Vermarc Prima bibshorts

Vermarc Prima bibshorts sit on the second rung of the Vermarc collection, yet offer a performance and comfort level that would be fitting for the top rung of many other manufacturers.

I've been wearing these shorts for a couple of months now, and they have worked their way to the front of the drawer such is their comfort level.

On first donning I was immediately impressed by their aesthetics: nothing too garish, just a plain black bib with one small logo on either leg. I thought they looked very classy. This was matched by the materials, with different panels on the shorts using different materials for compression, cooling and anti-abrasion. This last feature came from the inner leg, which rather than using standard lyrca, instead had an embossed fabric, similar in look to a thicker woven material. It felt a little nicer to the skin, and looked really cool. Premium would be a good word to use I think.

The pad was Vermarc's Long Distance (LD) pad, their top of the range pad, and it has an Aloe Vera infusion, offering the natural goodness of Aloe to comfort your skin down there. It's hard (impossible) to compare and contrast at the same time how this works against a normal pad, but I do believe I had less irritation, and hence more comfort, over longer rides with this pad. Aloe also offers a natural anti-bacterial barrier, so if you have a longer commute, or even, dare I say it, wear them for a couple of days without washing, this fabric helps to keep pad-based nasties at bay.

On longer rides they maintained both shape and comfort levels, with the pad providing enough padding in the right places to make 6hr rides hassle-free.

Quite thin bibs keep the shorts up, and while I prefer a thicker strap I didn't find this either uncomfortable or irritating in any way. They are partnered with a thinner material on the back to aid wicking and ventilation.

At the bottom, rather than relying on silicone to keep the legs in place, the Prima shorts have a longer, 45mm, cuff with gentle elasticity. This works and feels very nice, although they aren't the longest of shorts in the leg, so your tan lines may be a little uneven.

A comfy pad, nice aesthetics, and great fit all add up to an excellent pair of shorts. While at £92 they are not cheap, it's hard to call them expensive. They performance well, so they will be worn regularly. They're therefore good value for money and a solid investment for the wardrobe.

Verdict

Comfortable over longer distances; great performance with a sensible price tag