Review: 7mesh WK3 Cargo Bib Short
Pockets, comfort and no need to strip off your raincoat for a pee. Is this women’s cycling gear actually designed for functionality?
Finding comfort on the bike can be the difference between falling in love with cycling, or never riding again, especially for women. Get it wrong, and you can suffer literally life-changing damage to your soft tissue down below.
Riding for the past 12+ years, I have in the past suffered serious discomfort on the bike, trying so many different pairs of shorts, combinations of liners and outers, and most recently unstitching my chamois from bib shorts (it’s what Lael does!). While a bike fit has solved most of those issues – and I’d highly recommend investing in one – I’ve still really struggled to find the perfect pair of padded shorts that work for me for long distance and multi-day adventures. At the same time, you can try all the shorts you like, but if your positioning isn’t right, shorts won't make things better.
Having spent a few years living and riding off-road in Squamish – where 7mesh are based – I was excited to try this pair of WK3 Cargo Bib Short and hopefully find my new go-to pair. Drawing on their pedigree in mountain biking, 7mesh have designed these cargo shorts to complement existing storage on the bike, or to transfer small items from a traditional cycling jersey and free you up to wear a more relaxed tech tee or normal top.
I tested these shorts out on a few day rides throughout the summer, and then took them with me as my sole pair on a 8-day bikepacking trip around the Scottish Highlands in a very rainy and midge-y September.
Why I chose the 7mesh WK3 Cargo Bib Short
Founded by former Arc’teryx executives to address the gap in cycling clothing, 7mesh set out to build high end cycling gear with mountaineering-level durability, suitable for those pushing their limits on bikes (they sponsor the likes of Tour Divide and Silk Road Mountain Race winner Meaghan Hackinen). Designed for rugged use, every rider I knew in Squamish wore at least one bit of kit while ripping the home mountain bike trails, and I managed to pick up a few bits second hand which are still going strong – testament to their durability.
As someone who loathes looking like a cyclist in a jersey, 7mesh’s laidback designs appealed to me. With the various shorts I’ve tried, I’ve often struggled to put stuff needed for a ride – phone, tools and snacks. Even when cargo bike shorts started appearing on the scene, it was really hard to find women’s-specific versions. I even tried sewing a pocket onto an old pair of shorts at one point and then bought a second-hand pair of men’s Rapha cargo shorts which were, unsurprisingly, not designed for my body geometry.
Pockets in women’s clothing have a sexist history. Seriously. For centuries, women’s pockets were often separate pouches worn underneath clothing, while men’s pockets became increasingly integrated into their garments. As women’s fashions became more figure-hugging, practical pockets became harder to incorporate, and handbags and small decorative bags increasingly took their place. The result is a long history of women having ridiculously tiny (or fake!) pockets, and there’s a reason ‘It’s got pockets!’ has become a meme.
Not to labour the gender point too much, but there’s also a huge oversight in the way the straps are designed on women’s bib shorts, meaning we have to strip off the top layers and squat at the trailside. It’s very un-ladylike… With their multiple pockets and Pull2P straps, it is very refreshing to see a pair of shorts designed with practicality in mind.
I’ve got a pair of Albion (non-bib) padded shorts that I rate for comfort and features (especially their large rear pocket design), but every other pair I’ve tried had some annoying feature that I couldn’t get on with – ie. Alpkit’s bib shorts weren’t pull-to-pee, and an older Fox Racing pair had really aggressive silicone grips which left welts on my thighs. So after years of wondering how to carry my stuff, unstitching the chamois pad, and having to unstrip at the side of the trail to pee, I hoped 7mesh would save the day for comfort and practicality.
Out of the Box
The first thing I noticed is that these shorts run quite small, and my usual size M definitely felt at the smaller end of comfortable (and I think large would have been too big). But straight away, I was struck by how soft they felt to wear close to the skin. The compression felt good, and the open mesh section and straps felt comfortable, moving with my body, rather than digging in. The length seemed somewhat shorter on me than other pairs, but I guess this means more thigh-room to make trailside sandwiches, and a less awkward tan for the summer ahead.
The fabric felt very light, which would be perfect for riding in the the heatwave on the weekend I first received them. The chamois pad was super slim, and I worried there might not be enough cushioning for many hours in the saddle. I stashed my phone, keys, tools and snacks in various places, exclaiming ‘it’s got pockets!’, and pedalled off into the sunset.
