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review
£74.99
VERDICT:
Nicely shaped 3/4s with good coverage, but the pad and the seams affect comfort if your rides are long
Great variety of sizes
Look attractive
Comfortable high waistband
Supportive, opaque fabric
Pad not ideal for long rides
Exposed seams
Weight:
205g
Contact:
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.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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- Quite good
- Average
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- Poor
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- Appalling
If you prefer more coverage than shorts but don't want the warmth of autumn/spring-focused knickers, the Fat Lad at the Back Women's Padded 3/4 Leggings are worth considering. They look good, come in a wide variety of sizes, and do a pretty decent job. The pad is better suited to mid-length rather than long rides, though.
These 3/4 tights size up to about a UK20-22, but the sizing chart focuses on hip and waist measurements rather than traditional dress sizes to make fit more accurate.
They come in about 10 different patterns/designs, but all have the same features – a high, flat-fronted waistband with drawstring, silicone grippers at the waist and calves, a female-specific high-density foam pad, and reflective accents at the calves.
The fit is comfortable and supportive; the combination of the high waistband and heavy-duty Lycra means there are no issues with them turning see-through or feeling too soft and stretchy, which can be a big deal for the curvier lass.
These sit just below my knee on my 31in inside leg, and stay put top and bottom thanks to the gripper tape.
I was a bit disappointed with the quality of the pad and the finish of the internal seams, particularly at this price – they're not high-end, but nor are they cheap. The pad is high density foam, which I found fine for mid-length rides, but it compressed somewhat over longer periods in the saddle and doesn't breathe as well as some I've tried.
The seams – both in the tights and the edges of the pad – are a bit more obvious than I'd like, too. I had no issues with chafing, but was aware of the seams in a way that isn't ideal. Given the price tag, I'd have hoped for flat seams.
> 7 of the best 3/4-length tights — perfect legwear for middling weather
The density of the fabric makes them useful for three-season riding, with only the depths of winter or the height of summer likely to cause any real problems – aside from the breathability of the chamois.
Value
There aren't actually that many lightweight 3/4 tights available, as most are aimed at spring or autumn, but there are some – Pearl Izumi, Altura, Madison and Endura all have some, and they're all cheaper than these Fat Lad at the Back 3/4s. While none go quite as large in their sizing, they do all offer up to about a UK18, albeit it in basic black.
So, these aren't looking that good value for money, particularly given the foam (rather than gel) pad and the seams.
They are, however, a better choice than Bontrager's Vella Women's Cycling Knickers, which have issues with the soft waistband not staying in place, though they are nearly £20 less at £54.99.
Overall
The Fat Lad at the Back Women's Padded 3/4 Leggings look good, and being able to buy a matching jersey will appeal to many. They're made from good quality fabrics, nicely shaped, and perform well over mid-length rides, but the seams aren't as well finished as they could be, and the pad could – and perhaps should – be better for the price.
Verdict
Nicely shaped 3/4s with good coverage, but the pad and the seams affect comfort if your rides are long
road.cc test report
Make and model: Fat Lad At The Back Women's Padded 3/4 Leggings
Size tested: 3
Tell us what the product is for
FLAB says, 'Our best selling 3/4 pedal pusher leggings in blue Gem design. Mix and match with the whole collection. They have a super comfy high waist, which supports the tummy and doesn't cut you in half and a high back to ensure there's no gap between your jersey and leggings. Made in a thick 210gsm sports lycra there's great bum coverage.'
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
FLAB lists these details:
210gsm density lycra for good coverage
Supportive, super comfy high waist which doesn't cut into you
Higher back to keep kidneys covered
Female specific high density foam pad
Silicone hem and waist
Drawstring for extra security
Reflective detailing on leg
Available in sizes 27" waist to 46" waist
Rate the product for quality of construction:
5/10
Good quality fabrics but the pad could be higher quality, and the seams are quite prominent.
Rate the product for performance:
6/10
Comfortable, supportive and effective on mid-length rides, but for longer outings I'd like smoother seams and more support from the pad.
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
The fabric should last very well, and they wash well.
