Attacus Thermal Bib Tights

The Attacus Thermal Bib Tights are a very warm and practical set of bib tights that perform well in the coldest conditions. Their price puts them up against some established high-quality competition, but they hold their own – although it would be good to have stronger stitching on the reflective strips on the leg.

• Pros: Very warm, high waist maintains core temperature, innovative knee panel
• Cons: Legs a little on the long side, stitching on the chevrons could be stronger

I was testing these in the beast of the east parts 1 and 2, so warmth was always going to be a key factor and I was not disappointed with how they performed. Attacus has used a windproof, showerproof thermal stretch fabric which managed to keep the elements at bay even when I was riding around on frozen roads. I may not have been able to feel my feet, but my legs were well insulated.

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Inside, the material has a really nice and soft fleecy feel, which kept warm air pockets against the skin while also allowing for decent enough wicking and breathability. To help keep your legs warm, Attacus has doubled up the fabric on the knees – the area that tends to take the brunt of the weather when riding. Rather than simply sewing an extra layer over the top it has instead created a flap, which I was initially a little sceptical of, but in reality it allowed for more flexibility around the knee when midway through the pedal stroke.

These bib tights are not only for keeping your legs warm, though, they are also extra high, with the waist sitting just under my pectorals, and the fleece-lined fabric goes all the way up, making them particularly effective at keeping your core warm too. They are easily the highest reaching bib tights I've used and this is definitely a bonus in terms of warmth (less so when nature calls).

The straps on the bib tights are comfortable with plenty of stretch and hems along each edge to stop twisting; given that you are unlikely to wear bib tights straight onto the skin this is less of an issue than with bib shorts, but it's still good to see. The material used for the straps and the back is the same as the rest of the tights, so this is also a bonus for keeping you warm.

There are also more reflective elements on these than most other bib tights, with 'Attacus' written in big reflective letters across the lower back and two large reflective chevrons on each leg. Both of these are definitely a good thing when riding in low-light conditions, but there are areas on both legs where the stitching has begun to come away, so the chevrons could definitely do with slightly stronger stitching.

As with any bib tights or bib shorts, the chamois is key and here Attacus has gone with the Cytech EIT Endurance 2.5 HD, which is a top of the range pad that you would expect to find in some top brands – Assos and Rapha, for instance, both use Cytech pads for their shorts. As you would expect from a company that's provided chamois for many Tour de France winners, this one is supremely comfortable, even in the biting cold after a few hours in the saddle. It doesn't have the multiple densities that you often find on modern pads, but this didn't seem to make much of a difference; I found that I was well supported throughout.

Attacus has used silicone gripper at the bottom of each leg, which helps keep everything in place. This helps with the fit, too, although I did find that the legs were a little longer than I'm used to and there was some excess that I needed to smooth out. I am a 32in leg so I was at the top end of the 29-32in leg measurement it recommends in the size guide too. This isn't too much of an issue as the amount of excess was relatively simple to lose, but it's worth noting.

The bib tights have an RRP of £130, which is quite pricey and puts them in the same category as Rapha's Core Winter Tights and Castelli's Nanoflex 2 bib tights. This is strong competition, especially for a relative newcomer like Attacus, but they stack up in terms of quality and warmth.

> Buyer's Guide: 16 of the best winter bib tights and trousers

I was impressed by these bib tights: they are very warm, have some good design features and are comfortable even on longer rides. It would be a bonus if the stitching on the chevrons was stronger, and Attacus could maybe look at the leg length, but that shouldn't take away from a strong pair of bib tights.

Verdict

A warm and comfortable pair of bib tights with some good design elements and material choice