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BUYER'S GUIDE

Best winter bib tights for cycling 2024 — keep your legs toasty through the winter

If you want to enjoy the crisp winter conditions, these winter bib tights will help keep your warm

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For those of us wanting to cycle outdoors even in the depths of winter, it pays to get properly wrapped up from head to toe. Keeping yourself warm means wrapping yourself up in some of the best winter bib tights and topping it all up with one of the best cycling jackets you can afford.


Whether you're commuting every day, heading out for a training ride after work or joining the weekly club run, the following is a selection of the best bib tights to keep your legs protected from the cold, no matter your budget or anatomy. 

Winter tights come in various designs, from lightweight waist tights that add a bit of insulation to full-on warm and waterproof weather armour. Therefore if you're planning on riding in the rain look for fabrics with a durable water-repellent (DWR) coating. With more materials, you can expect to pay more for a pair of winter tights than your short-legged bib shorts, but if you ride through the winter, they are really warmer than a bib-short-leg-warmer combo will ever be, and they won't cause any thigh sausages, either. 

If you already own a pair from our best bib tights list, then you might be interested in looking at investing in a winter jersey. Couple this with a pair of the best winter gloves, and you’ll be ready to venture out into the elements in total comfort and warmth.

The best winter bib tights: our top picks

Rapha Pro Team Winter Tights with Pad II

Rapha Pro Team Winter Tights with Pad II

Rapha Pro Team Winter Tights with Pad II

9
Best all-round for both men and women
Buy now for £187 from Rapha

The Rapha Pro Team Bib Tights II with Pad take the excellent DNA of the Pro Team II Bib Shorts and add warmth, water resistance and a performance-orientated fit to create an exceptional all-round winter garment, though it does come at some cost. However, if you can spare the cash, these bibs have earned a stellar review in both the men's and women's design, which has earned them the overall best bib tights title here. 

These full-length versions of the Rapha Pro Team bib shorts repeat a winning formula for the performance cyclist while keeping you comfortable and warm no matter how bad the conditions. 

These bib tights feature gender-specific chamois for all-day comfort in the saddle. Though these bib tights are pricey at £250, they offer excellent quality and weather protection, making them a worthwhile investment for cold conditions.

Castelli Sorpasso RoS Wind Bib Tights 9

Castelli Sorpasso RoS Wind Bib Tights 9

Castelli Sorpasso RoS Wind Bib Tights

9
Best men's bib tights with wind protection
Buy now for £119.99 from Wiggle
Windproof front panels
Water repellent
Excellent seated comfort
Logos crack and peel

The popular Italian cycling clothing company Castelli are popular amongst cyclists for their comfort and quality. The Sorpasso RoS Wind Bib Tights are no exception. They offer male riders excellent seated comfort thanks to its super comfortable chamois that will easily see you through a day's winter riding without any undercarriage discomfort. 

Unsurprisingly, given they are our best pick for wind protection, these Castelli bib tights offer excellent protection against wind chill. This is thanks to the windproof panels on the front of the legs which of course are the first to hit the icy cold winds that we all experience come winter time. They may still prove tougher to ride against, but without a doubt, wearing these the wind chill it won't be an issue.

Not only do the Sorpasso RoS Wind bib tights offer excellent wind protection, but they also provide water repellency for those wet rainy days on the bike. Helping to keep you dry and comfortable no matter what the British weather has to throw at you. Overall, they are a really solid option, if a little on the pricey side, but definitely worth the investment. 

Pactimo Men’s Alpine Thermal Bib Tight

Pactimo Men’s Alpine Thermal Bib Tight

9
Best men's thermal bib tights with pockets
Buy now for £140 from Pactimo
Comfortable chamois pad
Great fit
Useful cargo pockets
The price
DWR coating could wear over time

Described as "extremely comfortable" on rides of any length by our reviewer, Pactimo's Alpine Thermal Bib Tights fit well, have useful reflective details and also come with cargo pockets to keep plenty of stuff in.

