Madison Sportive Shield Softshell bib tights review

Despite being warm, the Madison Sportive Shield Softshell bib tights suffered with regard to fit and were not the most comfortable we have tested

(Image credit: mike prior)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

These bibs are certainly warm and we like the styling and the warmth, but they are flawed with regards to fit and comfort. With an RRP of £99.99 we feel this can't be overlooked. This is a shame as Madison have impressed us hugely with other products.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Warm

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Poor fitting

  • -

    Constrictive above the knee

  • -

    Not very stretchy material

  • -

    Chamois uncomfortable for us

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

There's little debate that a good pair of winter bib tights are essential for riding in cold weather. The main criteria on which we judge a pair of bib tights are: fit, comfort, warmth, breathability, value and bonus features.

>>> Best winter cycling gloves

MIP_046649

Fitting around the legs and knee was poor.

The Madison Sportive Shield Softshell bib tights were certainly warm and breathability was also good, but they failed badly in other areas. Our tester was 6'1" and 69kg with a size medium fitting poorly. The height was fine, but there was lots of loose material around the knee and they felt constrictive in other areas.

>>> For a guide to cycling overshoes, click here

MIP_046552

A paneled construction is used, but this isn't very stretchy.

In an effort to see if we had the wrong size, other members of the Cycling Weekly tech team also tried the bibs, but also experienced sagging around the knee. The material used in these bibs is windproof, but at the cost of not being very elastic. We found that this resulted in a constrictive feel in certain places, including the joint. We felt this restricted movement.

 >>> For a buyers guide to helmets, click here

MIP_046556

We didn't find the chamois very comfortable

We found the chamois to be uncomfortable too. Whilst derrière comfort is hugely subjective we really didn't get along with this pad. After 20km we found ourselves riding out of the saddle for relief.

MIP_046661

The bibs come very high up the torso, which was good for warmth. The zip was useful for regulating temperature but  didn't go low enough for aiding 'comfort breaks'. To end on some positives, we do like the styling on the ankle and the stirrups are a good feature too. They are also amongst the warmest bib tights we have worn. The £99.99 RRP puts them in the mid range for bibtights.

For more information, head over to Madison.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1