Q36.5 Gregarius Pro bib shorts review

Q36.5’s Gregarius Pro bib shorts are the cheapest in its catalogue and are designed for long-distance training rides.

Although Q36.5 is a brand that targets the more premium end of the market, performance is very impressive for the asking price.

Other than one unfortunately placed seam, it’s tough to find fault with these bib shorts.

Q36.5 Gregarius Pro bib shorts construction

The Gregarius Pro bib shorts are designed for long hours in the saddle, while offering advanced muscle support for hard efforts.

They’re designed for a minimum temperature of 17°C and are rated four out of five on Q36.5’s arbitrary scale for breathability and muscle support, with a full five rating for UV protection.

The shorts are comprised of 60 per cent polyamide, 34 per cent elastane, 4 per cent polyethylene Dyneema and 2 per cent polyester, with all the yarns said to be 100 per cent recycled. Kudos to Q36.5 on this front.

The Pro bib shorts use the brand’s Lumbar Support System, an X-shaped panel above the rear of the chamois designed to hug the body and specifically provide a zone of support to the lumbar and gluteal musculature.

The brand has also introduced a laser-cut finish to the waist area to get rid of any redundant seams.

Elastic Interface supplies the SM-Anatomic chamois, but Q36.5 has tweaked the recipe by including three-dimensional moulding that's claimed to provide more comfort.

These are the only shorts of the group I tested not to feature a silicone gripper at the legs, with the brand opting for a raw cut to keep them in place.

The shorts feature discreet reflective detailing at the back of the legs for visibility.

Q36.5 offers the shorts in seven sizes, from XS to XXXL, and in five colours – Australian Green, Black, Langhe Red, Navy and Titanium Grey.

Q36.5 Gregarius Pro bib shorts performance

I tested a pair of size-large shorts for a couple of months, on both road and gravel rides of varying distances.

The bib shorts were tested on three saddles – a Specialized Power Pro Elaston, a Fabric Scoop and a Syncros Tofino.

The Gregarius Ultra bib shorts fit close to perfectly (I normally opt for size large, but also had a medium to try – this proved much too tight). Despite the brand saying there may be some bunching when not in a riding position, I didn’t find this to be the case.

The chamois is a particular highlight and, of the other shorts I tested it alongside, tied for performance with the Progetto X2 pad found on the Castelli Espresso bib shorts. I was happy on all of my test rides up to five hours and I’d have no reservations about using the shorts for longer.

The pad sat in an ideal position and I particularly appreciated the added thickness at the sit bones, as well as the tiny holes at the crotch for improved ventilation in warmer temperatures.

The chamois also performed adeptly on gravel rides, taking the sting out of harsh vibrations. My first ride was a four-hour mudfest, with extended sections of standing water to contend with.

On that particular ride, I got rather carried away ripping it down a spicy descent and slid out on an off-camber section. I also met the mud a second time later into the ride, when I sank into a deep puddle.

Although there’s always an element of luck when it comes to crash damage, the Gregarius Pro bib shorts more than held up and came away unscathed.

The brand rates them a one out of five for waterproofing and I was impressed they didn’t feel overly saturated considering the rain and flooding I had to negotiate.

I appreciated the attention to detail with the rough section of material underneath, where the chamois sits. You can sometimes experience abrasion on shorts that rub against the saddle material and it’s an intelligent way of combating this problem.

I didn’t notice the bib straps when riding. They're quite similar in feel and construction to the A-Lock straps found on the Assos Equipe R S9 Targa shorts.

The raw cut at the bottom of the leg panels felt luxurious and I didn’t feel any unwanted pressure on my legs. I also didn’t find the finish deteriorated throughout the test period.

Although Q36.5 says it’s keen to consign elastic band grips and silicone grippers to the history books, it’s interesting that my favourite shorts on test in this department were the Castelli Espressos, which use a minimal silicone strip. Of course, much of this is down to personal preference.

The shorts performed brilliantly in temperatures up to 25°C and I’d feel confident to ride them in conditions a little warmer than that.

If it all sounds dandy for the Gregarius Pro, there is one flaw that drags the shorts down slightly – I could feel the right seam next to the pad on harder efforts.

While it wasn’t uncomfortable, such as on the Endura Pro SL EGM and Rapha Pro Team Training bib shorts, I knew it was there and I’d be worried about it causing irritation on longer audax or bikepacking escapades.

This may well be down to my anatomy and isn’t something you’re guaranteed to experience, but it was a niggle for me. Fortunately, this issue wasn’t exacerbated on my warmer test rides.

Q36.5 Gregarius Pro bib shorts bottom line

Q36.5’s Gregarius Pro bib shorts are a brilliant offering from the Italian brand, with an inspired fit, great chamois-pad comfort and excellent attention to detail.

Priced at £181 / $251 / €190, bar the Castelli Espressos (£160 / $169.99 / €149.95 / AU$250), I can’t think of any better bib shorts below the £200 / $200 / €200 mark.

If the right seam next to the pad was positioned more optimally for my anatomy, these would score close to full marks.