Put to The Test
Receiving these just as the UK became gripped by the hottest summer on record, I was very glad to be wearing something that felt thin and breathable in sticky weather. Wearing them for several post-work and slightly longer day rides to begin with, I found them to be super practical in terms of carrying capacity (only a pocket-sized layer was needed for most of these rides), and comfortable to wear on the bike and in the pub after riding with friends.
When September rolled around and I set off north for an 8-day trip in the Scottish Highlands, I packed these as my only pair of riding shorts. After months of ferocious heat, Scotland was a ‘Coolcation’ to wrap up the summer (around 12-18°C most days), and I stayed comfortable in lower temperatures throughout the trip.
The biggest takeaway was that the chamois – despite its sleek and thin design – absolutely passed the comfort test for me, spending 6-8 hours on the bike most days. This also came in handy when it came to hygiene for multiple days in the saddle – I could rinse them out in a stream and hang them over a bothy fire or in a hostel drying room, and they’d be ready to wear again the next morning.
Despite being comfortable while riding, I’ve often found that some padded shorts feel like a nappy when you’re walking around off the bike. But when it came to a ~90 minute hike-a-bike section where I was pushing, hauling and shouldering my bike up and into the wilds of Glen Affric (hard, but highly recommended), I didn’t even think about the fact I was in padded shorts – nothing rode up, everything stayed in place, letting me get on with my huffing and puffing. I was also really impressed by the silicone grip on the thigh. It was very light, not super sticky or grabby, but still kept everything in place while pedalling or hiking.
On this longer trip, I made good use of the pockets and filled them with easy-to-grab macaroni pies and Tunnocks where possible. I found the rear pockets a little fussy, especially compared to my Albion shorts which have one large pocket that can easily fit a waterproof in. With the 7mesh shorts, I struggled to shove my layer in there due to the pocket being split, which seems like a simple design fix.
With the rain lashing down for at least half the trip, I loved the Pull2P feature for not having to take off my raincoat to pull down the straps when I needed to go. I usually complain to my partner about how well-designed men’s kit is in comparison, but on this trip the tables turned and he was rather jealous of my shorts after being attacked by midges with his top layers off while trying to enjoy his wild morning poop. It honestly seems like such a simple design for any pair of bib shorts – crossover straps at the side rather than stitched at the centre back.
Key Features
Materials
Thin and airy material that made them comfortable to wear for heatwaves and Scottish summers alike
Pockets
Enough space to carry all of your essentials, though potentially a little small for a bulky hardshell
Cut and fit
Great compression, comfortable and effective silicone grips, and a slim chamois that made for comfortable wearing on and off-the bike. Worth noting that they come up small in sizing.
Pull2Pee
Faff-free squatting at the trailside – need I say more?
Specs
Two large leg pockets
Pull2P configuration for no-fuss rest stops
Two rear back waist pockets
Silky microfibre waist with open mesh top 30mm soft elastic bib straps
Women's Performance Space chamois with increased foam density
Clean Finish Construction
Clean cut hem with silicon gripper
Bluesign® approved fabric
Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certified fabric
Recycled chamois fabric
PFAS free body fabric
RRP: £200
Rating
5/5
Pros
Faff-free toilet breaks
Plenty of storage space
Lightweight and ultra-soft on skin
Thin and comfortable chamois
Cons
Rear pocket not as big as some others
More expensive than others
Is the WK3 Cargo Bib Short worth your money?
Testing these in all sorts of weather, I can confidently say that these have become my new go-to pair of bib shorts. To echo an earlier point: if you’re uncomfortable on your bike, shorts alone won’t solve your issue. But these shorts do work well for me and my body, and for that reason, I think it’s money well spent.
As well as the comfort, the functionality of the Pull2P, the practicality of the multiple pockets, and generally the durability, look and feel of the shorts make these stand out. Yes, there are other cargo bibs out there that cost less, but these tick all my boxes.
It’s worth noting that 7mesh offers a ‘Chamois Comfort Guarantee’ where ‘if for whatever reason you aren’t experiencing the comfort you need to perform and feel your best on the bike’, they’ll reimburse you if within 90 days of the original purchase. They also offer Wear & Tear Repair and Crash Replacement, which shows commitment to the durability of their products.
