Best Women’s Bike Shorts (8 Simple, Padded Picks for Ladies)


The importance of well-fitted and comfortable biking shorts goes beyond the looks. It’s about prioritizing comfort and making every ride enjoyable. The perfect bike shorts are made of the best fabric and offer you some grip.

The best women’s bike shorts are the NOOYME Women’s Shorts and the Santic Women’s Cycling Shorts. The Nooyme shorts are well-insulated due to their foam fabric and feature gel padding. The Sanctic has holes to ensure air circulation. It has a quick dry technology that works well for humid conditions.

This comprehensive guide brings you a well-curated list of the best biking shorts for women

Best Women’s Bicycle Shorts

Compare Top Women’s Cycling Shorts

ProductOverall ScoreBottom LinePrice
Beroy Women’s Bike Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts
Beroy Women’s
Bike Shorts
83Budget Buy
Best 3D gel padding for
maximum comfort
Check Out On
Amazon
Castelli Women’s Velocissima 3 Bibshort - Best Women’s Bike Shorts
Castelli Women’s
Velocissima 3 Bibshort
75High End
Best reflective patches to
make you visible on road
Check Out On
Amazon
Santic Women’s Cycling Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts
Santic Women’s
Cycling Shorts
84Best 4D cushioning for
protection and comfort
Check Out On
Amazon
Eco-Daily Biking Underwear Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts
Eco-Daily Biking
Underwear Shorts
77Best lightweight and
breathable material
Check Out On
Amazon
NOOYME Women’s Shorts for Cycling - Best Women’s Bike Shorts
NOOYME Women’s
Shorts for Cycling
90Top Pick
Best antibacterial material
and gel padding
Check Out On
Amazon
BALEAF Women’s Bike Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts
BALEAF Women’s
Bike Shorts
80Best UPF 50+ protectionCheck Out On
Amazon
PEARL IZUMI Women’s Cycling Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts
PEARL IZUMI Women’s
Cycling Shorts
74Best 8-inch liner inseamCheck Out On
Amazon
Louis Garneau Women’s Bike Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts
Louis Garneau Women’s
Bike Shorts
78Best UPF/SPF 50 rated
for UV protection
Check Out On
Amazon

Detailed Analysis of the Best Women’s Bike Shorts

In addition to sharing our selection of the best women’s bike shorts on the market, we’re going to share with you the criteria that we used in order to compile this list.

This way, you too can use it to find the ideal option for your needs.

1. Beroy Women’s Bike Shorts

Beroy Women’s Bike Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts Review
Budget Buy

Overall Score: 83

The Beroy Women’s shorts are the best women’s bike shorts for comfort and style. That’s because they fit close to the skin, allowing for free movement and maximum breathability.

They reduce the amount of lactic acid that builds up as you cycle. They’re fantastic at absorbing moisture in order to reduce fatigue.

To ensure further comfort, these shorts feature internal 3D gel padding which helps to absorb the impact on bumpy rides.

They’re sown in a way that’s so seamless that you don’t even have to worry about chafing. Not only that, but the manufacturer even uses silicone to seal off the hems to ensure further comfort.

Advantages

  • Suitable for abecedarian and long-distance travels.
  • Designed to reduce lactic acid production while cycling.
  • Smoothly sewn with silicone hem seal to reduce friction and chafing.
  • Padded with comfy 3D gel padding for maximum comfort.
  • Available in many different colors.

Disadvantages

  • The padding isn’t as effective as thought.

2. Castelli Women’s Velocissima 3 Bibshort for Biking

Castelli Women’s Velocissima 3 Bibshort - Best Women’s Bike Shorts Review
High End

Overall Score: 75

For the stylish customer, Castelli has created chic and spunky shorts that look as good as they perform.

You’ll certainly feel confident when you wear these shorts for a race that’s for sure, what with all the spink and character they’ll add to your outfit.

But, they’re more than just a nice design and fun patterns. They feature an incredibly functional design with a convenient bib-halter that’ll elevate your pit stop game.

They’re the best high waist bike shorts for women. But, as with any product, these shorts aren’t without their faults.

For instance, some of our testers said that the compact chamois isn’t as comfy as one would expect and it would do with some padding.

Also, these shorts have a high-visibility reflective patch on the back of the leg for better visibility in low-light conditions.

They come in a variety of fun colors, with a functional yet stylish design so we can easily see ourselves overlooking that.

