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review

Ekoi Morfo One Size bib shorts

8
£150.39

VERDICT:

8
10
Very comfortable and innovative bib shorts that are genuinely one-size-fits-all.
Weight: 
170g
Contact: 

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The Morfo bib shorts are quirky and expensive, but actually very comfortable and truly one-size-fits-all. What's more, in a strange hypothetical situation whereby my 6ft 4in mate needed to borrow some shorts and it was down to me at 5ft 9in to lend him some – now I can!

Ekoi Morfo One Size Bibshort - riding.jpg

That's right, Ekoi claim the Morfo shorts are a 'world first' because they are the only one-size-fits-all bib shorts you can buy. This might be another case of solving problems that don't really exist, and I was dubious that they really would fit riders just as well from both ends of the size range. But they were a great fit on me – I'm 5ft 9in – and similarly good for friends who are both shorter and over six foot. Each one of us found them thoroughly comfortable and well-fitting, with the leg bands sitting just above the knee and a nice, compressive fit against the thighs.

Buy Ekoi Morfo One Size bib shorts

Ekoi Morfo One Size Bibshort - inside pad.jpg

Rather than sewing the chamois inside the shorts, Ekoi have integrated it straight into the body of the Morfos which gives an unusual appearance; it looks if they're inside out. This is actually nothing new, having appeared on X-Bionic's Trick and Effektor bib shorts for some time now. It isn't an essential feature but I certainly found it comfortable and far superior to a stitched-in chamois pad on cheap bib shorts. Plus, it differentiates them from other more conventional shorts to justify the price tag.

Ekoi Morfo One Size Bibshort - cuff.jpg

Ekoi have used a special polypropylene/elastane mix to make the shorts one-size-fits-all. The fabric is similar to the usual Nylon/Lycra blend but far stretchier and lighter. As a result, the shorts feel more like a woven, knitted garment but far more breathable.

Ekoi Morfo One Size Bibshort - pad.jpg

They don't have the smooth feel of Nylon/Lycra shorts and at first I was wandering if things would get itchy, but any doubts subsided midway through a long ride. The seamless design means there aren't really any places to irritate the skin, which is another benefit of that integrated chamois pad. I did find that the bib straps were quite dense and felt cumbersome when I first put them on, but you only really notice them pulling when you're off the bike and standing up. Conversely they're very robust like the rest of the garment, and for no weight penalty compared to other medium-sized bib shorts. That's impressive considering these will fit anyone.

Read more: The best cycling bib shorts

Ekoi Morfo One Size Bibshort - back.jpg

Though the label says 'handwash only' I can report that the shorts survived a 30° cool wash with no adverse effects. Being as they're not tumble dryer-friendly this was also an opportunity to test out the claim of quick-drying properties. Ekoi says they dry 'remarkably quickly' but I have to say that's quite an exaggeration. Compared to conventional shorts they do take longer to dry and I found they held some water on my test rides as well. This isn't an absolute deal breaker for me and I'll accept it for the more comfortable feel.

Ekoi Morfo One Size Bibshort - front full.jpg

The Morfos certainly aren't cheap, but the similarly tech-heavy Trick shorts from X-Bionic retail at close to £200, and high-end options from Rapha and Assos are more expensive. Comparatively they offer reasonable value for money considering the one-size-fits-all construction is unprecedented.

Overall I'm very impressed with the Morfo shorts. They're packed with tech and among Ekoi's sometimes wacky ideas (a jersey designed to prevent tan lines, for example) this is definitely their best one to date.

Verdict

Very comfortable and innovative bib shorts that are genuinely one-size-fits-all.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Ekoi Morfo One Size Bibshort

Size tested: One Size

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Ekoi say the Morfo bib shorts are a 'world first', because they are currently the only one-size-fits-all bib shorts. The padding is integrated so appears on both sides, which looks odd but works a treat.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Polypropylene/elastane mixed fabric

Integrated polyurethane chamois

One-size-fits-all

Anti-bacterial

Moisture-wicking fabric

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

They're really robust and are built to last judging from my test period.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

They're great for long rides, no chafing and no irritation to report.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

After several uses they're good as new, and that's even after putting them through the washing machine by mistake.

Rate the product for fit:
 
10/10

Everyone I've given them to try, from 5"6 to 6"4, reported a perfect fit - no arguments here.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
10/10

Neither - they're one-size-fits-all!

