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review

Nopinz Souplesse Bib Shorts

9
£119.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Performance-focused bib shorts that nail the comfort factor too
A very supportive chamois
Laser cut bib straps are barely noticeable
Impressive build quality
Weight: 
170g
Contact: 
road.cc Recommends

This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Nopinz Souplesse Bib Shorts are ideal for fast riding, whether you are out for a blast or going long. The high-density pad is very supportive, providing a comfortable barrier between you and the saddle regardless of the terrain. They are very well made too, and at a price that looks good compared with others out there.

The Pro-1s Nick tested last year are Nopinz's full-on aero bib shorts, leaving this Souplesse pair to back off the speed a bit and enjoy the comfort on rides that could last all day.

> Buy now: Nopinz Souplesse Bib Shorts for £119.99 from Nopinz

That doesn't mean performance has been forgotten, though – these are still a close-cut pair of shorts, and the MITI fabric has a great feeling of compression that supports your muscles when you're riding.

2022 Nopinz Souplesse Bib Shorts - back.jpg

The compression means the shorts don't require deep cuffs, with just a small band of silicone keeping everything in place at the bottom.

2022 Nopinz Souplesse Bib Shorts - cuff gripper.jpg

The fabric feels great; it's not as shiny as some Lycra, which means there is no issue with sliding around on the saddle. It's durable, too – even after six weeks of riding there are no marks or scuffs from their interaction with the saddle.

2022 Nopinz Souplesse Bib Shorts - legs back.jpg

I found the fit really good, too, with the multi-panel design creating a shape that works well on the bike without causing any bunching of the material when hunched over in the drops.

Considering all of the panels, the seams are remarkably unobtrusive, not making themselves noticeable when riding, even on long adventures.

2022 Nopinz Souplesse Bib Shorts - cuff.jpg

I am also a fan of the bib straps. Being laser cut, there are no seams anywhere on the upper body so they're very comfortable, and the thinness of the fabric means that there is no pressure over the shoulders.

2022 Nopinz Souplesse Bib Shorts - straps front.jpg

It's the chamois that's the star of the show, though. It's made by Elastic Interface and the padding is definitely on the firm side. That might not sound ideal for long hours in the saddle, but it really works. The padding compresses enough to soak up the road vibrations, but you'll always stay suspended above the saddle so there is no bunching of the material or hot spots.

2022 Nopinz Souplesse Bib Shorts pad.jpeg

The central channel reduces pressure and the ventilation holes on the front of the pad do help you keep cool.

> 5 ways proper kit can boost your cycling

Sizing-wise, the shorts are about what you'd expect for UK clothing, but it's worth checking Nopinz' guide to be sure. I'm a medium in most kit but am right on the cusp between medium and large here, and happy in a large.

Value

The overall quality is impressive, these are some very well-made shorts, which makes the £119.99 price tag look very competitive.

I was really impressed with the NVPA Bib/Short Navy, for example. They are made from MITI's fabrics and come with a great pad as well, but cost £145 – and I'd say the Souplesse shorts are slightly better across the board in terms of comfort.

> Buyer’s Guide: 10 of the best cycling bib shorts

I also tested the Rapha Classic Bib Shorts last year and thought they were very good. You'll need to add another 50 quid for the same level of the performance as the Souplesse, though.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a very comfortable pair of bib shorts, from the material right through to the chamois, and for not a lot of money compared with the opposition.

Verdict

Performance-focused bib shorts that nail the comfort factor too

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Nopinz Souplesse Bib Shorts

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

Nopinz says, "Pedal with effortless style in the Souplesse range.

"Striking a perfect balance between comfort and performance, the Souplesse Bib Shorts are our ultimate offering for all day comfort out on the road or just those all important café rides. Featuring premium Italian solid dyed MITI fabrics with heat applied graphics for exceptional durability. Ride comfort is catered for thanks to an all-day endurance pad from Elastic Interface paired with laser-cut breathable lightweight bib straps. The fit is completed by seamless silicone grippers to avoid any movement on the leg."

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

Nopinz lists:

Laser-cut breathable lightweight bib straps.

Elastic Interface Chamois featuring EIT pad technology.

Low profile seamless silicone leg grippers.

Luxurious Italian fabrics.

Heat applied Oil slick graphic detailing.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

A bit smaller than some UK brands but tally with Nopinz' guide.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

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

No problems after putting them through the washing machine many times.

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

A very comfortable pair of shorts that have a performance edge.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The pad is spot on for day-long rides.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing.

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

When you take into account the performance and comfort, these are very well priced, as you can see from the competition mentioned in the review.

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

There is barely anything to fault here: quality fabrics and a top notch chamois, all stitched together very neatly. They're excellent.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 42  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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3 comments

Avatar
holtyboy | 1 year ago
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I couldn't find anything saying so, but are these made in the UK at Nopinz HQ in Devon?

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sparrowlegs replied to holtyboy | 1 year ago
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Yep. I asked them before ordering. My first pair were made by Lynn. They'd stopped making navy blue but did a single pair for me. I've now just ordered a green pair fully custom coloured. 

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sparrowlegs | 1 year ago
0 likes

If these are anything like Nopinz's Pro-1 bibshorts they'll be superb. I've got 2 pairs of the Pro-1 and I've just ordered a custom colour 3rd pair for only £30 extra over the normal price. Still great value imo and best of all is they are made in the UK!

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