2022 GOREWEAR C5 Opti Bib Shorts Review

By Rick Schultz

I test a pair of GOREWEAR C5 Opti Bib Shorts. As with all other Gore products tested, these are also of the highest comfort and quality. And, like before, these bib shorts did not disappoint.

MEN’S LIGHT-WEIGHT (PREMIUM) RACING BIB SHORTS

Style#: 100162

Color: Black

Fit: Normal Fit (Low cut)

Men’s Sizing: XS, S, M, L, XL

Other Colors: Black/White accents, Black/Red accents, Black/Blue accents, Black/Black

MSRP: $120 USD

Rating:

Available at: https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/c5-opti-bib-shorts-100162

Designed for endurance cyclists who desire a comfortable, lightweight, premium quality bib short for hours in the saddle.

Hot:

• GORE Advanced Road seat insert
• GORE Windstopper cup technology.
• Super-Stretch dense knit construction.
  • Second-skin very soft feel
  • Flat hem seams
  • Quick drying
  • High Breathability
• Silicone grips in legs
• Elastic stretch suspenders
• Ideal for road, MTB, gravel
• Inseam length 9.8” (25cm)

Not:

• None Identified

I wrote an article a little while back reviewing a pair of GOREWEAR Long Distance Bib Shorts. I’ve been wearing these as well as another bib short. As written in the review, the chamois on the long-distance-bibs don’t fit me 100 percent, so I usually use them only on shorter rides.

Recently, GORE sent another pair of bib shorts, these are summer-weight, and being a slightly thinner material, these stretch a little more, and the redesigned chamois pad on these C5-Optio-Bibs fits perfectly.

How Did They Work Out?

As mentioned above, these bib shorts are a slightly looser fit than the long-distance bibs – see review via the link above. These bibs are very lightweight, very sheer, soft, and stretchy.

The front cup area is covered with Windstopper, but is not as bulky as the long-distance bibs.

Compared to other brands, these C5 Opti Bibs

1. Run slightly larger than most others. An XL is a true XL.
2. Front is cut about like others, not so deep as the long-distance bibs.
3. Leg length is slightly longer at 9.8”
4. Silicone grippers in the legs work very well, with no slipping and they are very comfortable.
5. Elastic straps do not have silicon grippers but are comfortable and keep the bibs in place.

After a dozen plus rides, I have found no issue with these extremely comfortable bib shorts.

Chamois

Gore does not really mention much about the chamois, but I will mention that it is much less bulky than the ones sewn into the long-distance bibs. The C5 bibs do not appear to have the extra memory foam that gives the long-distance chamois their bulk. The other item that is fixed with the C5 chamois is that they do not bunch up like with the chamois on the long-distance bibs.

One other important note is that the padding on the C5 bibs chamois is built for sit bone widths up to 14 cm. My sit bone width is 12 cm, so these fit me perfectly.

Summary

At the writing of this article, I have a dozen plus rides on them. During these rides, they have continued to feel very comfortable. I have experienced no friction, irritation, or chaffing.

I recommend these shorts for indoor as well as outdoor rides, whether you ride for 30 minutes or 3 plus hours, these will continue to be comfortable.

I’m giving these an overall 5/5-star rating. So far, there has been nothing to complain about, and at $120 retail (with free shipping), buying a pair is a no brainer!

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Coach Rick Schultz is an avid cyclist who trains, races and coaches in Southern California. Rick is an engineer by trade, and in addition to being a coach, he’s a bike fitter and prolific product reviewer. He’s the author of Stretching & Core Strengthening for the Cyclist in the RBR eBookstore. Check his product reviews website, www.biketestreviews.com, and his coaching site, www.bikefitnesscoaching.com. Click to read Rick’s full bio.