MAAP Alt_Road Cargo Bibs 2.0 Review: Can they stand up to the demands of a UCI gravel race?

The MAAP Alt_Road Cargo Bib shorts 2.0 are the brands latest iteration of its gravel specific pair of bib shorts as part of the gravel focussed Alt_Road line-up. The geometry of the shorts matches the Team Bib Evo template, but there are several key changes to fabrics and construction so as to make these bibs more specialised for off-road usage.

Construction

Much of the main fabric is made of a polyamide and elastane mix, but with a soft touch for added comfort. Where things differ are some of the side panels use a gridded woven fabric designed to aid compression and durability. It’s not specified that it is a tear resistant material, but is very similar in structure and feel to some cargo bib shorts that claim to be. Large silicone grippers are used on the legs to keep the shorts nicely in place as well.

Where things start to become more 'alt road' specific are the pockets. The are two large pockets on the side of the legs while at the rear there is a combination of central deep pocket, and two zip side pockets. These zips are the same YKK zip used across MAAPs entire range and are impressively easy to use aided by the long tabs for extra leverage.

The chamois is another area that has had the gravel specific treatment, and has also been used in the brands Aeon line as well. This off-road specific chamois uses the same geometry as the standard chamois, but features a higher density foam so as to provide better vibration dampening on rough terrain. A breathable perforated base foam layer is still used, with the high density foam layer added between this and the anti-bacterial top layer.

The straps are the same wide platform used across MAAPs range of bib shorts, but feature a smooth fabric central panel without perforations, whereas the Aeon and Team Evo use mesh like panel. Three colours are available, with sizes ranging from XS to XXL.

The ride

The MAAP Alt_Road 2.0 feels pretty similar to any other pair of MAAP bib shorts. The wide straps are supportive and have a good level of elasticity to help them stay in place without any loose elements. Meanwhile the cuff of the legs has a wide gripper and sits fairly long down the thigh. Even the chamois is very similar in terms of the shape to the Team Evo shorts. However, there are several differences too.

The aforementioned pockets help give the bibs their alt road moniker and I do like MAAP’s approach. The cargo pockets have a flat streamlined look and deep and wide pouches that sit low on the thigh. As a result it's easy to fit large objects like a smartphone or even a tool roll in them, while gels or bars stay fully enclosed. Having a compressive element to the materials here also keeps everything nicely in place in the pockets. There was no discernible moving around while pedalling.

That’s not it for the pockets though. As mentioned there is a central pocket at the rear that can house a smart phone or even a rolled up waterproof layer. It’s a great size, but admittedly does get a little in the way of whatever is in a jersey pocket that sits over the top. I still like Albion’s take on the rear pocket with a mesh tube sitting below the jersey hem for storing extra layers. However, I really like that MAAP has moved the zip pocket from the leg as it was on the previous Alt_Road 1.0 and instead fitted two smaller zip pockets on the rear of the shorts. This is ideal for tools, keys, gas canisters, and any little essentials that you want to remain secure. The YKK zippers are also incredibly smooth to operate and easy to grab thanks to the long tabs on them.

The chamois is MAAP’s gravel specific offering. I used these shorts in the Graean Gravel World Gravel Series UCI race, 100km with 2000m climbing on a big mix of shale, rocks, gravel, and mud. This sort of varied terrain is ideal for testing the comfort of shorts, and the chamois was an exceptional performer. I was already a big fan of it for long road rides having tested the MAAP Aeon shorts, but off-road, on what was fairly battering terrain, the vibration dampening proved to be exceptional.

My only real criticism of these shorts is that the material used on the side can get a bit warm in sunnier weather. It doesn’t breathe quite as well as some other fabrics, and there are two layers of it. The central panel on the bib straps is also not perforated unlike other shorts in the MAAP range, possibly to improve structural support with pockets located near there. In a 10˚C rainy Welsh gravel race this was of no concern, but in 25˚C conditions with high effort levels and low wind speed, you'll likely need to match these shorts with a highly perforated jersey.

Value & conclusion

The fact is, £250 / $320 is a lot of money for a pair of bib shorts. That’s in the region of top end offerings from most designer brands, and looking at the competition it is certainly above the going rate. The Albion ABR1 are a superb pair of cargo shorts, and at £185 undercut the MAAP by a good amount. I love the rear tube pocket that Albion uses, but personally the pockets on the Alt_Road 2.0 I find more useful overall, hence why I went for them over the Albion for gravel racing.

Rapha also has a very good value offering with the Core Cargo shorts at £150 / $195. They’re comfortable, and feature decent pockets. But they also face the same warm weather issue, and the pockets are not quite as secure, so for rougher gravel they are not as good.

There are other options in the premium category, with the Pearl Izumi Expedition Pro bib shorts coming in at $325, but even designer brand Pas Normal Studios undercuts MAAP with Escapism Cargo Shorts for £240 and £225 for its Light version for warm weather.

However, the MAAP off-road specific chamois pad is, in my opinion, the most comfortable off-road or gravel riding chamois available at the moment. While the zip up rear pockets are lifesavers for securely storing essential tools or valuables. These shorts come at a high price, but I think there is good reason to justify that for those who ride and race on rougher terrain.

The MAAP Alt_Road 2.0 bib shorts are a solid improvement over the previous generation with a far more practical pocket arrangement. For long rides or racing, it's ideal for stashing extra tools and food, while using jersey pockets for spare layers. A brilliant chamois and great fit boost their stock further. My only gripe is that they can get toasty in warmer weather, and the price is high. But I certainly recommend these for anyone doing long adventure rides or gravel racing.