At a glance Warm, waterproof bib tights that come in standard or fleece-lined variants and equip your legs to take on any weather the winter can throw at you.
Tested by
Jon Adams, tester for The Bike List
Performance
Choosing winter legwear doesn't present too many problems for the cyclist - you just go for what's most appropriate: leg warmers or tights for when it's too chilly for shorts (say +12 to +6°C); winter tights when it's cold (say, +6 to -2°C), and light overtrousers over the top if gets really cold (say 0° to -5°). If you're still pedalling when the temperatures drop even lower than that, then you're probably wearing mountaineering-style kit, as cycle-specific clothing isn't really designed for full-on, sub-zero stuff. As for the rain and sleet, that can be tolerated with tights or leg warmers for shorter runs, or kept at bay for commuters and tourers with overtrousers.
While this system is simple, it can be quite a bulky set up, and carrying overtrousers - or even worse, having to stop and put them on or take them off - is a pain, especially if the weather's changeable or if you're trying to keep time on the way to work. A great solution would be a pair of warm cycling tights that are fully waterproof, and here's exactly where the Stealth Biblongs come in. They come in two variants, the Extreme - which sports a warm, Fieldsensor fleece lining right through the length of the tights, and the Stealth Lite version, which comes without. They're the same price at £140, so you pick whichever is the most suitable for the conditions you ride in. If it helps, the Extreme Biblongs aren't as warm as you might think, but they'll happily take you from around +5 to -5°C. The Lite version is fine from about +10 to +3°C.
The construction consists of welded seams with external tape seals on the waterproof part of the tights, and the waterproofing itself is provided by an Entrant membrane. The waterproof fabric stops at the waist, and above that, the chest and braces are made from a more breathable, stretchy fleece, and there's a mesh insert at the top of the back to help with cooling. A short zip at the front helps get them on and assists with calls of nature, and there are waterproof ankle zips that fasten loosely enough to allow shoe covers to be worn underneath. Large retro-reflective "Endura" logos adorn both sides, and the retro-reflective piping and flashes are also found at the ankle zips and the front of the ankle cuff.
The Extreme bibs were damp inside after an hour-long runs at 2° and -2°, though the fleece interior wicks the water away from the skin so you only feel it when you take them off. Just as with any waterproof layer, breathability is compromised by the waterproofing itself, though this is definitely a price worth paying if you are out in poor conditions (ie cold and wet), as you don't have to bother stopping to change clothes or faff around with layers. You simply plough through whatever nature throws at you, and this in itself is quite liberating.
When the weather changes and the heavens open, we all tend to either
a) stop and don waterproofs, or
b) suffer in the vain hope that it'll clear up.
With the Stealth bibs (and the jacket, too), you just carry on pedalling, and what's more, you do it with a smug grin on your face because you're warm and dry. The experience is actually quite odd the first few times, as it's weird to have this level of versatility and weather protection in one layer, but you rapidly get used to it, and it's great!
In use, there's a slight resistance in the bibs around the knees, and this means you're working a fraction harder than normal to overcome this when pedalling. It's not a big deal, but compared to more flexible legwear with articulated knees, it is noticeable, and a pair of regular bibtights under lightweight overtrousers actually gives less resistance than these. Aside from this, the only issue I had with the bibs was the fact that they're not available with a pad. This means you either ride 'bareback', or more commonly, it means you wear your usual shorts underneath the tights. The advantage of this is you can change/wash your shorts daily and carry on wearing the bibs for as long as is practical before washing. The disadvantage is that the fit is really tight around the thighs (and I don't even have 'big' legs), so the legs of your under-shorts can get rolled up as you put the Biblongs on.
In all honesty, it's not too much of a pain, but it'd be nice to have the option of a built-in pad for those who like to get dressed and out the door fast! We checked with Endura, and their research suggested that a pad wouldn't be necessary for the hygiene and washing reason mentioned above, and because the product has sold so well in its chamois-free form, the padded option has never been explored.
The best solution we found was to use a pair of liner shorts. These are nice and thin, so don't bulk out the narrow thighs, and they're also nice and cheap, at around £15-20 a pair. Endura make their own, but there are also good options from dhb, Altura, Craft and more besides.
Overall, the Stealth biblongs are a superb piece of winter kit. The only downsides are the resistance around the knees, the lack of a pad option (if that matters to you), and the fairly high price. £140 is rather steep for bike legwear, but when you consider it gets you warm, waterproof, all-weather tights that'll carry you through the cold and wet from November to March, it's not quite as bad as it sounds. If you have to make a choice between these and Endura's Stealth Jacket, then get the jacket. But if you can afford to spend £300 on a complete winter clothing system, you won't be disappointed in getting the bibs as well.
Buy Extreme biblongs from www.evanscycles.com
or Lite biblongs from www.chainreactioncycles.com
Endura says:
Another first from Endura, fully seam-sealed waterproof Lycra® legwear
- Ultrasonically welded construction and fast wicking Fieldsensor® micro-fleece liner fabric create a warm, smooth and superbly comfortable inner surface
- Entrant® waterproof membrane and external waterproof stretch taping keep you bone-dry in even the wettest conditions
- Laser cut and bonded ankle zippers with snapdown pullers allow snug fit over overshoes
- Reflective ankle patches and reflective Endura logo on thigh offer excellent visibility
- Thermolite® upper body with front zip on Biblongs
- Waterproofness: 20,000mm
- Breathability: 8,000gms
- Available in sizes S-XXL
Find out more www.endura.co.uk
