Best cycling shorts: The best of every category, for every budget

The best cycling shorts, along with the best road bike saddle (or the best gravel bike saddle if you're rad) are about as make or break as it gets in terms of cycling kit. Get it right and you'll be in for endless miles of blissed out riding in perfect comfort. Get it wrong and you may as well perch yourself atop a housebrick and ride down a cobbled street. 

Whether you're getting your first pair of cycling shorts or your tenth, we've got you covered. Each member of the tech team has tested out countless pairs and the following list is what we like to think of as the crème de la crème; it's what we'd tell you to buy over a drink if you asked us (mine's a negroni, if you're asking). There are options for general road use, cargo bib shorts for those that need extra storage, and thermal options for high-tempo winter riding. The list here focuses on the best cycling shorts for men, as we have a separate guide outlining the best women's cycling shorts. 

As ever, if you're not quite sure what you're after we've got all the key questions taken care off at the bottom of the page to make sure you make the most effective use of your cash.

Editors' picks: Three standout choices

The best cycling shorts available today

For general riding, whether it's a calm Sunday ride to a café, or a full gas crit, a standard set of cycling shorts is probably best. Comfortable, supportive, and a good chamois are prerequisites, but our picks are a cut above without any gimmicks or marketing fluff. We've got options if you're just starting out, through to pairs for riders who want maximum compression for the highest intensity racing. 

The best cycling bib shorts for general use

Of all the budget shorts I (Josh C) tested for this guide, the Castelli Velocissimo IV was by far mthe pair I reached for the most when I wasn't specifically testing things. Overall, their cut is excellent, nice and compressive without being restrictive, and the Kiss Air chamois is genuinely a league above its budget-level competitors. 

The way the straps join up at the front leaves the stomach fairly exposed, despite a slight raised section. This can mean your midriff catches a chill on colder rides, but this is easily solved with a well-fitting base layer. The positive to this is easy toilet stops - for men, that is. 

The Mechanism bib shorts are Pas Normal's premium offering and I've been really impressed with them during several months of riding. 

As Pas Normal claims the shorts do indeed provide a compressive and supportive fit and haven't given me the slightest niggle or bit of discomfort whilst in use. I've worn them to climb Soller in Mallorca and whilst descending the Ghisallo pass with rain bouncing off the road. 

The bib straps are slightly restrictive whilst standing in the shorts but sat atop the bike they feel perfect, they are also around four centimetres wide and are thin and comfortable. The foam chamois pad was really comfy for me using a range of saddles and isn't trying to rewrite the rulebook in its design so should work for a wide range of riders. 

They have washed well, and there is no sign of the lettering disappearing after several months. There is a wide range of nine colours to choose from, (I tested the light burgundy option) including white if you want to get really snazzy. 

The Giara bib shorts are our pick as the pair of budget-friendly bib shorts that will stand up to anything you throw at them, be that in the course of one ride, or over the cumulative years of ownership. I (Josh) have been using this pair of Giara bib shorts for approximately three years now, and they still look the way they did when they arrived. That's despite being put through various multi-hour rides on road, gravel and mountain bikes alike. 

They don't boast any real talking points in terms of features or specs. This dark green colourway and the reflective band are about as exciting as they get, but they're comfortable, with light compression, a medium-thickness low-density chamois, and there aren't any pressure points or chafing seams. 

The dhb Aeron bib shorts are lightweight and performance-minded bib shorts that still come in at a more competitive price point. 

Certain outer panels are said to have been designed with aerodynamics in mind and whilst we haven't taken them to the wind tunnel they certainly feel slippery and on the bike feel fast. Side panels are a stretchy and comfortable mesh and the printed leg grippers are wide and stay in place without feeling restrictive. The elastic interface chamois is a little firmer than other shorts and I found this really quite supportive. 

If your looking to just upgrade your existing budget shorts or want something to hammer at your local crits every week the Aeron Lab are a solid choice. 

The Endura Pro SL EGM cycling bib shorts are a high-quality pair of performance bib shorts. We tested the long version which features a longer leg finishing up just above the knee. I fear my slightly longer-than-average femurs often make shorts measure up a little short length wise but not so here. Have a look if you find your shorts often come up too short for your liking.  