Advantages

  • These shorts have a nice tailored fit.
  • Halter-bib.
  • Creative and innovative design.
  • Made of breathable materials.
  • Reflective to make you visible on the road.

Disadvantages

  • It has a compact chamois.

3. Santic Women’s Cycling Shorts

Santic Women’s Cycling Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts Review

Overall Score: 84

Next in our list of the best women’s bike shorts we have these beauties from Santic.

They come with such great features as breathing holes to ensure air circulation, quick dry technology construction for those humid weather conditions, as well as anti-sweat and antimicrobial properties.

This is in addition to UV protection qualities that provide added protection on those bright sunny days.

The material is externally reflective to keep you safe and visible in low light conditions both in the early morning and evening.

Not only do these shorts fit nice and snug, but they offer anti-wrinkle and anti-shrink properties.

The silicone bands on the leg opening bits keep them in place no matter how hard or long you ride your bicycle.

They’re the best women’s mountain bike shorts for sure, thanks to their 4D cushioning which offers both protection and comfort during bumpy and long rides.

Advantages

  • The soft fabric comes with a coating that prevents pilling.
  • The bottom stays in place during long rides thanks to a dedicated silicone band.
  • Perfect for various applications especially mounting biking, road biking, and indoor bike riding.
  • Six colors and five sizes to choose from.

Disadvantages

  • It’s not the most comfortable pair of bike shorts.

4. Eco-Daily Biking Underwear Shorts

Eco-Daily Biking Underwear Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts Review

Overall Score: 77

The best padded cycling shorts for ladies are made with the user’s comfort in mind.

They come with comfy and multidimensionally thick 3D padding that’ll cover all the important places so that you don’t feel the impact of bumpy rides.

They also come with cut-away areas with a V-shaped shaped waist that allows the tummy area to breathe.

Speaking of breathability, these shorts come with an airy mesh material that is lightweight and comfortable.

There are no grippers on these shorts, making them the best women’s cycling bib shorts for comfortable riding.

Thanks to their tight and seamless fit, these shorts are a comfortable form of underwear. This is because they have such a streamlined design.

They’re perfect for wearing underneath pants, loose shorts, playsuits, and skirts or dresses when riding your outdoor bike or even a cheap spin bike at home.

They’ll guarantee a sweat-free, dry and comfy ride on those long leisure and commuting rides.

Advantages

  • Made from lightweight and breathable material.
  • You can wear them as underwear.
  • Slim and streamlined design.
  • You can choose from 5 colors.
  • Features 3D padding.

Disadvantages

  • They tend to roll up on some body types.

5. NOOYME Women’s Shorts for Cycling

NOOYME Women’s Shorts for Cycling - Best Women’s Bike Shorts Review
Top Pick

Overall Score: 90

The NOOYME women’s bicycle shorts are a thing of legend. They’re well-insulated thanks to their foam fabric construction and feature gel padding and an extra-long length.

They feature a wide waistband that’s not too constricting but keeps the shorts on efficiently. The material is a combination of 80% polyamide and 20% spandex.

This, coupled with the soft grippers, body-heat thermoregulation, and extra padding makes for a very comfortable pair of shorts.

The great thing about these shorts is the fact that the padding that they have is evenly distributed and not stuck in one place.

This means that it works for you whether you’re leaning over your bike with low handles, or riding tall and upright with high handles.

And, although they fit snug, the NOOYME shorts have antibacterial qualities and they won’t ride up your cracks.

This is what makes them the best padded bike shorts for women for long-distance riding in our opinion.

Advantages

  • Comes with soft grippers.
  • Elastic closure.
  • Snug fit.
  • Made with antibacterial material.
  • Extra thick gel padding.

Disadvantages

  • Prone to easy wear and tear.
  • The waistband could be wider.

6. BALEAF Women’s Bike Shorts

BALEAF Women’s Bike Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts Review

Overall Score: 80

The best women’s cycling shorts for long distance and summer riding, these BALEAF shorts are a combination of spandex and nylon and feature special padding for extra comfort.

Although they’re not as expensive as other models, they don’t disappoint in terms of construction and quality.

They feature UPF50+ protection, silicone leg grippers, a reflective logo for low-light visibility, and a comfortable waistband that keeps the shorts in place without constricting you.

You’ll be glad to know that these shorts are constructed from moisture transfer fabric with a high-density foam pad to provide extra comfort.

They’re designed for long bike rides, daily commuting, outdoor exercise, indoor cycling, and pro racing as well.

