The Five Most Affordable FIA Racing Bottoms
The cheapest item in our racing bottoms category is not a pair of long johns. It is a pair of FIA 8856-2018 socks at £26.40, followed by shorts that carry no FIA approval at all. The cheapest FIA 8856-2018 long johns start at £68.40, and five of them sit between that and £96.00. Cameron's first question is which standard your series asks for, because the answer decides which part of this page is for you.
- Prices read from the live site on 20 October 2026, inc VAT
- Every pick is listed as FIA 8856-2018
- Shorts, socks and the older standard are covered so you can rule them out
Long johns, shorts or socks: what is in the category
A search for racing bottoms turns up more than long johns. The category holds socks, shorts and long johns, and only the long johns run to the ankle. The cheapest item is the Sparco RW-4 Socks at £26.40, which are listed FIA 8856-2018. After that come two pairs of shorts, the Sparco RW-4 Shorts at £45.60 and the Sparco Basic Bermuda Shorts at £60.54, and both are listed Non-FIA.
Most drivers who ask us for bottoms want the full length garment, and that is what this page ranks. We left the socks and shorts out of the five for that reason, and we say so here so nobody assumes the £26.40 is the price of a pair of bottoms.
Five picks from £68.40 to £96.00
Entry brand
OMP First Long Johns
£72from, inc VAT
- FIA 8856-2018
- Double layer soft knit Nomex
Softer feel
Alpinestars Race V3 Bottoms
£91.20from, inc VAT
- FIA 8856-2018
- Lenzing FR fibres
| Product | Approval | Colours | Sizes | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparco RW-4 Long Johns | FIA 8856-2018 | Black / White | S / M / L / XL / XXL | From £68.40 |
| OMP First Long Johns | FIA 8856-2018 | Black / White | XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL | From £72 |
| Sparco RW-7 Long Johns | FIA 8856-2018 | Black / White | XS-S / M-L / XL-XXL | From £90 |
| Alpinestars Race V3 Underwear Bottoms | FIA 8856-2018 | Grey / Anthracite | S / M / L / XL / XXL | From £91.20 |
| Sparco Shield Tech Long Johns | FIA 8856-2018 | Black / White | XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL | From £96 |
From means the lowest price across the sizes and colours on the listing. Prices include VAT and were read from the live site on 20 October 2026.
1. Sparco RW-4 Long Johns: the cheapest FIA pair
The RW-4 Long Johns are the leg half of Sparco’s RW-4 race underwear set. They are approved to FIA 8856-2018. Sparco list the RW-4 as their relaxed cut line, which the listing positions as a comfortable everyday racing option and not an ultralight performance layer.
At £68.40 it is the cheapest long john we sell that carries the FIA 8856-2018 approval. The listing is plain that the underwear is one layer of the protection stack with the suit and the balaclava, and it does not stand in for any of them. That makes it the starting point for anyone who needs the approval and not the extras.
- From £68.40 inc VAT
- FIA 8856-2018, Sparco SKU 001782P
- Black or white, sizes S to XXL
- Relaxed cut, the leg half of the RW-4 set
-
From £68.40 Incl. VATPayPal Credit0% pay-in-3Try in-storeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Product cards show prices excluding VAT. Prices in the text include VAT.
2. OMP First Long Johns: our pick for most drivers
The OMP First is OMP’s entry range, homologated to FIA 8856-2018 and made from double layer soft knit Nomex. The listing gives the part number as IAA-772. It comes in black or white, in sizes XS to XXL.
It costs £3.60 more than the Sparco RW-4. The approval is the same, so Garreth’s view is that the extra £3.60 is a small price for the double layer Nomex. Cameron would ask what you wear underneath the suit now, so the size matches what you already know fits.
- From £72.00 inc VAT
- FIA 8856-2018, part number IAA-772
- Double layer soft knit Nomex
- Black or white, sizes XS to XXL
-
From £72.00 Incl. VATPayPal Credit0% pay-in-3Try in-storeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
3. Sparco RW-7 Long Johns: seamless for long days
The RW-7 Long Johns are the lower half of Sparco’s Shield RW-7 range. They are approved to FIA 8856-2018. The construction is seamless, and the fabric carries an X-Cool silver treatment that Sparco say helps with temperature management and has an anti-bacterial effect.
