Velocio Luxe bib short review: an expensive but stellar performer
The Luxe bib shorts have had a revamp, but have the updates improved an already great product?
The Luxe is Velocio’s best-selling short, and has been for some time. This revised version features changes to the legs, waist, and straps that Velocio claims elevate the Luxe shorts to an even higher level of performance.
We loved the previous version of the Luxe bib shorts from the American brand, which we tested four years ago, so can the latest iteration still impress?
In keeping with Velocio’s compression claims, the Luxe fabric is fairly substantial and feels noticeably more robust than many of the best bib shorts. The legs only have two panels to keep potentially irritating seams to a minimum, which, coupled with the matte black finish, gives the shorts a very minimalist look, broken up only by the small, reflective ‘Velocio’ wording on the right thigh, an even smaller logo on the left thigh, and one on the left buttock.
Subtle branding and good leg length
Equally subtle are the ‘hems’, although there aren’t any in the traditional sense. As with many (but not all) modern shorts, the leg ends are raw-cut, with about 3cm of silicone grippers printed on the inside. The waist of the shorts is Lycra-bound, however, and sits higher than the previous model – over rather than under the belly button.
The straps have also been upgraded; the natty white straps are now joined up the rear with a mesh panel to help them sit in just the right place, and no longer cross over each other. The motivational words ‘Go the distance’ are printed on one strap with ‘Luxe’ on the other.
One thing Velocio clearly thinks didn’t need improvement is the seat pad, which remains unchanged. It is a proprietary unit rather than one that has been bought in, and uses multi-density layers for comfort and perforations for breathability and moisture management, with reduced padding along the centre to reduce pressure. The front, thinner section is cup-shaped to keep everything in place.
From a sustainability point of view, the shorts are made from 57% Polyamide Recycled (with Elastane making up the remaining 43%), arrive in compostable packaging, and Velocio is signed up to 1% for the Planet, so 1% of sales are donated to environmental organisations.
Velocio’s ‘Ride with confidence’ guarantee allows the shorts to be bought, worn, washed and then returned for a full refund if not comfortable – nicely reassuring given it's an expensive item.
The Luxe bib short comes in sizes XS to XXXXL for men and XXS to XXXL for women, with the same six colours - Black, Navy, Plum Truffle, Deep Lichen, Sulphur and Black Olive - for both.
Pulling on the Luxe shorts, there is no doubt about their compression credentials. My usual size large in shorts felt somewhat ambitious until they were in place, at which point they felt perfect. Close-fitting (even for cycling shorts), but unrestrictive, they felt great, and I think that the latest tweaks to the fit are very worthwhile.
As someone with a slightly unhealthy obsession with neat tan lines and a vain hatred of the pale tidemark exposed by short shorts, I found the leg length excellent and matched my favoured Castelli Espresso bib shorts. Equally, the higher front eliminated any chance of an unsightly gap between jersey and shorts, and smothered rather than accentuated any post-lunch paunch.
Comfy on both tarmac and gravel
I wore the shorts on both road and gravel rides, with performance flawless whatever the surface. It’s easy to see why they are Velocio's best-selling shorts, despite the price (more on that later). The pad remained comfortable hour after hour, the legs refused to ride up, and they felt secure and supportive for the duration. The fabric felt like it would stand up well to the potential rough-and-tumble of off-roading, although on the flip side, I’m not sure I’d risk a pair of shorts with this price tag if there was too much chance of any arse/gravel interface.
Velocio says that the high-gauge material provides the compression and support that is needed for long days in the saddle, and whilst this is very hard to quantify in performance terms, the Luxe shorts certainly offer great support and stability.
Sitting down after riding out of the saddle required no readjustment, an occurrence which I think often marks the difference between great and merely adequate shorts - the cut, fit and pad design all work very well together.
No adjustment required, in or out of the saddle
As ever, the acid test of good cycling gear is that it barely crosses your mind once on the bike; it just does its job, leaving you to concentrate on pushing the pedals back down, and the Luxe shorts did exactly that.
The ride-wash-dry-ride cycle seems to have done them no harm so far, with no evidence of fading or damage
As alluded to above, these are not cheap shorts (though they are by no means the most expensive on the market). A £210/ $299 asking price will have some riders dismissing them instantly, whilst others will think it's perfectly reasonable for comfort and style, and there are plenty of other similarly or higher priced options available. For example, the Castelli Premo Evo bib shorts retail at £300/ $350.
The two items of cycling clothing that I believe are truly worth spending money on are waterproof jackets and bib shorts. Jackets need to be genuinely breathable, whilst shorts need to be as comfortable as possible, so £210/ $299 is not outrageous for multi-hour comfort, but there is also no denying that I have been perfectly happy in shorts costing much less. I’d also rather have multiple pairs of shorts to wear in rotation rather than one pair of pricey pants.
As a garment, they are an easy five stars, with nothing I’d change about them – just a nagging thought that, ideally, shorts shouldn’t need to cost £200/ $200+ to be comfortable.