The tights have a sleek profile with the wide but flat straps
(Image credit: Future – Andy Turner)
The MAAP Team Bib Evo Thermal Cargo tights builds on the well-established MAAP Team Bib Evo, the staple of the brand’s bib shorts offering.
Construction
The tights use the same wide strapped seamless bib and brace system as the shorts, designed to distribute pressure over the shoulders evenly and keep everything nicely in place. A high airflow rear mech is used for better breathability.
To boost thermal properties, the inside of the legs sections use a brushed fleece fabric, giving these tights a recommended temperature range of 6-16˚C. The hem of the legs is elasticated with silicone grippers, rather than relying on a zip for closure around the ankle. There are also reflective details placed around the legs for greater visibility in winter riding conditions. A DWR finish adds some water resistance to the tights against road spray and light showers.
The 3D Thermo Moulded Chamois features a specific male anatomy design for better pressure distribution around the soft tissue. This includes a breathable perforated foam base layer to the pad, high density inserts for additional vibration dampening, and an Eco X-Tract recycled bacteriostatic upper layer.
Of course the key feature is in the name, with two elasticated side pockets are present on the outer thigh of each leg. These are large enough to accommodate a range of different items such as spares, food, and additional layers.
At present two colours are available, with sizes from XS-XXL.
That rear panel is highly breathable
(Image credit: Future – Andy Turner)
The Ride
The tights are an impressively comfortable set of bibs. The internal brushed fleece fabric is wonderfully comfortable with no ‘out of place’ seams to apply pressure. Paired with the bib straps, which are both wide and well elasticated to disperse pressure evenly, it creates a secure, race fit that does not constrict or pull in any way, leading to all day comfort.
As I have found with MAAP shorts and tights, the chamois is fantastic. I’ve got on very well with this across a range of items, and the male-specific cut means that there is no pressure where soft-tissue is present. I’ve also found the intentional channels prevent things getting stagnant over longer ride times. Pressure relief and vibration dampening is also superb for pothole riddled UK roads and venturing off-road onto gravel trails.
Of course these are thermal, so their main focus is on cooler temperatures. The front end doesn’t extend massively high, but I like this as whatever top layer I’m wearing provides enough protection on the middle, and excessively high waists can make nature breaks difficult. I’ve personally found these tights comfortable from about 5-17˚C in rain or shine. Heavier rain will warrant something heavier weight, such as the MAAP Apex Deep Winter tights. But personally these work well up until the turning point where shorts become an option.
The use of a DWR coating on the outer is another great addition. It’s not as heavy as what you find on more deep winter offerings, and keeps the tights supple and flexible while shedding the worst of any road spray or light showers.
The cargo pockets are large and very secure
(Image credit: Future – Andy Turner)
My favourite feature about these though are the name-sake pockets. Located on the thigh, these pockets sit deep, but have a tapered design. The top is wider than the base, but plenty large enough for several bars, gloves, jackets, or a large smartphone. What I love about them though is that they lie flat to create an invisible fit look. The upper is also well elasticated so that items are not at risk of being ejected.
Especially in deep winter when wearing multiple upper layers and thick gloves, accessing rear cargo pockets can become more difficult. This is when leg pockets become one of my favourite additions; stashing gloves, gilets, or accessing food and storing the associated wrappers are all wonderfully easy with cargo pockets. Some additional pockets at the rear might add a little more practicality, but personally I find I rarely use these unless they offer something particularly unique. The MAAP Alt_Road 2.0 Cargo bibs for example with zip storage pockets at the rear are great for storing additional extra tools and spares that aren’t often needed in a massive hurry.
My only small annoyances with these tights are the relative lack of reflective detailing on this version, and the tight leg cuffs. They take a good amount of manual input to get the cuffs of the legs over your feet, but this does at least make them fit very securely.
But longer term testing has unveiled one definite issue that could impact longevity. Across the outer fabric on the seating area, there have been issues of fabric pilling. Going over this with a razor gets rid of these strands of fabric, but over time if this carries on it could lead to some serious longevity issues. So far it has only happened on one ride, but using the same saddle setup I have all through testing. I’ve had it to a degree on other tights with a similar outer material, but not to the same extent.
Value and Conclusion
At £265 / $320, these are frankly on the more expensive side of the cycling bib tights market. Of course there are similarly prices options from other designer brands. PNS for example have the Mechanism deep winter tights for £280 / $380, while the Rapha Pro Team III tights retail for £275 / $380. These are both more heavy duty deep winter offerings though.
Rapha Core tights (£150 / $200), Castelli Espresso (£170 / $200), Assos Mille GT (£185 / $270) all arguably offer better overall value while still being impressively comfortable. However they all lack the additional cargo pockets and aren’t quite the same comfort levels.
The Rapha Cargo Winter bibs come close to functionality at £275 / $220, but they also feature rear pockets and zipped options, as well as arguably better reflective detailing. Meanwhile the Santini Cargo 2.0 are far cheaper at £170 and feature more pockets, but don’t have the same levels of comfort or refinement of design.
It does then look like although the MAAP Team Bib Evo Cargo Thermal bib tights are a great performer, they potentially are not the best value offering available. And the pilling potentially limiting the lifespan does impact this further
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The MAAP Team Bib Evo Cargo Thermal bib tights are perhaps not the best value offering available, but they are a truly outstanding performer nonetheless. The straps are as supportive and comfortable, while the chamois excels. Brushed fleece interior with open mesh rear strap panel gives a great usable temperature range, while the cargo pockets are smartly integrated into the design and highly effective. Some more reflective detailing would be nice, and the cuffs on the legs are tight, but the fabric pilling on the seating area is the stand out negative.