Pactimo does have even deeper winter bib-tight options, and the Alpine is for the least severe (probably your best bet for our mostly drizzly British winter weather). They're made with what Pactimo describes as a mid-weight, breathable, stretchy, brushed-back Italian fabric. 

While you can get decent bib tights for less, the quality and performance you're getting here with the bonus features make them a worthwhile investment. The recommended 5-12°C temperature range will do for most of a UK winter. 

Rapha Women’s Pro Team Winter Tights

Rapha Women’s Pro Team Winter Tights

Rapha Women’s Pro Team Winter Tights

9
Best women's bib tights
Buy now for £162 from Rapha
High quality
Quick-exit magnetic bib buckle
Wind and water resistant
Warm
Slightly tricky to tuck in baselayers after pee stops
Expensive

These bib tights are really impressive in both the men's and women's fit, as demonstrated by the fact both made it into this guide! Rapha Women's Pro Team Winter Tights are a great all-around option that provides good levels of warmth and weather protection, together with a comfortable chamois pad. The bib strap and buckle have been designed for easy loo stops which is a useful and effective feature. Fantastic quality, but pricey with it.

Designed for the worst of winter, these full-length bib tights have plenty of features that show great attention to detail for the needs of women riding in cold conditions. As well as being made with a tough but lightweight three-layer fabric, including windproof and water-repellent panels at the front and Thermoroubaix fabric at the back, the broad stretch straps are designed to sit around the outside of the bust, and a heavy-duty magnetic clasp at the back allows for pee stops without having to strip off.

Impressively, the levels of warmth offered by these bib tights are perfect on days hovering around zero, and they also effectively protect from freezing winds. The water repellency is enough to deal with road spray as well as reasonably heavy rain. These are aimed at demanding riders and it shows: no matter what is thrown at them, they deliver comfort and offer a great level of protection against the British winter.

Iris Women’s Signature Winter Bib Tight Light

Iris Women’s Signature Winter Bib Tight Light

Iris Women’s Signature Winter Bib Tight Light

9
Best women's tights for milder conditions
Buy now for £135 from Iris
High quality
Quick-exit magnetic bib buckle
Comfortable chamois
Not black
Buckle a little more tricky than the Iris shorts but still easy

Company founder and former pro, Iris Slappendel has created the Iris Women's Signature Winter Bib Tight Light thanks to her wealth of experience in riding and training over the winter to answer your needs for all but the coldest conditions.

Soft, stretchy, warm and pliable, with a great chamois and easy-to-use buckle system for toilet breaks, these are a well-designed and high-quality pair of tights at a decent price. Not to mention, they also look great too. 

These tights are designed with early winter and spring in mind rather than the coldest days, but it's worth bearing in mind that Iris is based in the Netherlands and their idea of 'deep winter' can be a whole lot scarier than the UK version. That said, these are mid-weight rather than heavyweight tights, made from high-quality ThermoRoubaix fabric with plenty of stretch.

Albion Three Season Tights

Albion Three Season Tights

9
Another great set of road.cc-recommended men's bib tights
Buy now for £120 from Albion Cycling
Soft and comfortable
Great fit
Windproof and water resistant
Lightweight fabric
Good reflectivity
Very comfortable pad
A little short in the leg for some

Described as the "standout piece" in Albion's range, by our reviewer, the Three Season Tights offer everything you could possibly want from a pair of bib tights to fend off the UK's changeable winter weather. The pad is comfy, the fleecy fabric warm and a combination of windproof knee panels and water-repellent treatment keeps your legs well protected.

They also fend off cold and wet weather and work across a wide range of temperatures, not just deep winter. You don't have to worry too much about what to wear on your legs, just stick these on and you're pretty much good to go from almost zero degrees up through to the teens.

While they are not cheap by any means, Albion has priced these tights quite competitively against similar premium offerings, and they should last you many a winter. 

