Terry Hi-Rise Holster Short Review

The Terry Hi-Rise Holster Short is a comfortable, full-coverage cycling short from a women's cycling brand. They're made from a thicker, close-knit nylon and spandex blend that has good stretch, support, and a fair amount of compression. They have an 8.75-inch inseam, a very high-waisted design, and come in a wide range of sizes up to 3XL. There are deep stash pockets on each thigh, made from a mesh material to improve breathability, and a relatively thin women's specific 3D chamois design.

Comfort and Padding

The Terry Hi-Rise Holster Shorts slide on easily and stay in place well. The thick, high waistband keeps the shorts up, generally without digging in. The leg hems are wide and form-fitting, but don't have silicone grippers, allowing them to move freely. The thicker fabric provides comfortable support and compression without unwanted squeezing. These have an aerodynamic silhouette without being too tight.

While the shorts themselves are very comfortable, the chamois padding is somewhat lacking, with only very subtle lines creating a 3D effect. The foam is one uniform density and compresses on longer rides, which resulted in a bit of pain in our sit bones when we rode for longer than a couple of hours. We appreciate the perforation on the chamois for increased breathability, but with the lighter padding, these shorts are better suited to shorter, casual rides. They're likely not enough for your next long road or gravel race.

Fit and Features

The Terry Hi-Rise Holster Short fits like your favorite pair of mom jeans: High-waisted, curve-hugging, and tight in the right areas. The key difference with the ​​Holster short compared to other bike shorts is just how high the waist is, sitting above the belly button. Often, our largest issue with cycling shorts is that they slip down while riding, or the waistband is too tight and digs into our midsection.

While there aren't a ton of features on these shorts, we did love the ease of use and effectiveness of the two generously sized stash pockets on each thigh. We could easily store our phone, snacks, and essentials here without worrying about them bouncing out during the ride.

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Breathability

These shorts are made from a slightly thicker fabric, are black in color, and have a full-coverage fit — factors that all work against their breathability. We found ourselves getting sweaty pretty quickly on hot and high-output rides in these shorts.

While these shorts didn't score the highest here, they do have some construction elements that work in their favor. The pockets are thoughtfully made from mesh rather than another layer of thick fabric, which helps maintain airflow on the side panels. The perforated chamois also allows for more breathability and prevents moisture buildup down there, increasing comfort on your ride.

Fabric Quality

The fabric and construction quality on the Terry Hi-Rise Holster Short is good, but it's not top-of-the-line. The material feels good while riding, and against your skin, but there are other shorts and bibs that do much better at conforming to your body, moving with you, and offering better compression. Our biggest qualm with the quality of these shorts is all of the exposed seams, which can cause chafing and are also likely to fray with extended use.

Despite these shorts not having the highest-end construction possible, they held up well throughout the testing period with no obvious signs of wear. We would suspect that the mesh pockets are vulnerable to wear due to their delicate material. The chamois also doesn't have as good of memory as other options, and we noticed some compression over time throughout the test period.

Style

If you're after a pair of bike shorts that blend seamlessly into life off the bike, the Terry Hi-Rise Holster Short is a great choice. The clean, understated design makes it easy to go straight from the saddle to post-ride coffee, errands, or even a casual meet-up without feeling like you're in full cycling kit. The high-rise waistband adds a touch of polish and comfort, while the subtle styling keeps things lowkey and versatile. It's the kind of short that feels just as appropriate at the café as it does on the climb—simple, flattering, and quietly functional.

They're available in just two color options, both of which lean toward the understated side of the spectrum. The muted tones keep the look simple and versatile — if you're looking for fun patterns or loud colors, you'll have to look elsewhere. That said, the black version is a standout for practicality; it completely hides sweat, even on hot or humid rides, and maintains a clean, polished appearance throughout the day. The overall aesthetic is subtle and athletic, similar to many general athletic shorts, and the dark color does a great job of concealing both the chamois and panel stitching for a smooth, streamlined look.

Should You Buy the Terry Hi-Rise Holster Short?

If you're a serious female cyclist logging long miles and demanding all-day comfort from a highly technical chamois, the Terry Hi-Rise Holster Short probably won't meet your needs. Its padding, while comfortable for shorter rides and moderate efforts, isn't designed for endurance-level mileage or all-day training sessions. However, if your focus is more on casual, everyday cycling, like commuting, cruising around town, or getting in relaxed fitness rides, these shorts are an excellent choice. They offer a great balance of value, comfort, and fit, with a flattering design that transitions effortlessly from the bike to daily life.

What Other Women's Bike Shorts Should You Consider?

If you want an even more laid-back style with a looser, more comfortable fit and less compression, our testers also loved the Terry Bike Bermuda Shorts, which offer similar coverage. For better chamois padding in a short option, you can look into the similarly priced Louis Garneau Fit Sensor Short, which has a shorter inseam and tighter fit. For the most flattering bib option, we appreciated the breathability and fabric feel of the Rapha Core Bib Shorts. But for casual riding in style, the Hi-Rise Holster shorts deliver.