Rapha Brevet Cargo Bib Shorts III review: Cargo bib shorts for long days in the saddle

For me, as a cycling shorts tester who enjoys long rides, right through to ultracycling events, three aspects are particularly important when it comes to cycling shorts:

1. Organiser, which keep the trousers and padding in place without the waistband having to be tight around my stomach. Over time, I get problems if there’s pressure or the waistband cuts into my stomach.
2. Pee-friendly design, so that I don’t waste so much time during toilet breaks and don’t end up standing half-naked by the side of the road.
3. Cargo pockets on the thigh – I usually put my smartphone in one of them, and snacks or their wrappers in the other. Personally, I’ve rarely used the back pockets so far, but I’m glad they’re there so I have some extra storage space.

The Cargo cycling shorts at a glance

• Four bags, two on the legs, two on the back
• Seamless seat cushion in two layers, well positioned
• Designed to be pee-friendly, cut slightly higher at the front and back; the latter requires a bit more dexterity when pulling the trousers down for a toilet break
• Comfortable waistband, does not cut in
• Reflective details for greater visibility
• Three colours
• Price: 300 euros >> available here
• Buy if: Looking for storage space on the leg and a reliable seat pad for long days
• Probably not, if: If 300 euros is too much – there are cheaper alternatives

What the trousers are supposed to do

Rapha is promoting the Brevet Cargo Bib Shorts III as the brand’s lightest cargo bib shorts to date: featuring a seamless Endurance chamois for all-day comfort and four pockets for storage. The highly stretchy bib top is designed to make toilet breaks hassle-free whilst keeping the time spent out of the saddle as short as possible. The shorts were tested, amongst others, by Jana Kesenheimer during her victory at the 2025 Transcontinental Race – a race format in which seating comfort over many consecutive days is crucial. It’s just as crucial to keep break times as short as possible – even during toilet breaks, seconds add up to minutes and, in the end, perhaps even hours. Instead of taking off your high-vis vest, jacket and jersey, pulling your trousers down, pulling them back up, putting your jersey back on, putting your jacket back on and putting your high-vis vest back on, here it’s simply a case of: pull your trousers down, have a wee, pull them back up, done.

Key facts

• Features: four pockets (two cargo pockets on the legs, a zipped pocket and a slip pocket on the back)
• Upholstery: Seamless Endurance seat pad in two densities
• Fit: Pee-friendly thanks to the side-strap design
• Price: 300 euros
• Sizes: XXS to XL
• Colours: Black/White, Dark Olive/White, Dark Forest/White

In practice: storage and seating comfort over 525 kilometres

The trousers have been put through their paces on the TOUR Transalp, an after-work ride and a gravel bikepacking weekend – a total of 525 kilometres. That’s more than enough to make an accurate assessment and get an initial idea of their durability.

During the test rides, it quickly became clear how the Cargo bags work in everyday use. I put the gels in my jersey pocket and the empty gel sachets went into my trouser pocket – this ensured that every gel sachet and every scrap of it made it back to the finish line and wasn’t left lying around in the countryside. On the back, there’s also a small zipped pocket for essentials such as my front door key – which, admittedly, stayed at home during the race – as well as a small slip pocket on the left-hand side for other bits and bobs. The small wind vest from the Rapha Brevet collection, for example, fits in here.

The seamless leg cuffs fit comfortably without pinching or cutting in, and the waistband also sits comfortably around the tummy. However, the key to comfort is, above all, the chamois and its positioning. The saddle had been adjusted correctly beforehand – without this basic requirement, even the best cycling shorts are of no use. Nevertheless, there was a huge sense of relief during the first stage of the TOUR Transalp: I’d only packed that one pair of shorts, and a poor fit would have made the three-day stage race rather uncomfortable. Instead, they proved incredibly comfortable right from the start. In practice: Pee-friendly, with a few minor limitations

The trousers are designed to be pee-friendly and can be pulled down over the bum thanks to the straps attached to the sides at the back. As the back is cut slightly higher than on some other styles, it takes a bit more dexterity to do this – but with a bit of practice, it’s doable.

Where the trousers rub against the saddle, as I’ve noticed with other pairs of trousers too, signs of wear are already starting to show after a good 500 kilometres.

In practice: Pee-friendly, with a few minor restrictions

The trousers are designed to be pee-friendly and can be pulled down over the bum thanks to the straps attached to the sides at the back. As the back is cut slightly higher than on some other styles, it takes a bit more dexterity to do this – but it’s certainly doable.

Conclusion

The Rapha Women's Brevet Cargo Bib Shorts III It really comes into its own when it comes to practicality on long rides: well-designed pockets, a well-positioned seat pad, and leg cuffs and waistband that don’t dig in, even after hours in the saddle. The pull-down feature for quick toilet breaks works reliably, even if the higher back cut makes pulling them down slightly more difficult than with other models – though those who prefer this higher cut will tend to see this as an advantage. Furthermore, the first signs of wear began to appear at the saddle contact point after just over 500 kilometres – a pattern of wear that is similar to that seen on other cycling shorts, but which is nevertheless noticeable for a pair in this price range. At 300 euros, these shorts are in the upper price bracket – but anyone who regularly goes on multi-day rides and values storage space on their legs will find they get a well-designed, practical feature set suitable for everyday use in return.

Ideal for: long rides and ultracycling races, as well as for anyone who doesn’t want to do without the convenience of panniers and a pee-friendly design