Lusso Ladies Comfort Break Bibtights

Lusso Ladies Comfort Break Bibtights

8
Best easy-pee bib tights for women
Buy now for £90 from Lusso
Minimal yet warm and weatherproof
Quick pee stops
Good value for the fit and function
Some stitching coming away on our test pair
Low waist won't appeal to all

The Lusso Ladies Comfort Break Bib Tights, priced at £110.00, present a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option for chilly spring and autumn rides. Constructed from 100% recycled nylon and elastane and finished with DWR coating for effective water repellency, they offer a figure-hugging fit with minimal bulk on the upper part. The 'EasyPeesy' design allows for easy comfort breaks without removing all of your clothing, though the lower waist of this design might not fit everyone. These are functional and warm bib tights for women, at a good price. 

Velocio Women’s Thermal Bib Tights

Velocio Women’s Thermal Bib Tights on mannequin

Velocio Women’s Thermal Bib Tights

8
Best women's bib tights with wind protection
Buy now for £215 from Velocio
Very well made
Wide, comfy straps
Fabric keeps you warm
Low-bulk fabric
Exceptional chamois
Easy-pee system not guaranteed to work for all
Straps a little tricky to arrange
Price

The Velocio Women's Thermal Bib Tights are both warm and well made, featuring an exceptionally comfortable chamois as well as a front-facing Integrated windproof panel for added protection from the cold, landing themself in our best bib tights for wind protection.

These bib tights have also been made using very warm ThemroRoubaix Power fabric which is fleece-backed and treated with DWR technology on the outside to ensure water repellency: keeping you warm and dry during your winter riding while still being highly breathable.

Overall, even though these impressive bib tights from Velocio offer great protection from the wind and elements, they are still very comfortable and manoeuvrable thanks to the stretchy nature of the materials used. They also range in sizes XXS to 3XL which is of course great for exclusivity.

Le Col Pro Bib Tights

Le Col Pro Bib Tights

9
Another great pair of high-end bib tights
Buy now for £210 from Le Col
Great chamois
Good fit
Water resistance
Ideal for a wide temperature range
Price
Ankle zips

Breaking the £200 barrier at RRP, the Pro bib tights from Le Col are super high-end, and justify being so according to our very impressed reviewer.

With a soft, fleece-lined inner and water-resistant outer, these bibs are suitable for a wide range of temperatures and will keep out the worst of the rubbish winter weather. The chamois is also very comfortable and holds up after multiple washes, making the Pro bib tights worth the investment on multiple fronts. 

If you want some bib tights that will cover you for pretty much the whole off-season and are willing to pay a premium price, there is little to fault here. 

Castelli Entrata Bibtight

Castelli Entrata Bibtight

9
Best for value and comfort
Buy now for £66 from Wiggle
Effective for most winter UK rides
Very appealing price
Sleek, simple design
Comfortable chamois
Reflective zip details and logos
Easy waistband stretch for comfort breaks
Not as warm as some other bib tights
A little baggy around the ankles & knees

The Castelli Entrata Bibtights stood out in our review for their exceptional performance in temperatures all the way down to 5°C. Featuring top-notch breathability, a high-quality chamois, and a sleek design with reflective details, these bib tights excel in both comfort and functionality. Despite not being the warmest option available, their impressive performance makes them a good choice for winter cycling, and they're likely to last you many seasons. 

Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight

Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight

9
Best bib tights for gravel adventures
Buy now for £129.99 from Tredz
Comfy straps
Warm and water-resistant material
Size and quality of pockets
Pockets positioned a bit more on the front of the thigh than I would prefer
Not much room in the stomach area

Ok, so you don't need gravel-specific clothing to go gravelling... but if you want something almost perfectly designed for the job that will see you through chilly rides on any other surface too, then the GV500 Thermal tights from Endura are some of the best available. 

Supremely comfortable and warm down to minus temperatures according to our reviewer, the material is also very stretchy, ideal for the twists, turns and tricky terrain you might encounter on a gravel ride. The chamois provides plenty of coverage and isn't overly bulky, and the straps while on the thin side are super comfortable and hold the bibs in place perfectly. 

These being gravel tights, you get some added extras in the form of two mesh pockets on the thigh, that can easily hold a phone or some nutrition. Go for these if you want a sensibly-priced pair of bib tights that will see you through multiple winters on mixed terrain. 

