A pair of the best winter cycling shorts is an alternative to tights for winter rides that's warmer than summer shorts.
In combination with a set of the best leg warmers, winter cycling shorts offer a warm, more adaptable option than full leg tights that keeps me covered not only for deep winter but also those milder spring and autumn rides.
Quick List
For general winter and colder shoulder season riding, these are my favourite option. They fit well, they're comfortable, they come in black, and they've stood up to a full winter of gravel riding in pretty grim conditions. Where they really stand out for me though is the seat pad. It's windproof way up the front, so there are no cold draughts and it's held in place really well by the straps, which have two points of attachment to the shorts fabric.
These bibs from Endura punch well above their price point, as do their summer counterparts. They feel like a more premium option, and the addition of a high stomach with a zip for easier access and getting dressed is a neat touch. Gravel riders, particularly, who are more prone to trashing bibs, would do well to consider these as they feel great, but you'll feel less bad about wrecking them.
Just because the mercury has fallen doesn't mean you suddenly don't want to store things in your pockets anymore. Thermal cargo bibs are few and far between, so if you're like me and hate going out without pocketfuls of snacks, then the Le Col Sport Cargo Thermals are probably the right choice for you. Unlike summer cargo bibs, these have eschewed the lower back pockets, which you'd never access anyway in the cold with several layers on.
As the nights draw in, many of us look to reflective details in order to be more easily seen by marauding motorists hell-bent on mowing us down. While many on this list have reflective details listed on the specs, more often than not, these are small token tabs. The Castelli Tutto Nano shorts, however, have two large half moons on the back of the thigh, which not only provide decent reflectivity from the rear, but they also will be in motion and so more likely to attract attention.
Not only are the colder months colder, they are also a lot wetter, in the UK at least and also more or less everywhere else. The Fiandre Norain Pro shorts from Sportful share Castelli's Nano Flex water-resistant technology (unofficially), and shrug off downpours better than any others I tested. They will eventually wet out, but they held up well to some deluges. Dryer is warmer, and more breathable too as sweat can't escape waterlogged fabric so easily.
If you're riding hard (racing or otherwise) then the Nano Flex Pro Race bib shorts from Castelli should be top of your list. They have a lightly compressive fit, a DWR coating to repel rain and a quality seat pad. The fabric is warm, although the low-cut front does detract from this, and there are no leg grippers to rub and just one seam.
Last updated on 26th September 2025 The products included were checked for continued availability, reasons to buy/not buy added and the buyer's guide was refreshed.
The best winter cycling shorts available today
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The six options above are excellent, and of those I've outlined in this guide, they are the ones I keep coming back to more than the rest. That being said, every pair of winter cycling shorts here is excellent and has its merits. Just like the best road bike saddles, cycling shorts are a personal choice. If you've got on with a pair of the best cycling shorts in the summer from a particular brand, there's every chance you'll like its winter offerings too as they will often share the same seat pad, so use that as a jumping-off point.
Best overall winter cycling short
✅ You want good front coverage: The windproof cup up front keeps cold winds out.
✅ You ride in an aggressive position: The bibs work especially well when hunkered down.
❌ You want more stomach coverage: The low cut means there's not so much warmth here as with other shorts.
❌ Your legs are hairy: There are no grippers, so the shorts work best with smooth legs.
Let's address the elephant in the room first... these are the only winter cycling shorts that appear to have put proper research and development time into the male anatomy. The chamois pad comes all the way up the front, with a designated pouch for your genitals. It sounds strange, it sounds a bit kinky, and to be honest, it does look a little like you're wearing an adult nappy when you're not on the bike, but it really does seem to hold things in place gently but securely.
This chamois extension, combined with a windproof crotch panel, does wonders for the cosiness of one's most private areas and helps avoid the cold weather 'Sports Acorn' phenomenon more than any other. The chamois is also detached from the shorts along its sides, allowing it to move freely. In practice, while wearing them, you wouldn't tell though, as the straps are excellent at holding everything in place.
