Hi All,
I thought this might be interesting to someone. I have been doing research on bibs, and I was astonished how many companies are out there.So I have listed bibs brands in 3 categories ( no specific order), based on my observation in the last few months.If you have suggestion, feel free to leave a comment, in the format “brand + their category + any more info”.I hope this post makes some progress 🙂 Thanks
​
**1st Category of popular brands: ( Top rated, Premium stuff )**
Rapha ( [https://www.rapha.cc/](https://www.rapha.cc/) )
ASSOS ( [https://www.assos.com/](https://www.assos.com/) )
LeCol ( [https://lecol.cc/fr/](https://lecol.cc/fr/) )
Castelli ( [https://www.castelli-cycling.com/](https://www.castelli-cycling.com/) )
Santini ( [https://www.santinisms.com.au/](https://www.santinisms.com.au/) )
MAAP ( [https://maap.cc/](https://maap.cc/) )
Pedla ( [https://thepedla.com/](https://thepedla.com/) )
PASnormalstudios ( [https://www.pasnormalstudios.com/](https://www.pasnormalstudios.com/) )
Q36.5 ( [https://www.q36-5.com/](https://www.q36-5.com/) )
Cafeducycliste [https://www.cafeducycliste.com/](https://www.cafeducycliste.com/jp_ja/)
Attaquer ( [https://attaquercycling.com/](https://attaquercycling.com/collections/catalog/Type_Bib-shorts+Mens) )
Pactimo ( [https://www.pactimo.com/](https://www.pactimo.com/) )
7mesh ( [https://7mesh.com/](https://7mesh.com/) )
Velocio ( [https://velocio.cc/](https://velocio.cc/) )
​
**2nd Category of Popular brands :**
DHB ( [https://www.wiggle.com.au/dhb](https://www.wiggle.com.au/dhb) )
BlackSheep ( [https://au.blacksheepcycling.cc/](https://au.blacksheepcycling.cc/) )
attacus ( [https://attacus.cc/](https://attacus.cc/) )
Edura ( [https://www.endurasport.com/](https://www.endurasport.com/) )
RedWhite ( [https://www.redwhite.cc/](https://www.redwhite.cc/) )
PearlIzumi ( [https://www.pearlizumi.com/](https://www.pearlizumi.com/) )
LaPassione ( [https://www.lapassione.cc/](https://www.lapassione.cc/) )
Endless ( [https://www.endless.cc/](https://www.endless.cc/collections/shorts) )
Proviz ( [https://www.provizsports.com/](https://www.provizsports.com/au/) )
Giordana ( [https://giordanacycling.com/](https://giordanacycling.com/) )
TØRM ( [https://www.torm.cc/our-story](https://www.torm.cc/our-story) )
Louis Garneau ( [https://garneau.com/ca_en/](https://garneau.com/ca_en/) )
Gorewear ( [https://www.gorewear.com/](https://www.gorewear.com/) )
Nalini ( [https://www.nalini.com/](https://www.nalini.com/) )
Sportful ( [https://www.sportful.com/](https://www.sportful.com/) )
​
**3rd category ( Less heard, but got good reviews ):**
GroundEffect ( [https://www.groundeffect.co.nz/](https://www.groundeffect.co.nz/) )
Blackbibs ( [https://the-black-bibs.myshopify.com/](https://the-black-bibs.myshopify.com/) )
NoPinz ( [https://www.nopinz.com/](https://www.nopinz.com/) )
NeoPro ( [https://www.neoprocycling.com.au/](https://www.neoprocycling.com.au/) )
StolenGoat ( [https://stolengoat.com](https://stolengoat.com) )
Hincapie ( [https://shop.hincapie.com/](https://shop.hincapie.com/) )
Oakey ( [https://www.oakley.com/](https://www.oakley.com/) ) New added no inputs yet
Rivelo ( [https://www.rivelo.cc/](https://www.rivelo.cc/) ) New added no inputs yet
Ryzon ( [https://www.ryzon.net/](https://www.ryzon.net/) ) New added no inputs yet
by 7croissants
34 Comments
Pas Normal Studios only second tier? Why is that?
