Stretchy pull-downs, cross-straps, magnets, suspenders – what makes the best pee-friendly bib shorts?
Your membership funds at work: we’ve cloned Suvi.
Daniel McCart, Suvi Loponen
When nature calls mid-ride, the last thing you want to do is wrestle with bib straps and strip off layers on the side of the road. That’s where “easy pee” bib shorts come in. These bib shorts have what is also called a drop-tail design, a feature that lets you take care of business without needing to remove a jersey or top. This design can be a small but very welcome addition to women’s bib shorts, especially during colder months when stripping off any layers is just not ideal.
If you wonder why not all bib shorts have this, well, men can easily make do with just about any bib shorts, and women’s bibs need to be specifically designed with this comfort-break feature in mind. Sure, you can stretch one leg of your shorts to go, but that’s not always practical or convenient. That’s why the “easy pee” feature should be standard on all women’s bib shorts, but alas, it’s not.
In this review, we’ve tested eight pairs of women’s bibs with this comfort break feature, looking at models from both well-known brands and smaller makers, including Castelli, POC, Assos, Endura, and more, and ranking them from best to worst. Each pair was assessed for ease of use, fit, and comfort, as well as overall performance during long and short rides.
Not all bib shorts are pee-friendly
As mentioned, not all bib shorts are made with a specific nature break feature – in fact, a surprising number still skip a specific nature break solution. Even big names like Pas Normal Studios and Maap currently lack a drop-tail option in women’s lines. This review focuses on brands that do, and how their systems differ in practice.
Velocio Luxe bib shorts feature the brand’s ‘Fly Free’ droptail design.
That said, there are only so many ways to integrate this feature into bib shorts, so once you start looking for these women-specific bibs, quite a few similar designs will pop up. The brands that have accommodated for what is a basic need of all people, have created both good and bad drop-tail systems, and this review will help you determine which might work for you, perhaps regardless of the brand. And yes, worth noting that the bib short makers like to vary what they call this feature, making it even harder to figure out the options. Easy pee, comfort break, FlyFree, drop tail, and pee-feature are just some of those names.
You might ask, ‘Why not just wear shorts without straps?’ You certainly can, and that largely eliminates the need for any specific drop tail design, but many riders prefer bibs because there’s no waistband digging into your stomach when you’re hunched over, and the straps keep the chamois under tension and fend off the saggy-nappy look over time. Bibs aren’t mandatory, but they’re often more comfortable.
Comfort, though, is personal. It depends on bike fit, saddle choice, and terrain. If your bike fit is off, no bib will fix it. Chamois design also varies wildly between brands, and even within a brand across price points, so it’s worth trying a few to find what works for you and your riding.
Sizing matters, too. Bibs should be snug so the chamois stays put, but one person’s snug is another’s tight. Fabric stretch complicates this as much as the size label. Some riders like more compression; others prefer a gentler hold. Size charts are a good starting point but you may still need to try a couple of sizes. Looseness at the chamois or thigh usually means you should size down. And if ultra-close fit isn’t your thing, wear baggies over well-fitting bibs – don’t size up the bibs.
A word about testing the bibs
All of the bib shorts tested here were sent to me by the respective brands in my requested size. I typically wear size XS in most brands, and all but one pair of the shorts tested here are size XS – the Assos ones are an S. For reference, I’m 164 cm (5’4″) tall, quite the average height for women, and have an inseam of 76 cm, which is a helpful reference for leg length and overall fit. I’ve included the size range offered by each brand in the key specs table below.
The bibs have been tested on both on-road and gravel rides, while spending anything from an hour to over 12 hours on the saddle, in various weather conditions. And though the main emphasis of this group test is on the droptail designs, each pair has gone through multiple wash cycles to test their durability, as well.
The test results, as such, assess all these different aspects of the bib shorts and also take a look at each brand’s sustainability efforts. It’s worth noting that while sustainable fabrics and practices are important, the most sustainable choice remains simple: buy high-quality gear and use it for as long as possible, rather than constantly replacing items.
Test results
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