This spring, we got in a new selection of the top bike shorts on the market to test for the best. There were just hours of sweating inside in isolation on the trainer with just Zwift, GCN, old pro races, and the Tour de Quarantine to keep us company. Luckily, we were able to get out and spend a good amount of time on the road in the closing weeks of our review, so we were able to get into the real world conditions in the sun and on the punishing hills. You know, to fully immerse in the research. What you'll find on this page is our boil-down on what to look for when you're looking for shorts, whether you're new to the sport or just looking to pick off a new pair, possibly from the bunch we just examined.
Why Special Shorts?
If you've landed on this page, you probably already have an inkling of why you might want a pair of special shorts - because you're planning on sitting on your tail and bouncing along for longer than is generally expected to be comfortable. You either already have the bug or you're investigating its acquisition. Newer riders or those with less experience in bike-specific shorts will get a lot more out of this particular page, which is something of an introduction to shorts. If you're experienced, you might prefer to jump over to one of the other pages to see how we do our testing or to see our boil-down of the best shorts.
So what is it about cycling shorts, in particular? Do they have to be so questionably tight? Do they have to look like a diaper? Do you have to shave your legs now? The answers are, in order: no, no, yes.
Most athletic gear is made of materials picked for their breathability and their ability to wick sweat away from the skin to evaporate on the outside of the fabric. Merino Wool is a natural variety of this kind of fabric, but nylon, polyester, and spandex are all synthetic varieties that are usually found in athletic shorts. You don't need a bike-specific short to go for a bike ride; as a kid, you probably didn't gear up before hopping on your bike (we've all seen the Facebook memes pining for the good 'ole days before anyone wore helmets when you just rubbed some dirt in it and walked it off). But once you get into the world of cycling and get serious about riding hard and far, you need some kind of protection between you and the saddle (and take a look at our Road Bike Helmets if you want some protection between your head and the outside world).
Both road cyclists and mountain bikers wear shorts that have a chamois in them. Well, they're usually foam or gel padding. True chamois is a fine leather made from a European mountain goat or some such wild ungulate. Real chamois hasn't been commonly used in riding shorts for decades. It's no wonder why, either. Have you ever taken leather Timberlands out to do work and had it rain or had to work in water puddles and waited for those things to dry the next day (they become craggy, hard, and unworkable)? Just imagine the superior comfort offered by sweat-hardened leather strategically placed directly under the weight-bearing contact points of your unmentionables. So that's why all sorts of synthetic materials and foam are now the preferred barrier between your bits and the seat.
In road-specific shorts, the padding is usually more ergonomically shaped and made to accommodate a more forward, aggressive position. This reduces the amount of fabric that can bunch up and cause chafing or alter riding form. This is also why the chamois bows toward you or away from you when examining the shorts in your hands — you can't lay the chamois flat on the ground. It's usually fixed in place and positioned toward the front of the bib or short, unlike mountain bike chamois, which are often on removable liners and in the middle of the short. Some of the newer road shorts are moving away from the fixed design, allowing the padding to move with the body. That seems to improve comfort quite a bit.
The fit of tight bike shorts is another distinguishing factor. Baggy mountain bike shorts focus on protection from falls and unrestricted movement with a looser-fitting short. Unlike baggy mountain biking shorts, form-fitting Lycra reigns supreme, and a tight, aerodynamic fit is the norm; this creates less friction on the road bike when you are in one position for longer periods. It also decreases wind drag, allowing you to cut through the air.
It should be noted that many serious cross-country mountain bikers and racers prefer form-fitting cycling shorts or bibs with a fixed chamois since this style offers the best performance and most aerodynamic fit. Any cycling that involves hammering the pedals for an extended period can benefit from the style of cycling shorts covered in our bike short review.
We should also touch on form fit and fabric. The two most common materials used in shorts are nylon and lycra, in varying proportions. The nylon is the tough, strong portion, and the lycra is the stretchy bit. Shorts that are 80-88% nylon will usually last longer and be a lot more compressive or even restrictive, especially if you're a bull (American-sized). Typical shorts usually have a mix of 70% nylon with the remainder comprised of lycra. Polyester is also fairly popular because of its hydrophobic properties, and it's a nice middle ground between the strength of nylon and the stretch of lycra.
Shorts or Bibs?
Most seasoned roadies prefer wearing bibs, especially for medium and long rides - most probably don't even own shorts unless they do triathlons, short commutes, or spin classes. The only long-distance exception might be for leisurely touring, where it might make more sense to wear shorts instead of bibs.
For the sort of folks who like to go pound out 50 or 60 miles on the weekends or do their annual century ride, bibs are the way to go. For those folks who like to go out on week-long tours, spending 8 or 10 hours in the saddle, stopping in towns, needing to get in and out of your clothes for obvious reasons, bibs can really be inconvenient - needing to take your jersey off to get your shoulder straps down in a cramped bathroom stall, etc.
The distinguishing factor of bibs is the upper part with the shoulder straps. These straps hold the chamois in place, minimizing movement while changing positions on the bike or even walking around. This reduces hot spots and chafing along the waistline and can help reduce saddle sores from spending a long time in the saddle, as well as keeping the fabric from bunching up around the crotch. Bibs are also more comfortable around the waist. Continual pressure around the abdomen while cycling can lead to gastronomic distress — a situation that isn't always easily dealt with on the road. The lack of waistband also allows for less restrictive breathing while on your bike.
Another benefit of bibs is that they function better off of the bike. The shoulder straps keep the chamois closer to the body, helping mitigate the wet diaper look, and you don't have to adjust yourself before hopping back on your bike after a pit stop.
