It’s only been a few years now that cargo bibs have been available. Spurred from the popularity of gravel riding, nearly all cyclists can appreciate the added utility they provide — not just gravel riders. The Sportful Ultra Bib Shorts are the Italian brand’s entry into the cargo bib space and I’ve had a lot of miles on the road, gravel and MTB with these versatile bib shorts.
Sportful Ultra Bib Shorts Features:
- Durable four-way stretch woven fabric
- Reinforced cargo pockets on both legs
- Two extra side pockets on waist
- Reduced seams to avoid rubbing, creating a minimal design
- DMS seatpad is quick drying and supportive, without added bulk
- MSRP: $240
Cargo up with the Ultra Bib Shorts
While I’m not about to hop on the lumberjack trend for gravel riding, I’m game for some added utility. Many gravel events and long rides require added storage capability for self-support. Frame bags are good options, but why not add some cargo storage with a well-built pair of bib shorts. Sportful is no stranger to high-performance road kits and have been venturing into mountain biking and gravel in recent years. With Sportful-sponsored Peter Sagan now going off-road into “retirement” I can see the brand venturing further into the gravel and mountain bike scene.
With cargo bib shorts, many may wonder if designers are simply slapping leg pockets on them and calling it a day. While it may seem simple, it’s a little more than that as those pockets need reinforcement and placement is a key factor in their livability. There is a sweet spot on the outer thigh that allows almost-transparent storage of gels, bars, phones and other similarly-sized objects and Sportful has nailed that placement. So much that I’ve actually wandered around looking for a SiS gel or phone that has simply “disappeared” in one of the leg pockets. Well, call me old or, as I’d prefer, call it great design. That comfortable stowage continues on the bike as items go unnoticed under even the most significant efforts.
While many bib shorts have opted for butter-soft straps, Sportful has gone with a little less comfort when it comes to the strap material. I wouldn’t call them cheese graters, but let’s just say that there are more comfortable and slightly-wider bib short straps out there from the competition. While I didn’t have any chafing, I most often wore a lightweight base layer, like the Velocio Gravel Base Layer underneath for added comfort.
Uniquely, Sportful has chosen to ditch silicone leg grippers completely, in favor of a folded and welded seam. That simple double-back design has proven to do the job without any leg creeping whatsoever. Speaking of the legs, the inseam length is a little shorter than modern bib shorts — especially against the Velocio Luxe V2 Bib Shorts (which are really long). If you prefer a longer leg length, just be aware that these are somewhat shorter than modern bib shorts, by at least an inch or two.
The overall fit feels right, with the straps stretching to pull the lowers taut on my body. However, I do feel like the short material lacks the type of structure I’d expect for a pair of bib shorts at this price point. No, the Sportful Ultra Bib Shorts don’t provide much hip or thigh compression to speak of. On the positive side, they effortlessly stretch with every movement, but I’d honestly prefer a little more compression for added muscle support. Along those lines, the Pearl Izumi Expedition PRO Cargo Bib Shorts offer cargo pockets, compression and a modern length, for comparison.
Now, the all-important chamois is always top-of-mind when it comes to a great pair of bib shorts. On the budget side, the Pearl Izumi Attack Air Bib Shorts have blown me away by their chamois comfort in a $160 package. Sportful has employed their DMS seatpad with the Ultra Bib Shorts and it does leave something to be desired at a $240 price tag. It’s thin and light, but still doesn’t breathe as well as the best liners and certainly lacks comfort for long, rough rides. It’s not terrible, but I’d expect a little more sophistication at this price point and would think twice about using these for a long gravel race like SBT GRVL.
Most of my riding has been in the 60-90 degree range here in Utah under dry conditions. On a few humid mornings or long, indoor trainer rides, I have noticed that the seat pad did allow some minor chafing. While dry, this never happened, but once saturated, all bets were off and I did get a small amount of discomfort on my legs at the edges of the pad.
Fit: I’m 5’11” and 173 lbs, wearing the size large Sportful Ultra Bib Shorts.
The Good:
- Leg cuffs stay put without silicone grippers
- Leg pockets quietly carry items
- Added hip pockets to stash empty wrappers
- Fabric stretches well for uninhibited movement
The Bad:
- Leg length feels short
- Chamois comfort isn’t what I’d expect at this price
- Upper straps are scratchy
- I’d love more muscle/structural support with a more compressive fabric
The Bottom Line: Sportful Ultra Bib Shorts
The Sportful Ultra Bib Shorts offer a good amount of added stowage for longer rides, but the chamois leaves a bit to be desired for lengthly rides. I do appreciate the simple leg cuffs and how items disappear in the leg pockets, but overall I’d expect more compression at this price point. These are a good pair of bib shorts if you can find them on sale for a little less.
Buy Now: Available from CompetitiveCyclist.com
