Fjällräven Hoja Cycling Bib Shorts

Review by Erin Trail

The Fjällräven Hoja Cycling Bib Shorts are well made, functional, and – most importantly – comfortable for long miles on two wheels.

Details

• Main body fabric is recycled polyester and elastane
• Suspenders made from circular knit hydrophilic mini mesh
• Drop-tail construction for easy bathroom breaks
• Body Geometry Contour Chamois
• Reflective details along the hamstring for visibility
• Inseam length: 22 cm (8.6 in)
• Outside mesh drop-in pockets along the side of each leg

Fit and Function

I am a women’s size medium on the Fjällräven size guide.  I found the Hoja Cycling Bib Shorts to be true to size and to fit me well, finding that sweet spot of compression and movement.  The legs hit me a few inches above me knee.  The shoulder straps are also nicely stretchy, not feeling too loose or too tight. The waist hem does sit a little high on me (or the seam hits me in a weird spot); I do have to move that hem down a smidge to lay across my stomach comfortably. Most cycling bibs have more of a single layer without a hem at the waist, so what I experienced may be a fit issue or it may be due to a little bit of pressure from a seam.

I’ve been wearing the Fjällräven Hoja Cycling Bib Shorts for the past 6 weeks, riding my gravel bike on rides ranging from 1 hour recovery rides to 3 hour training rides. Temperatures have ranged from 70s to high 80s.

The Fjällräven Hoja Cycling Bib Shorts is very comfortable and and super functional.

The most important thing to me in a cycling short is the chamois.  The Fjällräven Hoja Cycling Bib Shorts have a great chamois.  It’s got a decent amount of padding covered with a very thin but soft layer of fleece.  The chamois thickness is great for me – there’s no diaper effect.  I also really like the construction.  The seams affixing the chamois to the bib are a flat zig zag stitch, which is plenty durable but minimizes bulk and the potential for chafing.  I also like how the chamois extends slightly down the inner thigh, additionally reducing potential for chafing.

I’ve found the chamois to be very comfortable on all of my rides.  I prefer a minimal chamois, so if you like a lot of cushion, this might not be the bibs for you.

My next favorite feature of the Fjällräven Hoja Cycling Bib Shorts is the elastic drop-in pockets on the sides of each leg.  I love to have snacks or my phone accessible as I ride. I am also a master of the “selfie while riding” skillset.  The mesh drop in pockets are easy to remove things – but also – really easy to put things back into.  They’re also very generously sized (easily fits a phone) and the mesh is compressive and will keep things safe. The mesh pocket top material helps to keep the layers minimal and breathable.

The bottom hem of the legs are lightly compressive without giving off “sausage leg” vibes.  They also don’t move as you ride.

The main fabric of the Fjällräven Hoja Cycling Bib Shorts is great.  It’s not super compressive, so maybe not something you’d want for races, but it does offer a good amount of compression support while being stretchy.  The fabric didn’t sag or wrinkle when I wore it.  The fabric is also completely opaque, so you won’t need to worry about showing your backside off while riding in a paceline.  It’s also nicely breathable: I never felt hot on any of my test rides.

Finally, the drop-tail construction.  Riders have to make a choice: wear bibs for waistline comfort then strip down to only their bra to use the bathroom…. or pick cycling shorts (with an uncomfortable waistline) for easier bathroom access.  This problem is more one for women than men.  The drop-tail makes the cycling bibs so you don’t have to take anything off to squat – you just pull the rear waistband down until things are exposed enough to do your business.

The Fjällräven Hoja Cycling Bib Shorts drop-tail design does work…. but barely.  The seam on the rear waistline is fairly tight and I found that I had to be fairly “position ready” to avoid popping threads or stretch things beyond their limits.  I also found that the drop-tail didn’t have a whole lot of clearance and I was more confident on a toilet with a seat, so I could hook the bib fabric onto the seat for a little extra security.  Out in the wild, this might be a bit more tricky, especially when you are also balancing in awkward cycling shoes.  This feature goes down as a nice thought but not fully successful.  (for the record, I have never worn a pair of bibs that managed bathroom breaks well, so this is a very common problem that seems fairly hard to address).

Closing Thoughts

The Fjällräven Hoja Cycling Bib Shorts are my personal favorite for long training days or rides where I want a bit of adventure and easy access to snacks or my phone.  The bibs are very well designed and constructed, offering several features to make your days on the saddle a bit more pleasant and fun.

The Fjällräven Hoja Cycling Bib Shorts are available for both men and women.  Men’s sizes range from XS to XXL.  Women’s sizes range from XXL to XL.

Erin Trail

Trail Boss of Stoke

Erin Trail on her mountain bike at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race

Erin Trail on her running at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race