Whether you ride road, gravel or mountain bikes, a comfortable pair of cargo bib shorts will make the difference between a comfy undercarriage and a sore day in the saddle, while giving you space to stash your essentials.
Combining an elasticated bib (the upper, dungaree-like section) with elastane (aka Lycra/spandex) shorts containing a stitched-in ‘chamois’ pad, they offer crucial cushioning and relief from saddle pressure and trail vibrations.
The extra real estate and stability provided by the bib give brands the option of adding pockets, enabling you to stow tools, snacks and spares, and potentially doing away with the need to wear a pack for shorter rides.
We’ve listed the top-rated cargo bib shorts we’ve tested below, as well as a buyer’s guide that explains what to look out for when choosing a pair of cargo bibs.
All of these bibs can be worn under a pair of mountain bike shorts, while some of them are thick enough to wear on their own for XC and gravel riding.
This best list was written by our staff writer, Nick Clark, who has brought together expertise from across the team while adding his personal experience in the saddle.
The reviews in this buyer's guide were written by Oscar Huckle, Katherine Moore, Paul Norman and Robin Weaver.
Editor's note: this list was updated on 26 July 2026 with the addition of our latest top-scoring cargo bib shorts, including the Gobik Grit 3.0 and Sportful Supergiara 2 Men's Bib Shorts. We have also added a section on how we select the cargo bib shorts we test.
Best cargo bib shorts
Assos Mille GTC Kiespanzer C2 bib shorts
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- Price: £210 / $270 / €240 / AU$420 as tested by Oscar Huckle
- Pros: Excellent fit; cargo pockets are well-designed overall; chamois pad comfort
- Cons: Price; access to rear cargo pockets is a little awkward; currently only available for men
Assos’ Mille GTC Kiespanzer C2 bib shorts are part of the Swiss brand’s first gravel collection. The range belongs to the brand's Mille line, which has comfort as its primary consideration.
The cargo bib shorts feature four pockets for storing supplies – two on the thighs and two on the rear, constructed from stretchy, breathable 3-Mesh panels.
We found these bibs needed a short breaking-in period to unlock their full comfort. However, after a few rides, they proved very comfortable for long days in the saddle.
The thigh pockets are excellent for items such as a phone and a handful of energy bars and gels, sitting unobtrusively and securely, thanks to the mesh construction.
The rear pockets are satisfyingly deep, perfect for extra food and an inner tube. Pockets in this location are usually difficult to access, but Assos has attempted to make things easier by angling them slightly. They’re still not the easiest to get into on the move, though.
Overall, these are excellent cargo bib shorts for gravel riding, if you can stomach the price tag.
- Read more: Assos Mille GTC Kiespanzer C2 review
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Castelli Unlimited Cargo W Bibshorts
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- £135 as tested by Katherine Moore
- Pros: Secure pockets; easy-pee design; comfortable and supportive chamois
- Cons: Short hem won't suit everyone
Castelli Unlimited Cargo W Bibshorts offer great comfort with a supportive chamois and excellent practicality thanks to their well-considered pockets.
The bibs offer a great easy-pee design with a stretchy pull-down panel at the rear and crossover bib straps at the back.
The thigh pockets are constructed with a mesh middle panel flanked by strips of Lycra at the top and bottom, which means there’s a flap over the top to secure your items and reinforcement at the bottom.
The KISS Air2 Donna chamois proved comfortable and supportive, even on longer rides.
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Rapha Women's Brevet Element Cargo Bib Shorts
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- £140 as tested by Katherine Moore
- Pros: Great fit; comfortable chamois; decent pockets
- Cons: No easy-pee design
Rapha's Women's Brevet Element Cargo Bib Shorts offer excellent fit and comfort thanks to true sizing and an excellent cut.
The cargo pockets are limited to the thighs only, with a single pocket on the left leg and a dual-layer Lycra and mesh pocket on the right.
These lie so flat against the leg that if you weren’t using them, you wouldn’t notice they were there.
They’ve got a more matt appearance than Rapha’s standard cargo bib shorts, and the quick-drying chamois provided good comfort even on all-day rides.
Our tester's only gripe was the lack of an easy-pee design.
If this were integrated in a future model, these would surely rate as a five-star option, especially at the modest £140 price point.
