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review
£74.99
VERDICT:
Decent shorts let down by sweat build-up; their appearance is likely to divide opinion
Weight:
190g
Contact:
www.lookcycle.com
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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These Look Pro Team bib shorts are the companions to the Look Pro Team SS jersey we reviewed recently. Like the jersey, they sit in the middle of the bib shorts price range. Like the jersey, they are a decent pair of bib shorts, with strong styling that is likely to divide opinion.
The label on these shorts says they are made from an 80% polyester, 20% elastomer mix fabric. Let me translate that for you. Everything apart from the straps is made from a nice stretchy-but-firm lycra. It feels comfortable to wear next to the skin, but is not brilliant at wicking sweat away when the sprinting or climbing starts. The straps themselves are made from a nice mesh fabric, though at the back this fabric change is quite high up, near the upper quarter of my back. There are silicone gripper bands to keep things in place.
The pad uses different densities and volumes to relieve pressure and optimize comfort. It also benefits from gel inserts which absorb and neutralize vibrations and impacts. You'll have guessed this is from the marketing blurb.
In real life, the pad follows contours well and stays in place. It is comfortable on the saddle and is towards the thicker end of the spectrum; roughly on a par with Endura FS 260 bib shorts. Unfortunately, that same fabric that is not so good at wicking away sweat is between your sweaty area, and where you ideally want that sweat to go.
That makes these shorts perfectly decent for more gentle rides, where you don't work up too much of a sweat. On rides of higher intensity, or when it's hot out, they start being noticeably uncomfortable after a couple of hours. Though I'm a sweaty so-and-so, and your mileage may vary, this is not an issue I've had with other bib shorts.
Like the Pro Team jersey, these bib shorts are not subtle, and therefore not to my taste. They are also available in white and acid green and a slightly more understated black and white, to match the jersey's available colour combinations.
In terms of fit, these are a medium. I found them to be on a par with most non-Italian brands. If you take a medium in Endura or DHB, these should fit. They are available in a range from XS to XXXL.
Verdict
Decent shorts let down by sweat build-up; their appearance is likely to divide opinion
road.cc test report
Make and model: Look Pro Team Bib Shorts
Size tested: Medium
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Pro team bib shorts: attractive and comfortable.
Colorful and with a well-thought out design, these bib shorts will attract cyclists seeking a comfortable, quality product suitable for regular use.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Easy fit: The combination of elastic materials with a nonexclusive cut means that products using this technology are perfect for larger sizes and those who like a looser fit.
Anatomical pad: 3 dimensional construction ensuring specifically adapted ergonomics for greater freedom of movement. The different volumes and densities used reduce discomfort due to pressure areas and ensure optimal comfort.
Gel line: Gel inserts which absorb and neutralize vibrations and impacts, providing long-term comfort and protection.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
6/10
The fabric could do with being more breathable.
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
8/10
Perfectly comfortable on low intensity rides.
Rate the product for value:
6/10
As with the jersey, I suspect the branding is a significant part of where your money goes.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The Look Pro Team bib shorts fit well, and are comfortable to wear. However, I found that sweat builds up more quickly, particularly on the lower back, than with other shorts I've tried.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Comfortable pad.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
They could be better at wicking away sweat. The styling is not for me.
Did you enjoy using the product? Not really.
Would you consider buying the product? No.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? No.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
Look's Pro Team bib shorts fit well and are comfortable to wear. The styling may divide opinion though, and the fabric could be better at wicking away sweat.
About the tester
Age: 36 Height: 1.78m Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: All of them! My best bike is: Cannondale CAAD10
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,
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