However, because they run small, it’s recommended to get a size up when buying these shorts because your normal size might not fit.

It’s worth noting that they’re particularly popular among people who like extra padded bike shorts for women because they allow you to ride longer by protecting your skin during bumpy rides.

There’s also a tiny zipper pocket on the rear that’s big enough to easily store and access things like money, gum, and keys.

Advantages

  • They come with a convenient rear pocket.
  • They offer UPF 50+ protection.
  • Well-priced.
  • Made of 80% nylon.
  • Stretchable fabric.
  • Utility pockets to store stuff.

Disadvantages

  • The leg grippers are rather uncomfortable.
  • Sizing runs small.

7. PEARL IZUMI Women’s Cycling Shorts

PEARL IZUMI Women’s Cycling Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts Review

Overall Score: 74

Although these shorts only come in three colors, they’re the three most interesting and chic colors we’ve seen on bike shorts – port/cayenne, black, and moss/mist green. So stylish!

These one-of-a-kind shorts have a conveniently attached liner which gives them a 2-in-1 design. That’s because this isn’t just any old liner.

It’s the women’s SELECT Escape 1:1 Chamois which is available in a contrasting color to the outer layer.

This is designed to provide additional support to this sensitive area while promoting blood flow to your cells. All this helps reduce the accumulation of lactic acid so that you can recover quickly after every ride.

You also have an 8-inch liner inseam that isn’t too long or short, providing the perfect breathability.

You’ll feel so much lighter when wearing these shorts that you might even forget that you’re wearing them for the first few hours.

They’re the best cycling shorts for women who enjoy indoor cycling, trail bike riding, and road biking.

Advantages

  • They feature an elastic waistband.
  • Machine-wash friendly.
  • Pull-on closure.
  • Imported quality.
  • Made of 100% polyester.

Disadvantages

  • The design could use some improvement.

8. Louis Garneau Women’s Bike Shorts

Louis Garneau Women’s Bike Shorts - Best Women’s Bike Shorts Review

Overall Score: 78

The Louis Garneau Optimum are some of the best women’s petite cycling shorts that we found.

They are made from high-quality, high-performance materials, which is no surprise considering that we’re talking about the renowned Garneau brand here.

They’ve put out all the stops when designing this to bring you a great combination of price, value, and quality.

However, upon testing these shorts we found that they’re not as flattering as we’d like and they’re certainly not the most stylish option on this list.

But, these are aesthetic issues and they don’t reflect the performance value of the shorts.

If you’re someone who is very specific about the tailoring of your shorts and you care about flashy colors and style then you probably won’t appreciate these shorts.

They’re very basic and have a simple design. But, if you’re looking for value for money and want shorts that won’t let you down through serious races and long track rides, then these are the shorts for you.

Also, they are UPF/SPF 50 rated for high-level skin protection from the sun’s rays.

Advantages

  • They feature reinforced stitching.
  • Made from high-quality fabric.
  • Beautifully made.
  • The black color looks nice.
  • UPF/SPF 50 rated for UV protection.

Disadvantages

  • These shorts don’t come in a lot of different colors.
  • They’re not the most breathable shorts.

How to Look for Non-padded or Padded Cycling Shorts for Women

Now that you’ve gone over our selection of the best women’s bicycle shorts on the market, it’s time to take you through the criteria that we used to come up with this list.

Consider this your crash course in finding the perfect bike shorts in a world with an infinite number of options.

It’s the perfect shopping for beginners and at the end of it, we hope it’ll be that much easier for you to find shorts that suit your style and your needs.

Material

The material that your women bicycle shorts are made from is very important because it plays a huge role in the performance and experience while cycling.

Some materials are cooling and breathable while others are chafing and sweat-inducing.

Here are some of the most common bike short materials and their pros and cons.

Polyester

Polyester is a durable and popular material in many types of clothing. This is because it’s long-lasting and affordable. It can also take a lot of abuse over the years and it’ll generally keep its shape with regular use.

Nylon

Nylon material is often paired with polyester to boost its durability while taking advantage of nylon’s stretchiness and breathability.

Elastic

Elastic is another cheap material that’s known for being nice and stretchy. It’s beneficial to bikers because it allows for a wide range of movement.

Fit

Fit is probably the most important feature to look out for because they will determine your experience with the shorts. Ideally, your bike shorts should fit nice and snug and feel like a second skin.

Without comfort, cycling shorts lose all other merits.

