Assos S5 F1 Uno bib shorts £118

Assos have earnt themselves an enviable reputation for producing the most comfortable bib shorts in the world, so when it came to replacing them, no mean task, it pulled out all the stops with the S5. As we find out, the bar has been raised yet again.

Before you get them on, pulling them out of the packaging is an experience in itself. They come wrapped up in branded tissue paper inside a sturdy cardboard box, and a wash bag and two small pots of washing detergent and chamois cream are supplied.

There are three models of S5 shorts in the range. Tested here are the ones that Assos describe for ‘All-around racing and training short’, the F1 Uno. That sounds like the kind of riding that most of get up to. Oh, and they’re also the cheapest of the S5 family too.

What makes them so comfortable you might ask? Well, it’s all in the brand new chamois, the oddest looking we’ve ever seen. It has a dimpled (think gold balls) finish which holds the high density foam pad perfectly in place. It’s really soft next to the skin and the one-piece construction and lack of seams and stitches makes them the most comfortable shorts we’ve ever tried. From the moment you first sit on your saddle to the last few miles of a long-distance sportive, you notice the comfort. It’s bliss.

In the fit department they’re as if Assos paid us a visit and tailor made the shorts for us. How Assos have achieved this unprecedented fit is a six-panel design with an anatomic cut made from a Lyrca that provides just the right degree of stretch, not too much but just enough. There’s a flurry of details that advance that fit and comfort, such as the wide elastic leg grippers that never felt uncomfortable, and the wide bib straps and mesh back-panel. There’s a smattering of Assos logos to let other cyclists know you’re wearing them too.

Caring for them is easy if you follow the Assos washing instructions, but even if you don’t they come out the washing machine nicely. This test pair have been put through a thorough test and still look brand new, and we doubt any concerns regarding their durability will ever be raised either.

Verdict

They’re mightily expensive but they’re such a leap forward in comfort that we can’t help but recommend them. Buy a pair and you’ll never look back.

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Incredibly comfort, fit, materials

Expensive

More at www.assos.com