The seamless cut removes the pressure points that seamed long johns can put against the legs over a long stint. It is £90.00, so £21.60 more than the cheapest pick, and Garreth would spend it on a car that sees a full day on track rather than a short session. The anti-bacterial treatment helps when the garment goes back on for a second session without a full wash.
- From £90.00 inc VAT
- FIA 8856-2018, seamless construction
- X-Cool silver treatment, anti-bacterial
- Black or white, sizes XS-S, M-L and XL-XXL
-
From £90.00 Incl. VATPayPal Credit0% pay-in-3Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
4. Alpinestars Race V3 Underwear Bottoms: the softer fabric
The Race V3 Underwear Bottoms are FIA 8856-2018 certified. They are the entry point to the Alpinestars underwear range. The fabric uses Lenzing FR fibres, a viscose based fire-resistant material that the listing says feels softer against the skin than pure Nomex.
The construction is two-layer with flat seams, which keeps raised ridges away from the legs. The price is £91.20, and the colour is grey and anthracite where the others are black or white. If you already run Alpinestars on top, this is the pair that matches the brand.
- From £91.20 inc VAT
- FIA 8856-2018, Lenzing FR fibres
- Two-layer construction, flat seams
- Grey and anthracite, sizes S to XXL
-
From £91.20 Incl. VATPayPal Credit0% pay-in-3Try in-storeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
5. Sparco Shield Tech Long Johns: the step up
The Shield Tech Long Johns are homologated to FIA 8856-2018. They are listed under Sparco part number 001777P. The listing is clear about why you buy them: the approved layer is the reason, and a pair of shorts or a cotton base layer does not take its place.
At £96.00 it is the dearest of the five and £27.60 above the cheapest. For occasional use, one of the first three picks will serve you well. For someone who wears underwear every weekend of the season, this is where the money goes.
- From £96.00 inc VAT
- FIA 8856-2018, Sparco part number 001777P
- Black or white, sizes XS to XXL
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From £96.00 Incl. VATPayPal Credit0% pay-in-3Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Common questions
Will shorts do instead of long johns?
Not if your series specifies FIA 8856-2018 underwear, because the two pairs of shorts in the category, at £45.60 and £60.54, are listed Non-FIA and the long johns we rank here all run to the ankle.
Is the older FIA 8856-2000 standard still accepted?
The Sabelt UI-100 listing says most UK club and national championships accept it. It also says to check your regulations if your series specifies 8856-2018. Send us your series and we will check it for you before you order.
Do I need a matching top?
The Sabelt listing says to pair its bottoms with the matching Nomex top for a complete undersuit, and the RW-4 long johns are the leg half of Sparco’s RW-4 set and the RW-7 the lower half of the RW-7 range, so each has a top to go with it.
Why does every price say from?
Each of these listings has sizes and colours as options. The price shown is the lowest across them. Open the listing and pick your size to see the exact figure.
Which size should I order?
The sizing differs between the brands. The RW-7 uses paired sizes, XS-S, M-L and XL-XXL, and the others use single sizes. Give us your height and your usual size, and Cameron will match it before you order.
What we would buy
Garreth
What I would buy
For most drivers I would take the OMP First at £72.00. It has the approval. It is double layer Nomex, and the gap to the cheapest pair is £3.60.
If the car does full days on track, the RW-7 earns its extra money, because you feel a seamless garment every time you put it on.
Cameron
What I check before it ships
I check the standard first, 8856-2018 or the older 8856-2000, because that decides whether any of this page applies. Then I check the size against the brand. The RW-7 sizes in pairs, so it is the one that trips people up.
Where we disagree is the cheapest pair: I think the RW-4 is perfectly good for a club driver, and Garreth thinks £3.60 is too small a gap to leave the First on the shelf.
Not sure which standard or size you need?
Tell us the series you race in and your size. Cally, our digital receptionist, takes your details. Cameron comes back to you with the right pair before you order.
