Sportful Fiandre Norain Bib Tights (2014)

Sportful's No-Rain bib tights combine their proprietary fabric with water repellant technology that ensures rain beads off the surface, and strategic panels of waterproof silicone to make these ideal tights for riding in the British winter.

Tights with rain protection make a lot of sense for UK riding; it rains an awful lot. I was really impressed with Sportful's No-Rain bibtights when I tested them last year, which use the No-Rain material throughout. As with their jackets, they offer a Fiandre version which takes the level of protection to another level, for the truly ghastly weather that will properly test your motivation.

These tights are made from a thermal version of the No-Rain fabric, which has tiny nano-filaments of silicone integrated within the structure of the fabric that ensures water beads off, and adds a waterproof silicone material over the knees and top of the bum. You can easily identify these areas of silicone in the photo, they're the swirly contrasting panels. What this silicone does is greatly improve their performance in the rain.

I headed out in heavy rain the other day - the lengths I go for you - and after several hours of persistent rain, the tights held up just fine. Towards the end of the ride I noticed a cooling of temperature around the ankles, but the areas with the silicone material were just fine. They could easily extend the silicone right down the front of the legs for even more protection.

The thermal insulation on that ride, with an average temperature of around 7°C but with strong wind, showed the tights to provide good warmth. Sportful reckon they're good for between 3°C to 15°C. They're completely windproof as well, which contributes a great deal to that warmth, it's cold wind after all that saps your temperature if any body part is left exposed. And because the water repellency isn't a DWR coating or similar, but part of the fabric, breathability is excellent. I haven't sensed any degree of overheating on any ride in these tights, even when it hasn't been raining and the sun has been out.

Despite their simplicity of design, there's no restriction of movement or tightness to detect around the knees. They're anatomically shaped and there's enough stretch in the fabric so that they feel like a second skin. They're shaped and fitted following their BodyFit series, which is heavily based on the specs of the Saxo Bank professional team that Sportful sponsors. The seamless construction further boosts comfort against the skin. An ankle zip, located at the side, is waterproofed to keep the water out at this potential weak point.

Finally, inside the shorts is Sportful's BodyFit Pro insert. It's anatomically shaped so sits flush against your undercarriage and the infinitely variable padding means there's enough cushioning only where you need it. Sportful describe it as their most comfortable long distance pad, and I would agree. It's comfortable enough for the longest rides you might have planned this winter.

Verdict

Warm and waterproof tights with good fit and a comfortable insert ideal for truly ghastly weather