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Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight

9
£154.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Designed for gravel adventures, giving you all-day comfort as well as protection when the trails turn wet and muddy
Comfy straps
Warm and water-resistant material
Size and quality of pockets
Pockets positioned a bit more on the front of the thigh than I would prefer
Not much room in the stomach area
Weight: 
370g
road.cc Recommends

This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

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Expanding its gravel line-up, Endura's GV500 Thermal Bibtight is a stunning performer with cleverly designed features that are genuinely practical while riding. With a comfortable chamois to match, they provide a near-perfect answer to the challenging terrain of gravel rides.

For more options, check out our guide to the best winter bib tights.

I felt very warm and comfortable in these bibs from the first time I put them on. The thermal material retains any heat that you generate and keeps you cosy over long rides regardless of the temperature. I found them super-effective on very cold days; testing these on rides averaging in the negatives I would get home still comfortable and not desiring any more warmth. They're perfectly capable to take on a very cold winter freeze.

2023 Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight - legs back.jpg

The thermal fabric is also highly stretchy and lies gently next to the skin without being at all constrictive, and without leaving any pressure points or discomfort on any part of the legs. This stretchiness also allows plenty of movement when having to hop gates and stiles on a typical UK gravel ride.

The fabric has a PFC-free, non-toxic water-resistant treatment, with spray-proof areas on the shin, calf, and bum. If the weather turns bad and it's a downpour for the entire ride then you will eventually get wet, but if it's not actually raining but there is sitting water or mud, the panels – strategically placed in all the areas that get hit by spray from the ground – worked well at keeping me drier than longs that don't offer such protection. Throughout my testing, I would come back from mucky rides with my shins and buttocks still dry and warm, when they would usually be cold and muddy after a ride like that.

Chamois

The GV500 bibs come with Endura's 600 Series pad, which is very comfortable and performs very well on the rough terrain of off-road rides. It provides plenty of coverage, leaving no part of your undercarriage unprotected, but without being so bulky that it gets in the way.

2023 Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight - chamois.jpg

Testing these over several long gravel rides I would return home with far less discomfort than all my other pairs of bib tights, and began to reach for these first when going for a gravel adventure.

Straps

I was a bit dubious at first about the design of the Power Straps, because they are thinner and sit in a slightly different position than the 'norm', but from the first ride I became a massive fan.

2023 Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight - straps front.jpg

They hold the longs securely in place, and I found them very comfortable over long rides even in some rubbish weather. I would get home with zero discomfort, having forgotten they were even there.

2023 Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight - strap.jpg

One potential drawback is that they don't cover up the nipples, so if you are sensitive to chafing it could be an issue, but they were fine for me.

Fit & sizing

While the longs fitted me perfectly in most areas, with plenty of stretch in the legs – I'm 180cm tall and had no worries about my legs being too long in the size medium, and they could definitely accommodate someone with longer legs – the stomach area could be an issue.

2023 Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight - side.jpg

With a bit of a post-Christmas belly, I found them quite tight here. Even being sat in the middle of the sizing range I didn't have much wiggle room, so if you are pushing the upper end of the recommended size, I would suggest going up one just for less compression in this area.

Other features

With these being in Endura's gravel range, they come with some special features, the most noticeable being the two mesh pockets on the thigh. They're really handy if you're wearing a baggy top with no pockets, and are a really good size – big enough to fit your phone in lengthways, snug and safe, as well as wide enough for plenty of items to be shoved in.

2023 Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight - pocket.jpg

The only negative, in my opinion, is that their placement could be better. Endura has put them towards the front of the thigh rather than directly on the side of the leg. They don't get in the way of the legs or any other movements, but I just feel they would have been better positioned more towards the side.

2023 Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight - logo.jpg

To help with the secure fit, the GV500s have high-quality zips on the ankles, which means the legs can be tighter fitting, and the zip at the stomach area helps when needing the toilet mid-ride.

On the rear, the lower back has a silicone strip for grip for any baggy shorts or T-shirts you want to wear on your gravel outings.

2023 Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight - back detail.jpg

Value

At £154.99, these hold their own against similarly priced options from the likes of Pactimo, Rivelo, Rapha and Santini, costing a little more than some, a little less than others.

Iwein tested Pactimo's Alpine Thermal bib tights in 2021 and thought they were extremely comfortable, with a chamois designed for road and off-road use, and handy mesh cargo pockets on the thighs. They're slightly cheaper at £140.

Steve was also impressed with Northwave's Fast Trail bib tights, which are a tenner less at £144.99, finding them warm and windproof, though they don't have any water repellency.

Stu tested the Rivelo Honisters in 2021. They're not particularly 'gravelly', but they are made with a Thermal Stretch fabric, and Stu commented on their excellent fit, comfort and quality. They're £150, so a fiver less.

