7Mesh TK1 Bib Tights

The 7Mesh TK1 bib tights are very warm, technically loaded and can carry as much kit as a three-pocket jersey. As always, the pad fit may not be to everyone's liking, but if it does suit you these are excellent winter tights for on- or off-road riding.

• Pros: Three pockets, thermal, water-resistant fabric, great cut and fit, supportive straps, reflective legs
• Cons: Innovative pad support might not suit everyone

Canadian firm 7Mesh's "warmest, most protective thermal legwear" has a pretty good pedigree to draw upon. Earlier this year Pat raved about the warmer-weather Mk3 Bib Shorts, praising their 'unique design' and 'incredible levels of comfort'. A key factor here was the 'hammock' design whereby the chamois can move independently from the outer skin of the shorts. Pat found this prevented the need to do the 'cyclist shuffle', whereby the pad needs rearranging, either on or off the bike, to afford comfort.

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I can vouch for the comfort of the design, but it may not be for everyone, all the time. Over a few months' riding I did encounter one occasion where the pad seemed to bunch on one side, leading to a small amount of chafing. As this only happened the once, and otherwise I was a happy chap, I'll put this down to perhaps more need to pay attention to – ahem – strategic alignment at the start of a ride, shall we say.

When you're used to grabbing a handful of short and hoicking it left or right to adjust fit, this may not quite work when said short isn't actually attached directly to the miscreant chamois. In my case the issue was made worse by dint of wearing three layers of gloves at the time.

That one adjustment niggle aside, the chamois did the job over some pretty long rides, remaining consistently comfortable.

The TK1 is a masterclass in anatomically-accurate panel cut and assembly. Each leg is a single panel of fabric, cut in what appears to be an impossible three dimensions and sewn up the back of the leg to join the panel that holds the chamois inside.

The legs are shaped around the calf, bent slightly at the knee to minimise bunching when pedalling, and then rounds outwards over the gluteus maximus ('arse') to ensure a fit without stretching and thinning the insulating fabric over this important muscle group.

There are no ankle zips, but then as these are full bib tights, chances are you'll be donning or removing them in a bedroom with access to someplace nice to sit down and slide over your feet.

The fabric that supports the front of the chamois extends up to the hem at the front, meaning you have two layers of material, helping keep your tummy warm from the wind.

Each calf has a large grey reflective logo panel, helping to alert car drivers in the dark to your presence.

The fabric is treated with a DWR coating, and water beaded straight off from new. After a few months there were some spots around the knees where the water didn't bead, but maybe that's to be expected in any non-waterproof fabric subject to tens of thousands of stretch-contract cycles. At the shins things remained splash-impervious, critical in winter leg covering.

The bib straps are a whopping two inches wide, and are soft and seam-free. They come together at the rear yoke, which is also insulated the full length of the back.

On the upper back panel are stitched three pockets, exactly as you'd see on a jersey. The centre pocket measures a modern-smartphone-or pump-swallowing 6x4in, the two side pockets have sloping upper edges and cover about 4x4in – more than enough for a 28mm inner tube (yes, I'm mixing imperial and metric, sorry!) or a few energy bars.

The rationale for pockets on a set of bib tights may not be self-evident, but consider: in really cold weather, does the jersey/jacket combo you want to wear have the right pockets in the right places? If you are needing to carry a fair bit of food or tools, or spare items of clothing such as gloves/headwear, do you have the capacity? Many lighter-weight jerseys may not be able to accommodate a full winter jacket, if you need to carry one – either by itself or with other items in nearby pockets. Likewise, if you're racing cyclo-cross or going seriously gravelly, the risk of ejecting a critical tool or food item over rough ground should make the idea of under-jersey storage attractive. And if you want to opt for a non-cycling top, of course there are no pockets at all. It's all about horses for temperature-and-precipitation-and-terrain courses – as ever, choice is good.

This certainly isn't a new concept, and Rapha, Specialized, Sportful and Nukeproof have sold 'storage' bib shorts or tights for a few years. Stu recently reviewed the Sportful Supergiara tights and came away impressed. I'd say these are currently the closest competitor to the TK1s on function and price, but you don't get the DWR coating, which is a real boon if it's wet out there. And the Rapha Explore Cargo ones are £240, making the 7Mesh look positively bargain-basement.

On the road or gravel for three to four hour stretches, the TK1s felt great. There was no feeling of bunching around the knee, and the snug fit meant everything stayed put, including the cargo in the pockets and the ankle, which, lacking a footstrap or elastic hem, is reliant on the natural fall of the fabric to remain in place.

Breathability-wise, they never pooled sweat in the back or around the stomach, or at the back of the knee – like Baby Bear's porridge, everything was just right.

> Buyer's Guide: 29 of the best winter bib tights and trousers

Going full-sus multi-discipline, I wore the TK1 bibs under a pair of 7Mesh's waterproof baggy mountain bike shorts. I didn't want to take a hip pack on the sub-two-hour ride, and more-casual mountain bike tops and jackets don't usually rock rear pockets. In this case the TK1 bib pockets stashed a few critical items for a lightweight, luggage-free ride while keeping my legs nice and toasty. This is a boon for mountain bike riding, where there's usually less chance to sit at a constant high work rate and therefore keep generating body heat.

Overall, the TK1s are great winter tights, in my case ousting the rather excellent Pearl Izumi Pro Pursuit bibs that have been my winter mainstay the last two years. The combination of amazing fit, luggage capacity, warmth and waterproofness makes the TK1s serious contenders for The Last Winter Bibs You'll Ever Need To Own.

Verdict

Great-fitting, water-resistant thermal bibs with three-pocket storage – highly recommended