With all the benefits of bibs, it's hard to think shorts are worth it, but they can have great advantages - plus personal preference might push some toward shorts. Shorts are cooler than bibs. The uppers on bibs provide more coverage, which traps heat. Brands mitigate this in various ways, including fine mesh and varying the cut of the garment like the Pearl Izumi Elite In-R-Cool Bike Bib shorts, which included a large open vent across the lower back. Not only do shorts have the natural advantage of less coverage, but some models take the extra step of including venting features in the legs, like the Louis Garneau CB Carbon 2 shorts.
Shorts fit a wider range of riders than bibs. Bib straps can be too tight or too loose, depending on your torso. The bib straps can also irritate your skin, depending on how sensitive you are. Some shorts are now being cut lower in the front, which doesn't cause as much pressure around the abdomen and doesn't restrict breathing. As it happens, the shorts in our review all had very high cuts.
Shorts can be more versatile off of the bike. A pit stop becomes a little more involved when you have to negotiate bib straps from under your jersey just to relieve yourself. After a ride, bike shorts with a lower profile can be worn under a pair of street shorts as well, but good hygiene dictates that you not be that guy: take a quick bird bath in a bathroom sink or use hand wipes and change into normal clothes if you can.
Other Considerations
Chamois
The chamois is the padding that helps insulate you from the saddle. (We discussed earlier that this is just the name that stuck with the padding, but contemporary shorts rarely have a true chamois.) This is the primary feature that defines a pair of bike shorts and will be the one thing that differs from short to short and usually takes a ride (or someone riding for you and writing about it!) to get a feel for how the chamois functions. You can't always take the marketing claims at face value, and thickness is just one consideration when looking at a chamois. The density of a chamois plays a significant role in how comfortable it will ride, as well as the shape and whether or not it has exposed stitching. The SUGOi Evolution Pro bibs have a chamois with a precise fit, which means certain body types might not fit as comfortably as others.
There are many different styles, colors, and ways of affixing chamois in the shorts we tested.
Style of Riding
The style of cycling you will be doing plays a significant role in what kind of shorts or bibs to purchase. If you are looking for protection on family cruises or journeys on the rail trail, the Canari Cyclewear Velo Gel Padded shorts or other less expensive models will work well for you. The gel chamois and comfortable fit make it an excellent choice for protecting your underside on general road rides. If you are an avid cyclist looking for a go-to garment, you'll be happy with our Editors' Choice Award winner SUGOi Evolution Pro Bib shorts. These bibs feature a fit that stays comfortable for any amount of time in the saddle and can be worn day-in and day-out without the worry of sores or hot spots. If you're looking for shorts that have a precise fit and chamois for shorter training rides, consider the Louis Garneau CB Carbon 2 shorts.
Fit/Size/Comfort
Besides the considerations between bibs and shorts we covered above, you want to make sure that the item you purchase fits you in a way you like that makes you comfortable. The length of the inseam should be considered when making your purchasing decision. The shorts/bibs we tested claimed inseams ranging from 8" to 9.5". When we broke out our handy measuring tape, we found that this feature was hard to confirm. Although all of the leg cuffs came to about the same place while wearing them, it wasn't clear where the brands were taking the inseam measurement.
All of the shorts and bibs we tested were sized medium and felt true to this size. The Pearl Izumi Elite In-R-Cool fit much tighter around the legs than the others due to their compression materials. All of the straps on the bibs were comfortable, and we never had issues with irritation, but you should consider the straps if you have sensitive skin or a longer torso than average to avoid issues with these.
Lastly, the method used to hold the leg cuffs in place differs. The legs can be held down with silicone grippers on the inside of the shorts or with compression cuffs. Usually, the compression style grippers are more comfortable, don't pull on the skin or leg hair (if you haven't discovered razors yet), and are found on higher-end models.
Comfort is always something to consider, but keep in mind that just because it feels good when you try it on, that doesn't mean that a pair of shorts or bibs will hold up in the saddle. However, you can still make sure you don't feel any irritating stitching or straining of the material. Your local bike shop will have no problem if you want to hop on a bike to make sure the shorts or bibs you're trying on are comfortable in the riding position.
Materials
Nylon and spandex are the preeminent materials in road cycling bibs and shorts. Several of the brands we tested have trademarked materials that are some combination of these and often include polyester fibers. Because most cycling garments are composed of the same durable, elastic materials, irrespective of cost, you can be confident that they will perform to a relatively high standard.
That being said, some of our shorts did a better job utilizing materials than others. The Louis Garneau CB Carbon 2 shorts were made from four different primary materials that were placed for compression, flexibility, comfort, and breathability.
Features
The Aero Tech Designs Gel Padded Touring shorts and Zoot Sports Active Tri shorts both included pockets, with the Aero Tech shorts taking up the entirety of each leg. Since it is common practice to ride with a bike jersey, pockets in your shorts aren't a necessity. However, it was still nice to have somewhere to stash a key or an extra energy gel when your jersey pockets are full, or you're in a sleek jersey with small pockets.
Another feature worth consideration is UV protection. The sun is no joke, and when you're out riding for several hours, it is important to protect yourself. Sunscreen is always recommended, but having a garment that also blocks UV rays goes a long way in protecting yourself against issues down the road. The Louis Garneau CB Carbon 2 shorts, Pearl Izumi Elite In-R-Cool bibs, and the Zoot Sports Active Tri shorts all offered UV 50+ protection.
