Gobik Grit 3.0 cargo bib shorts review: one of the best seat pads I've ever tested, but the rear pocket is an issue

The Gobik Grit 3.0 cargo bib shorts have one of the best seat pads I’ve experienced, which isolates you very well from the saddle.

The thigh cargo pockets offer good carrying capacity and I was easily able to stash a ride pack, phone or other goodies away. The shorts are deep enough that there’s little risk of items falling out. 

However, the rear mesh pocket built into the bibs, although large, is difficult to access due to a stitched section to the top hem that divides it in two, making it a little less useful. The mesh has enough stretch that I was able to get my phone in, but it’s a bit more tricky to use the pocket than a design with a fully open aperture.  

The Grit shorts are 10g or more heavier than the other shorts I tested alongside them. It feels as if a lot of this extra weight is in the Elastic Interface G10 gravel-specific seat pad, which is a hefty lump of dense foam, albeit one that did an excellent job of protecting my rear end on bumpy bridleways.

The thicker areas are concentrated under the sitbones where you need them, with the front of the pad thin, so I didn’t experience any chafing.

The main fabric Gobik has used feels robust, mildly compressive and capable of handling a few gravel-riding knocks.

Gobik doesn’t flatlock its seams though, so they leave a mark on your legs. The Grit 3.0 shorts’ legs are a little shorter than those on the cargo bib shorts from Castelli and Sportful I tested, but not to their detriment.

The shorts stay put well and prevent the pad from moving around, so I didn’t experience any discomfort when riding. There’s a stretchy mesh section at the waistband and the raw-edged leg grippers have silicone microdots to keep them in place.

The bib straps stretch lengthways, but not side-to-side. They’re wide and lay flat without bunching. Gobik says they contain graphene threads, which it claims help with thermoregulation and are antibacterial to help prevent odour build-up. They’re attached to the waistband at the front in two places.

The rear yoke is made of a thin mesh fabric that avoids sweat build-up. It includes a panel with words of encouragement, following Rapha’s example.

If you’ve not come across Gobik, it’s a Spanish brand that has been around since 2010. From the start, it made custom kit, but subsequently branched out to sell its own collections. 

It numbered Alberto Contador as a customer from 2019 and its kit was worn by Tadej Pogačar when he won the Tour de France in 2021. A couple of years ago, it took over as kit supplier to the Ineos pro team, so it’s got pro-level endorsement for its clothing.

It’s still sold in relatively few UK, US, Canadian or Aussie stores compared to continental Europe, but you can purchase directly from its website, where a sizing tool that’s claimed to be AI-based will compare your body size to Gobik’s database of thousands of its purchasers to recommend your best fit.

The size-medium recommendation matched my usual size, but that’s probably not surprising because I'm a fairly standard fit. 

I really liked the Nessie colour I reviewed the shorts in, which is lighter than the colour modelled. It’s a bit different from the usual black or muted gravel colours, although it would probably look better still with a summer Spanish tan than my pasty UK spring legs.

Gobik Grit 3.0 cargo bib shorts bottom line

A great pair of cargo shorts at a good price, the Gobik Grit 3.0 bib shorts feel substantial, fit well and are well made, with a first-rate seat pad.

The price seems reasonable for their quality, too, although there are some issues with the rear pocket, which limit its usefulness.