Best Cycling Shorts

Review & Comparison, Last Update March 8, 2024
Cycling without cycling shorts is like using a laptop without a mouse - possible, but not preferable. With this mindset, we've decided to identify the best cycling shorts available on the market today. These are the shorts you will find on this list. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Gender
Size
Materials
Extras
Warranty
 
PROS

SELECT Escape 1:1™ Chamois gives you medium-density support. Adopting skived edges and this smooth, "next-to-skin" profile, the shorts feel free, making sure the skin remains dry without restricting blood circulation.

CONS

Some find the stitching a little shoddy. 

OUR VERDICT

The Pearl Izumi Men's Escape Quest Padded Cycling Shorts are padded from crack to sack, so you can spend hours atop the bike without experiencing any unpleasant sensations down there. Incorporating 88% nylon and 12% LYCRA® elastane, the shorts become great at wicking away moisture.

detailed parameters
Gender

Men's

Size

S, M, L, XL, XXL

Materials

88% nylon, 12% LYCRA® elastane

Extras

6-panel anatomic design, Turned hem with silicon print, SELECT Escape 1:1™ Chamois, BioViz™ reflective elements, Machine washable

Warranty

Limited lifetime

PROS

The 6-panel anatomic design will be hugging the legs in all the right places, making sure that the shorts are not strangling them. With the UPF 50+ rating, the shorts let you ride even during peak hours knowing that the legs are protected from UVA and UVB rays.

CONS

The fabric fades pretty quickly. 

OUR VERDICT

Sponeed Men's Padded Shorts fit MTBs, trekking, touring, and road bikes alike. Both seasoned veterans and recent biking enthusiasts will find the shorts pretty attractive. What's more, the hypoallergenic fabric will accommodate people with sensitive skin. 

detailed parameters
Gender

Men's

Size

S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL

Materials

80% polyester, 20% spandex

Extras

6-panel anatomic design, Silicone leg grippers, Light-reflective elements, Elastic waistband, 3D gel pad, Machine washable

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The durable Chamois will be providing considerable on-saddle support, with the 3D gel pad lending noticeable cushioning and minimizing the impact coming from minute vibrations and even noticeable bumps. 

CONS

The leg grippers are a tad too tight. 

OUR VERDICT

BALEAF Men's Bike Shorts will not cost you much, making the product especially attractive considering that these tights can be used both as cycling shorts and undershorts. When used as the second option, these tights' waistband will keep the fit snug and prevent them from sliding down. 

detailed parameters
Gender

Men's

Size

S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL

Materials

90% polyester, 10% spandex

Extras

Elastic waistband, Silicone leg grippers, 3D gel pad, Machine washable

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The side cutouts and mesh back will promote excellent ventilation. The foam padding on the crotch absorbs shock and reduces skin irritation. The logo is light-reflective, making you more visible in low-light conditions. 

CONS

The shorts will start shrinking a little when machine-washed frequently. 

OUR VERDICT

Przewalski Men’s Bike Bib Shorts do not move, slip, slide, skid, ride, or shift. Wearing these bib shorts, you'll be riding without having to adjust the shorts every 15-30 minutes. Plus, when necessary, you can easily hide the bibs under most shirts. 

detailed parameters
Gender

Men's

Size

S, M, L, XL, XXL

Materials

71% polyester, 29% spandex

Extras

Silicone leg grippers, 3D gel pad, Meshing on the back, Flat-seam stitching, Light-reflective logo, Machine washable

Warranty

90 days

PROS

The padding is the thickest in the bone, becoming less thick in the perineum and even less thick at the perimeter. Even though not even noticeable, the stitching here is strong, minimizing friction but without restricting your range of motion. 

CONS

The 3D gel pad will lose its initial volume with time. 

OUR VERDICT

Beroy Padded Bike Shorts are not expensive shorts, which's surprising considering that everything about these shorts suggests that they do not belong with affordable alternatives. The shorts are comfortable, durable, and well-thought-out, the whole package. 

detailed parameters
Gender

Women's

Size

XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL

Materials

80% polyester, 20% spandex

Extras

Silicone leg grippers, Elastic waistband, 3D gel pad, Mesh panels, Machine washable

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

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PEARL IZUMI Men's Escape Quest

Balancing Comfort and Performance

Pearl Izumi Men's Escape Quest Padded Cycling Shorts will cost you a little more than most bike shorts but, in this case, we would recommend paying the extra sum. Unlike its less expensive competition, this product balances out comfort and performance about 100% evenly, with SELECT Escape 1:1™ Chamois offering medium-density support and, featuring skived edges and smooth, "next-to-skin" construction, ensuring skin comfort and enabling unrestricted blood circulation.

Somewhat like the aforementioned less expensive competition, these shorts come equipped with BioViz™ reflective elements, subtle but very much visible at night. What's also visible (not at night though) is the stitching that's pretty shoddy considering that these are not some cheap shorts.

While the turned hem is virtually invisible, this little detail prevents the shorts from slipping and sliding, so you will not be adjusting them during the ride. Last but not least, made from 88% nylon and 12% LYCRA® elastane, the fabric is excellent at transferring moisture and keeping the legs dry.

Bottom line, Pearl Izumi Men's Escape Quest Padded Cycling Shorts are no joke. Fully padded (from crack to sack), these shorts enable uncompromised performance without forgetting that comfort should always take priority.

Review of PEARL IZUMI Men's Escape Quest Padded Cycling shorts

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $50.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B01H7BQXNC

 

sponeed Bike Cycle

Feeling Almost Invincible

Sponeed Men's Padded Shorts are also not the cheapest bike shorts and, just like the previous tights, can also justify the immodest price tag. To that end, the shorts are contributing a 6-panel anatomic design that hugs the legs in the right places without strangling them. To add more, the fabric is pretty good at retaining heat but also releasing sweat, so the shorts do not start feeling stuffy and sticking to the legs on hot days.

