****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I am 5'10", 165lbs, 32-33" waist and I bought size Medium. It may seem super tight at first, but these are supposed to be skin-tight. They provide a lot of good compression support and are comfortable to wear for long rides. I've used these bibs for rides ranging from 1-6 hours. Yes, for the longer rides my butt will still be sore, but I dont blame these bib shorts. I never have any hot spots, chaffing or rubbing issues like that. I have a previous version of these shorts (maybe the previous version), and it appears that the chamois is the same but the cut panels, leg design and shoulder straps have been modified. The shorts part of these bibs, even though the design has changed, still feel the same, but the should straps are the most obvious difference. The previous version used thin stretchy fabric in the straps that ended up bunching at the shoulders and would effectively be like two ropes going up and around your shoulders. Luckily I dont have a long torso so the straps did not cut into my shoulders, but I can definitely see how that might be an issue for some. Also, after about 12-18 months one of my straps got a hole in it due to washing (I am guessing) and the thin fabric. These new shorts now use a lay-flat strap that does not bunch up, so the pressure is spread out over more surface area, resulting in a bit more comfort. HOWEVER, the material that they now use for the shoulder strap is rather stiff (but likely less prone to getting holes) and somewhat itchy against bare skin. I almost always ride with a base layer and the straps go over the base layer so the itchiness is not an issue, but again, I can see how some people who do not wear a base layer might have an issue with the type of fabric they decided to use for the shoulder straps. So, the new design is a general improvement for durability and overall pressure relief, I think the fabric choice might make these less comfortable for some. In the end, these shorts fit me perfectly and I feel faster when I wear them, and that's all that matters, right?