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10

No heavier than a normal set of medium bib shorts at 170g, impressive considering they will fit an XXL.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
7/10

You know the straps are there and they're a bit thick, but supremely comfortable elsewhere.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Not cheap, but then they are a 'world first'.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Considering it says 'handwash only' it survived a 30° cool wash - but obviously this isn't recommended. They dry quickly, so as long as you're prepared to handwash it shouldn't be a problem.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Fine, but performance in the wet wasn't as good as I'd have liked.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit that can be achieved and the padding - I could ride in these all day no problem.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I found the material holds water quite easily and gets a bit heavy, so I wouldn't use them intentionally when it's wet.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Perhaps

Use this box to explain your score

If they could afford them and don't mind being told they've got their shorts on inside out, then I could recommend them.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 179cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride: Road bike (currently Specialized Tarmac)  My best bike is: Ridley Chronus TT bike

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, Triathlon races

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

Add new comment

15 comments

Avatar
BarryBianchi | 6 years ago
0 likes

"they offer reasonable value for money considering the one-size-fits-all construction is unprecedented."

So, let's not consider that, let's consider that most people don't share their shorts around, so the right size is available.  At which point they are not reasonable value for money at all.

On the other hand, I have these XXXXS - XXXXXL magic beans if anyone is interested?

 

 

Avatar
beezus fufoon | 6 years ago
0 likes

there's something about the inside view - slide #10 - that to me says "Jeremy Clarkson"

Avatar
ChainedToTheWheel | 6 years ago
1 like

There's something about that front view photo that to me says "Doctor Who monster".

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belgravedave | 6 years ago
0 likes

I think they look marvelous.

Perfect for frightening lorry drivers and cabbies when you're waiting at the lights.

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paulrattew | 6 years ago
1 like

Frankly these look horrendous. Who needs to give people even more of an excuse to laugh at your crotch?

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Welsh boy | 6 years ago
0 likes

The review mentions a chamois, is it really a chamois or not?

Avatar
poppa | 6 years ago
2 likes

I hate to take the mickey out of a genuine attempt at innovation, but maybe they should make the pad pink and call them baboon shorts?

Avatar
n_g | 6 years ago
0 likes

At first I suspected this was a mistimed April Fool's joke.

I don't want to look like I'm a wearing my shorts inside out.

Avatar
timmyotool | 6 years ago
1 like

But why!
I can't think of any reason what advantage they offer!

Avatar
longassballs replied to timmyotool | 6 years ago
0 likes
timmyotool wrote:

But why! I can't think of any reason what advantage they offer!

As we all know one person's perfect shorts to another are a pain in the arse and I often read that discomfort is attributed to the wrong size for the wearer. How true that is I have no idea but if these eliminate ill fitting shorts, presumably virtually guaranteed if you're in the middle of the range, then that can only be a good thing?

What about people who get in to cycling to lose weight, or for whatever reason get bigger, I guess doesn't mean new shorts? Or what about in parts of the world where it isn't so easy to exchange online orders? I dunno I'm thinking on my feet here

Avatar
nortonpdj | 6 years ago
3 likes

What a front view... a Mamil in a Lycra codpiece. Truly awful.

 

Avatar
davel replied to nortonpdj | 6 years ago
1 like
nortonpdj wrote:

What a front view... a Mamil in a Lycra codpiece. Truly awful.

 

Yeah, if you're rocking that look, you go all in

Avatar
Stef Marazzi | 6 years ago
3 likes

Shame they don't pass on the cost savings from making just one size to the customer. At £150 I'll stick to my £40 Btwins.

Avatar
rtw replied to Stef Marazzi | 6 years ago
0 likes
Quote:

... high-end options from ...... Assos are more expensive.

No they aren't. ASSOS only makes high end stuff. This short here is cheaper than the ones in the test:

http://road.cc/content/review/222756-assos-tmilleshortss7 

Quote:

Costing £100, the T.MilleShorts_s7 offer exceptional comfort and fit for the money and might just be the best bib shorts you can buy at this price.

Avatar
JohnnyEnglish replied to Stef Marazzi | 6 years ago
1 like
Quote:

Ekoi says they dry 'remarkably quickly' but I have to say that's quite an exaggeration.

And yet you remarked on it, so technically not an exaggeration...

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