[https://www.cafeducycliste.com/](https://www.cafeducycliste.com/jp_ja/)
Cafe is S rank.
• DHB should be lower, it is quality stuff but not premium
• Pas Normal is definitely in the 1st category, I personally don’t own any gear, but from what I’ve seen in shops its definitely made well
• BlackBibs should be in the 3rd or lower category,
You can include Endless or NDLSS (or however they have chosen to spell their brand name) in the second category.
There is also Q36.5 for high tech cycling apparel of great quality
In no particular order…road, mountain, fixie/street wear, keirin: just all the shit from my bookmarks:
PACTIMO
SUGOi
HINCAPIE
VOID
PROVIZ
ALE
TEAM DREAM
ELIEL
ANGLES CREATIVE
VOLER
WYN REPUBLIC
TWIN SIX
RYZON
TORM
ATTAQUER
CRAFT
SHOWERS PASS
GIORDANA
PEDLA
BLACK SHEEP
ORNOT
PODIA
FASTHOUSE
EVOC
DAKINE
SUPACAZ
OSTROY
CADENCE
SEARCH AND STATE
GODANDFAMOUS
COURAGE
5BLING
ENDO CUSTOMS
CIMA COPPI CYCLE WEAR
SIROKO
7MESH
PARIA
VELOCIO
ROMANCE
Great post. I need new bibs.
Kinda think Northwave is worth mentioning.
Where’s my boy Louis Garneau? And is he second or third tier?
I’d add GoreWear in there too. Maybe second tier? Their stuff is pretty great in my experience but not sure on their popularity.
I’d also like to nominate a Korean brand that I mostly use; Arden (and Cheese Cycling Club). Their stuff is super well priced imo and I’ve got no complaints about fit or quality or option.
Black Sheep is definitely top tier for their jerseys. I don’t rate their bibs although they’re comfy enough and look good with the kit. I don’t think Attaquer belongs in the second tier either. Their kit quality is exceptional and is on par with MAAP if not better in some areas (eg bibs at the same price but better quality).
3 brands you could add:
Pactimo, god&famous, cafe du cycliste
Gobik and velocio are another two.
Gobik is criminally underrated imo and velocio is just another high end brand
PedalEd,
Isadore ,
DeMarchi,
Bibici
All always gets over looked and is top two tiers def check them out
You completely missed Velocio and Ornot. They should be in category one.
LaPassione are nowhere near a top tier brand. If you’ve ordered their stuff (or looked at reputable reviews) it’s nothing close to Rapha, Assos, Castelli, etc. in quality or features. It’s more in the “cheap but good bang for the buck” tier, probably a bit above DHB or Black bibs. I haven’t used every brand on the list but of the second tier brands I would say Endura, Black Sheep, Pearl Izumi, and Giordana are all above it.
The higher end Giordana is every bit as good as Assos based on my experience.
[Velocio](https://velocio.cc) is missing from 1st category. Their LUXE bib is the best I’ve ridden in.
LeCol, premium?
Blacksheep, Attaquer, Velocio, Café du Cycliste needs to be in the first cat. Honestly though it’s a tough one because you can’t compare Castelli/Sportful with boutique stuff which is way nicer even though quality can be at the same level.
Great post!
3 Standouts you are missing:
Cat 2 Ostroy
Cat 1 Machines for Freedom
Cat 1 Veloccio
I have very positive experience with Voler and Pactimo.
[Twin Six](https://www.twinsix.com/products/standard-bib-short-v2?variant=7538640515) bibs are great. I have had several pairs and just really into what they have going on! Check em’ out.
