recommendations for a very firm bib insert/shammy/pad/chamois

[GlasNago]

anyone used the sportful total comfort pad? it has an alleged 18mm thick pad but is it soft (less dense) or more firm?
i have the total comfort pro but not the 18mm version. the newest bib iteration doesnt get good reviews due to the straps material being flimsy and snapping

I am pad sensitive and I always have been, and one of my favourite pads is the Sportful TC Pro. I did try one pair of bibs with the thicker Total Comfort pad, I personally found it a bit too thick and prone to bunching. It was thick enough I also felt like I needed to adjust my saddle height. To me the padding density seemed more soft, but it was a while ago so I'll have to dig them up to see if 'm remembering correct (only wore those maybe 5x). Even the TC Pro pad, it responds differently in different product. For example in the BodyFit Pro shorts, the lycra is very compressive yet conforms very well to the body so the pad does not bunch. But in the Fiandre Pro bib shorts, or the Fiandre Pro bib tights, the NoRain fabric is less flexible and I find it can cause more issues with chamois bunching. In fact, for the NoRain product I prefer the thinner less engineered BodyFit Pro pad over the TC Pro pad.

hey thanks bigger gear
i was just getting my clothes ready for a ride tomorrow morning and i dug out my sportful fiandre no rain pro bibs with the total comfort pro pad (14mm thick) and was surprise how soft it was despite the claim on the shammy itself the pad was "high density". the aches in me ass immediately made me put them back in favour of my santini bib longs with the C3 pad, which is one of the firmer pads i have. the weather forecast is rain and 5 degC .

thanks again for sharing your experiences and for contributing.

[GlasNago]

I had a pair of the Total Comfort bibshorts and the pad was okay for when I was running my Fizik Arione saddle but not so much for my SMP Composit or full carbon as I found the pad to be too soft. The other odd thing was in the summer it was squeaky on my saddle as I guess once it got sweaty it would squeak on the seat.

sheesh that's another source of a squeak we dont need....

[bikeboy1tr]

I had a pair of the Total Comfort bibshorts and the pad was okay for when I was running my Fizik Arione saddle but not so much for my SMP Composit or full carbon as I found the pad to be too soft. The other odd thing was in the summer it was squeaky on my saddle as I guess once it got sweaty it would squeak on the seat.

sheesh that's another source of a squeak we dont need....

Haha yeah I have enough fun searching for squeaks.
I was just looking at the Elasticinterface site and noticed that anything with the word Hybrid in the title of the chamois has a combination 80/120/200kg/m3 for densities in some layer or another. Each seem to have a different combo of densities.

[GlasNago]

I had a pair of the Total Comfort bibshorts and the pad was okay for when I was running my Fizik Arione saddle but not so much for my SMP Composit or full carbon as I found the pad to be too soft. The other odd thing was in the summer it was squeaky on my saddle as I guess once it got sweaty it would squeak on the seat.

sheesh that's another source of a squeak we dont need....

Haha yeah I have enough fun searching for squeaks.
I was just looking at the Elasticinterface site and noticed that anything with the word Hybrid in the title of the chamois has a combination 80/120/200kg/m3 for densities in some layer or another. Each seem to have a different combo of densities.

i am disgusted at myself. i just started trawling through drawer upon drawer of bibs, tights, shorts. terrible.
anyhoo i checked my castelli pads (kiss and prospagetti), assos pads, etc etc and mosdef the firmest pad is the dhb pad that just arrived today. the santini C3 2nd.
before i hurt the seat bones i always found the assos pads more than adequate on the plethora of saddles but they somehow now seem under engineered and soft. hopefully my bum mans up and things return to normal, if you see what i mean

[Mr.Gib]

Also keep in mind that your body will change as you age. I have had to go to a slightly softer saddle in the last year. It was that or wear two pair of bib shorts (which I have done on occasion).

[GlasNago]

I had a pair of the Total Comfort bibshorts and the pad was okay for when I was running my Fizik Arione saddle but not so much for my SMP Composit or full carbon as I found the pad to be too soft. The other odd thing was in the summer it was squeaky on my saddle as I guess once it got sweaty it would squeak on the seat.

sheesh that's another source of a squeak we dont need....

Haha yeah I have enough fun searching for squeaks.
I was just looking at the Elasticinterface site and noticed that anything with the word Hybrid in the title of the chamois has a combination 80/120/200kg/m3 for densities in some layer or another. Each seem to have a different combo of densities.

you jinxed me ive been having soggy bibs saddle interface flatulent squelchy squeaks my last two rides. it is like reggie perrin sitting down in cj's office....

