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review

Stolen Goat Orkaan 3/4 Length Bib Tights

8
£120.00

VERDICT:

8
10
These are really rather good: multi-hour comfortable, single-digit-temperature warm, weather resistant and reassuringly snug fitting
Comfortable
Fluffy inside
Bands rather than silicone gripper will please some
Reflective tags on the calves would be better than the rear panel, if I'm being picky
Weight: 
261g
Contact: 

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The Stolen Goat Orkaan 3/4 Length Bib Tights are really very good – incredibly comfortable, warm, weather resistant, snug fitting and fine for any length ride.

The 3/4 bib tight is probably my favourite and most worn piece of cycling clothing, perfect for far too much of the year in the temperate part of the globe in which I live, and with my delicate ageing knees, so a good pair will instantly become a garment of much love and a poor pair will be disproportionally disappointing. The Stolen Goats are lovely. Phew.

> Buy these online here

I'm usually a medium in shorts and 3/4s, and these Stolen Goats in medium were spot on. I'm at the thinner end of the size range and they were still taut; they're designed to have a slightly compressive feel and they were definitely that – snug but without being overly tight anywhere. The layout and cut of the panels meant there was no bunching of material or baggy bits anywhere, just the tiniest bit loose round the knee on me but then I'm very bony there.

2021 Stolen goat Orkaan three quarter length bib tights - knee stitching.jpg

The Orkaan 3/4s are made from a Tempest fabric that's reassuringly thick and fluffy inside with a Roubaix lining to keep you warm on those autumn to spring days. In addition to that the material is also wind and water-resistant, which helps towards them being an impressive barrier to the elements.

Stolen Goat says the Orkaans are suitable to be worn between about 8 and 16 degrees, which fits in perfectly with my experience with when you'd want to wear 3/4 tights, although seeing people ride around in shorts on single-digit temperature days suggest this is open to personal interpretation.

2021 Stolen goat Orkaan three quarter length bib tights - back.jpg

Both the wind and water resistance works well, the latter meaning that moisture dropping from above or splashing from below beads up nicely, and as the water resistance is manufactured into the garment, Stolen Goat claims that no amount of washing will remove or lessen the effect. It hasn't washed or rubbed away yet, although it has to be said that I've never felt the need for water resistance in a leg garment where pumping muscles are doing a good job of keeping you warm.

The chamois looks quite basic, with none of the sculpted padded islands and fancy contours you might find in the nether regions of other cycling shorts, with just a proprietary dimple technology to keep you comfortable all day long and anti-bacterial properties mentioned in the notes. It doesn't even have a fancy name, but Stolen Goat says its pad has been developed in Belgium alongside top-level pro riders, so that's got to be good, right?

2021 Stolen goat Orkaan three quarter length bib tights - chamois.jpg

There's a stamped Bioracer logo in the chamois and the tag says the shorts are made by this respected cycle clothing manufacturer, which gives these 3/4s their race-bred provenance.

Despite a lack of technical buzzwords it works perfectly well and, more importantly, comfortably. It's encouragingly supportive which is a delight after several shorts and 3/4s of the same size from different brands that are just a bit baggy 'down there', and it holds everything in place without any separation or shuffling around that can lead to annoyance and discomfort over a ride, and keeps those padded bits where they're designed to be.

2021 Stolen goat Orkaan three quarter length bib tights - back detail.jpg

Stolen Goat suggests the Orkaan 3/4s are good for rides of two hours and over and I'd agree: these were ridden from a quick couple of hours up to what would be considered a day at the office and there was no drop off in comfort or time limit in the saddle.

The straps of the Orkaans eschew the mesh of other shorts and are made of the same Roubaix material as the rest of the 3/4s. They're wide, comfortable and stretchy enough to not dig in. The rear of the bib extends well up the back, almost to the shoulder blades, which offers a welcome extra layer of warmth for those brisker days…

2021 Stolen goat Orkaan three quarter length bib tights - back detail.jpg

…and the front is cut about level with a belly button; it's low enough and with a fabric stretchy enough to make it easy for a gentleman's comfort break.

2021 Stolen goat Orkaan three quarter length bib tights - straps front.jpg

There's a large reflective panel on the rear that starts immediately above the chamois and extends up the lower back. It's an interesting detail and could be a handy safety feature on the kind of dreary and darker days these tights might be worn on. Reports from behind indicate that it does work remarkably well, although its efficacy is directly proportional to how much of it might be covered with jerseys and jackets. It's not something I've ever thought necessary on a pair of tights and I could probably live without it, or would prefer just some reflective tags on the back of the calves, where constant movement would also make them more noticeable.