Santini makes some gravel-specific bib tights called, catchily, Gravel - Bib Tights, and they're £170.

And Rapha's Core Cargo Winter Tights are the same price as the GV500s, bar a penny, while its non-Core Cargo Winter Tights are £270.

Conclusion

These Endura longs have left me very impressed, with cool and genuinely useful features. They're comfortable on the road and off, the strategically placed water-resistant panels help on wet, muddy tracks, and they're not overpriced. In fact, I'm left struggling to find any negatives – if you're looking to expand your gravel wardrobe, I'd highly recommend these.

Verdict

Designed for gravel adventures, giving you all-day comfort as well as protection when the trails turn wet and muddy

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Endura GV500 Thermal Bibtight

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Endura says: "Adventure Ready, Gravel Friendly Bibtights

"Serious adventures require serious kit and that's where GV500 comes in. The GV500 Thermal Bibtight is a combination of Endura's expertise in road, off road and winter riding. Designed to provide maximum comfort over long days covering rough terrain, while keeping you warm and making you want to explore further."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Endura says:

Spray Ready Protection

The GV500 Thermal Bibtight has strategically placed spray proof panelling along the lower front leg, rear thigh and seat areas. Keeping these critical, high splash zones dry helps riders to go to further in challenging weather conditions through the autumn and winter months.

90 Day Satisfaction guarantee

So confident are we in this product that, if you are not entirely satisfied with it then we offer a no-quibble refund or replacement policy within 90 days of purchase.

600 Series Pad

Our exclusive 600 Series Pad is engineered using computer cut 'Continuously Variable Profile' (CVP) process which delivers a high stretch pad with integrated gel inserts for added comfort and an antibacterial finish.

Key Benefits:

Luxurious, high stretch thermal fabrics with spray-proof panelling at the front lower leg, rear thigh and seat area

PFC-free, non-toxic durable water repellent finish

Ergonomic, pre-shaped panel construction

Mesh cargo pockets on the thighs

Lumbar support panels and power straps derived from Endura's class beating Pro SL Bibshort

600 Series pad, utilising Endura's proprietary computer cut 'Continuously Variable Profile' (CVP) stretch technology and gel inserts for superior vibration dampening and support

Silicone gripper detail to help prevent an over-short riding down or your jersey riding up

Rear facing reflective on ankle

90 Day Satisfaction Guarantee

Product Details:

Material: Elastane 13%, Polyester 33%, Nylon 54%

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

They feel extremely high quality and are constructed very well.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

They performed extremely well over many long rides.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Early days, but using material that helps prevent mud and water penetrating should help in the long term.

Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

I was a big fan of how these fit, being supportive but not constrictive.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
7/10

If you are pushing the upper limit of one size I would recommend sizing up, as the stomach area could be a pressure point.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

I found the material, chamois and straps all extremely comfortable.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Any dirt that is picked up washes out very easily, leaving these looking fresh.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

These performed amazingly, with all-day comfort and features that help the riding experience.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

I am a big fan of both the straps and the pockets; the straps give you all-day comfort no matter the amount of sweat, and the pockets are both a very good size and work effectively for holding stuff – food, gloves, phone, if you are feeling risky.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing really.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

At £154.99, these hold their own against similarly priced options from the likes of Pactimo, Rivelo, Rapha and Santini, costing a little more than some, a little less than others.

Iwein tested Pactimo's Alpine Thermal bib tights in 2021 and thought they were extremely comfortable, with a chamois designed for road and off-road use, and handy mesh cargo pockets on the thighs. They're slightly cheaper at £140.

Steve was also impressed with Northwave's Fast Trail bib tights, which are a tenner less at £144.99, finding them warm and windproof, though they don't have any water repellency.

Stu tested the Rivelo Honisters in 2021. They're not particularly 'gravelly', but they are made with a Thermal Stretch fabric, and Stu commented on their excellent fit, comfort and quality. They're £150, so a fiver less.

Santini makes some gravel-specific bib tights called, catchily, Gravel - Bib Tights, and they're £170.

And Rapha's Core Cargo Winter Tights are the same price as the GV500s, bar a penny, while its non-Core Cargo Winter Tights are £270.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

They're excellent – well made, extremely comfortable, and with genuinely useful features. The only thing Endura could do to improve them is the placement of the pockets, but that's a minor point. These would be the first pair of bib tights I'd grab for any ride with a bit of rough stuff involved.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 21  Height: 182cm  Weight: 71kg

I usually ride: willier Cento Uno Air  My best bike is: Ridley Kanzo Fast

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Semi pro

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, mtb, Gravel, Multi Day Adventures

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