By Dondo Eaves
Maybe you’re a road bike rider who isn’t comfortable wearing spandex shorts, but you still want the comfort of the chamois pad that comes with them to keep your butt comfortable on your bike saddle. Or perhaps you’re a mountain biker that only wears baggies because you need the pockets and like the look, but you still want the comfort of cycling shorts.
There are a few different options. What many road cyclists do is simply wear a pair of spandex cycling shorts underneath their clothing, as de facto cycling underwear. If I am riding five miles to a cafe to meet someone for coffee but don’t want to shop up in a spandex outfit, this is probably would I’d do.
However, you can indeed buy cycling underwear that is intended as underwear and intended to go underneath your regular clothes.
Here are some options for those cyclists who prefer a cycling specific padded underwear.
Endura Engineered Padded Boxer II Cycling Underwear
https://us.endurasport.com/engineered-padded-boxer-ii-black/12927006.html
This pair of cycling underwear for men is sort of like a traditional boxer brief, but with a chamois pad. It has a substantial enough pad that you will be comfortable cycling. But it could be a bit much and feel a little overly padded while you’re NOT on the bike. So if you only plan to wear them related to cycling, these seem like a great choice. All day and when not on the bike? Maybe, but maybe not.
Endura Bike Boxer Cycling Underwear Twin Pack
https://us.endurasport.com/bike-boxer-twin-pack-anthracite/12924451.html
This Endura cycling underwear is also in the form of a boxer brief, but this time Endura gives you a much thinner chamois pad so that it doesn’t feel so much like a diaper in your pants when you’re NOT on the bike. Of course, a thinner chamois while you ARE on the bike doesn’t give you quite as much comfort while riding. So you have to decide if these are a better choice for you, or the other design with the thicker pad.
Pearl Izumi Select Liner Short Cycling Underwear
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/pearl-izumi-select-liner-short-mens
Pearl Izumi calls their cycling underwear liner shorts. This pair is great because it’s made of a fabric that breathes well and will keep you comfortable riding around with regular shorts or pants on top. I also liked the feature of the little pocket on the side where you could tuck a credit card. Underwear with pockets! You can never have too many pockets, right?
Assos Trail Riding Liner Shorts Cycling Underwear
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/assos-trail-liner-shorts-mens
Looking for the fanciest, most expensive cycling underwear of all times? Assos has you covered. Assos makes some of the best spandex cycling shorts, and they only use the highest end design and material for their liner shorts too. These are particularly mountain bike friendly, because they have pads on each hip too, in case of falls or bumping into trees during tight turns on the trail.
REI Co-op Link Padded Liner Shorts / Cycling Underwear – Men’s
REI makes great stuff and they stand behind it. This pair of cycling underwear also has two little side cargo pockets, and is reasonably priced at under $40.
Zoic Premium Liner Shorts / Cycling Underwear
https://www.amazon.com/Zoic-Premium-Liner-Shorts-Black/dp/B00GSOZCMI/
This premium pair of liner shorts has two side cargo pockets, but also a fly in front like regular underwear. Zoic also offers several different other cycling underwear designs.
Readers, do you just wear your regular cycling shorts under your clothes, or do you use a specific cycling underwear / liner short like these options?
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