Buyer's guide: winter tights
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There are a wide range of winter bib tights on the market
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More consideration needs to be given to the fight, given the extra material
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A brushed lining, often dubbed Roubaix by manufacturers, provides significantly more insulation than unlined polyester and is soft next to the skin
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If you have a favourite brand of summer shorts with a chamois you find comfortable, it’s likely that the same manufacturer will produce a pair of bib tights with the same (or similar) pad
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Look for wide bib straps
Buyer's guide: winter tights
Unless you can migrate south for the winter, it’s important your clothing is up to the task of protecting you from the elements until the first warm rays of spring sun break through.
We demand a lot from clothing at this time of year, none more so than tights, which are tasked with keeping our legs dry and warm without hindering pedaling.
It’s little surprise, then, that there’s no shortage of options, but where to start?
Here’s your first decision: bib-tights or waistband tights? It’s down to personal preference, but most riders (including us) prefer bibs, as waistband tights have a tendency to dig in, and bib straps provide additional support for the chamois.
There’s plenty more to consider besides bib or no bibs when on the hunt for a new pair of tights to keep your legs turning through winter. Over the next four pages we’ll consider the importance of fit, fabric and the chamois, and run through some of the key features we expect to see on a good pair of winter bib tights.