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Van Rysel Women's Road Cycling Bib Shorts Endurance
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- £49.99 as tested by Katherine Moore
- Pros: Great value; comfortable chamois; decent fit
- Cons: Missing out on high-end features; not the tightest fit
Van Rysel's Women's Road Cycling Bib Shorts Endurance represent excellent value for money, with the shorts offering good comfort and fit.
The bibs only have pockets on the thighs, and there is no easy-pee design found on more expensive shorts, but our tester felt these drawbacks were worth it for the savings.
The chamois is indiscernible from those found in mid-tier bibs at three times the price, giving a comfortable ride on both short, speedy rides and longer days out.
While the fabric gives a good, true-to-size fit, it’s not as compressive as you might expect from higher-end, more race-focused bibs.
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Gobik Grit 3.0
- €130 as tested by Paul Norman
- Pros: Comfortable, dense pad; robust fabric; quality construction
- Cons: Limited opportunities to try on for UK riders; rear pocket difficult to access
The Grit 3.0 bib shorts feel substantial and are well-made, with our tester finding the seat pad to be first-rate on road and gravel excursions.
The dense pad adds a little weight, around 10g over others we have tested, but offers great damping.
There aren't many options to try the shorts on in the UK, and we found the rear pocket a little difficult to access.
- Read more: Gobik Grit 3.0 review
Le Col ARC Cargo bib shorts
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- Price: £210 / $270 / €250 as tested by Oscar Huckle
- Pros: Impressive fit; comfortable chamois and bibs; good ventilation
- Cons: Leg grippers; side pockets could be bigger
The ARC Cargo bib shorts are luxuriously comfortable, with the chamois supportive on long rides and the bibs not causing any discomfort.
There's plenty of ventilation, and good storage on the sides and at the rear, although the shorts would benefit from slightly bigger netting on the thigh pockets.
Another niggle is the leg grippers, which our tester found to be weak-gripping and too loose around the thigh.
- Read more: Le Col ARC Cargo bib shorts review
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Madison Roam cargo bib shorts
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- Price: £79.99 by Robin Weaver
- Pros: Impressive value for money; seven secure pockets; comfortable and breathable
- Cons: Carrying heavier items may damage the mesh pockets; no women’s version
The Roam cargo bibs are impressive for the price, and can be worn as either standalone shorts or a liner.
Madison uses mesh fabric around the torso and straps, enhancing breathability and comfort. The main fabric is an 80% polyamide and 20% elastane blend, which offers plenty of stretch. Made from firm foam, the chamois provides a comfortable fit, ensuring an enjoyable pedalling experience without rubbing or soreness.
These shorts also boast seven pockets, offering more storage capacity than any other bibs in this test. The mesh pockets remain stable on the trails, but we’d be concerned that carrying heavier items such as a multi-tool might potentially damage the delicate fabric.
Overall, considering the performance of these shorts, it’s difficult to overlook the value offered here.
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Sportful Supergiara 2 Men's Bib Shorts
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- £175 / $210 / €179.90 / AU$299 as tested by Paul Norman
- Pros: Comfortable; supportive fit; great padding; abrasion-resistance on outer leg
- Cons: Pricey; not the deepest pockets
The Men's Supergiara 2 offers an excellent, compressive fit that keeps the shorts in place on long days in the saddle.
We found the seat pad comfortable and were big fans of the variety of materials used in the construction, including the abrasion-resistance on the outer leg.
They don't come cheap, and considering you'll need deep pockets to buy them in the first place, the cargo pockets could be bigger.
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Sportful Supergiara 2 Women's Bib Shorts
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- £150 as tested by Katherine Moore
- Pros: Plenty of pockets; comfortable design; decent chamois
- Cons: Can get a little sweaty
In addition to two large thigh pockets, these bib shorts feature two smaller mesh pockets across the lower back, where the mesh back panel meets the waistband.
While the thigh pockets are best suited to easy-reach items such as a phone and snacks, the back pockets proved useful for spares and tools, especially if wearing a T-style top rather than a jersey with pockets. That said, it got quite sweaty.
The Supergiara 2 bib shorts are true to size, and the wide elasticated leg grippers are comfortable without being excessively compressive, keeping the shorts in place even on longer rides.