2021 Stolen goat Orkaan three quarter length bib tights - back panel reflective.jpg

The leg hem of the Orkaan 3/4s is a wide strip of fabric, about 2 1/2 inches deep, shunning the silicone gripper that's commonly found in shorts. I find it far more comfortable – it keeps the end of the leg in the right place and doesn't pull at the skin while doing it. It also doesn't leave a welt if you're sensitive to such things.

2021 Stolen goat Orkaan three quarter length bib tights - gripper.jpg

The tights extend further down the leg than other 3/4s, well towards the mid point of the tibia, which is no bad thing in the conditions these are designed for, and – sock length dependent – exposes little shin to the wind.

2021 Stolen goat Orkaan three quarter length bib tights - cuffs.jpg

Compared to Stolen Goat's range of colourful tops, the Orkaan 3/4s are refreshingly devoid of graphics with just the company logo appearing subtly front and back on the leg gripper. That means they'll go with anything, which isn't something you can say about Stolen Goat's tops.

2021 Stolen goat Orkaan three quarter length bib tights - legs.jpg

The price of the Orkaan 3/4s is about my go-to spend for this sort of piece of kit, surfing the sweet spot between annoying niggles of cheaper garments and laws of diminishing returns of something more pricey, sitting somewhere between other people's 'I'm fine with these £35 ones I got from the European supermarket in between the tinned tomatoes and rosti' and 'I struggle after ten miles if I'm not cosseted by the finest and most technically saturated fabrics known to man' opinion, and in that price bracket they're right on the money.

They're in the same area as the Pearl Izumi Attack 3/4 Bib Tights but are made of a thicker and warmer material, which extends their use into and out of winter, but they're almost double the price of the dhb Classic Thermal 3/4 Bib Tights, although the Stolen Goat's pad might be more suited to longer rides and the warmer back panel might make all the difference to you.

> Spring cycling clothing guide: how to choose and use the best gear to ride through the most unpredictable season

The cheaper and similarity themed Endura FS260-Pro Thermo Bibknickers are also warm and have a waterproofing element, but the slack cuffs leading to baggy knee issues might bother you, something that isn't present on the Goats.

The Stolen Goat Orkaan 3/4s are a workmanlike piece of kit, of the sort you can rely on ride after ride, chilly season to next chilly season. They're not overtly fancy, but the fit is great, the chamois is comfortable and the thick and fluffy material is perfect for their intended temperature range. The only debatable feature is the reflective rear panel, but that doesn't detract from performance. As an item of clothing that I spend an awful lot of time in and so can be hyper-critical of any foibles, these ones are a keeper.

Verdict

These are really rather good: multi-hour comfortable, single-digit-temperature warm, weather resistant and reassuringly snug fitting

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Stolen Goat Orkaan 3/4 Length Bib Tights

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Stolen Goat says: 'The Orkaan 3/4s are designed for day long rides or even short lunch rides. You no longer need to worry what the weather is doing. Designed to keep you at the right temperature with a soft, fleecy Roubaix lining that regulates body temperature the Orkaan 3/4 tights will keep warm and smiling during the cooler Autumn/ Spring days of the year. Combine with the Orkaan Everyday jerseys or the RaceTech versions and you have a stolen goat 'capsule system' that will become the most versatile kit choice in your wardrobe.'

I'd agree with that, as the 3/4s are my favoured garment for when the temperature is in the seemingly eternal lower teens where I live. These are perfect for this.

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

From Stolen Goat:

The Stolen Goat Orkaan 3/4 tights are constructed from an 80% polyamide, 20% elastane Tempest fabric, a wind-resistant and water-resistant material – water simply beads up and rolls off. The best bit is that this is manufactured into the garment – no amount of washing will remove or lessen the effect.

Wind Resistant – Still breathable to keep you the right temperature but more wind resistant than standard tights

Roubaix Lining – Super soft against the skin and designed to insulate when required. Reflective back panel for extra safety.

Proprietary pad – developed in Belgium alongside top level pro riders and teams to create the perfect pad and positioning on the bike. The pad is anti-bacterial, fast drying and features Dimple Technology to improve airflow.

Premium Fit – The legs are held in place with a premium grade elasticated band rather than use silicone gripper which can pull on the skin and has a tendency to ride up the leg. Minimal seams for maximum comfort.

Integrated back – behaves like a base layer for extra protection.