The straps are noticeably wide-set, as is the norm for Assos, but at the rear, they are attached in two places. One at the top of the back panel, and again further down. This has the effect of hoiking everything into place the more you bend forward, meaning everything feels more secure in an aero riding position.
The low stomach, and low back too for that matter, are much more reminiscent of summer bib shorts. If you like a free tummy, then these are an excellent option, and the lowest of the bunch too. They're attuned to higher tempo riding, and have a reasonable level of compression that, in combination with very luxurious feeling fabrics, makes everything feel rather plush.
The leg grippers don't have any tacky silicone on them, relying on simple elastic and the compression of the legs. They are not uncomfortable though, but as per the Nano Flex bibs, they'll be better with shaved legs.
Best Budget
✅ You want great shorts on a budget: Endura's thermal shorts undercut the competition but still deliver quality.
✅ You want good midriff insulation: The high waist adds an extra layer of overlap with a jersey or jacket.
❌ You want more compression: The Endura shorts have a more relaxed fit.
❌ You want windproofing: The fabric does let the air flow through.
For a smidge over the £100 mark, the FS260 Thermo bib shorts from Endura definitely give you the best bang for your buck in my opinion. They're not as wallet-friendly as some, but for the slight uplift in price, you get a much more premium-feeling set of winter cycling shorts.
To kick off, the shorts are designed with a high stomach, and a back panel that hugs the kidneys, meaning not only do your upper legs feel warmer, but your lower torso too. Fortunately for ease of getting changed or accessing yourself at the cafe stop, there is a front zipper.
The fit isn't as compressive as other options, save for the tenacious leg grippers, but you're still getting a fleece-backed fabric and a DWR treatment, although one that wasn't as effective as that of the Sportful Fiandre. There's no windproof panelling, but especially with a set of the matching FS260 Thermo leg warmers, I never really felt held back on that front.
If you're just getting started with winter cycling, my advice would be to start here if you can, rather than going for the very cheapest you can find. You'll have a more enjoyable time.
Best Cargo Option
✅ You want pockets: Le Col's thigh pockets allow you to load up to fuel cold rides.
✅ You want longer legs: The legs extend close to the knees for extra warmth.
❌ You want more water resistance: There's no DWR coating to repel rain and wheel spray.
❌ You want easier comfort breaks: The high waistband doesn't have a zip.
While summer-weight cargo bib shorts are now a well-established market category, thermal versions are few and far between. The Le Col Sport Cargo Thermal feel in many respects similar to the Endura FS260 Thermo, but in this case, you get two large pockets on the outside of each leg. Unlike summer cargo bib shorts though Le Col has sensibly not bothered putting any on the small of your back, correctly assuming that in colder weather nobody is going to unzip two or even three layers and hoik them up to access them.
The high stomach matches that of the Endura model, though the absence of a front zip does make nature breaks a little more tricky. The high back and sides do make for a cosy midriff though.
There isn't any difference in the materials for the legs besides, oddly, the Le Col logo panel, which is slightly less thick, but not in an area that really makes a huge deal of difference, especially not when paired with some leg warmers.
The best thing, perhaps thanks to the long leg length, is that the pockets themselves are easily deep enough to accommodate even large phones, as well as the usual snacks and warmers. Too-small leg pockets annoy me, but that's not an issue here.
Most Visible
✅ You want extra visibility: The reflectives on the rear of the Castelli shorts are more extensive than most.
✅ You want non-DWR water repellency: Castelli's Nano Flex should prove more long-lasting than surface treatments.
❌ You want a higher cut front: This is another pair of thermal shorts cut rather low for stomach insulation.
❌ You don't want to size up: The sizing is quite small, so make sure you choose a size that will fit comfortably.
The Tutto Nano bibs from Castelli share a lot of details with the more expensive Nano Flex Pro Race option but with a lower price and, importantly, a pair of sizeable reflective patches on the back of each leg.
