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dhb Aeron LAB All Winter Bib Tight

7
£150.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Very good at dealing with the elements, but seams behind the knees can rub if you don't position them right
Warm and breathable
Impressive chamois pad
Seams behind the knee can cause irritation
Weight: 
298g

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The Aeron LAB All Winter Bib Tights are part of dhb's top performance range, and from that aspect they certainly deliver, using a range of materials and a close, race fit. The only downside for me is the positioning of some of the seams, which can irritate.

dhb has used various materials in these bib tights, strategically placed to deliver their different properties where needed.

For starters, the upper part of the legs uses Polartec Windbloc to keep the muscles that are working the hardest the warmest. It keeps the wind out brilliantly, with nothing getting through even when ploughing into a cold headwind, and there is a bit of water repellency there too.

dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Bib Tight - thigh detail.jpg

According to Polartec it features a micro-porous laminate between a durable outer layer and lofted inner fibres that lock in insulating warmth.

This makes it quite a bit thicker than the fabrics used elsewhere, and it isn't as stretchy either, which gives it quite a compressive feel, especially around the hips and the thighs. It feels a little bit odd at first, almost like the tights are too small, but once you start riding and you get used to it, it's fine.

dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Bib Tight - front.jpg

The inside of the thighs and the lower legs are made from a fabric by Italian producer Miti, which is much softer and more elastic for ease of movement. It makes up for some of the lack of breathability found with the Polartec fabric and balances out the tights.

dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Bib Tight - front detail.jpg

The switching between these fabrics means there are seams, though, and I had to really concentrate on pulling the dhbs on just right to get the stitching to sit behind the knee without irritating the skin as I pedalled. A few miliimetres either way and I would start to get sore behind my knees after about an hour's riding.

dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Bib Tight - shins.jpg

The bib section of the tights is soft to the touch and the straps are wide to spread the pressure over the shoulders without digging in.

dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Bib Tight - straps back.jpg

The front is cut quite low, not really covering your stomach. On a pair of tights I like a bit more coverage for warmth, but they weren't uncomfortable.

dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Bib Tight - straps front.jpg

All of the LAB range is designed for a really slim race cut and these tights are no different. It's worth noting that they don't quite feel right when you aren't on the bike, a bit tight here, a bit loose there, but once you are in the saddle they make a lot of sense, although a couple of times I had to stop and readjust things just to get them sitting perfectly.

dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Bib Tight - side.jpg

The ankles are kept in place by simple elastic grippers and they work an absolute treat, and I like that there is no clash of zips when wearing overshoes over the top.

dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Bib Tight - back.jpg

Like many clothing manufacturers, dhb uses Elastic Interface pads – here, specifically, the Road Performance Pad.

dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Bib Tight - chamois.jpg

It's pretty simple to look at, with just some padding in various thicknesses underneath the sit bones, and a single channel running between them. It is very comfortable; when I was out for four to five hours, I never found any discomfort at all.

Value

With an RRP of £150, the dhbs are a little more than the Bioracer Spitfire Tempest Protect Bibtights. They also use various material types to protect you from the elements and cost £132. What I really liked about them, though, is that the seams have been kept out of the way so no irritation behind the knees.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best warm winter cycling bib tights

For the same money as the dhbs you could opt for the 7Mesh TK1 Bib Tights, which Mike Stead found to be pretty much spot on: warm, a great fit and water resistant, and they come with three pockets.

Conclusion

Overall, as long as I took a bit of care getting the dhbs positioned correctly then I really couldn't fault their performance. They dealt with the weather fine and they have a very comfortable pad. Getting them on is just a bit more of a faff than most others, though, and if you get it wrong they can irritate.

Verdict

Very good at dealing with the elements, but seams behind the knees can rub if you don't position them right

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road.cc test report

Make and model: dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Bib Tight

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

dhb says, "The Aeron LAB All Winter Bib Tight is dhb's solution for riders looking to push the pace in winter conditions. Featuring Polartec® Windbloc® technology for windproofing and water resistance, these tights balance insulation, and breathability

Designed for temperatures between 0 and 12 Celsius, these performance tights from dhb use advanced fabrics and lightweight construction methods to form a pair of flexible and protective tights that will help get you out the door in tough winter conditions, but won't hold you back when the tempo increases.

For riders looking to ride hard through winter, whatever the weather, the Aeron LAB All Winter Tights are the perfect training partner."

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

dhb lists:

Winter Bib Tight for tempo riding through cold weather

Recommended Temperature Range: 0-12 Celsius

Close performance fit

Elastic Interface® Road Performance Chamois Pad

Upper leg: Polartec® Windbloc

Lower leg: Miti Thermal Fabric

Soft supportive bib straps

Integrated FLT reflectives in key positions

Elasticated leg cuff for secure tight fit

Bib straps: 72% Polyamide(Nylon), 28% Elastane(Spandex)

Inner Panels: 52% Polyamide(Nylon), 32% Polyester, 16% Elastane(Spandex)

Outer Panels: 100% Polyester

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

dhb tells you on Wiggle that these have a close race fit, and for most people you'll probably need to go up a size compared to other dhb kit.

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

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

Washing hasn't thrown up any issues whatsoever.

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

They work well down to near-freezing temperatures.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

It's a very good pad.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Seams can irritate behind the knee if not positioned right.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

At this sort of money they are up against some very good bib tights like the Bioracers or 7Mesh tights mentioned in the review. Both just have the edge on comfort and performance, and the Bioracers are nearly £20 cheaper.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A good mix of fabrics used in terms of performance, but the compressive nature of the Polartec fabric means you need to really make sure you concentrate on getting everything sitting right before you head off on a ride, otherwise they can feel a little uncomfortable. They do have a very good pad, though, and stand up well to the elements.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 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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1 comments

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Russell Orgazoid | 4 years ago
0 likes

I've had these tights through the winter and found them to be very good. I agree with remarks on fit but not the irritation in the knee area as I have had none.

The fit off the bike is unusual with a saggy bum area. this is shown in the photo. Once on the bike all is excellent, as Stu mentions.

They are warm but not bulky and the value is terrific compared to Castelli etc. I paid about £112. The quality is absolutely first class, as is all the DHB LAB stuff i have.

I would have given them 4.5/5.

Word on sizing. I've been small to medium on DHB in the past. Medium just about fit well and I almost kept the large (i got 2 sizes). 5'8" and 70kg. 38" chest 31" leg.

If in doubt go one up.

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