Branding is rather minimal, making these a great staple for pairing with either jerseys or tech T-shirts. Sportful uses its own chamois, supposedly designed for gravel riding, but it has proven to be comfortable on all terrain.
Our tester's one criticism was the lack of an easy-pee design, as seen with some competitor models. At £150, they’re not the priciest on the market, but it’s still a significant investment to make with such a compromise.
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How we test cargo bib shorts
We test cargo bib shorts out on trails and gravel paths to make sure they're cut out for the real world.
Our testers have reviewed hundreds of pairs of bib shorts, so they know what to look out for in a decent pair.
Long test cycles enable us to identify all the strengths and weaknesses of the shorts over a good duration.
While comfort can be subjective, we try to be as objective as we can with our reviews to help you form your own understanding as to whether a pair will suit your needs.
Ultimately, our cargo bib short reviews are based on the following criteria:
- Comfort – is the chamois comfortable and do the bibs lay nicely on your body?
- Durability – do the shorts remain in good condition for long?
- Breathability – is there enough ventilation through the shorts?
- Pockets – are the pockets easily accessible and secure?
- Value for money – how do the shorts compare to others on the market? Are you getting a good deal?
How we select the cargo bib shorts we test
We select the cargo bib shorts we review using market research and search data.
In other words, we use the data and insights available to us to ensure we select products people are looking for.
While we'll always make space for niche or smaller brands, focusing on products our audience care about helps us reach as many cyclists as possible.
Most of our testing takes place in the UK, and while we make every effort to focus on shorts that are available globally, local market conditions invariably shape the products we review.
In the same vein, some brands may not wish to send us review products, or won't send the model we'd like to test.
This is the same reason why we often review many expensive bikes, even if that's not always what our audience want to read about.
Finally, our team's resources are finite, and it will never be possible to review every product on the market.
But we always welcome feedback and direction on the shorts you'd like us to review, so please leave comments below or email news@bikeradar.com if there's a key model you think we should test.
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Our reviews are always editorially independent – with no exceptions. Our reviewers comprehensively test all products in the real world, always reflecting on performance, value and the wider market when delivering their verdicts and review ratings.
When you see a product listed in our buyer’s guides, you can be confident that it’s worthy of your attention. Only gear that we’ve ridden and rated 4 stars and above are included. In some cases, we’ll also highlight some of our other contenders that narrowly missed out with 3.5 stars or below.
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Cargo bib shorts buyer’s guide
What are cargo bib shorts?
Cargo bib shorts make use of the fit and form of normal bib shorts, while providing multiple pockets for stowing ride essentials such as food, water, tools and spares.
The main pockets are usually located across the lower back, just above the waistline, and are suitable for stashing bigger items such as food, an inner tube, a tool roll or a packable layer. Secondary pockets are usually found on the outside of the legs, and are perfect for bars/gels or a phone.
Any rider looking for all-day riding comfort with the added bonus of convenient storage can benefit from a pair of cargo bibs, but they tend to be especially popular with mountain bikers and gravel riders looking to ditch their packs, and long-distance bikepackers or endurance roadies looking for extra carrying capacity.
What to look for in cargo bib shorts
Pocket placement and capacity
From a cargo perspective, there are a few things to look out for. Primarily, the design and location of the pockets are more important than how many pockets a pair of bibs boasts. If they are hard to access or don’t hold their contents securely, you’ll quickly find yourself giving up on your stash pockets.
Consider how much you are hoping to carry in your bibs, and find an option that meets your storage needs.
Comfort and fit
Cargo bib shorts have to be comfortable. So, if you’re on the lookout for a pair of cargo bib shorts, we recommend getting up to speed on the key details – stash pockets or not.
The weight and breathability of the fabric used play a big role in overall comfort, but too much mesh can reduce durability. The quality of the chamois is also crucial – it needs to have a thick enough pad to prevent saddle sores and numbness, while also being breathable and moisture-wicking.
The design of the bib straps is also worth considering. If you have the chance to try before you buy, make sure the straps keep the bibs in place without feeling as though they’re hindering your movement or rubbing on your shoulders.
For a deep dive into everything you need to know about cycling bibs, check out our buyer’s guide.
More and more brands are designing cycling shorts for women, which we also have a guide to.
