Best Bike Shorts 2021
We’ll look in great detail what makes a pair of bike shorts good and what features are signals to avoid a certain specimen. You’re going to find out what bike shorts are the right for you.
Things to Consider Before Buying Bike Shorts
- Type. On the market you can find bike shorts for mountain biking and for road cycling. The difference is that the mountain bike shorts are usually baggy and have pockets on them, most often 2-3 pockets. On the other hand, the road bike shorts are tight and fit perfectly to your body. They have no pockets because the t-shirt usually has pockets on your back.
- Size. They can stretch but not too much. Too tight bike shorts and you might reduce the blood flow to your lower legs. Also make sure that the size matches your waist.
- Material. The more expensive shorts are usually made of higher quality material. The material should allow the skin to breathe and to ventilate. This way you’ll feel more comfortable and you’ll be able to perform better.
- Durability. This doesn’t concerns only bike shorts, you should always pick the more durable product, it usually ends up being cheaper, since you only have to buy it once.
Top 6 Best Cycling Shorts Overview Chart
| Picture | Name | Type | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. ZOOT SPORTS Men's Performance Tri 8-Inch Short (Black, Small) | Hybrid | $$$ | 4.7 |
 | 2. Pearl iZUMi Men's Quest Cycling Short,Black,Large | Road | $$ | 4.4 |
 | 3. Santic Cycling Shorts Biking Bicycle Bike Shorts Black COOLMAX Padded (XL) | Hybrid | $ | 4.4 |
 | 4. Canari Cyclewear Men's Velo Gel Padded Cycling Short (Black, Large) | Hybrid | $$ | 4.3 |
 | 5. Men's ATD Cargo Short Baggy Padded Mountain Bike Cycling Shorts Charcoal LARGE | Mountain bike | $$$$ | 4.3 |
 | 6. Canari Men's Cyclewear Canyon Gel Baggy Shorts, Khaki, X-Large | Mountain bike | $$ | 4.3 |
Does Type Matter?
YES. There’s a reason why there are mountain bike and road bike shorts.
The road cycling shorts will be tight to your body, sort of a second skin and they reduce the wind resistance, and we all know how much that’s important.
On the other hand the mountain bike shorts provide utility and comfort. They have pockets where you might put your knife, cell-phone or any other necessary stuff you want to take on your off-road cycling session.
As a small note, wearing shorts not made for cycling can be very uncomfortable. We highly recommend you to get cycling shorts. You’ll notice improvements in your performance because of comfort provided by the shorts.
Top 3 Bike Shorts Reviews
1. ZOOT SPORTS Tri 8-Inch Short
Made from spandex and nylon this pair of bike shorts will stick to your skin and you won’t feel them at all. They will allow your skin to breathe so you won’t be sweating as much as with normal shorts.
The Zoot Sports bike shorts will comfort you with nice padding. It’s slim but will provide you with great comfort. This pair is excellent for triathlon as you’ll feel great running, cycling and swimming in them. It only takes them few minutes to dry off.
They will pressure your legs with the elastic on the edges, but they will not go further up your legs because of the pedaling. This is because the Zoot Tri Sports have a design that will stay in place and they will support your muscles. A nice bonus for your legs!
Overall the best bike shorts on the market! A great deal to take!
2. Pearl iZUMi Quest Cycling
Brought to you by Pearl iZUMi, the Quest Cycling shorts are awesome for road cycling. They’re affordable and take care for your skin during your rides.
They are very comfortable and don’t have those tight leg grippers, instead they have nice silicone grippers which are tight enough to keep the shorts in place, but not too tight so you won’t feel any pressure.
You don’t have to worry about any extra moisture since the material allows it to vaporize so it won’t bother you.
3. Santic Cycling Shorts COOLMAX
Don’t be fooled by the price! These are one awesome short. The value you get is off the scale.
They have a wonderful, very comfortable padding. Made from polyester, it keeps the sweat away from your skin and allows it to ventilate. It has certified and verified performance. As I said the price might make you think that these are some low quality shorts. They may not be as good as the ZOOT tri short, but for the money you’re paying you’re getting a great deal!
They hold a well-deserved 3rd place in the best bike shorts list!
I have always been super picky about the kind of material my cycling shorts are made of simply because I want to feel as comfortable as I possibly can as I cycle away especially for those long hours. And it has pretty much come in handy because they help allow my skin the space to breathe and ventilate as it should. And since I have pretty much centered my considerations on that, I think it’s now high time that I started putting the type into consideration as well because durability and size come without saying for me.