Your comfort may also be affected if you’re not wearing the shorts correctly. My guide on how to wear cycling shorts properly will take you through the do’s and don’ts.

Length

Most of the products featured on our list come in different lengths. Some go all the way below the knee while others are above the knee.

We even have a pair of capris in our midst which provide sun protection while resisting rocks and debris from scratching your skin.

But, longer shorts can feel restrictive for some, especially if you’d much rather prefer a traditional fit.

Breathability

It’s also important to make sure that your shorts are breathable and well ventilated when riding your MTB bike. This is typically ensured by things like breathing holes or mesh material construction.

Some companies will even invest in breathable fabric with moisture-wicking properties to keep you dry and cool.

You don’t want a fabric that’s prone to getting wet because it’ll cause chafing and shorts like that are more likely to ride up.

You want quick-drying and breathable MTB shorts that won’t feel uncomfortable during your ride, whether you sweat or come across a spot of rain or have to go through wet terrain.

Padding

Padding isn’t necessary for most bikers but it could come in handy for long rides in bumpy terrain and craggy hills.

It’s a great idea for anyone that finds it hard to sit in the same position for long periods of time because that’s part of what you’re doing when you’re riding a bicycle.

But, it’s not uncommon to feel as though you’re wearing diapers when wearing a heavily padded pair of bike shorts, especially if you’re not used to them.

The most commonly utilized types of padding on shorts are gel and foam which is very good at weight distribution.

Inseam

As you may have noticed, some bike shorts are longer than others. For the most part, shorts that work well for outdoor cycling typically feature a seam that goes just above the knee.

On the other hand, shorter shorts are more suitable for spin class and indoor cycling.

That’s because longer seams tend to not ride up or cause chafing even after long periods of time of being on your bike.

Waistband

Both sections are important because they help to keep your shorts in place, making sure that they won’t fall down or rude up from the time you put them on to the time you take them off.

Shorts that ride up are incredibly annoying and cause an untold amount of discomfort and chafing.

Meanwhile, the waistband should always stay in place because if it keeps falling down then you’ll have to keep pulling it up.

But, you still want your pants to be stretchy and allow room for movement without being too constricting.

Pockets

Although you want to take a few essentials with you when biking, you may not always have space in your bike or want to carry a backpack because this affects the bike’s aerodynamic performance.

That’s why it helps to have bike shorts that have pockets, even if they’re small pockets.

Most shorts with pockets typically have them close to the bottom of the leg or on the sides so that they’re within easy reach.

Other shorts only come with one pocket that’s located on the waistband for easy access and safety.

Women’s Bib Shorts vs. Cycling Waist Shorts

Cycling shorts come in two main varieties – ones that have bibs and others that don’t have bibs. Each option has pros and cons worth exploring, but it all comes down to your needs and preferences.

Bib Shorts for Women

The best women’s cycling bibs feature an internal leg fabric that goes all the way up to the torso thus solving the whole waistband problem.

They’re basically designed to cater to the woman’s unique physique with the right hip to waist ratio. This is very different from how a men’s bike short would fit around the waist.

Bib shorts are also unique in the fact that they provide further protection of the skin with some providing even better coverage than others.

Cycling Waist Shorts for Women

Waist shorts are great because they allow for easy access. They’re also easy to put on and take off.

Waist shorts are also much cooler because they don’t have a body upper, which makes them perfect for indoor cycling and biking on hot days.

They’re also lightweight and affordable because they don’t use a lot of fabric.

The only problem is that they’re mainly designed for unicycle riders and anyone else who plans on bending over while cycling will end up experiencing a digging-in sensation that can make your bike ride very uncomfortable.

Many Bike Shorts Offer Sun Protection That Shield Your Skin From Harmful UV rays…

Whew! That was quite a journey we took you on there.

We went through all of the best women’s bike shorts that are available at the moment, taking into account different features such as comfort, material, and quality to bring you a comprehensive and no-nonsense view of things.

With all that said, there must be a winner, right? Well, that would be the NOOYME Women’s Shorts for Cycling. What qualifies them to be the best women’s bicycle shorts?

They’re comfortable, suitable for long rides, and feature a comfy internal 3D gel padding.

Here are some additional unisex options of shorts that you can explore in my guide on the best mountain bike shorts.

Shailen Vandeyar

A proud Indian origin Kiwi who loves to plant trees and play with my pet bunny when not out cycling through the best routes, reviewing the latest gear, and sharing tips on everything biking.

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