On first inspection we were slightly alarmed at the stiffness and width of the chamois pad in the Women’s Performance waist shorts. When we wore them for the first time, the pad did end up being quite inflexible and noticeable when walking, but we’ll report our full findings when we review them properly – we may be surprised by its effectiveness in the saddle.

Another noticeable feature of the Craft shorts is the waist band as it sits quite low on the front, well below the belly button. Although this stops it digging in and creating a muffin top, it made us feel quite conscious that our tummy may show if wearing a relatively short jersey.

Overall, the size small fits tightly on our UK size 10 model, so if you don’t like the compressive feel – you may want to go up a size. On the leg, the hem is formed from an elastic band with silicone dot grippers in the Craft logo pattern which felt as though it won’t ride up while riding – however again, we’ll report more on this when we test them properly.

Size available: XS – XL
Price: £60 (RRP £70)
Colour options: Black/white stitching
More information: Craft