All Endura EGM products have been designed in collaboration with Phil Burt - a physiotherapist and bike fitter who spent twelve years as head physio at British Cycling. The shorts feature the 800 Series Conform EGM chamois pad which I found really comfortable on short and long riders, some of which were at temperatures of 25C/77F and above for several hours riding in Mallorca. The chamois also employs silicone to relieve pressure and it seemed to do a good job here on long rides. 

The long version of the shorts adds about 4cm to the regular fit, the regular shorts won't be especially short though if you're unsure about which to go for. Aesthetics wise the shorts have a gloss black silicone 'Endura Pro SL' logo on each thigh and a white Endura logo on the rear.

The Concept bib-shorts are the top-level offering from Velocio and the brand says zero compromises were made in its design. 

The plush chamois used in the Concept shorts is integrated into the panel stitching, minimizing the amount of stitching and seams used and making for a more comfortable experience overall. The shorts are certainly comfortable, and a 45-minute climbing effort in high temperatures this spring couldn't catch them out, with zero niggles for me anywhere. 

Elsewhere you get wide, soft and comfortable bib straps, a fairly long leg cut and reflective detailing across all three colour options. 

The Assos RS S9 Targa bib shorts are the Swiss brand's flagship bib shorts for WorldTour level racing and training and are packed with technology and design features. 

A standout of the shorts is the incredibly comfortable Sundeck s9 chamois insert with perforations in the chamois foam itself to aid airflow and cooling. The front and rear of the chamois are stitched, but free-to-float mid-sections that move with you as you pedal really help I find. 

There is also minimal stitching and panelling on the legs compared to a lot of other shorts which also helps take comfort to the next level. The lycra leg grippers are really wide and hold perfectly without being overly tight. 

The Pro Team Powerweave bib shorts are the Rapha range toppers and are the most expensive shorts in the guide. Developed with input from EF World Tour riders, using Rapha's power weave fabric, which is meant to aid moisture management and reduce weight compared to the Rapha Pro Team bib shorts. 

The shorts are certainly lightweight and the long leg length paired with the compression of the fabric certainly makes you feel ready for action. The race chamois pad worked well for me and something of a sweat test climbing the Puig Major in mid-twenty-degree temperatures tested their moisture management, they passed this test with flying colours. 

They almost feel like a 'beyond category' product and the very understated Rapha logos add to this feeling. If you want a high-performance, lightweight pair of premium shorts for training and racing these fit the bill. 

When I (Josh) first put on the Altura Endurance bib shorts, their comfort immediately impressed me. The high front might make toilet stops a little more challenging, but it creates a secure and cosy feeling that's unrivalled at this price point, only really matched in this regard by the twice-as-expensive Endura Pro SL EGM bibs. 

The big feature of Altura's Endurance bibs is the kevlar-infused fabric from Swiss textile specialists Scholler. This adds to the compressive, comfortable feeling, with the added theoretical benefit of increased abrasion resistance when crashing. (I opted not to test this theory.)

I found the fit to be true to size, too. The only concern I had, if you can call it that, was the leg gripper which is a solid band that wraps around 4/5ths around the leg. It's fairly tight, would pull on hair, and left a bit of an indentation at the end of rides. 

The Velobici Jasper bib shorts are fairly lightweight bib shorts aimed at warmer weather riding. Manufactured in Leicester (UK) They use the Velobici seven-hour chamois pad which as the name suggests is aimed at long days in the saddle. These are indeed very comfortable shorts. I’ve spent over eight hours riding in these shorts, wearing them for over 10 hours total and they were faultless.

They use a soft four-way stretch nylon/lycra mix fabric which features flatlock seams on the legs. I would say the fit in my small sample was pretty much perfect. Compressive and supportive without a hint of tightness or bunching, the leg grippers stay in place using silicone ‘VB’ logos without being too tight and the leg length is good but not super long. The bib straps are a few centimetres wide and just do their job perfectly. 