Winter riding, which is obviously what's going on when wearing winter cycling shorts, takes place in the dark. As well as slapping on a set of the best bike lights, adding reflective details makes you more visible to traffic. A lot of winter cycling shorts have token reflective tabs that don't amount to much more than a tick box on a spec sheet, but these have two half-moons behind the knee. They don't rub either, even though they look like they would.
As well as being the Safety First option, they're also just a solid pair of winter cycling shorts. The Nano Flex water repellency (utilising microfilaments, rather than a chemical treatment) is effective, the leg grippers are wide and strong, and there is only really one seam of note on the legs, so they never rub or irritate.
The front is a little low cut for my liking, so they don't feel so cosy as others, and they do size in a distinctly Italian way; opt for a size up from your usual if you're in any doubt.
Best For Rain
✅ You want optimum rain protection: These were the best I've tested for water repellency.
✅ You want a compressive fit: The cut is close, for good muscle support.
❌ You don't want long legs: The long legs may be uncomfortable behind the knee.
❌ You want more waist insulation: This is another pair with a low-cut front.
Sportful's Fiandre bib shorts sit somewhere between the Tutto Nano and the Nano Flex Pro Race from Castelli. The same parent company owns both Castelli and Sportful and to some degree, there is overlapping tech. Castelli's Nano Flex DWR treatment is a solid mainstay of winter gear (seen in arm warmers, leg warmers and shorts) and Sportful's 'nano technology' is just another name for the same thing.
In practice, these shorts lived up to their name by repelling water the most solidly of any on this list. Even in a downpour, they shrugged off the majority of the rain. They're cut more like a summer short, with a low front like the Castelli options, and size small like them too, but in combination with the matching Norain leg warmers, you'd be well set for a showery ride.
The fit is more compressive than that of the Tutto Nano, and the straps and mesh back are lower profile. If you like the idea of a racy set for high-tempo riding, but the lack of leg grippers on the Nano Flex bibs gives you second thoughts then go for these instead. The legs, oddly for Italian bibs, are extremely long. I am cursed with long elegant pins and the leg grippers finish just above the knee, so if you're not quite so rangy in the limbs, then you may find they sit on your knee, which will be annoying.
Best for racing
✅ You want good leg comfort: There are no silicone grippers to irritate.
✅ You want fewer seams: There's only one main seam in the legs.
❌ You don't shave your legs: The lack of grippers means that the shorts can ride up on less smooth legs.
❌ You want a higher cut front: The shorts are designed for an aggressive ride position.
Chamois comfort aside (as that has a lot to do with personal choice and anatomy), the Nano Flex Pro Race bib shorts definitely have the most comfortable lowers of the bunch, primarily because they've totally eschewed any leg grippers. That's right, no little elastic, silicone-dotted strip to hold them in place; the material just stops above the knee. Much like the Tutto Nano, they also have only one real seam, so there are no rubbing issues in that department either.
What you get is a lightly compressive (somewhere just less than the Sportful Fiandre) set of winter cycling shorts with an excellent DWR and a tried and tested chamois pad.
The low front is definitely cut with aggressive riding positions in mind, which makes sense, but they do feel consequently less cosy because of it. The straps aren't as comfortable as those of the Fiandre, but that's the only real trade-off to improved leg comfort.
They're fleecy and warm, but to the same degree all over rather than with any strategic panels. One thing to bear in mind besides sizing up is that you'll want shaved legs or they'll be far more likely to ride up, given the lack of grippers.
Best for use and abuse
✅ You want a budget pair of thermal shorts that still perform: dhb's prices are still very competitive.
✅ You want thicker fabric: The material used feels a bit thinner than higher-priced shorts.
❌ You want durability: The shorts may not last as long as more expensive choices.
❌ You want wider leg grippers: The grippers on the dhb shorts are rather basic.
If price is your main criterion or you know you're absolutely going to trash them (I used my own pair of these for cyclocross for a few seasons for this reason), it's hard to overlook the dhb Blok Classic Thermal bib shorts. I have the 'bib knicker' version, which basically just has a built-in knee warmer, but the shorts are identical in all other respects.
