Sportful Fiandre Light NoRain Bib Shorts

Excellent fit and comfort and really good performance in the rain aided by a unique bum flap that offers extra protection from rear wheel spray make these ideal shorts for the unpredictable spring weather.

To create these bib shorts, Italian company Sportful has essentially taken its very good Fiandre NoRain Bibtights and chopped the legs off. That means the shorts are made from the same NoRain water-repellent fabric that offers a decent level of protection in the rain. It's not a fully waterproof material, but it doesn't have the bulk or breathability issues of most waterproof fabrics.

That immediately makes these shorts well suited to the unpredictable conditions of spring, when you might set out under clear skies and return under a rain cloud. Where the fabric really impresses is that the water-repellent treatment doesn't compromise comfort or breathability. I've worn these shorts on dry sunny days and they've been just as comfortable and cool as regular bib shorts.

A unique feature of the shorts is the bum flap. Sportful more elegantly describes it as a "double layer of fabric on [the] lower back for increased rain protection where it's needed most".

That pretty much sums it up, the idea being simply to provide a secondary layer of NoRain fabric over the area that is most prone to sogginess from rear wheel spray, without compromising the fit and comfort of the shorts. Because this flap isn't stitched along the bottom edge it's able to move independently of the main part of the shorts. Sounds like a gimmick, but it works. These shorts kept me dryer in showers than regular bib shorts.

The construction of the shorts is top notch. As is the way with most modern bib shorts these days, the leg openings are flat and seamless. Sportful has used a very wide elasticated panel backed with a grippy material, and the result is that the shorts don't slide up your legs during a ride and comfort are of the highest order. No seam irritation here.

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A chunky mesh material is used for the back panel and the wide bib straps, and they spread pressure comfortably over the shoulders with enough stretch to provide easy nature breaks during a ride. There are a generous number of reflective strips on the back of the shorts, making them ideal for late evening rides or winter cycling.

Sportful's TC Pro padded insert is used across its range of shorts and it's a very comfortable pad, one of the best on the market. It uses a variety of foam thickness and density, from 14mm thick at the sit bones and slimming down to 7mm at the front and 4mm at the outer edges. The foam is perforated which boosts breathability and helps to keep the pad dry during hot and hard workouts.

I wore these during the Paris-Roubaix 175km sportive and they proved faultless, keeping me comfortable for the six hours I was in the saddle while the fabric dealt with the occasional puddles that featured on the route.

Verdict

Water-resistant bib shorts ideal for changeable spring conditions