"i didnt get to where i am today by looking a gift horse in the bush"

[GlasNago]

as an update the dhb ultra shorts rocking the eit hybrid performance pad were fine. nothing extraordinary comfort wise but defo not uncomfortable. i was wearing them under a set of unpadded tights those endura dwr pro things.
think my seat bones are getting desensitised and toughening up. four short rides this week it is now only my over cooked noodles for legs that are the main issue.

happy to keep taking shammys though. i just received a pair of giordana frc today so will try them out too perhaps tomorrow under the enduras again and it is forecast once again to p!ss down.

[Ypuh]

anyone used the sportful total comfort pad? it has an alleged 18mm thick pad but is it soft (less dense) or more firm?
i have the total comfort pro but not the 18mm version. the newest bib iteration doesnt get good reviews due to the straps material being flimsy and snapping

I have the Total Comfort and really enjoy it. It's definitely thicker and very suited for long rides where the extra cushing can be fine (generally I ride much thinner chamois, but on multi day trips they can become a bit uncomfortable).

It's not very firm though, no more or less than an Assos insert. Just thicker.

[GlasNago]

anyone used the sportful total comfort pad? it has an alleged 18mm thick pad but is it soft (less dense) or more firm?
i have the total comfort pro but not the 18mm version. the newest bib iteration doesnt get good reviews due to the straps material being flimsy and snapping

I have the Total Comfort and really enjoy it. It's definitely thicker and very suited for long rides where the extra cushing can be fine (generally I ride much thinner chamois, but on multi day trips they can become a bit uncomfortable).

It's not very firm though, no more or less than an Assos insert. Just thicker.

yes i was surprised how soft the total comfort pro seatpad.

today my ass was cosseted by a pearl izumi "PRO Escape 1:1™ Chamois with floating top sheet design delivers unmatched comfort" which i instantly forgot about as it was a socially distanced social ride and was chatting for most of the ride. but having no pain in the clanger zone is def endorsement.

[MarkoP]

SQLabs one12 bib shorts might meet your criteria.

[GlasNago]

SQLabs one12 bib shorts might meet your criteria.

thanks MarkoP the pad certainly looks very futuristic but would be a leap of faith with a claimed 4mm thickness and firm pad but no density numbers that i could see.

from the website

"The new SQ-Pad 12, has a maximum thickness of 4 mm and initially feels both exceptionally firm and of high quality. Everyone that rides regularly knows that for rides of over 30 min duration, a saddle with thin firm padding is considerably more comfortable than a saddle with thick soft padding. The same is true for a chamois. Most chamois are about 12 mm thick and soft - UNTIL NOW!"

certainly a potential so thanks again.

[bikeboy1tr]

Haha sorry about the squeaky pad but you know what they say, shit happens. I found a another company on PBK using the Elasticinterface pad with the higher density numbers. I did order a pair as the reviews were pretty good and they were onsale.
https://www.probikekit.ca/sports-shorts ... 73419.html

[LeMomo]

Attacus also use an elastic interface chamois, far and away the most comfortable pad I've ever known. In the hand feel is very firm and I've done 5 hour plus rides with no discomfort.

[Mr.Gib]

Attacus also use an elastic interface chamois, far and away the most comfortable pad I've ever known. In the hand feel is very firm and I've done 5 hour plus rides with no discomfort.

The shorts might be excellent but the on sight reviews were mostly written by the company.

[GlasNago]

Attacus also use an elastic interface chamois, far and away the most comfortable pad I've ever known. In the hand feel is very firm and I've done 5 hour plus rides with no discomfort.

The shorts might be excellent but the on sight reviews were mostly written by the company.

I had never heard of attacus so good to be exposed to this brand and the others mentioned on here by those who have taken the time to contribute.

another uk brand is lusso who my friend says its carbon shorts have a great pad which is a EIT hybrid pad. ive now purchased four sets of bibs in the last two weeks so now time to ease up before the repo men show up at the door. that said today i purchased the endura pro sls with the med 700 series pad. if graeme obree is paid to say they are the most comfortable shorts then i'm jumping on the winning team.

i was out in a downpour at the weekend so stuck on an old iteration of the assos bonka tights on. the one with the silly mono strap thing with a zip up it. ooft it was like sitting on yer old favourite comfy armchair. peachy.