On the "hot days" subject, these tights are rated UPF 50+, so you can even ride during peak hours without worrying about sunburns. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same about the shorts themselves, with the fabric taking less time to fade than you would expect from these practically high-end shorts.

You can also expect the form-fitting elastic waist to prevent the shorts from bunching or riding, so you won't have to adjust them often. Meanwhile, the silicone band grippers sitting around the leg opening will make sure the shorts are not riding up.

Including the 3D gel pad alleviating discomfort during the ride, Sponeed Men's Padded Shorts will attract dedicated bike nuts and small-time cycling enthusiasts alike. Wearing these shorts, you will feel most invincible riding the bike. Also, you can choose between six colors, including white.

Review of sponeed Bike Cycle Men's Padded Shorts

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $39.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B079FM844N

 

BALEAF Men's Bike Cycling Underwear

Cycling Liner Shorts

BALEAF Men's Bike Shorts are as much cycling shorts as they are undershorts, with an ambiguous look resembling both. To begin with, the gradient design with an ultra-durable Chamois provides adequate on-saddle support, while the 3D gel pad makes sure that the most sensitive area is protected from the merciless saddle, offering decent cushioning and reducing the vibrations' impact.

Not unlike most cycling shorts, these ones come fitted with silicone leg grippers, preventing the shorts from riding up. The issue here is that some might find the grippers a little too tight, almost strangling the legs.

Most riders will have no problems with the moisture-wicking fabric though, maintaining high comfort and dryness levels. A comparable sentiment can be extended towards the elastic waistband, keeping the fit snug and stopping the shorts from sliding down.

Since the available sizes include every fit between S and XXXL (including these two), both the skinniest and the largest riders will find suitable shorts. And, because they're machine washable, maintaining these road shorts will be the least strenuous task, so you can almost abuse these tights without any longevity concerns. Plus, they're pretty affordable too.

Review of BALEAF Men's Bike Cycling Underwear Liner Shorts
Last updated price $16.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B071GKT1C7

 

Przewalski Men’s 3D Padded

Cycling Bib Shorts

As much as the people behind cycling shorts are working towards that goal, standard bike shorts will always be running, slipping, and sliding up, down, and around. The same cannot be said about bib shorts though.

No, bib shorts, like the ones from Przewalski, do not move, so you can ride without adjusting them every 15 minutes. With cutouts on the sides, these shorts are promoting excellent ventilation, preventing you from getting all hot and sweaty even when the temperature outside starts approaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Borrowing from the industry's playbook, these bib shorts are also adopting high-density foam padding in the crotch area, absorbing shock and reducing skin irritation. But, in this case, the padding is perforated, reducing that uncomfortable humid feeling that standard 3D gel pads are usually entailing.

Are they perfect? No, not quite. When frequently machine-washed, the shorts will start shrinking a little. But the light-reflective logo will not start losing its reflective properties, so you can continue conquering nighttime roads without worrying that the drivers will not be able to see you before it is too late.

In short (you know we had to), Przewalski Men’s Bike Bib Shorts will not let you down, offering great performance and an equally great fit.

Review of Przewalski Men’s 3D Padded Cycling Bike Bib Shorts
Last updated price $32.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01HUNDFOC

 

beroy Womens Padded

Cycling Shorts Women

Finding women's cycling shorts that fit you right can be a nightmare. The opposite is the case with Beroy Padded Bike Shorts though. Ranging from XS to XXXL, these shorts are available in sizes that will fit both the most petite and the most curvaceous ladies. Besides that, what separates these shorts from cheap models is the leg grippers that prevent them from shifting as you ride.

What also separates them is the variable thickness padding, with maximum thickness and density in the bone becoming moderate thickness in the perineum and minimizing at the perimeter. This approach makes them even more suitable for long rides than most road shorts. At the same time, the padding will lose its initial volume/thickness with time, but the same can be said about most shorts with padded inserts, even the most expensive ones.

Even the most expensive models do not incorporate mesh panels sometimes though, bully for them and hurray for these cycle shorts from Beroy since these panels make the short breathable and riding on hot summer days much more bearable. Finally, the stitching here is unnoticeable yet robust, reducing friction without restricting the motion range.

In other words, women that like riding bikes and dislike spending money on expensive cycling shorts cannot go wrong with Beroy Padded Bike Shorts.

Review of beroy Womens Padded Bike Shorts
Last updated price $22.94
Stock In stock
ASIN B074SF2XBM

 

What Are Cycling Shorts?

Cycling has so many health benefits that even mentioning them all, let alone describing takes at least a few pages, so we will not be doing that here. Instead, we'll tell you that, as great as riding can be, without the right gear, even the most expensive bikes can make short-distance rides uncomfortable, let alone long-distance. Wearing the right cycling shorts though, you can make that experience much less uncomfortable.

The right cycling shorts do not bunch. They do not ride up and down. They do not restrict movement. These shorts have to be comfortable, tight but not too tight, hugging the legs but not strangling and suffocating them. Light-reflective elements cannot hurt these shorts too, making you more noticeable at night.

But, before all these elements, what we like to see first and most is some padding in the crotch area, protecting every rider's most sensitive area from the saddle. When these conditions are met, you have found solid cycling shorts, the ones that will let you ride with comfort and confidence.

Needless to say, pairing them with cycling shoes makes sense too, so we would recommend considering these shoes as well. Safety first though, so do not even think about riding without wearing a bike helmet.

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Publish Date: 2020-07-06 12:00:57