Altura Women's Classic Thermal Bib Tights

The Altura Women's Classic Thermal Bib Tights offer great protection from cold winds and low temperatures without compromising on breathability or comfort. However, despite the attractive price tag, the unusual fastening system will be a bit of a drawback for some, being rather faffy.

• Pros: Performance in colder weather; comfort
• Cons: Rear bra-style clasp won't appeal to all

These thermal tights have been appreciated in recent weeks as we've seen the temperatures dip, with their soft, brushed inner. The material isn't thick, and there is no excessive tightness or clinging – don't expect to sense any compression with them. They do move well with the body, though, offering a really comfortable ride.

> Find your nearest dealer here

The Stealth chamois adds to the comfort, with the main bulk of padding being positioned just where you want it – support for the delicate areas and sit bones. It tapers out at the edges, with no sense of it being oversized or stiff.

The wide, stretchy bands at the leg ends hold their position fairly well but aren't the easiest to get over your foot. The material doggedly grips to the heel and its width means you have to prise it over and then adjust it to the position you want. A minor inconvenience, but annoying if you happen to be in a rush to get out of the door. It's worth noting that there is no silicone here, the elastic does the holding job on its own.

The upper mesh body is a form that I have never seen before, and I was sceptical – it looks a bit odd and unnecessarily complicated. It's actually really comfy. The shoulder straps are seriously stretchy and the whole setup is completely unnoticeable once on. Sadly, there's a 'but'. Not only does it look like a bra setup from the front, it actually is one at the rear, with clasps that slot into each other and click flat. This is all personal preference, and you might get on fine with it, but it really didn't suit me.

While I am happy to unclip a bra at the rear, I have never been one to fasten up at the back – I use the fasten-at-the-front-then-spin-it-round technique, so it's taken me a while to get used to the Altura's setup. I've certainly got better at it – and my flexibility has probably improved in the process! – but trying to deal with it on a pee stop is really inconvenient. In fact, there were occasions when I simply gave up trying to engage the clasps and rode on with them unfastened. I was aware it was undone, but the straps didn't slip down.

Also, while the system is comfortable enough, I didn't feel that there was any added 'support' from it. Personally, I'd rather rely on a sports bra for support and would never look to a bib to provide it.

Performance

I've used the tights for a variety of rides, from short commutes to 90-minute recovery rides and 4+ hour training rides. I have never once overheated, so I can't knock them for breathability, but when I ventured out for an early commute in 2°C I didn't feel cosy warm. Granted, I'm not exactly racing to work, but if you feel the cold or don't tend to work up a sweat on your spins, I'd say they have a lower limit of about 2-3°C. They certainly don't match Gore's C3 Thermo Bib Tights for leg protection in extreme temperatures.

Aside from the clasp, the bib design has some good features in terms of performance. The mesh helps with breathability around the torso – I didn't sense a build-up of heat here, which can happen with 'solid' fabric bibs. And the clasp setup does allow for a lower than normal cut at the back, so no excessive build-up of sweat/dampness there either (unlike whichever tights Tass wore to work before modelling these!).

The tights have absolutely no water repellency – even a light bit of road spray is straight through to the skin – but the thin fabric does mean they don't feel too weighty if you are caught in a downpour, and they don't take long to dry out.

Reflective detailing is minimal – they're black all over, apart from reflective ankles. Every little helps… although be aware that they might get covered up by overshoes.

The pad hasn't lost any of its support throughout the test period. It's great for long hours in the saddle. The bib setup would be too – it's very comfortable – except that a long ride invariably means a pee stop or two. Cue faff.

With the weather as it has been recently, the tights have really faced some grim conditions. They have washed well after every ride and are showing no signs of wear, even at the ankle where they've had a variety of overshoes dragged over and fastened against them. I'd say they are pretty sturdy. I have stopped short of falling off in them, but brushing against rough surfaces doesn't seem to affect them.

Value

Many branded tights are going to set you back somewhere in the region of £100, so Altura's £75 price tag doesn't seem so steep, especially given that they do a decent job. I'd say their performance is comparable to Sportful's Luna Tight that I tested a couple of winters ago, but those aren't readily available now.

> Read more road.cc reviews of women's cycling kit here

You can certainly still get cheaper: dhb offers several tights around the £50 mark, though I can't comment on performance.

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

If you're happy to spend more, and are looking for guaranteed protection against extreme cold and light rain, I'd say Gore's C3, mentioned above, are a brilliant investment at £100. And Ashia really rated Rapha's Core Winter Tights last year, which have come down a tenner since testing and are now £110.

Conclusion

The Altura Thermal Bib Tights are really comfortable, even for longer rides, and perform brilliantly where breathability and protection from the cold are concerned. The rather awkward bib-fastening setup is likely to put some women off, though, especially if they appreciate swift, hassle-free pee stops, or are simply averse to fastening a bra at the rear.

Verdict

Great performance and comfort if you can cope with a rear bra-style fastening system... not so pee-stop-friendly though