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Shorts & 3/4s
Rapha Women's Core Shorts Rapha Women's Core Shorts Rapha Women's Core Shorts Rapha Women's Core Shorts
Rapha Womens Core Shorts

Rapha Women's Core Shorts

9
by Lara Dunn
UPDATED Thu, Jun 23, 2016 19:47

First Published Jun 23, 2016

0
£80.00

VERDICT:

9
10
An outstanding blend of style, comfort and premium performance at a mid-range price
Weight: 
165g
Contact: 
www.rapha.cc
How we test

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Given a female cyclist's comfort break concerns, many women choose the ease of use of waist shorts over bib shorts, despite the increased comfort and performance of the latter. But it is perfectly possible to find high performance waist shorts, as these Rapha Women's Core Shorts prove. They're superbly comfortable, extremely well made and reasonably – for Rapha quality and design – priced.

The Core shorts are part of a new range from the company, aiming to offer the same high performance of the Women's Classic Shorts but with a lower price. A sort of 'Tesco Value' for Rapha – or maybe 'Waitrose Essentials' would be more apt.

> Buy these online here

The idea is that they have the same quality and even the same female-specific Cytech pad as the other – higher priced – shorts, but a slightly different aesthetic.

The Core shorts are made from a slightly denser fabric than the Classics, with a gentle leg gripper on the laser cut legs and gripper tape at the rear of the waist. The front panel of the waist is both lower than the back and flat, made from stretch double-layer fabric rather than elasticated. I didn't find any problems with the waistband curling over in use, although other users have commented on this in the past. And there was no muffin top or sausage leg going on.

Rapha Womens Core Shorts.jpg

In wear, they stay put without the migration that can happen with some waist shorts. Leg length is similar to the regular Classic shorts (the Classics are also available in a shorter length), making them slightly on the longer side for my own personal preferences, but perhaps perfect for those who have longer legs (I'm 5ft 5) or who prefer more coverage.

As mentioned, the pad is the same Cytech female-specific pad as in Rapha's other women's shorts. I found it superbly comfortable for a variety of ride distances, from commuting to a 100km sportive, but always unobtrusive. It's just a touch on the low profile side at the rear for use with a firm saddle, which may prove to be an issue for racers.

Rapha Womens Core Shorts - back.jpg

Overall, this is one genuinely comfortable pair of waist shorts. The fabric is a good blend of supportive and stretchy, and will especially appeal to those who prefer a denser weave with no 'show through'. The sizing and stretch is forgiving of seasonal size fluctuations, and the waistband and leg openings sit securely but without impinging on comfort or aesthetics.

Rapha Womens Core Shorts - detail.jpg

Price-wise, this is clearly an expensive pair of shorts, but compared with other premium brands such as Castelli, Gore, Etxeondo and Assos, the Core shorts mostly come up as an equivalent to lower priced products from these brands – as indeed they are positioned within Rapha's range. With Rapha's fit, attention to detail and quality, they are a safe investment for those with the money to look beyond the mid-range.

> Everything you need to know about cycling shorts

It really is hard to find fault with the Core Shorts at this price and level of quality. These are premium shorts at a mid-range price.

Verdict

An outstanding blend of style, comfort and premium performance at a mid-range price

road.cc test report

Make and model: Rapha Women's Core Shorts

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Rapha says: "Rapha Core Shorts use collection-specific materials and technology to set the new standard in performance, comfort and value. Designed for every road rider, they are constructed for simple quality.

'The Core collection is about optimising innovative fabrics and processes across the entire collection to reduce production hours and wastage. For example, the leg-gripper trim reappears in the jersey back, the material for the zip guard is used again on the sleeve tips, and bindings use rolled edges. This means we can produce Core garments without compromise, leading to a new standard for everyday cycling apparel.'

Absolutely spot on, and for Rapha quality and design they're very good value for money.

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

Classic Rapha chamois pad

Black dense-knit fabric for modesty

Colour-matched trims throughout

New seam construction

Laser-cut soft-silicone leg grippers

Subtle tonal branding

82% Polyamide

18% Elastane

Machine washable at 30 degrees

Available in sizes XXS-XL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
10/10

Superb finish and extremely high quality fabric and pad.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Comfortable, supportive and unobtrusive for any ride distance.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Less fragile than the Classic short and slightly less likely to be randomly savaged by Velcro.

Rapha still says:

"Do not iron

Do not bleach

Do not dry clean

Do not tumble dry"

There aren't enough hours in the day to even consider doing any of those, but in case you were, don't.

Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10

Good and stretchy to allow for a variety of shapes and proportions. Slightly longer in the leg than many.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Bang on the money for sizing. A medium is roughly a UK12.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10

A great balance between weight, support, comfort and coverage.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

Extremely comfortable at the waist and legs, and the chamois gives a great level of support and protection without being too bulky, though it's possibly a little thin at the rear for racers.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

A mid-range price for premium performance. Very good value for Rapha name and quality, and the same price as Gore's Power Lady 3.0 shorts.

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

Washed very well.

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

Excellent performance.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Low key style (subtle black logo), high density fabric, comfort, performance, value for money...

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing.

Did you enjoy using the product? Very much.

Would you consider buying the product? Definitely.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Any time.

Use this box to explain your score

There's nothing to dislike about these shorts. They are a great combination of style, performance, comfort and value for money. Even the whingers would be hard pressed to find something to whinge about.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 73kg

I usually ride: Boardman Hybrid Fi  My best bike is: Specialized Ruby Elite

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, mountain biking

Rapha Women's Core Shorts 2016
Rapha Women's Core Shorts
Rapha 2016
Rapha
Lara Dunn

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

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