oneten Altitude bib shorts

Oneten's Altitude bibshorts continue the theme of value and quality we've seen from company's other products. At just £32 they are some of the cheapest on the market.

Oneten have gone down the compression route with their material choice and the 80% Polyester / 20% Spandex mix gives a mild feeling of muscle support as you ride. They feel like they are a size too small as you are pulling them up over your thighs but once on with the bib straps in place everything feels right. These test shorts are a medium which is what I wear in DHB and most others, so sizing wise the Altitude's seem pretty standard.

The seams are flatlock stitched which means no annoying ridges to irritate and they look to be very well put together with neat stitching and a tidy finish. The material certainly looks to be durable especially around the saddle area with little sign of wear or bobbling.

Silicone grippers keep the legs in place with minimal pressure plus you get a couple of reflective logos to add a bit of visibility for night time riding.

The bibs use a mesh fabric with 5% less Lycra in the mix than the rest of the shorts to offer a secure but less compressive fit. The rear is virtually full coverage so works well to remove moisture from your back while the front two straps have a decent thickness to stop any pressure points over the shoulders. The waist sits high around the belly button unlike the lower style that seems to have been adopted by a lot of the Italian clothing companies.

As with any shorts the chamois is the critical area and in the Altitude's its not bad, though it's a little on the thin side for me. It uses a mixture of foam and gel to create the padding which does a pretty good job for ninety minutes to two hours but anything over that I was starting to feel a little abused. It holds its shape though so you don't get any bunching of material while riding.

On the whole the Altitudes offer good value for money and with what looks like a highly durable material should last well too. Personally I'd go for a pair of bibs with a slightly more padded chamois especially if you ride a bike that's on the harsh side. For shorter rides or commuting I'd say the Oneten Altitudes are a good choice especially considering the attractive price.

Verdict

Low cost, high quality bibs, slightly light in the padding department