UYN is a relatively unknown player in the world of cycling clothing however the Italian brand boasts a huge range of performance clothing for skiing to sailing, and even has a clothing line specifically targeting freerunning. UYN is an acronym for “Unleash Your Nature” and uses naturally derived fibers to develop its technical clothing and is SteP (Sustainable Textile Production) certified by Oeko-Tex.
The Adventour Cargo bib was developed in UYN’s AREAS facility and combines lightweight Biotech materials, a UYN-developed chamois, and a unique two-layered cargo pocket design. I have been out testing these gravel-focused bib shorts to see how they compare to the best gravel bike bib shorts.
Design and specifications
The Adventour Cargo bibs use UYN’s Re-Shape fabric made using a combination of recycled polyamide and elastic fibers for the majority of the bib short construction. The rear section and a small front panel use UYN’s Flow Tunnel material. This fabric features perforations and horizontal ribbed channels designed to lift the material off the skin to promote airflow.
Unlike many of the mainstream bib short brands, UYN has chosen not to enlist the help of chamois experts Elastic Interface. Instead, it has developed its own multi-layer AIR-LR110 chamois pad which features two layers of foam, a soft Premio face fabric, and a front mesh section to promote airflow.
The Adventour Cargo bib shorts feature a unique pocket arrangement on each thigh. Rather than have a single mesh pocket on each leg and a rear pocket like most cargo bib shorts, UYN has opted to go for a two-layer pocket on each leg. Both the inner and outer pockets use an elasticated mesh and feature alternating angled access making it easy to reach into all the pockets when riding.
Performance
The Adventour Cargo bib short has a low-slung shape to minimize coverage and the general sizing felt spot on. The leg length is reasonably long and the straps sit comfortably over my shoulders. I like the deep elasticated cuffs on the legs although they don’t feature much in the way of grippers so move around a little when riding.
The Re-Shape fabric has a nice finish that's soft to the skin. It's lightweight too so in hot weather you quickly feel the cooling effect of airflow passing over the shorts as soon as you start moving. The mesh section on the front of the chamois further enhances this and the Flow Tunnel back panel deals with any moisture buildup well.
Unfortunately like most other bib shorts that use lightweight fabrics, I found they lacked enough compression to give a smooth comfortable fit. It results in a bunching of material around the crotch when seated on the bike which is not only a bit unsightly but also leads to bits and bobs not being supported properly when pedaling. While the low compression is fine on shorter rides, it can become uncomfortable on longer or more intense rides.
I didn’t have any problems with the chamois and although these shorts wouldn’t be my first option for longer rides, I think the chamois itself would be comfortable as the hours clicked by. Although the Re-Shape fabric struggles to hold my anatomy in place while riding, it offers enough structure to stop the pad from moving so I didn’t feel the need to make any chamois readjustments while riding.
In practice, doubling the cargo pockets doesn’t really add up to more pockets if you are layering them on top of each other. That said, this pocket configuration does offer a few neat benefits. For a start, having more easy-access pockets offers a little bit of organization and easier access. For example, if you need somewhere to quickly stow a tool while you have your hands full fixing your bike, you can stash it into a pocket without mixing up with other things in there. It also means the elasticated mesh used for the pockets doesn’t have to be as stretchy to achieve the same level of security without pulling the short legs out of shape. The outer pocket is a little looser which is better for bulky items while the inner pocket does a great job of stopping flatter items like a phone from jumping around while pedaling.
UYN claims that the bib shorts feature an “abrasion resistant material”, however, my sample pair is already showing signs of wear with some bobbling to the material on the seat of the shorts. Oddly it's only on one side and I don’t recall any specific incident that may have caused it beyond general use. Either way, considering UYN specifically says the material is “highly resistant to abrasion” it's a little disappointing to already see signs of wear and tear.
Verdict
There's a lot to like about the UYN Adventour Cargo bibs if you're looking for a cargo bib short for hot climates. The channeled Flow Tunnel back panel and ventilated chamois pad work well to channel airflow and keep you comfortable and cool in high temperatures. The pockets work really well too and although they don’t have the subtle, almost invisible finish you get on some of the top-end bib shorts like Velocio Utility cargo bib and 7Mesh RK2 Cargo, they offer an additional level of practicality. Ultimately though the Adventour Cargo bibs are let down by the Re-Shape material's lack of compression which lacks support and affects the fit of the shorts when riding. On top of that, early signs of material wear raise questions about durability and longevity.
Tech specs: UYN Adventour Cargo bib shorts
- Price: $139 / £139
- Materials: 100% Polyamide / 83% Polyester, 17% Elastane / 78% Polyamide, 22% Elastane
- Colors: Black, Pine Grove
- Size availability: S to XL
- Weight: 190g (medium tested)