Rate the product for fit:
9/10
The high waistband with gripper and drawstring make the fit very curve-friendly and supportive.
Rate the product for sizing:
9/10
Spot on for the measurements on the sizing table.
Rate the product for weight:
6/10
Not the lightest, but the supportive fabric is excellent.
Rate the product for comfort:
7/10
Very comfortable over mid-length rides, but the pad compresses on longer ones.
Rate the product for value:
4/10
Expensive against quite a few lightweight 3/4 tights, some with higher-spec chamois pads.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
Wash well and easy to care for.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very good on medium length rides, less so on long distances.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Good looks, lots of sizes, comfortable high waist and opaque fabric that's supportive.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Exposed seams, and the pad is not the best for long rides.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
There aren't actually that many lightweight 3/4 tights available, as most are aimed at spring or autumn, but there are some – Pearl Izumi, Altura, Madison and Endura all have some, and they're all cheaper than these Fat Lad at the Back 3/4s. While none go quite as large in their sizing, they do all offer up to about a UK18, albeit it in basic black.
So, these aren't looking that good value for money, particularly given the foam (rather than gel) pad and the seams. They are, however, a better choice than Bontrager's Vella Women's Cycling Knickers, which have issues with the soft waistband not staying in place, though they are nearly £20 less at £54.99.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Probably not – I'd go for a better pad
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Probably
Use this box to explain your overall score
These look good, are made from good quality fabrics, are nicely shaped and perform well over mid-length rides. If the seams were better finished and the pad was supportive for longer – especially given the price – they would score higher. They're still above average though.
About the tester
Age: 48
I usually ride: Liv Invite My best bike is: Specialized Ruby Elite
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb,
Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling.
Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other.
She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting.
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10 comments
It's hilarious that all the comments here are from people (I'm going to guess men but usernames hide gender), more worried about the company name than the lack of alternative size choices for women's cycling clothing. FWIW The company is called 'Lad', but this overall range is called 'Lass'. Just as I'm sure my partner can find his way through Zara to the men's section without an issue, I (as a literal fat woman so with quite a lot of skin in this game) don't give a flying *** what the company is called as long as their clothes fit me. Thanks, Lara for the review - it's disappointing they still haven't upped their game with the fabrics because as you point out, almost everywhere else tops out at a UK size 18 (just one size above the UK women's average). Men, if you want to be an ally, don't stress about the brand name, just lobby for us to have the size choices afforded to you.
As far as I can tell, there was only one poster who was stressed about the name, and that only seemed to be so he could make some convoluted anti-'woke' point.
Ah yes, it's one person posting several times, you're right
Ah yes, it's one person posting several times, you're right
Ah yes, it's one person posting a few messages, you're right
Oh you poor thing Nigel, modern life is very confusing for you isn't it?
Of course you are utterly wrong: "Our women's Fat Lass At The Back cycle wear collection has been designed to fit the natural curve of women's bodies and offers an exceptional fit, whether you're a straight up and down small or a curvaceous plus size." From the website destroys your first point and of course also https://fatladattheback.com/pages/about explains their whole mission statement which is nothing to do with poking fun at all.
The problem is you need to engage with reality rather than what the shouty voices in your head are telling you - things will immediately begin to look better!
So the lesson I hope you have learned is not to spout nonsense without taking the time to think and look in to something first.
Why does naming the company "Fat Lad at the Back" marginalise women? Why does it promote men? Is your masculinity being threatened by Zara, Sweatty Betty and Miss Selfridge? Poor Nigel...
You've come to the right conclusion - that is to say, equality for all - in the most awkward, insufferable, gammonesque way. Congratulations!
And yet of course he cannot manage to do so without insulting the under 25s, again because the voices in his head apparently told him they would be upset about a company called Fat Lad at The Back despite there being absolutely no evidence at all that this has happened.
He also seems to be confused by the concept of gender as it relates to people and potatoes and assumes some sort of bizzare equivalence between the two. This does not surprise me.
Happy to report that, since having turned 25 last year, my sensitivity to 'millenial feelings' has reduced significantly. Even my acne has reduced significantly.
(*scribbles pitch for a new 25+ skincare/cycling clothing advert)