Reviewed: 27 November 2009 by David Arthur RCUK

+ Comfortable, great fit, knee panel, chamois.
- Ankle zipper perhaps unnecessary.

Wiggle’s in-house clothing brand dhb has earned a reputation for being well priced over the years. For 2010 its new Finchdean bib tights aim to take things upmarket a little, with a higher price tag allowing for some fancier materials and a posher pad to be used.

They’re made from a Thermo-stretch wind resistant fabric which is soft as you like next to your skin, with a double layer Windtex panel over the front off the knees to keep the joints further protected from the cold. The bib straps and back are lined with a fleecy type material too, and it all goes to making them incredibly comfortable and warm on even the coldest days. They’re rated for temperatures between -2°C and +10°C, a fact which seems about right in testing, though I can’t vouch for their sub zero performance, yet…

Fit around the legs and torso is good, with multiple panels around the legs and the large panel over the knees giving enough freedom when pedaling and avoiding any bunching or pulling of the material. Ankle zippers help pulling them on, though I found I could slip my legs through without having to unzip them first. But some may need to open the zips first so they are a nice addition to have. Above the waist there’s a short zipper which makes getting into and out of the tights a cinch (and also helps with toilet stops as well!) with a large flap of material behind the zipper and a protective flap for the puller.

It’s easy to see where some of that extra money has gone when you look inside. A dazzlingly bright yellow Cytec Endurance 2 X-Tract anti-bacterial pad is an immediate improvement over the regular dhb Merston chamois, with a comfort level more suitable for long distance rides.
Verdict

Are they worth the extra £35 over the Merston bib tights? Yes, they’re just that little bit nicer and more comfortable

www.wiggle.co.uk/m/cycle/7/dhb

Score breakdown

Performance 5/5
Reliability 5/5
Value 5/5

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at 4:56 pm and is filed under Reviews, dhb Clothing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.