Buyer's guide | Shorts and tights
All about our shorts and tights
The importance of good cycling shorts cannot be overstated—they are a critical factor in ensuring your comfort on the bike. With most of your weight resting on the saddle, the padding, materials, and fit of your shorts form the crucial connection between you, your bike, and the terrain beneath you. High-quality shorts are worth every cent, which is why we’ve made no compromises in our collection. However, the best shorts for you depend largely on the type of rider you are, as different styles and features cater to different needs. This buyer’s guide will provide valuable insights into our range of shorts and help you identify the ideal pair for your riding style. Once you’ve read through the guide, be sure to explore our collection and discover the difference for yourself!
Padding
We cannot stress enough how crucial padding is in determining the quality of your cycling shorts, it’s the lifeline of your comfort on every ride. Acting as a shock absorber, padding reduces vibrations and provides a smoother experience. What many people may not realize is that padding also plays a vital role in protecting your skin from irritation caused by harsh fabrics, as well as absorbing sweat to further prevent rubbing and discomfort. Additionally, it offers just the right amount of grip on the saddle, ensuring you feel safe and secure. Given the immense importance of padding, we’ve dedicated an entire page to this topic. Be sure to check it out and learn everything about our padding technology!
Materials
Cycling shorts are not made from a single piece of fabric; creating ergonomically high-quality shorts requires the use of different shaped panels and specialized materials. For example, we use highly stretchable fabric from our Italian supplier Carvico, such as Revolutional Energy, for the main part of the shorts. This material provides muscular compression to reduce the build-up of lactic acid in your muscles, helping to delay fatigue. For the upper body, we incorporate lightweight, breathable mesh materials that maximize ventilation and minimize irritation for superior comfort. To finish, we use Powerband grippers on the legs to ensure the shorts stay securely in place and don’t creep up during your ride.
This is just one possible combination of materials, as each of our shorts features unique fabric blends designed to meet specific needs. Across our entire apparel range, we use nearly 20 different types of materials. To learn more about these fabrics and their benefits, visit our clothing materials page.
With or without upper
Cycling shorts are available with or without an upper body part, and our collection includes both options to cater to a wide range of cyclists. The upper part or chamois ensures that the shorts stay comfortably in place, and we use a lightweight, open mesh material that fits seamlessly under your jersey without adding unnecessary layers. While most cyclists prefer shorts with an upper, we also offer shorts without it. These feature a wide, comfortable waistband designed to keep the shorts secure while evenly distributing pressure to avoid a tight, restrictive feel around your waist. Whatever your preference, we have the perfect option for you!
Shorts or tights
The difference between shorts and tights is straightforward: shorts have short legs, while tights have long legs. As you might expect, shorts are typically worn in warmer weather, whereas tights are favoured when temperatures drop. Our cycling shorts are designed with lightweight, breathable materials to ensure maximum comfort in warm conditions. On the other hand, our tights are crafted from specialized materials to help you tackle wind, cold, and even rain, making them ideal for winter rides. Explore our tights collection and discover all the great features that make them perfect for staying comfortable and protected in colder weather!
Time to buy new cycling shorts!
After reading this buyer's guide, you likely have a better understanding of just how important a good pair of cycling shorts or tights is. The quality of your shorts plays a significant role in determining the enjoyment of your ride. You’ve also learned about the advanced techniques and thoughtful design choices that go into creating the most comfortable cycling shorts for every rider. As with all our apparel, we highly recommend visiting your local bike shop to try on a few of our shorts and experience their quality and fit firsthand. In the meantime, feel free to browse our website and discover all the great features our cycling shorts have to offer!
