Altura Repel Bib Short

The Altura Repel bib shorts are designed for three season use thanks to a DWR treatment to the fabric, and with their Stealth pad, big miles are on the cards. The pad is pretty good, I'll give it that, but the stitching around the outside is very irritating; as for keeping the rain out, I've used much better.

• Pros: Stealth pad itself is comfortable, main fabric is comfortable
• Cons: Stitching around the pad causes friction, water repellency not that great, rough finish

I've tested and worn a lot of Altura kit and on the whole I really like it. Altura often delivers quality kit that performs well without breaking the bank. It isn't the best out there, but delivers on the old bang versus buck. Sadly, though, these Repel bibs just don't hit the mark.

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First up, the stitching around the pad is slightly odd. Normally on shorts when they aren't being worn, the shorts fabric still sits flat around the chamois, but here that isn't the case. The pad curls under itself around the edge, which gives the seams a pronounced look. Initial inspection in the office made us think we had a faulty pair so we asked for a second to be sent in – which were exactly the same.

Once you put them on, everything flattens out thanks to a snug and body-contoured fit, but in use that seam is still problematic.

To begin with, I didn't notice anything untoward on the first ride. In fact, quite the opposite. I was really impressed with the way the pad felt. It's simple with no varying density or channels for blood flow (isn't it funny how things often go full circle?), and the overall level of padding takes the worst of the road buzz out and it moves with you well.

The fabric of the shorts is quite thin and offers plenty of stretch which I liked for warmer days, and gives just a little hint of compression. On the whole, the cut and comfort were really working; the fit is quite racy, and they feel more comfortable on the bike than off it.

It was only when I got off the bike that I felt how sore the area was where the stitching had rubbed. The friction from the seam had been enough to wear through my skin, and that post-ride bath was enough to bring water to my eyes.

It's a shame really because the Repels aren't a bad pair of shorts when it comes to comfort elsewhere. The wide straps don't cause any pressure and the leg cuffs keep them in place around the thigh.

Those cuffs use a silicone grip print for around two-thirds of the leg with a standard Lycra section taking up the rest to allow some extra give for larger legs.

One of the main selling points of the Repels is the ability to shed water when you're riding. The fabric has a DWR (durable water repellent) coating which should make the rain bead off the surface, and it does, a little bit, but I found it all a little underwhelming.

Riding on a day that saw showers of varying intensity, even the lightest of them weren't really shrugged off. Drizzle would run away but other than that the shorts soon got overwhelmed by the water.

> Survival tips for cycling in the rain

The Repels aren't anywhere the most expensive bib shorts we see here at road.cc, but even for £79.99 I wasn't overly impressed by the finish. There are lots of stray threads and the stitching isn't the neatest. I've been to a factory in Italy where the company had a department that dealt with all these little imperfections, and some of its kit is cheaper than these Alturas. It makes a big difference to the overall feeling of quality.

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They face quite stiff competition, too, when you could go for the rain-repellent Sportful Fiandre Light NoRain 2 bib shorts for a tenner more (but remember to go up a size). And if you aren't worried about rain repellency you could take a look at the excellent dhb Aeron bibs, stunning shorts all round that'll cost a fiver less.

Overall, there are some good points to the Altura Repel shorts, but they are a bit of a let-down in many areas.

Verdict

Irritating stitching and average water resistance take the shine off