The Aero bib shorts from Nalini are the brands range toppers and use the Randonne chamois pad alongside a host of technical features. 

I got on well with the Aero shorts from the off, finding the chamois, stretchy bib straps and laser cut leg grippers all really comfortable. The shorts feature Italian Kinetech fabric which features + 50 UPF sun protection and a sort of 3d wide pin stripe pattern on the outside, which is claimed to aid aerodynamics. Simple white Nalini logo's keep things stylish.

There's a really useful pocket on the rear which is quite low down making it easy to stash a gel or spares in. Perfect for a race or fast ride. 

The best cycling shorts for adventure riding

If you want a deeper dive into the best cargo bib shorts, or just a few more options to mull over, we do have a dedicated guide to the hottest subcategory of cycling shorts. Personally I ride in cargo bibs almost exclusively, on road or off, because I like the versatility, but they tend to be de rigeur for gravel riding. The options here are my personal favourites, having ridden innumerate pairs. 

The main benefit over normal cycling shorts is either extra storage to supplement the pockets in your cycling jersey, or the fact that with the pockets in your shorts you are free to wear whatever you want on top to signal to everyone just how gosh darned radical you are; you rock that oversized t-shirt, it looks great!

I've found it very hard to fault the Albion ABR1 pocket bibs. They are comfortable, they fit well without being overly compressive, which I find gets annoying on longer or multi day trips, and they're not fragile. They're cut perhaps for a slightly less racy position than something actually designed for crit racing like the Rapha Powerweave, but for an endurance setup there ideal.

They're not overly expensive either, in the grand scheme of things; we've got shorts in this guide that cost double what these do. The real standout feature though is the pockets, the MO of any pair of cargo bibs. While most offer a pocket on each leg and three mostly inaccessible ones on the lower back to replicate those of a jersey, the Albion Pocket Bibs instead offer a mesh tube across the very base of your spine, into which a waterproof jacket can easily be stuffed while still riding. It's a significantly more useful arrangement, and as long as these suit your anatomy and budget they're the best of the bunch.

My only real criticism is of the leg grippers, but its not really a functional criticism. Compared to the invisible options used in the Pearl Izumi Expedition Pro they look a little old school, but I'm clutching at straws here. 

Rapha bib shorts, with a few notable exceptions like the Powerweave, tend to have a thicker chamois pad. If that's what you're after then these, or the more pricy non-core Cargo Bibs are definitely worth a look. I've used both on the same bike tour and the difference between the two once you discount the reflective details is marginal, so I'd save your money and use it for a big lunch out on the road. What's more, the leg grippers on the core version are more comfortable too.

If you don't want the Albion bum tube, and instead want a more standard 2 rear pockets under your jersey then these are my pick, unless you want to pay double for the real luxury of the Pearl Izumi Expedition Pro. The main drawback is they're just not quite so breathable as some others, but I managed just fine even on days where the temperature was above 30 degrees Celsius. 

The adventure focussed bib shorts segment hasn't matured enough as yet to offer up any truly budget friendly options yet, so if you're on a shoestring then I'd suggest ditching the pockets and focussing on the quality of the shorts as a whole. That being said, if you can stretch to a smidge inside three figures then the ADV SWAT from Specialized are a really decent pair of shorts. 

The fit is good, with modern long legs and actual quotes UV protection (as you'd expect from a brand from California...), and a large reflective strip on the rear of each thigh too. Whats more one of the back pockets is zippered, perfect for things like your keys, a credit card, and that half a packet of energy chews you take on every ride and never use. 

The main sticking point for these is that the straps are rather narrow and not hugely stretchy, so if you can stretch that budget a little more you'll have a better time in the comfort stakes with the Rapha Core model. That and the pockets aren't deep enough to hold the largest of todays phones in a vertical orientation. 

If I could choose only one pair of adventure bib shorts I'd still go for the Albion, for the added utility. However, if you want the absolute best pair of shorts for a comfort perspective then the Expedition Pro from Pearl Izumi is nigh on unbeatable. The fabrics are soft, just the right amount of compressive, and there are barely any seams anywhere to add pesky pressure points. 

