By Brandon Bilyeu
Cost:
Pro SL Bibshort: $195
FS260-Pro Jersey II: $90
How obtained: review sample from company
Available: online, retail
Colors:
Pro SL Bibshort: Black
FS260-Pro Jersey II: White, Black, Kingfisher, Rust Red
Website: Pro SL Bibshort, FS260-Pro Jersey II
RBR Sponsor: no
Tested: 20+ hours
Sizing: Bibshorts in XS – XXL and Jersey in S-XXL
Reviewer Measurements and Fit Comments: 5’10” (178cm), 150 lbs (68 kgs), 33″ (84cm) waist, 38” (96.5cm) hips, 33″ (84cm) inseam, 37″ (94cm) chest. I tested size small for both pieces and the jersey fit was perfect. The bibshort fit was good but very snug, if you are between sizes I suggest sizing up.
Endura Pro SL Bibshort – Find Your Perfect Fit
Hot!
- Two leg lengths and three pad widths to choose from
- Excellent compression in legs and torso
- Chamois provides highly cushioned comfort
- Wide, comfy bibstraps and rear yoke
- UV protection – UPF 50
- Men and Women versions available
Not!
- Chamois tends to give minor wedgie when walking around
- Non-flatlocked seams
Endura, founded in Scotland in 1993, has a long history of high performance and technical kit for cycling. For 2020 they gave their range topping Pro SL Bibshort an overhaul with an emphasis on fit. The result is the ability to not only choose bibshort size (XS-XXL), but also leg length (regular and long) and pad width (narrow, medium, wide). The option to choose leg length is certainly nice for personal preference, but the pad width options are great for those who are not “average”.
Determining the correct pad width can be done on Endura’s website or at bike shops with the Endura gebioMized Padfit system. I used the website and it was as simple as inputting my sex, saddle manufacturer, model, and width. Of course, the assumption here is that you are on the right size saddle for your sit-bone width. If you have never had a professional bike fit or used a saddle sizing tool you could be on the wrong width saddle. My saddle info led to a recommended wide chamois.
It is worth noting that I generally don’t have issues with standard one-size-fits-all chamois’. The main issue for me is that wider sit bones and saddles mean you sit closer to the edge of a chamois. If the chamois edge seam is pinched between your butt and saddle there is a serious chaffing problem. Due to this I typically have zero side-to-side wiggle room on my saddle but with the Endura wide chamois I can now move around freely without worrying about the edge seams.
For testing, Endura sent me both the recommended wide chamois and a narrow for comparison. Just how big is the wide chamois? I measured, edge-to-edge at the widest point, the narrow chamois at 7.5 inches (191mm) and the wide chamois at 9.0 inches (229mm). A quick sampling of other brands in my closet suggest industry standard falls into a tight range of roughly 7.5 – 8.0 inches (191- 203mm), so Endura gives two options above “standard” width.
For the narrow pad the width meant I had no margin for error on the saddle. The slightest position shift left or right pinched the edge seam and caused discomfort. Switching to the wide chamois solved this problem as I now had 0.75 inches (19 mm) of extra wiggle room to play with on each side. The Continuously Variable Profile (thickness) puts generous padding under the sit bones and smoothly transitions to minimal padding where you don’t want it, like in the perineal channel. Though one minor side effect of the thin padding down the middle is a tendency of the pad to fold and give a wedgie when walking around, but not an issue on the bike.
I would call the chamois pad thickness average, but the cushioning well above average and overall comfort exceptional. One important difference I felt compared to other chamois’ was a slightly muffled feedback from the bike. The cushion just filters out the road sensations that let you know exactly how well your bike is in contact with the ground, which is great for ultimate comfort, but not so much when you are riding hard and pushing the limits of available grip. I would absolutely use these bibs for long days in the saddle and especially for indoor trainer riding where comfort is key, but would probably opt for something else when racing a criterium.
The rest of the bibshort construction is what you would expect in a high-end short. The leg openings are raw cut with generous silicone grippers. The Italian Lycra with coldblack® technology provides UPF50 protection, reduces heat buildup (tough to feel any difference), and piles on lots of compression from the legs up to the torso for lumbar support. The snug fit feels great, but sizing seems to run slightly small so if you fall between sizes I recommend sizing up. The bibstraps are wide and soft with plenty of stretch. My only minor complaint is the lack of flatlock stitching which is especially noticeable on the legs when the bibs are first pulled on, but is forgotten in about ten seconds.
Bottom line – If chamois width is a problem for you these bibs are the answer. Supreme chamois comfort comes with small loss of bike feedback. Fit options combined with excellent comfort and (relatively) reasonable pricing make these bibs a great option.
FS260-Pro Jersey II– Classic Styling and Great for Hot Days
Hot!
- Full zip and waffle mesh let lots of cooling air through
- Five pockets offer lots of storage
- Waist and arm grippers keep everything in place
- Standard and Relaxed fit options available
- Brighter color options for visibility
- Men and Women versions available
Not!
- Might be a little too see-through for some riders’ tastes
- No UPF rating
The motto for Endura’s FS260-Pro range of apparel is “functional, no nonsense kit” and this jersey seems to fit that description perfectly. There is no questionable crazy tech in this jersey, just the basics built with quality materials to perform in daily use. Keeping with the theme of fit options from the bibs, the FS260-Pro Jersey comes in both Standard (snug, athletic fit) and Relaxed fits so girth can be accommodated without getting too long in the torso. A high cut waist and drop tail make for a good fit in aggressive positions.
The whole torso of the jersey is built with a knit waffle mesh that is moderately open for great air flow. The fabric is thin and light with good stretch and feels great on the skin. The white jersey I tested was a bit see-through, which is testament to the light build of the jersey, but might be a bit too revealing for some tastes and definitely warrants the use of sunscreen under the jersey. The white bibstraps of the Pro SL Bibs blend in ok, but black straps really stand out. It is a good jersey for warm days and indoor training where dumping heat is a priority.
The shoulders and sleeve uppers use Lycra for a no-flap fit and the raw cut cuff uses silicone dots for grip. The full zip front leads down to a very thin and minimal front waist band that doesn’t bunch up when bent over the bike. The rear waist is built with extra stretch and lined with grippers. Out back are five pockets. The three classic pockets consist of an oversized and deep center pocket and slightly undersized outer pockets. There are two more piggyback pockets, the one on the center pocket is zippered for valuables and the other a short pocket on the right that is great for small items or for use as a nutrition wrapper trash receptacle.
Bottom line – this jersey packs all the essentials (good fit, full zip, lots of pockets) into a well built and moderately priced jersey. A perfect year-round workhorse jersey that is great for warm days and turbo trainer sessions.
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