Nopinz Endurance Bib Tights Woman's

Nopinz Endurance Bib Tights

Nopinz Endurance Bib Tights Woman’s

9
Best value for money women's bib tights
Buy now for £45.99 from Nopinz
Comfy
Well-specced chamois
Low-bulk fabric
Great fit
Short in the leg
No ankle zipper won’t please all

Nopinz has created the Endurance Bib Tights with comfort and performance at the forefront of their design, and they come in a men's version too priced the exact same. These tights have been created with low-bulk fabric to ensure total comfort and a solid fit while out riding and layered up.

Coupled with a comfortable chamois to ensure undercarriage comfort these are certainly a tough option to beat: hence they have been given our road.cc recommends title after testing. Even though they are low-bulk, they are still also fleecy lined to ensure warmth stays in during even the coldest of winter rides.

Also benefitting from a hydrophobic coating in order to protect against road spray, these Nopinz bib tights are a really great value-for-money choice for anyone wanting high-end performance and comfort, but at a brilliant price.

Gorewear Distance Winter Bib Tights+ Men’s

Gorewear Distance Winter Bib Tights+ Men’s

9
Best for blocking out the wind and rain
Buy now for £199.99 from Gorewear
Brilliant insulation
Smartly interwoven fabrics
Wind and rain-resistant shin and bum panels
Light, comfy straps
Comfortable and windblocking chamois
Good reflective detailing
Made from some recycled content
Easy waistband stretch for comfort breaks
Pricey
Not actually black
Lacking in knee protection
A little baggy around the ankles & knees

If staying dry and warm is of the most importance to you, then investing in proper thermal bib tights like the Gorewear Distance Winter Bib Tights+ is well worth the money. Priced at £199.99, these Gorewear's newest bib tights don't come cheap, but they offer brilliant insulation, smartly interwoven fabrics, and weather-resistant panels on the legs keep them well protected from wind and rain. The tights are kept in place with comfortable straps and a wind-blocking chamois (yes, really!), ensuring that even longer rides are enjoyable and your bits stay away from the chill. Despite the higher cost, these bibs' superior performance, reflective detailing, and market-leading design make them a top choice for staying warm and dry during very cold and wet winter rides.

Scott RC Pro Warm GORE-TEX +++ Men’s Bib Tights

Scott RC Pro Warm GORE-TEX +++ Men’s Bib Tights

9
Lightweight yet warm
Buy now for £154.9 from Scott Sports
Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper
Very warm
Race fit
Wide, non-pinching straps
Light for such warm tights
Ankles a bit too wide/loose for some

The Scott RC Pro Warm GORE-TEX +++ Men’s Bib Tights have a race-fit design, wide non-pinching straps, and a plush chamois pad for all-day comfort. The Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper panels provide superior warmth by blocking any chilly winds, making these tights suitable for anything from sub-zero to high single-digit temperatures. The absence of ankle zips adds to the comfort and overall, this pair of bibs is impressively warm despite the light feel.

Le Col Pro Bib Tights

Le Col Pro Bib Tights

9
Best for aero fit
Buy now for £210 from John Lewis
Great chamois
Good fit
Water resistance
Ideal for a wide temperature range
Price
Ankle zips

The Le Col Pro Bib Tights come with a super-soft fleece lining, they insulate thighs effectively without causing overheating during intense rides. The aerodynamic lower leg panels add a stylish touch, while the snug fit suits both muscular riders and those with a race-cut preference. The chamois is superbly comfy, too, although it can feel initially a little firm. One thing that might not be to everyone's liking with these is the ankle zips, though. 

Santini Prime Bib Tights

Santini Prime Bib Tights

9
For warmth and comfort over long distances
Buy now for £80.99 from Bike Inn
Warm
Great pad
Excellent long-distance comfort

The Santini Prime Bib Tights are exceptional in providing warmth and comfort for rides down to freezing temperatures and over some long distances. Featuring Blizzard thermofleece fabric, these fleece-lined tights offer a balance of breathability and protection, while the GITevo chamois ensures superior comfort. The fit is slightly more relaxed on these tights, and there are eight sizes available meaning it's easy to find one that fits you perfectly. 

