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.

Most modern tights come with an integrated chamois but some, including the Rapha Classic tights reviewed here, are offered sans pad. That means you can wear them over your favourite shorts and get a couple more days use out of the tights before they need washing. Wearing shorts and tights also boosts warmth on cold days. That said, we prefer the fit and convenience of tight with a pad.

Look for a chamois with a multi-density construction (so more padding is placed where it’s needed, most likely under the sit bones, and less where it’s not), made from an anti-bacterial fabric with good wicking properties.

As the price of a pair of bib tights rises, the quality of the chamois will invariably improve, and, considering you’re likely to spend as much of the year in tights as shorts, investing in tights with a good quality (read – comfortable) chamois is money well spent.