dhb Moda Women's Classic Bib Shorts review

The Moda bib shorts from Wiggle own-brand dhb are a sleek and understated bib short designed for warm weather riding.

The Moda bib shorts sit at the mid-level of dhb’s range, complete with a chamois designed for a less aggressive riding style than its top of the range Aeron line.

Comfort has clearly been listed as a priority when it comes to the design of the Moda bib shorts, with zig-zag stitched leg hems and a quality chamois.

dhb Moda Women's Classic Bib Shorts specifications and details

The five-panel polyamide/elastane blend short is completed with criss-crossing white bib straps attached with white mesh panels for this Classic model.

There’s also a High Cut option available that integrates a front mesh panel into the bib to remove the need for an additional base layer.

There are no leg grippers to speak of, but the leg is hemmed by an inch with a zig-zag stitch to maintain material elasticity. A women’s-specific Elastic Interface chamois is used, designed for rides up to three hours.

All of the materials used by dhb are bluesign approved, for a more environmentally friendly approach to clothing.

Branding is minimal, with two reflective dhb logo prints on the right thigh and hip, plus a small orange tab on the back, and you can choose from black or navy colourways.

dhb Moda Women's Classic Bib Shorts performance

I was wowed by the quality and comfort of the dhb Moda Classic bibs considering their modest price against the competition.

The fit is spot on as per the sizing guide, with a close cut that is supportive even though the stretchy material isn’t compression-focused, like some higher-end bib shorts.

The thin bib straps and mesh support fit around the outside of the bust rather than straight over the top, which will be good news for women who find the latter uncomfortable. The only downside is that because the straps are narrow they can easily become twisted.

Although dhb doesn’t mention this in the shorts’ specs, I found that because the bib straps were really stretchy, you can pull down the back of the shorts to pee without taking off any other layers, much like the Velocio FlyFree design – a major plus in my book.

The chamois out-performed my expectations too, giving all-day comfort even over some of the rougher terrain encountered during testing. Without any silicone or tight elastic leg grippers, there was no lower thigh irritation, and yet they still remained snugly in place.

Tested on some of the hottest days this year, I can say that the thin material and mesh bib support are impressively breathable.

dhb Moda Women's Classic Bib Shorts bottom line

Simply put, the quality and comfort of the dhb Moda bibs far outperform the price tag; a truly recommendable, wallet-friendly pair of women’s shorts without much compromise.