Santini Aldo Bib Tights

Santini Aldo Bib Tights

9
Warm and weatherproof option
Buy now for £162 from Santini
Figure-hugging fit
Insulating without being suffocating
Acquazero water resistance works well & quick drying
High-rise waist stretches well for comfort breaks
No windproof panels
Heavier than most of the competition

Santini is known for its quality kit, and the fact that two of the brand's bib tights have made it into this guide is somewhat of a testament to that. Unlike the Prime tights above, Santini's Aldo Bib Tights are not only warm but also pack a bunch of rain resistance. The figure-hugging fit, reflective branding, and high-rise waist add to their winter-proofness and the thick fabric provides optimal warmth even in sub-zero temps. The Sitip Acquazero technology keeps repelling water off your tights effectively and inside, you get the top-tier Santini C3 endurance chamois, offering comfort during long rides.

Stolen Goat Orkaan 3/4 Length Bib Tights

Stolen Goat Orkaan 3/4 Length Bib Tights

8
Best 3/4 length winter bib tights
Buy now for £65 from Stolen Goat
Comfortable
Fluffy inside
Bands rather than silicone gripper will please some
Reflective tags on the calves would be better than the rear panel, if I'm being picky

The makers of the road.cc cycling kit collection cater for all preferences, and for some cyclists, 3/4 length bibs are a decent option for less severe winter weather or just to pair with extra long thermal socks and warmers. Our reviewer praised the Orkaan bibs for being incredibly warm and weather-resistant, with a snug fit and enough comfort to make them suitable for rides of any length.  

The Tempest fabric is reassuringly thick and fluffy inside, with a Roubaix lining to keep you warm. The material is also wind and water-resistant, which makes it an impressive barrier to the elements. The Orkaan bibs are not exactly fancy and do what they say on the tin, but the fit is great, the chamois is comfortable and the material is great for their intended temperature range.

Honourable mention: Le Col Pro Thermal Bib Shorts II

Le Col Pro Thermal Bib Shorts II

Le Col Pro Thermal Bib Shorts II

9
Great alternative to bib tights
Buy now for £130 from Le Col
Comfortable
Soft fabric
Weighty feel
Very cosy
Breathable

While this is a bib tights guide - as in full-length ones - we were never ones to do things totally by the book, so if you prefer layering up with leg warmers you might want to consider these thermal shorts from Le Col instead. 

The Le Col Pro Thermal Bib Shorts II replace the Pro Blackout Therma bib shorts, which got a glowing road.cc review. These great brushed fleece inner lined shorts offer a comfortable, and still warm, alternative to bib tights if the latter makes you feel a bit claustrophobic. 

Of course, you'll be wanting to pair these shorts with a solid set of leg warmers to cover the lower part of your legs, so head over to guide to the best arm and leg warmers to see your options. 

How to choose the best winter bib tights

faq-icon
What are winter bib tights?

Cycling bib tights are essentially tights with straps (or 'bibs') that go over your shoulders to keep them in place. Most of the time, they have a chamois (also called pad) inside, but it's possible to also find options without padding. Although cycling tights (without bib straps) are also available, in colder weather, a gap between your top and bottoms isn't going to help keep you warm, which is why the bib version is better - apart from the difficulty the straps can pose when you need a wee. 

Focussing specifically on winter bib tights (which make up a large part of the market) these are aimed at keeping you warm and dry. They're made of heavier materials, often with thermal properties, compared to normal tights made for fairer weather.

A winter bib also usually features technical fabrics such as DWR water-repellent coatings and thermal qualities. This helps them to perform in bad weather conditions and colder climates. The thicker fabric helps to keep heat in, but usually, the more you pay, the more breathability comes built into the fabrics, too. 

Additionally, winter bib tights will also often have other features to battle the winter elements, such as windproof panelling to keep the wind chill from zapping the enjoyment out of your winter riding and training. 

faq-icon
What makes cycling bib tights warm?

