Rapha Cargo Bib Shorts

Comfortable, with pockets for carrying all your essentials so you can wear a looser fitting casual top or just boost your carrying capacity with a regular cycling jersey, Rapha's new Cargo bib shorts are ideally suited to adventure rides where a less pro race look is desirable. They're also handy for commuting, audax, touring and any long distance cycling. Provided you've got deep enough pockets to afford them in the first place.

• Pros: Secure pockets easy to use, comfortable fit and chamois, reflective stripes
• Cons: Need deep pockets to afford them, some early signs of wear

The new Cargo Bib Shorts are born out of the growing adventure and bikepacking trend, where there's a definite focus on less pro race-derived clothing, both in terms of fit and style. Several companies have cottoned onto this desire and started produced clothing that is both understated in appearance and looser fitting to maximise comfort.

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Combining the fit and comfort of bib shorts with pockets on the legs and in the back, the idea is to use these to carry your essentials, freeing you up to wear a casual loose fitting T-shirt, such as the technical T-shirt and polo Rapha just happened to release as well, or any other polyester or merino-based loose-fitting top.

It's not exactly a new idea. Specialized has been selling SWAT bib shorts to mountain bikers for several years. Designed to be worn under baggy shorts, they feature pockets that keep your essentials hidden under a loose fitting jersey and let you ride without a hydration backpack.

If you've done much cyclo-cross or gravel riding with a regular cycling jersey, you might know that stuffed pockets can gradually become empty pockets as the contents are liable to be ejected when riding over bumpy ground. I've had to backtrack once or twice when a pump or energy bar has made a bid for freedom. The contents can also lead to the jersey shifting around on your lower back.

Rapha has placed the two rear pockets so that the contents don't cause discomfort when cycling, and they sit above the waistband of baggy overshorts. There's space for an inner tube, pump, phone and some energy bars with more to spare. The pockets don't move about on your back and the contents are held securely in place.

Additional storage comes via two mesh pockets on the legs. Rapha says it tested the pockets to ensure the contents are secure, and that is certainly the case. You obviously won't want to fill them with anything too heavy, save the rear back pockets for those bits, but for having quick access to energy bars, a Brevet card, phone or camera, or for stashing bits of clothing like a pair of gloves or cap, they work really well. Or a banana if you watched the launch video.

An obvious concern about the leg pockets is that adding anything to them is going to cause an annoyance when pedalling, but I didn't find that the case with lighter items. It's not like using baggy short side pockets and the contents bashing against your leg every pedal stroke, and because the stretchy mesh pockets pull the contents flush to your legs, discomfort is minimised if not avoided completely.

Rapha says there's enough capacity across the four pockets to carry what you'd normally stuff in three regular jersey pockets. This will clearly depend on how much stuff you do like to carry in those jersey pockets, but I found I was able to comfortably take all the essentials I'd need for a typical ride.

As for the actual bib shorts, well they are made from a lightweight water-resistant material so they can shrug off a rain shower yet cope with high temperatures. I've tested them in a range of conditions from near freezing to mid-20s and they proved adequate at managing those extremes with no overheating on warmer days. In the rain, though they're not waterproof, rain does bead off the surface, helping to keep you drier for longer.

The fabric also has a tough feeling to it, as you'd want from a product designed for the rigours and hardship of adventure riding and bikepacking, or grappling with overgrown bramble bushes. So far durability has been good, but the undercarriage fabric is showing signs of wear from a few muddy rides when the saddle effectively turned into a piece of sandpaper.

The padded insert comes straight from the Brevet bib shorts, which I've tested in the past and have nothing bad to say about. It's a comfortable pad with good cushioning and is perfectly shaped. The perforated construction is intended to help them dry out quickly for multi-day rides, and there are even instructions for wrapping the shorts in a towel after washing.

The regular fit is described by Rapha as close but relaxed and good for all day riding, and I'd say this is a good description. They're not loose but nor are they race tight, but they are probably erring on the snug side. Rapha has added more length in the torso, a lower front section for easier toilet stops and soft and stretchy bib straps from the Brevet bib shorts.

A nod to the long ride intention of these shorts is reflective details on the back of each leg to boost your visibility when the light is fading or you're riding through the night.

Conclusion

Granted they might seem like a gimmick, and they received a fair amount of flak at launch, but the idea of adding pockets to bib shorts for off-road riding makes a lot of sense. They allow you to carry essentials close to the body without fear of losing anything, and free you to wear a normal T-shirt for more relaxed riding and style.

As much as they are aimed at multi-day bikepacking adventures, I'd also add their clear and obvious suitability to long distance rides, touring and audax events where the extra cargo capacity is a bonus as well as the comfort and weather resistant nature of the bib shorts. You can also add commuting to the list as well – wear them under a baggy pair of shorts and a casual tee for a fast and light outfit to and from the office.

> Buyer's Guide: Best casual cycling kit for commuting

A question mark remains over the long-term durability though – I'll update this review after several more months of testing to see how they stand up.

Naturally, with all Rapha products, there's no getting away from the high price. They sit somewhere in the middle of Rapha's bib short range, but they are over £100 more than the Specialized SWAT shorts I mentioned earlier, and £135 more than Nukeproof's Blackline Bib Shorts.  

There aren't many rivals, though, so if you want bib shorts designed for the rigours of adventure riding with pockets, your choices are limited.

They're currently only available for men, but a women's version is on the way, with a choice of black, dark grey and dark navy colours.

Verdict

Bib shorts with pockets ideal for adventure, touring and commuting in all weathers, with great comfort and fit, but hefty price