Our 5 favourite things to keep in Rapha’s new Core Cargo shorts (plus a proper first look review)

We’ve all been there at some point on long rides. The weather started off cold or rainy, your jersey pockets are stuffed with food, a multitool, tube and pump, discarded knee warmers, the kitchen sink etc. You want to whip off your waterproof but there’s no room at the inn, and the back of your jersey is already down by your knees.

We’ve had a pair of the mens bib shorts and women’s shorts for a little while – skip to the bottom if you want to find out what we thought right away, plus our favourite things to carry.

Cargo shorts

Rapha itself admits that its original Explore Cargo Bib Shorts were labelled a bit ridiculous by many. We’d be a little more generous to be honest – we liked the idea of having pockets on bib shorts and could see the benefits. We weren’t the only ones though, and the Explore shorts have proved to be popular in Rapha’s range. They were followed up with Explore tights this winter and now Rapha has decided to bring extra storage capacity at a lower price point.

For 2019, it is introducing cargo shorts in its Core range (think Waitrose Essential Guacamole etc – very slightly less posh than very posh). The Core shorts apply the same basic concept. They are equipped with the same sturdy mesh pockets as their Explore cousins.

Rapha says the shape and construction of the pockets has been tested extensively to ensure contents remain safely stowed for the duration of your ride – the last thing you want is your mid-ride snacking option to eject on the first descent.

The range and details

The new shorts are the flagship product of the new Core range, and there’s actually three options out there: Core Cargo Bib Shorts, Core Cargo Shorts, Women’s Cargo Shorts. There’s also a reworked jersey and children’s jersey in there too.

The trio of new shorts are all made from a “supportive, dense-knit fabric for comfort and durability”. The non-bib shorts have been designed to reduce seams for a more comfortable fit. The Core Cargo Bib straps are made from a lightweight, breathable fabric that will “stretch to accommodate riders of all heights and help regulate body temperature in warmer conditions”.

All three feature an expandable mesh pocket on each leg and the Core Cargo Bib Shorts have two rear pockets that sit out of sight under a t-shirt and conveniently above the waist line when worn with a pair of looser fitting shorts on top. All pockets feature a reinforced top seam to keep items secure on ride after ride, through season after season.

A low-profile laser-cut leg gripper holds the shorts in place while flat-locked seams prevent chafing. Rapha has incorporated its tried-and-tested Classic chamois pad for men and a brand new women’s Classic chamois. We think its a bit of a shame that there isn’t a bib option for women. We know many female riders who prefer the ease of a short, but equally as many who prefer bibs.

Spec and pricing

• Minimal seam construction
• Classic chamois pad
• Comfortable leg grippers
• 2 x mesh leg pockets
• Curved top seam on mesh leg pockets
• 2 x mesh rear pockets (bibs only)
• Breathable, high-stretch bib straps (bibs only)
• Low-cut at the front for comfort in an on-bike position (women’s Core Cargo shorts)
• Bibs: £110
• Shorts: £95

Our first thoughts

Tom’s thoughts
Thank goodness for a relatively mild start to the year. It was actually almost pleasant to have the old knees out on a couple of occasions. We would like to apologise to the general public in around north Leeds. There are a few that have reported temporary blindness after seeing my early season pins on display. White doesn’t do it justice. My skin is virtually transparent at the moment.

Anyway, as we said up at the start of the piece, we have liked the concept of cargo shorts, and got on well with Rapha’s original Explore shorts, and we’ve pretty much lived in the Explore tights this winter. The important stuff has been carried through to the cheaper Core range. We say cheaper, but let’s flag up right now that £110 isn’t cheap for a pair of bib shorts. It’s a long way off it. In Rapha’s defence, the fabric, pad and general finish are excellent. Being hyper critical, the classic pad feels a little bulky compared to its Pro-Team version and some others out there, but it is very comfortable.
I’m normally somewhere between a small and a medium in lycra shorts. These are a medium and feel fairly generous. I’d be tempted to size down if you like your lycra to give some compression benefits.
As well as a decent short, you also get those pockets. I am converted. I now keep my phone on the right thigh when riding – it’s easier to get to than reaching into a rear pocket and feels slightly more secure. On longer rides the thigh pockets are brilliant for keeping snacks to hand. I also liked that when not being used, they sit flat against the thigh. It’s hard to explain how nice and easy it is to reach into the thigh pockets to grab something when tapping along off-road. It’s a luxury, but one that I think is probably worth it.

On the men’s bib shorts, I didn’t tend to use the rear pockets so much. They are relatively awkward to get to, and are only really of value if you don’t want to wear a traditional jersey with pockets. Having said that, they aren’t noticeable in any way and I’m are sure they will come in handy at some point.

Claire’s thoughts