Gear Check: Castelli Sorpasso Bibtights

Lets start with the price because it looks hefty for a pair of bib tights, but as anyone who rides in the winter can tell you, a good pair of tights goes a long way, regardless of price. So what do you get for your money here? To start with you’re getting Italian designed kit from one of the most renowned clothing companies in the bike business. The fit and cut is second to none and we noticed just how light and free moving they were for a winter tight.

They’re constructed using panels made from Thermoflex–a soft fleecy Roubaix material–and Thermoflex Core Due, which offers more insulation and is used around the knees and seating region. This material uses hollow fibre polyester, which not only helps to trap air to keep you warm, but also helps improve wicking so you’re left warm and dry. Naturally this material weighs less and helps to make these winter warmers feel lighter and freer when pedalling. This material also remains warm when wet and dries quickly if you’re caught in a storm. In fact, these tights are shockingly warm for their weight, especially since they’re not windproof and we had no problems regardless of how far the mercury fell so far this winter. The panels are arranged so there are no issues with seam irritation and they use flatlock seams in the important upper areas. The bib section features thin stretchy shoulder straps that hold everything in place without issue, and the mesh back means you’re not left overly sweaty.

Inside of these tights is where the real magic happens with Castelli’s superb Progetto X2 seatpad. This is what makes takes these tights from good to special because this provides one of the best rides regardless of how long you’re in the saddle. This pad features an outer skincare layer which is seamless, and is soft and stretchy to contour with the body avoiding any chafing. Below this sits the cushioning layer that provides padding of various thicknesses in all the right places. This is thicker around the sit bones and perineum area (1 2mm) for maximum padding in the most sensitive regions.

On paper these tights sound good but out on the bike in the cold is where you truly start to appreciate how good. They’re also durable and despite around a dozen washes during testing they still look like new. There’s no escaping that the Sorpasso Bibtights are expensive, but they fit well, ride superbly, offer great warmth for their weight and look stylish to boot. Are they worth the outlay? Without a doubt, yes, and these have become the tights we grab first for every training ride at the moment.
Performance: 9
Value: 8
RRP: £150

FILED UNDER: Gear & Tech TAGS: About / Castelli Sorpasso Bibtights / Check / Gear / Guide / Information