They don't feel as premium as... well, more premium options, but they're more than acceptable especially given the low RRP. You get fleecy legs, two pretty sizeable reflective strips on the thighs, and even fleece-backed straps.
A high stomach and back does mean they are a cosy option too, but they aren't as compressive as most other options, and the main material feels a little thinner. That being said, they feel very similar to the Sportful shorts in the leg, but with a more comfortable stomach. Personally, I find a high stomach that's too compressive a little uncomfortable at times (big cafe stops are my jam...), but that's not an issue here.
The leg grippers mirror that of the basic dhb leg and arm warmers, meaning a narrow silicone strip with an elasticated back. They're genuinely fine on shaved legs, and given the Castelli Nano Flex shorts don't have one at all it's a minor criticism, but if you're a hairy-legged person then they may well be more prone to riding up.
How to choose
What should I look for in a pair of winter cycling shorts?
The same really as you would in any other pair of cycling shorts:
- How's the fit? It should be snug, but not over-tight. Try before you buy if possible
- How good is the pad? You probably know which pads work for you in summer cycling shorts, so look for the same pad or something similar in your winter shorts
- Are the straps comfortable? Look for wide straps that lay flat and which may be hemless
- How's the cut? A higher cut may add warmth, but could be uncomfortable if your ride position is more aggressive
- Is there some protection from the wet? Winter riding normally includes rain at some point, so a water repellent finish can be useful
- How's the windproofing? Plus, some protection from cold winds is handy
- How are the legs? What's the length like and are the grippers likely to be comfortable?
- Are there reflectives? More reflectives are better than fewer for rides in gloomy weather
- What's the price? Finally, do they fit within your budget? You'll probably find you use your thermal shorts more than you expected, so it may be worth spending a bit more for a quality pair
Winter cycling shorts: Frequently asked questions
Still confused? That's ok. A lot of the questions you may have are also probably covered in our bigger guide to the best cycling shorts, but there are a few winter-specific questions that I've tried to answer below.
Are winter cycling shorts worth it?
I suppose that depends on whether you want to stay warm or not. For years in my early cycling career, I soldiered through the winter with my summer bib shorts and increasingly threadbare pairs of leg warmers and it was pretty hellish. Trust me, having your engine room warmer makes a big difference. What's more, you'll get more use out of winter bib shorts than you will from bib tights, as you can use them on cool-but-not-cold days in autumn and spring.
Why not just get bib tights?
In short, because you'll get more use out of them. With a set of leg warmers, you have the same lower leg coverage and more upper leg coverage than bib tights (as you're essentially double-glazing your thighs). Bit warmer? Swap to knee warmers only. Warmer still and you can wear them standalone. This also means you can adapt your lower leg setup for how hard you're riding; if you're racing cyclocross for example, you can wear them with just a coat of embrocation on your lower legs.
Do leg warmers go under or over cycling shorts?
Under, always under. Leg warmers usually have a gripper on the inside to grip onto your thigh, and a gripper on the outside too, to grip to the inner fabric of your shorts.
Are winter cycling shorts waterproof?
No, but often they come with a DWR (durable water repellant) coating, and so can shrug off even a moderate downpour. All of them though, will wet out with protracted exposure to moisture, but whether it's a merino wool blend or synthetic fleece, they all do a far better job of keeping you warm when wet than summer bibs will.
How we test
Sadly for me it means lots of riding in the wet and cold while my Editor sits in his garage on Zwift. Truth be told I genuinely enjoy the onset of bad weather, as there's nothing quite like riding in absolutely foul conditions in gear that keeps you protected.
While most of you will check the weather forecast and pencil in sunny (or at least dry and dark) days for riding, I do the opposite, and head out in the rain and the wind to see how clothing stacks up against the worst that the British winter can throw at me. I'll do it on repeat for each pair of thermal shorts too.
We take a systematic approach to assessing and scoring reviewed products - you can learn more on our How We Test page.
