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Shorts & 3/4s
Skins C400 Bib Shorts Skins C400 Bib Shorts Skins C400 Bib Shorts Skins C400 Bib Shorts Skins C400 Bib Shorts Skins C400 Bib Shorts
Skins C400 bib short

Skins C400 Bib Shorts

9
by Trev Allen
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Sep 27, 2010

5
£149.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Feature packed, fantastically fitting, durable and all-round superb pair of bibshorts
Weight: 
204g
Contact: 
www.skins.net
How we test

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.

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Australian born company Skins have been making waves in the past few years with their range of compressive travel and recovery products. This year Skins have launched a range of premier cycle clothing using the same graduated compression principles as the recovery products. The name C400, so Skins say, comes from 400 key fitting points which define the cut. With the help of a lengthy list of athletes and a 3D scanner Skins have created a genuinely fantastic fitting pair of shorts. It’s easy enough to find what size you need as they provide a simple to use sizing chart which uses height and weight to put you in the right pair.

Not just happy with being the best fitting pair of shorts I have ever used the C400’s offer a long list of technology and benefits which are all supposed to make us go faster and be more comfortable; graduated compression, bonded seams, 50+ UV protection, multi density and thickness chamois, anti pill fabric in high wear areas, the list goes on.

Throughout test the C400 have been really great performers. The pad is one of the most comfortable I have used and the quality of manufacture and the finish really add to the comfort and experience of using these shorts. Not a single thread has come loose, no pilling on the under carriage and they have even survived a pave crash without mark or incident. When I got up from the crash I was more concerned to check for rips in the shorts than broken bones or bike!

As for the performance enhancing compression I certainly cannot say these have turned me into Andy Schleck over night. The compression is not as noticeable as on the bib longs but you feel nicely supported which also helps reduce fatigue by achieving good muscle wrapping. On the whole the quality of the fit, pad and manufacture are more than enough to warrant buying these so any other small percentage gains are a bonus.

Verdict

A feature packed, fantastic fitting, high performing, excellently made and durable pair of bib shorts. The C400 bib shorts are certainly not cheap but contact points with the bike are important and I wouldn’t think twice about the price if I was off to tackle a Grand Fondo or monster UK sportive

road.cc test report

Make and model: Skins C400 Bib Shorts

Size tested: Medium, Black

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
10/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 22  Height: 5\\\'11\\  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Boardman Pro C  My best bike is: Canyon \"Grand Canyon\" Ergon24 team issue

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Semi pro

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, mtb,

Skins C400 Bib Shorts
Skins
Compression clothing
Compression

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5 comments

Avatar
goggy | 9 years ago
0 likes

I have a pair of these (mens) and find that the straps are ever so slightly long. My torso is not specifically sort either - in fact if anything my legs are on the short side. This means that the straps can slide over my shoulders, making my wife snigger and say "welcome to wearing a bra". I guess I can go to the gym and bulk up the shoulders a bit, but being a typical regular cyclist I suspect many people have the same build as me.

The bottom fits great though

Avatar
Trev Allen | 14 years ago
0 likes

Again though 2000 would seem like an outrageous amount to spend on a bike to the majority of people in the World and to others would not even be entertained as a winter hack. The debate can go on and on. As a student cyclist living well below the breadline I still thought the 150 was worth it.

No offence taken regards the photo - Mexican wrestling is a hobby of mine 1

Avatar
Trev Allen | 14 years ago
0 likes

Hi Chris,

I presume your comment comes from the Body Clones being half the price of the Skins C400's?

When it comes to pricing scale the more you spend the smaller the margins become. Just like with bikes - is a £4000 road bike twice as fast as a £2000 bike, equally I am sure if you look at the performance of a £75 pair of bib shorts it will be a) very good in general and b) not half as good as the C400s.

The C400's offer amazing fit and comfort with a quality of manufacture which makes the £150 price tag acceptable. Its always hard to assess the "value" and "expensiveness" as they are very personal factors. That said I believe the price is completely justified in this case.

Avatar
KirinChris replied to Trev Allen | 14 years ago
0 likes

Hi,

Yes I see your point about the marginal gains.

But I think where I was coming from was more about where the reasonable or median price is located, which is more why I chose the Giordanas as a comparison.

I think a lot of people would think that a 75-100 pound pair of bibs were pretty top notch and a reasonable amount to pay, so doubling it is OTT. Whereas a 2000 pound bike is going to be mid-range so doubling it is not as questionable or beyond reasonable. That's my excuse anyway !

But obviously you're highly impressed and you've tried them so maybe it's worth it.

And BTW if that's you in the photo, no offence meant - you look a lot better in bib shorts than I do.
But you could put bib shorts on the statue of David and they would still look ridiculous. 3

Avatar
KirinChris | 14 years ago
0 likes

It's just impossible to look good in bib shorts isn't it - my wife laughs uproariously whenever she sees me in mine.

Mind you, she'd stop smiling if I told her they cost 150 quid.

Seriously - are they twice as good as say Giordana Body Clone ? I haven't tried them obviously but I think a huge part of the price must be a premium for the trendiness of Skins.

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