The straps are laser cut with no edge stitches, so they disappear completely, and they're designed in such a way that you can drop the tail of the shorts down without taking them off when nature calls. The fabric too is water repellent, the chamois is brilliant and stays put, and the leg grippers are perfectly firm, invisible, and never uncomfortable. 

The price you pay though is... the price. These are nearly double the cost of the other options in this segment, and you cant even get the jazzy floral print anymore (sorry fashionistas, you wish you were as cool as me!). Don't be tempted to go for the standard Expedition shorts from Pearl Izumi thinking you'll get basically the same thing (as is the case with the Rapha cargo options); the standard version doesn't have a great fit, with a saggy bottom which allows the chamois to be too mobile. 

The best thermal bib shorts

You might think thermal cycling shorts are an odd option; why not just use some of the best winter bib tights? Versatility, that's why. The seasonal range of winter cycling shorts, when you add in a pair of the best leg warmers, is far greater than any set of bib tights. If you want to go full pro you can slap on a thick layer of embrocation to heat up your bare lower legs, just be careful with it as it's spicy stuff!

The Chroma Merino Plus from Universal Colours became my go-to pair for general use over the winter. They have a lovely compressive fit, which helps the legs stay in place even though the grippers aren't the best to be honest. They're durable enough to hold up against a winter of filthy gravel riding, the straps are comfy, and while they're expensive they're not eye watering, especially considering they're made of a merino backed fabric, in much the same way as some winter wetsuits are.

This is where the performance gain comes in for me: While some winter cycling shorts use windproof panelling and synthetic pile on the inside to improve warmth, they get less breathable as a by-product. In this case the merino lining stays very breathable if things get warm, or your riding gets intense, but it stays warm even when its utterly saturated (there's only so much the DWR treatment can do). If you want to kit yourself out for winter without getting bib tights, a pair of these and some Endura Pro SL II leg warmers is about as good a setup as you can get at any price point.

If your winter riding consists of fast, high intensity blasts, or actual racing, then the winter version of Rapha's Pro Team Bib Shorts should be on your radar. The fit is very compressive, partially thanks to some very sturdy, more windproof outer fabrics; they feel noticeably stiffer in the hands than other cycling shorts, but on the bike it translates to a very supportive grip, perhaps too much for some riders if you're not into compression.

While the front of the thighs are this thicker, more resistant fabric, as is the lower back to deal with tyre spray, the back of the legs is a thinner, more breathable option to help avoid overheating. As per most of the Rapha shorts, the chamois too is thicker than many others, to the point you may need to drop your saddle a millimetre or two. 

I cant think of a better option for an all out blast, but as well as being quite a premium option the white straps  and girdle on the navy version do peep out under my jersey sometimes which is annoying from an aesthetic standpoint.

In the winter sometimes you just want gear that gets the job done without fanfare. The thermal version of the FS260 Pro bib shorts are a worthy winter companion for more or less any ride, without having to splash out load of cash. 

They feature a lovely high waist, with a zipper to help you get into them and access anything vital during a nature break. This higher waist does make them a very cosy feeling short. They don't have the wind resistance of the Rapha Pro Team shorts, not the wet weather performance of the Universal Colours, but for the price they're extremely hard to fault. They're comfortable, warm, and reflective, and given they were a little less premium than others I tended to opt for them on filthy winter gravel rides, which they put up with without any issues at all. 

The leg grippers and straps are noticeably less premium than the other two options here, but they are perfectly comfortable all the same. In my experience, when the elements close in and its cold, wet, and windy, there's not a single neuron devoted to straps or leg grippers unless they are truly awful. 

Pair these with the Endura Pro SL leg warmers (my outright favourite pair) and you've got a stellar winter riding setup.

How to choose the best cycling shorts for you

The process of choosing the right cycling shorts for you is the same as with many things you'll buy. You'll probably have an idea of what you want to spend, but might not know exactly what level of short that'll get you. You'll also know what type of riding you do, but might not know the features available within the best cycling shorts to look out for. That's where we come in. The Q&A below should help you on your way.