Bib shorts vs cycling shorts: Which should you choose?

Although many cyclists prefer bib shorts, waist shorts for cycling offer an alternative that has both advantages and disadvantages. Here, we'll go through the pros and cons of bib shorts and waist shorts to help you decide which is right for you.

A good quality, well-fitting pair of cycling shorts can be the difference between an enjoyable ride and absolute misery on the bike. Beyond just getting the right fit and seat pad, the choice of bib straps or waist shorts is a fundamental decision in choosing the right cycling shorts for you. 

Bibs have primarily become the default for the best cycling shorts and are what you'll find the majority of experienced road riders wearing. Bibs are a carryover from yesteryear when the fabrics that made up our cycling kit were less refined and required a pair of suspenders to hold them up. Lycra has changed all that, but even despite improvements in manufacturing, fabric tech and tailoring, the straps have persisted. They have advantages still today, which we'll outline below.

Nowadays we have self-supporting fabrics and improvements in fit to the point that leg grippers are slowly disappearing as well, and brands are beginning to rethink their take on cycling outer layers. 

Mountain bikers the world over have been wearing bib-free liner shorts under their baggies for years, and the loose short aesthetic has spread to some of the best gravel bike shorts and shorts for more casual riding.

The result is that outfits like Rapha, Sportful, Machines for Freedom and even Assos are offering high-quality waist shorts. 

So is it high time to ditch the braces, or are bibs for cycling still the way to go?

Bib shorts

The main argument for bib shorts is that the straps eliminate the need for a waistband, instead using straps that go up and over your shoulders. With no elastic needed around your waist, there is nothing to restrict diaphragmatic (belly) breathing, which can help you through a rough effort. The lack of a waistband can also be more comfortable when riding with in a road bike position.

While there may be nothing to dig into your abdomen, the straps, whilst stretchy aren't adjustable, and for larger riders, they can sometimes dig into the shoulders.

While you may look a bit like a Luchador in just bibs, there is no arguing with how well the straps hold everything comfortably in place, and the seat pad stays precisely where it needs to be regardless of whether you're sitting, standing or slogging up that brutal climb. Repeated standing and sitting can mean that the waistband of waist shorts slips down over time and needs hauling up, something that bib shorts avoid. 

Bibs also reduce the potential for chafing because things aren't moving around and rubbing in places they shouldn't. For riders who are larger around the middle, bib straps will also help to keep everything where it should be as there is no waistband to potentially roll down. 

If you want to carry extras in your shorts, cargo bib shorts are likely to offer more capacity and stay up better under the weight of gels or a phone than cargo waist shorts.

Traditionally, bib shorts have occupied the higher performance end of the market and have seen better quality materials, fit and seat pad, but high-end waist shorts are beginning to percolate through select ranges. 

Women cyclists often find bib shorts uncomfortable and awkward. Although there are designs that realign the straps, standard bib straps may cut into their breasts. Comfort breaks are also awkward as it means more kit needs to be removed, so there are various cunning designs of women's bib shorts that offer dropped tails without needing to remove the bibs.

Examples include Velocio's FLYfree back and a few zip-off and halter-neck designs from Giro, Gore, Rapha, Endura and Assos among others.

Another benefit to bibs is that it prevents the dreaded lower back sunburn caused by a jersey that has ridden up. Because bibs go up and over your shoulders, they take an extra bit of fabric with them, extending up your torso which prevents unsightly gaps. 

That said, with this extra layer of material, they are warmer too, although this can be an advantage when riding in cooler conditions. The best thermal bib shorts tend to be designed with a high waist for extra insulation and overlap with the top half of your clothing.

Some brands cut the front of their summer bib shorts lower than would be practicable with waist shorts, for better air circulation on hot rides.

It's not all unicorns and butterflies, as beyond just digging in, bib straps can cause their own chafing and chapping, which for some is bad enough to require a base layer to ride in comfort. 

Shorts/Waist Shorts

Shorts or waist shorts, as the name suggests, eliminate the bib straps and rely on a waistband to hold them up. The waistband itself comes in a variety of designs, from some that are akin to the top of your favourite gym shorts, to strategically cut designs that come up a bit higher and grip onto your hip bone.

These waistbands are usually made from a higher gauge material that offers a bit of additional structure to prevent the shorts from creeping down as you pedal, and usually act a bit like a sweat sponge that is stuck to your midsection for the duration of your ride. 

Even the best pair of waist shorts still won't be as secure as a comparable pair of bibs, and you'll likely have to do some rearranging throughout your ride and will also likely have to pull down the back of your jersey. Even those with grippers still ride up a bit and depending on how high the waist shorts come, there may be a slight gap to contend with when you lean forward to reach for the handlebars. 

Without the straps and panel of fabric that goes up your torso over your back and shoulders, waist shorts are without a doubt cooler, and we've been using them on the indoor trainer to show off as much skin as possible to maximise cooling. 

They also make toilet breaks a breeze compared to bibs. We all remember Tom Dumoulin's strip show on the side of the road on Stage 16 of the 2017 Giro d'Italia - a race he went on to win, for what it's worth - which was the result of his bib shorts. Jonas Vingegaard had the same problem at the 2023 Vuelta a España where he placed second.

Not long ago the biggest problem with waist shorts was that they were reserved to the budget end of the spectrum and usually had a pretty basic seat pad sewn in and a narrow waistband; this is no longer the case. Should you be so inclined, top-end Swiss brand Assos offers its Mille GT shorts, including the Elastic Interface pad of the same name complete with the goldenGate, but without bib straps. 

Verdict

So, which is best? Honestly, it's up to you, both bib shorts and waist shorts have their merits, as well as their drawbacks. It's down to you to decide what will work best for your style of riding.