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review

Wearwell Revival Bib Shorts

7
£128.00

VERDICT:

7
10
A very good all-round pair of bibs but there are cheaper – and, subjectively, more comfortable – out there from the big brands
Weight: 
192g
Contact: 

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UK brand Wearwell doesn't look to have skimped on the quality when it comes to these Revival Collection Bib Shorts. The fabrics feel soft and durable and the Cytech pad is pretty good on the comfort front. There are a lot of good shorts on the market for less, though, so do they do enough to get picked over the competition?

  • Pros: Well made, good quality fabric
  • Cons: Pricey, pad doesn't have the wow factor of some I've tested

According to its website, Wearwell has been around as a company in various guises since the end of the 19th century (established 1889) with this latest iteration of the brand being launched just last year.

> Buy these online here

The Revivals are the only pair of bib shorts in Wearwell's lineup so far and it's not a bad start.

The main parts of the shorts section are made from an 80% polyester/20% Lycra mix from specialist Miti, and it offers plenty of support for your muscles without restricting movement.

wearwell_cycle_company_revival_bib_shorts.jpg

It's very soft to the touch and feels a bit thicker between your fingers than that used on a lot of shorts, so durability shouldn't be an issue. All of the stitching looks to be tight and tidy too.

wearwell_cycle_company_revival_bib_shorts_-_side.jpg

The fit is definitely on the performance side of things, with multiple panels making for a close cut when you are on the bike. The side panels of the legs have plenty of stretch to accommodate pretty much any thigh diameter, all held in place by the silicone grippers at the bottom.

wearwell_cycle_company_revival_bib_shorts_-_gripper.jpg

The bib section uses a fine mesh fabric to cover your back and does a decent job of keeping you cool when paired with a lightweight baselayer and summer jersey. You even get a little pocket that you could use to stash an mp3 player as I'm guessing most of us don't ride around with a race radio linked to our team car.

wearwell_cycle_company_revival_bib_shorts_-_straps_back.jpg

For the pad Wearwell has turned to Cytech, which owns the likes of Elastic Interface, maker of a massive amount of chamois pads for a lot of the big brands, Berenis and Bikepad.

wearwell_cycle_company_revival_bib_shorts_-_pad.jpg

The pad found in the Revivals uses plenty of channels and varying density foam sections to create a comfortable place to sit while avoiding numbness. It does a good job; I certainly didn't suffer any discomfort and it's pretty good when it comes to bulk, or lack of it, too.

wearwell_cycle_company_revival_bib_shorts_-_back.jpg

The only thing I would say is that lately I've been riding in quite a few pairs of shorts that have done away with this channelled design and just gone for a simple one-piece pad. The KISS Air found in the Castelli Velocissimo IV bib shorts is one and, as good as the Wearwell's is, it doesn't match that sublime comfort.

Those Castellis are £28 cheaper too, costing £100, which I said in the review I didn't think was excessive, especially when it comes to quality and that comfort.

> Buyer's Guide: 22 of the best cycling bib shorts

I've also tested the Northwave Extreme 3 bibs which have a very similar and very comfortable smooth pad design, and they cost just £89.99.

While I can understand that Wearwell will be moving a much smaller amount of stock and will probably have a much higher, small batch production cost, you can see that they don't quite offer the same value for money.

wearwell_cycle_company_revival_bib_shorts_-_cuff.jpg

Overall, I think the Wearwells are a very good pair of shorts, and very well made, but they are up against some equally good but cheaper competition.

Verdict

A very good all-round pair of bibs but there are cheaper – and, subjectively, more comfortable – out there from the big brands

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Wearwell Revival Bib Shorts

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Wearwell states, "Anyone that has done serious miles on the bike knows the importance of good shorts. And when those rides occur with significant regularity, they demand the very best. The Wearwell Revival bib-shorts are a modern take on a classic designed to meet these requirements.

"Only the highest quality and most modern fabrics known to pedal-powered man are used as the basis for the design. Ergonomic panels ensure both comfort and closeness of fit. The built in chamois is made from a dense foam compound and provides support and comfort for the rider. Meanwhile the laser cut bib-straps are constructed using a soft, moisture wicking fabric that help to minimise rubbing and irritation across the shoulders and chest. The radio pocket at the rear can comfortably hold a phone, keys or, unsurprisingly, a radio."

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

From Wearwell:

* Jet black colour with distinct Wearwell logos on sides

* Ergonomic cut to ensure closeness of fit during rides

* Soft, breathable bib fabric

* Miti Fabric construction

* High density Cytech seat pad

* Soft silicon grippers at base of short

* Radio pocket

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
9/10

Sizing is spot on to the website guide.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

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

Washing was simple and the shorts came up clean each time with no issues.

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

A very well made pair of shorts that are comfortable for the majority of riding.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Excellent quality.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I've worn cheaper shorts that have a more comfortable pad.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Possibly, depends on the price.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Revivals are a very good pair of shorts, but they're up against some cheaper competition which, for me anyway, have more of a wow factor in terms of pad comfort. I'd say they're a very good 7, and if the pad really suits you, an 8.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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