The challenge here is that different lines mix things up. Higher lines from ‘lower brands’ are often above lower lines from ‘higher brands’
Nice thinking here, would be cool to see a scatter plot on quality and price. That would be super useful for folks trying to make a buying decision
Nice list but there are a few missing dimensions:
1. How good is their after sale support / warranty?
2. Is the brand selling from US only? EU only? Etc. Being able to source/return apparel locally is a major point. Think also of Specialized who won’t sell (some?) shoes in half sizes in Europe.
3. Most brands have quality tiers. How easy is to tell the high end from the low end stuff? (Ex: Castelli explicitly tags their high end with “Rosso Corsa”).
4. How difficult is it to verify claims of “breathable waterproof” etc. I find it hard to know whether “brandname-own waterproof” is as good as GoreTex.
The last point is specially important in Europe where once you wear something, shops will not accept it to be returned. In the USA, my experience is that shops will just take anything back. But in Europe it really needs to be basically unworn.
La passion is just as good as my Rapha stuff for much less . Assos still king tho
I know this is an old post but my two cents after trying a variety of brands. Love the designs of Pactimo but I think their quality is more towards tier two. La Passione quality is top tier for the money and should be in tier one. Geordana I just got their fr-c pro bibs and think they are freaking amazing! The fit, chamois, comfort, and build quality are just so on point I could wear them all day. They deserve tier one. Wasn’t really impressed with Voler’s bibs or jerseys for quality. IMO some of the other brands like Rapha, Castelli, Eliel, etc are over rated. And while Elastic Interface makes most of the different tiers of chamois pads there are other companies out there.
Also Endura Sport makes some good entry level stuff for the money! Maybe overall a tier 2?
I haven’t shopped all the brands, Assos intrigues me. But from experience I do like Attaquer All Day and Cafe Du Cycliste bibs. Attaquer jerseys are all good… But the real surprise is Twin Six. Best brand for the money…they are pretty reasonable and excellent quality. They run true to size or a bit big…my L stuff fits well but XL is very loose – about right. Price v quality is exceptional. Got some thermals from them and for like $220 US for bibs and jersey, forget about it. (was a package promo). Ostroy is good on style, ok on quality. GodAndFamous similar, but really dig the vibe
What about bioracer? I’ve seen Belgian pros use it, and I have their cheapest bibs that are the best pair I’ve ever had (never had the high end stuff though)
Missing Twin Six, Ostroy, God and Famous, Pedal Mafia, Givelo, Obbi, Pacto, Ornot, Eliel
My opinions:
Durable and great fit for competition:
MAAP
Rapha
Ornot (especially their House jerseys which are fantastic in every way)
Sportful
Assos (super expensive but usually worth it)
Santini (IMO, one of the more under-appreciated brands out there)
Higher end Castelli
Pearl Izumi winter stuff
Not very durable but great fit for competition:
Lower end Castelli
Eliel (just got a bunch of stuff from them, great race fit but seems a little chintzy)
Giordana
Durable but don’t fit very well:
Hincapie
Pearl Izumi summer stuff
Cheap but pretty good training stuff:
Black Bibs
NeoPro
Personally not a fan of:
La Passione (not cheap and not durable)
PNS (over hyped, over priced and terrible logo)
For category 1, what about Pedal Mafia in Santa Monica, CA and Ostroy in NYC?
Pedal Mafia https://usa.pedalmafia.cc
Ostroy https://ostroy.com
I would put La Passione in 1st tier. Their jerseys and bibs, especially from Striver up are just so nice to wear and feel. The bib gives me the least problems in the saddle too.
Castelli used to be there. Trash now. Swap spots with Giordana
It’s a shame that Gobik isn’t mentioned. Very decent brand that is sitting between 1st and 2nd tier.
But it is strange that rapha is 1st tier and lapasione is 2nd tier. Rapha makes very good stuff, but also very mediocre stuff. Lapasione is godlike for the price you’re paying.