ABOUT THE SIZING The fabric in the tights and straps is extremely stretchy meaning that the height of the rider is less of a concern. The crucial measurement here is around the widest part of your mid-section (hip or waist), usually, just above the hip for men.... don't suck it in chaps.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Good thick material with a brushed inside all tidily held together with flatlock seams, and a comfortable, effective wide Lycra leg hem all work well together.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Warm, comfortable and with a good pad, everything you'd need in 3/4 tights.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Holding up well.

Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10

Supportive and snug without being constrictive with no annoying baggy bits or bothersome sag.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
10/10

I'm usually a Medium in such things and my measurements were right at the bottom end of the Stolen Goat Medium size range but they fitted perfectly.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10

It's not a light garment but it values warmth over svelteness.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

Sturdy weather-resistant material with a brushed inside, good chamois pad and snug fit make these cosy 3/4 tights.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

They cost around the same as rivals, and a bit more than some, but for the level of warmth and comfort they're spot on, maybe even a bit of a bargain if they keep it together for several seasons. I'd happily pay a bit more.

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

Chucked them in with everything else on the 30 degree cycling wash, not a problem.

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

For something that bridges the gap between shorts and longs these are very, very good, warmer and more weather resistant than others, with fit and comfort top of the list of likes.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Fit, comfort, leg band grippers.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing, the reflective rear panel was unnecessary I think.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes. I'd happily buy them.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Definitely

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Stolen Goat Orkaans are very good 3/4 tights; you might think you can buy cheaper or desire a more expensive pair but these are right on the money. They're warm enough for the lower teens and well down into the single figures of spring and autumn weather, they're supportively snug and have a pad that's good for extensive saddle time.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 50  Height: 180cm  Weight: 73kg

I usually ride: It varies as to the season.  My best bike is: The one I\'m on at the time

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, cyclo cross, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Fun

Jo Burt has spent the majority of his life riding bikes, drawing bikes and writing about bikes. When he's not scribbling pictures for the whole gamut of cycling media he writes words about them for road.cc and when he's not doing either of those he's pedaling. Then in whatever spare minutes there are in between he's agonizing over getting his socks, cycling cap and bar-tape to coordinate just so. And is quietly disappointed that yours don't He rides and races road bikes a bit, cyclo-cross bikes a lot and mountainbikes a fair bit too. Would rather be up a mountain.

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6 comments

Avatar
gunswick | 2 years ago
1 like

Genuine question: why would you want to have 3/4 bib tights when you can have standard bib tights (weather proof ones for comparison) and add leg warmers (also weather proof) and have more versatility? Especially if commuting and it's cold in the morning at 5c, and then 14c coming home. I like the look of the SG kit, just trying to understand 3/4's raison d'etre...

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to gunswick | 2 years ago
0 likes

Because some people find arm and leg warmers a faff?

Avatar
VecchioJo replied to gunswick | 2 years ago
1 like

As mentioned in the review I wear 3/4s a lot, perfect for me on rides in the high single figures and up to the mid-teens temperature wise which covers most of Spring and Autumn, and maybe even the odd evening/night ride on cooler Summer nights. 

I also wear shorts and knee wamers when temperatures during the ride might be more variable, cooler at the start or finish for example, or riding somewhere mountainous where there's an altitude change.

Compared to shorts and warmers 3/4s tend to keep my knees cosier, they're more comfortable, you're wearing one item of clothing rather than three and you don't get sausage leg.

I'm a big fan but if you don't think 3/4s are for you that's ok, they're not mandatory.

Avatar
IanEdward | 2 years ago
0 likes

Argh! 5 months too late with this review!

That pad looks awfully similar to the pad in my Bioracer Epic bibs, and it is the most comfortable pad I have ridden in, more so than my Endura FS260s, Rapha Cores or Castelli Volos. Is probably a bit fat for short hard rides but for slower winter miles or longer rides it is my go-to

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to IanEdward | 2 years ago
1 like

I think most of the SG stuff shares a common pad.  I do like their stuff and have never had a problem with them on fit or performance. 

They are my "Sunday best" brand with the slightly cheaper Galibier stuff being my main "workaday" stuff.   Just bought a set of SG Climb and Conquer Winter tights, which are these tights wintery-er big brother.  Looking forward to a spring cold & wet snap to try them out.

Avatar
Hamster replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
2 likes

It will need to be very cold indeed (around freezing) as the C&C stuff is proper 0C and below gear. My Nebula jacket has gone back in the cupboard until next December-ish as it's too warm now.

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