The warmest cycling tights will be those that have thermal qualities and windproof panelling to ensure your body heat stays in, and the cold keeps out. Moreover, water-repellent materials can also offer excellent protection against the elements, as keeping dry will also go a long way in keeping you warm. You might have experienced this when riding in snow or sleet: once you get wet it's hard to warm up, therefore bib tights with water-repellent or waterproof qualities are always a great feature to look out for when seeking the warmest bib tights for cycling. This also goes for any humidity inside the bibs; the more breathable they are, the better. This way you won't end up with a lot of moisture inside the tights if you climb or ride a little harder. 

Additionally, the fit of your bib tights is also important. You don't want them to be too tight or too baggy, and you want the waist to sit high enough so that you won't have a gap between your tights and jersey. Your bib tights should be more like an extra layer of skin, but at the same time, you need to be able to move around in them freely.

faq-icon
Can you wear bib shorts in winter?

Wearing bib shorts in winter is an alternative to wearing bib tights if you feel uncomfortable or claustrophobic while wearing tights. Paired with a set of the best leg warmers, bib shorts can be a comfortable and warm option. A great pick for winter shorts would be the Le Col Pro Blackout Therma bib shorts, they offer thermal protection and comfort even in the coldest of conditions.

Hence these bib shorts from Le Col made it onto our list as an honourable mention: in general bib shorts can be a little colder but these do keep you nice and toasty during the colder months. Similarly, these Assos Dyora RS Spring Fall Bib Shorts S9 are a warmer bib short option for women. 

faq-icon
What temperatures require bib tights?

The temperature in which bib tights should be worn really depends on how hot or cold you run.  If you find that you get cold pretty easily while out on the bike then it's a good idea to air on the side of caution and be a little too hot rather than a little too cold. Another factor to consider is the type of riding you are doing: for slower miles, you may need to wear more in comparison to days when you are doing short and higher intensity style riding. But overall, it's personal preference. 

A common unwritten rule is to cover your legs (either with leg warmers or bib tights) when temperatures drop under 17°C, but in the UK most of us likely stretch this to about 10 degrees. Full-blown winter bib tights are more suited to temperatures from 10°C and below: especially if it's raining or very windy, then the temperature will seem a little lower. 

Covering your legs ensures your muscles remain protected and warm, and by no means does it mean you're soft if you wear leg warmers when others are still rocking short sleeves. As previously mentioned, it is a personal preference and you must listen to your own needs.

Additionally, if being covered while riding is something you feel you need to do to keep to your religious practices, lighter bib tights or summer shorts with leg warmers can be a great way to cover your legs. This way you can keep cool in the summer months, even when the temperatures are well into the double figures. 

faq-icon
How do you wear cycling bib tights?

The first thing to note about bib tights is that they should always be worn without underwear unless they don't come with a chamois and you will wear them paired with cycling-specific pants. Although we appreciate the feeling of having chamois between your legs which is a little odd if you are new to cycling, the padding really helps to improve overall comfort. 

Also, ensuring you have the correct fitting bib tights will make a big difference in terms of how you are meant to wear them. This is because baggy or loose-fitting bib tights won't be as effective, nor as efficient at keeping your heat in, which is a vital part of winter riding. Therefore, a nice snug fit which allows unrestricted movement is ideal. A well-fitting pair of tights will also prevent any saddle issues you might encounter otherwise on long rides! 

It's important to note that the straps of the bib shorts should also be comfortable for you. They shouldn't dig in and cause discomfort but nor should they be baggy, and not holding your bibs in place securely. You should feel supported and comfortable with them over your shoulders without any issues - and if they dig in too much, try on some other options. The same goes for women - if you find that the straps are sitting awkwardly over your breasts, look for options that either have no straps or come with straps that cross on the chest between your breasts. 

Having learnt to ride a bike in order to race as a child, Charlotte is no stranger to life on two wheels. Racing across multiple disciplines over the years, she now focuses her time on road racing. Racing with her Belgium based team. Not only that, but Charlotte has many years experience working within the cycling industry alongside her racing endeavours. Therefore, it’s fair to say that anything with two wheels is right up her street.