a chamois pad that works for me may not be the right one for you. Pads are often common across a brand's shorts, at least to some extent, so with our collective experience in the💧 tech team we can at least make a decent estimate as to the general comfort for the majori🐻ty of consumers.
Regardless of the added bells and whistles on offer, the main thing that you should focus on is whether the chamois pad fits you well. This, unfortunately, may take some trial and error, especially as i൲t works in tandem w💟ith having the right saddle for your anatomy. If you're coming to cargo bibs and you already have a set of normal bibs you're happy with, then I suggest sticking with the same brand.
While the pad is important, I've also highlighted other features that make the above cargo bibs stand out from the crowd. Good pockets are one thing, but compression, fit, leg grippers, str🃏aps, and durability all come into play too. If you're tall and slim for your short size the straps are going to be more of a factor in your decision as they're more likely to become restrictive.
Are cargo bibs worth it?
In a word, yes. I wear them for all my riding now, and I've lost count of the number of times I've gone to slip a phone into a pocket and realised I've pulled on a pair of normal bibs, and felt rather disappointed. There are no drawba🦋cks to🐷 having a few extra pockets in my eyes; if you don't use them you won't notice them, and if you do need them then they're there.
Like a decent pair of standard bib shorts, a good pair of cargo bibs can be🔯 the difference between a comfortable, enjoyable day out, and an uncomfortable slog.
Are cargo bibs just normal bibs with pockets?
Essentially, yes, but tꦆhere's more to it than that.
Normal bib shorts were almost exclusively designed for the road, so w𒉰hile they may perform perfectly well on gravel they weren't specifically designed for it.
The best cargo bib shorts are more aimed at either endurance riding, gravel riding, or both. They'll probably have a chamois that's a little more padded, and some will have𒐪🍃 a chamois that's designed for a slightly more upright position. The chamois in the POC Rove bibs for example is longer, with silicone inserts to help over rough surfaces and while riding in multiple positions.
Can I wear cargo bibs for road riding?
Absolutely. Some of us here at Cyclingnews choose cargo bibs over non-cargo for most things nowadays just for extr𓃲a storage. Anyone who says you can't is just being a snob, and they'll be jealous when you whip out a chocolate bar from your leg.
How tight should cargo bib shorts be?
This mostly depends on how much compression you want. More compression can allegedly help fight muscle fatigue, but some riders find it uncomfortable over long durations. I like a middle ground, and if I'm riding for several days and I am going to be sat at a cafe or at a campsite I go for a lower compression𒊎. The fit should be snug, but no sausage legs, and definitely no loss of circulation!
You sho🎶uld be free to move as if you were wearing nothing at💞 all. Some brands size up small, so pay attention to that front if you're between sizes.
Can I wear normal shorts over cycling shorts?
Sure you can, and some are specifically designed for thisꦺ use case. Just be aware that if you have full pockets in your cargo bib shorts it may be a bit uncomfortable under baggy shorts, and ♔might also be a bit hotter - short liners tend to be mostly mesh to counteract this.
How do we test cargo bib shorts?
Testing is the backbone of the tech department at Cyclingnews and 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:how we test is taken seriously, so read on to find out more.
As a serial overpacker, I can't fathom how people go riding without bringing the kitchen sink. Snacks, tools, spares, extra layers, a camera, phone... I only ever riℱde in cargo bibs now,🌟 and I've got a good eye for what works on them and what doesn't.
Given their adventure focus, my testing has been on all surfaces, so the material durability has been assessed too. I've been bikepa♓cking, and worn several pairs for days at a time without removing them.
As ever, the ﷽comfort they offer will depend on your anatomy matching well to the chamois pad, so I've tried my best not to pass judgement on them based on that particular factor.
Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He’s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the standard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He’s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn’t ever ride indoors he’s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar🌄 hill climb machines.
