Even now some days are warm enough for Lycra shorts (of course, with knee warmers you can pretty much wear shorts all year round anyway). These eight-panel ones come from Sweden, from Craft's 'training' range. They're aimed, Craft say, at riders who like putting in the mega-miles'.
As usual, they're a nylon/Lycra mix with a synthetic chamois. Here the composition is 78 per cent Intera treated micro nylon, 22 per cent Power Lycra. The one-piece chamois is divided by 'fold lines' into panels and isn't too thick, so it's not like sitting on a cushion, and fit is good. Waist and hem are elasticated, with the silicon leg grippers snug enough that the longish legs don't ride up.
On the bike they're as comfortable as any skin shorts I've used - except the top-end ones from the likes of Assos or Louis Garneau. While these are cheaper, they're still about £10-15 more than I'd normally pay - as much as I'd pay for bib shorts, in fact. However, if you don't get on with the cut or the pad-style of cheaper shorts - I do - or you don't mind splurging a bit of extra cash, they're genuinely worth upgrading to.