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Le Col’s ARC Cargo bib shorts are part of the brand’s new 'all-terrain gravel collection'.
Although they have a gravel label, the brand says this luxurious take on riding kit isn’t pigeonholed into one specific discipline – it’ll suit road cycling and cross-country mountain biking too.
In testing, these cargo bib shorts have proved excellent with a particularly comfortable chamois that’s impressed even for my longest rides. An annoying flaw with the leg gripper and the slightly undersized pockets pull the shorts down from scoring top marks though.
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Le Col ARC Cargo bib shorts construction
Comfort is the aim with the ARC Cargo bib shorts (which stands for Adaptable, Reliable, Capable), with Le Col claiming they’re designed to “withstand long hours wherever your ride takes you”.
The shorts are constructed from a “soft and luxurious performance fabric” that’s claimed to enable freedom of movement while still offering support and durability.
The fabric is said to be quick-drying and highly breathable, while offering UPF 30+ sun protection.
Le Col says the chamois is designed for multi-terrain use, with high-elasticity fabrics and multi-foam layers intended to absorb impacts.
There’s a bamboo microfibre top sheet on top of the pad, which is claimed to be quick-drying, high-wicking and breathable, and soft next to the skin.
There are four pockets – two on the side and two on the rear, just like the Assos Mille GTC Kiespanzer C2 and Specialized Men’s Prime SWAT bib shorts.
There are low-profile reflective details for increased visibility in low-light conditions.
The brand recommends a temperature range of 15 to 25ºC and beyond, and the shorts are available in seven sizes (XS-3XL). There’s also a women's specific version.
Le Col ARC Cargo bib shorts performance
I tested a pair of size-large shorts on road and gravel rides of varying distances and temperatures ranging from 9 to 26°C.
The shorts were one of two options on rotation for a three-day bikepacking trip – the Woods Rat Run, a 256km route through the New Forest, Purbecks and Cranborne Chase in dismal conditions.
I also used them for a nine-hour ride in Gran Canaria, where I climbed the Valley of the Tears. This is touted by some as one of Europe’s hardest climbs (I certainly found the steep beginning rather upsetting). It rises 1,000m over 12km, then continues to the top of the Pico de las Nieves (Gran Canaria’s highest peak, which sits at 1,949m elevation).
Finally, the ARCs were my shorts of choice for a 250km audax around the Cotswolds in the south of England.
The bib shorts were tested on five saddles – a Specialized Romin and Power Pro with Mirror, a Fizik Vento Argo R5, a MOST Lynx Ultrafast Superflow L and a Fabric Line.
It’s testament to the quality and comfort of the chamois that I kept returning to these ARC Cargos for my longest rides. While certain parts of my body had taken a beating, the fact that I’d forget about these bib shorts is commendable.
I’d agree with Le Col’s claimed temperature range, with the shorts' ventilation sound to just over the 25ºC mark. Paired with knee warmers, I was happy to use these shorts down to 10ºC.
My gold-standard chamois is Assos’ C2 pad, found on the Assos Mille GTC Kiespanzer C2, and I think the one in the Le Col shorts is a pretty close match, without the bulk (the Assos pad is a rather beefy 19mm in thickness). I never felt it get saturated with sweat, even on my warmest, 26ºC, ride.
Of course, chamois comfort is also down to the pad suiting the rider and sitting in the right place, but I found the fit here excellent.
The soft, elasticated bib straps effectively hold the shorts together, while being very comfortable, and the legs offer gentle compression.
There’s a bit of bagginess to the front of the leg panels around the chamois seam, but this didn’t affect the shorts’ performance.
The side pockets are well thought-out and they held items securely. I also like that the same material is used for the pockets as the legs, rather than the mesh found on the aforementioned Assos shorts, which are more susceptible to snagging and tearing on obstacles on the trail.
That said, a mesh pocket offers more stretch and because the pockets on the Le Col ARCs are located between two of the leg seams, they’re not as spacious as others.
The lower back pockets are often a weak point on cargo bib shorts because they're difficult to access, but I liked the downward entry to these. The pockets on Specialized Men’s Prime SWAT bib shorts, for instance, are accessed diagonally to the rear bib straps, which is more awkward.
That said, the Le Col ARC Cargo bib shorts’ Achilles’ heel is the leg grippers.
These are weak-gripping and the cut around the leg is too baggy, which means they can shift undesirably. They also slide a little when challenged with sweaty legs.
This is rather disappointing on shorts costing £210 / $270 / €250 – it shouldn’t be an issue.
Price-wise, they’re in line with Assos’ Mille GTC Kiespanzer C2s at £210 / $270 / €240 / AU$420, but cheaper than the Rapha Brevet Cargo Bib Shorts at £225 / $275 / €250 / AU$400 or Velocio’s Adventure Cargo Bib Shorts at £218 / $299 / €252.95.
Bar the leg-gripper flaw, the Le Col ARC Cargos are every bit as good as those options and they’re far superior to the Specialized Men’s Prime SWAT bib shorts at £165 / $220 / €180 / AU$260 (it’s worth noting the price difference, of course).
Le Col ARC Cargo bib shorts bottom line
Le Col’s ARC Cargo bib shorts thoroughly impress with an excellent chamois that has proven comfortable over the longest rides.
A great fit, plush bib straps and well-executed pockets (even if I’d like the side pockets to be a little more spacious) contribute to a very strong product.
It’s just a shame that the leg grippers aren’t up to the high standards of the rest of the shorts. If Le Col revised the design, these cargo bib shorts would score very highly indeed.
Product
| Brand | Le_col |
| Price | €250.00, £210.00, $270.00 |
Features
| Gender | mens |
| Features | High breathability
Quick-drying UPF 30+ Sun protection Four-way stretch 15-25+°C Suitable temperature range |
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