Reviews

LOOK [LM]MENT bib tights – review

Effective water repellent fabric but room for improvement on the fit

Designed for riding in wet conditions, the LOOK [LM]MENT bib tights are made from a water repellent fabric and provide additional protection from the elements compared to regular tights, but there’s room for improvement elsewhere.

The water repellent fabric has a soft, brushed, Roubaix-style lining on the inside, which is soft against the skin and effective at locking in warm air to provide a level of insulation you’d expect from thermal bib tights.

That fabric rises from the legs and up on to the abdomen. However, it’s not quite as high on the back which is odd, as the additional warmth is often welcome around the kidneys and lower back

LOOK’s [LM]MENT bib tights use a fabric which is fleecy on the inside and water repellent on the outside

Specification
Price: £149.99
Sizes: S-XXL
Size tested: M
Website: LOOK
UK distributor: Fisher Outdoor Leisure

The fabric is effective at beading water for about 40 minutes, but with consistent exposure to the elements – and that includes road spray – you’ll certainly find water working its way in and beginning to saturate the fabric within an hour. That’s fairly typical for a water repellent fabric like this and the thermal nature of the material means it still holds a fair degree of warmth when wet, though it isn’t particularly windproof so you will feel the chill on longer descents.

Conversely, when riding in warmer temperatures, the fabric is effective at wicking away sweat so you don’t get too hot or uncomfortable. The bib straps are also made from a light mesh, which helps a little in that regard, too.

The tights have a close, snug fit which is well cut around the waist and upper leg, but they feel about an inch too long on the leg for the size, and that results in noticeable bunching around the back of the knee. When out riding in the dry, that’s not a massive issue, but in the wet it can rub. Trying to pull the shin area down doesn’t change much, nor does folding the ankle over.

Finally on the fit, LOOK say the tights are cut from minimal panels to limit the amount of stitching where rain and road spray can creep in, though in reality there doesn’t seem to be any less panels than most tights.

The tights are a little too long in the leg, which means they’re prone to bunching behind the knee

The ankles have a six inch zipper closure and are also lined with a silicone gripper, while on the outside there’s also some reflective detailing. There are also a few other logos dotted around on the legs, but some of these began to peel after one ride and wash, which isn’t something I’d expect to see with tights at this price point.

The chamois is excellent and offers day-long comfort. It has a spongy feel to it but compresses comfortably when in the saddle, plus it also doesn’t hold too much water and, if it does get wet, still remains comfortable.

The plush chamois is excellent and offers day-long comfort

Conclusion

While the fit is a little irregular, unless you’re long in the leg, these are effective bib tights for riding in cool, wet conditions. They’re warm while remaining breathable, and offer more protection against rain and road spray that regular tights – but there’s certainly a limit as to what they’ll cope with. They’re a decent choice for regular training rides but if the fit was improved then they’d be excellent.