Oneten Primo Bib Shorts

The Oneten Primo bib shorts put in a solid performance for summer riding.

The shorts are made from six panels of a mid-weight polyamide/elastane that are cut to give a good anatomical shape. The wide leg grippers are made from a double thickness of similar (though not exactly the same) fabric. There's no silicone inside there, though, so they don't hold onto your legs as well as some. I found they could slide up a little in use – not loads, but a bit.

That also means there's nothing to hang on to knee or leg warmers so you can occasionally be left with a band of uncovered skin. Those logos on the left leg, by the way, are printed – they're not of the iron-on variety – so they won't crack and fall off.

The chamois is made from XP1 perforated foam with some pretty large holes in the layer closest to your skin. It's not the most sophisticated pad ever but it does a reasonable job. It's deeply cushioned but not all that dense so you start feeling the saddle a bit more than you'd like towards the end of long rides. I'd have preferred the deepest section of padding to reach a little further forward for riding down on the drops and for it to be a touch more stretchy, but it does a good enough job for the money. The best feature of the chamois is that it is very breathable. Even on hot rides in the midday sun, it handles moisture well.

The straps are mesh and they provide plenty of breathability, especially around the back where large holes in the fabric let moist air escape. Oneten say these straps feature 'unique one-way stretch technology, meaning the fabric will only stretch horizontally in order to prevent sagging'. I have to disagree. They stretch more horizontally, but they certainly stretch vertically too - not that I had a problem with them sagging, so that's largely academic.

Thoughtfully, Oneten have stuck the label on the outside so it won't irritate you. Everyone should do that. It's covered by your jersey so no one can see it.

We've seen very similar shorts from Italian brand Pissei but that doesn't alter the fact that, although lacking standout features, these are a good all-round offering.

Verdict

Although lacking stand-out features, these are good, all-round summer shorts.