Northwave Dream Bib tights

With the onset of the bitterly cold mornings, and typically wet evenings, we are all on the look out of what to purchase to preempt that inevitable feeling of cold. Tights are one such garment that is a must for any cyclist's winter wardrobe, especially in the UK. Shecycles has been testing the Northwave Dream Bib Tight and we are very happy with them and their performance.

Northwave are well known for their cycling shoes. They have thus used their trusted brand to manufacture men and women's cycling apparel.

What to look for in a pair of tights
Tights should be close fitting, stretchy fabric is the best way to keep your legs comfortable when the weather turns cold. Fleecy backed fabrics are comfortable next to your skin and stay warm, even when wet. Look for double layer knees to keen the all important joints toasty. A combination of wind-proof and breathable material in the right spots is always a nice extra. Calf-length tights are great for days when it's not too cold but you want to keep your knees warm.

The tights
he key features of the Dream Bib Tights are the panels of differing materials depending on the demand of that area. Majority of the lower part of the garment is made using stretchy SuperRoubaix fabric that has a wonderful fleecy feel against the skin. Inserts of NW4Pro protection (aka windproof) panels extend from the side of the waist down the front of the thighs and ends just below the knees. The upper part of the bib is made up two types of fabric. A lycra and breathable mesh under the bust and a strip down the middle of the back.

What we thought
The placement of the sections has been well thought out. We really like, and appreciate, the wind proof on the front of the thighs and particularly over the knees. Another part we were also impressed with is the breathability in the critical part under the bust, an area that sweats a lot and that does not get much thought or attention, in women's garments.

The seams are folded and quadruple stitched so there are no weak points in the construction. They are nicely finished with all loose threads tidied up, unlike many mass produced garments. They sport silicon around the ankles to prevent slipping up for people with really long legs. Safety reflex piping is on lower legs and reflective logos on the lower back aid in visibility in dull light conditions.

I tested a size medium and this equates to a size 12/14 dress size. I found that the lower half of the tights fit perfectly. The upper half however, can be a little tricky if you do not pull the bottom half up snugly enough. I found the zip would undo with any upper body movement until I found the zip to be self locking.

The pad is the Northwave Endurance Woman Pad and is surprisingly comfortable. Its simple looks are deceiving. Initial investigation found the pad to possibly be too thin, however the simplicity of the design works well. I expect long term testing is needed to see how the padding holds up over time. It is however, not the top of the range pad as I would have expected for the cost of the tights.