9 best women’s cycling shorts to help you go the distance

Our cycle touring specialist took pairs of these shorts on her around-the-world ride, and – with the exception of winter in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan – she wore them every single day. The fit is perfect, ending low enough down the leg that you can wear them into shops and pubs on your lunch break and high enough on your waist that they stay in place however aggressively you ride.

Perfect temperature control and exceptional padding – the kind you notice on the bike but not off – make these the ideal cycling shorts for rides of any length and condition. As our tester’s world tour demonstrated, both the fabric and the chamois are incredibly durable, surviving 18 months of scrappy washes in streams and public bathrooms and more than 10,000 miles in the saddle.

The ultimate mountain biking shorts, these cool, baggy shorts and liner are made for the trail. Built with the dimensions of a mountain bike in mind, they fit comfortably in or out of the saddle, and feel super durable – essential for those moments when “out of the saddle” is not intentional.

The liner is thin but nicely padded, and doesn’t feel too hot, even with the shorts on top. While they are intended for mountain biking, these are also the perfect shorts if you feel self-conscious in lycra: being Patagonia, they’re beautifully designed, so pass as athleisure if your trail ends in town.

Bright, reflective stripes that light up with the same dazzle as Proviz’s classic jacket make these shorts ideal for early-morning or night-time commuting, or any kind of tour or sportive that will see you on the road after dark.

The cut is sporty, ending about mid-thigh on our tester, but the silicone band at the hem kept them firmly in place. The chamois felt perfect on our test rides, although we wouldn’t expect it to last as long as a pair that costs two to three times as much.

Supremely comfortable, we loved using these roadworthy shorts for mid-length rides where we wanted a blend of comfort and speed. Cut like classic sport shorts, they end higher up the thigh, with grippers to keep the hem in place. The chamois was particularly comfortable, providing padding in all the right places for a longer ride where you might change position over the course of the day. Similarly the deep waist – which doesn’t have grippers, but stayed in place on our rides – is supportive, with plenty of coverage whether you ride upright or low.

Perfect for casual trips, weekend jaunts and sunny summer rides, these baggy shorts fit like running shorts, but hide a sleek and well-fitted under-short with a foam pad. You wouldn’t want to ride very far or hard in them – the foam doesn’t have the breathability, hygiene or durability of expensive chamois – but for day trips where you change out of your kit at the end of the day, or cycling around town in the sunshine, they’re ideal. The zipped pocket at the back is a nice addition, and fits a phone, keys and mask comfortably.

A lower leg and high waist make these a brilliant first pair of padded cycle shorts: the fit is athletic enough for long rides and short races, but not so aggressive you can’t pop into a shop on the way home. The antibacterial chamois was great with our hard saddle, and the fabric felt breathable over long distances and a few decent hills. Our tester has an anarchic pedal stroke from an old injury, that means one leg drifts closer to the saddle after a long day – the flatlock seams on these shorts withstood this with ease.

Ready for anything, these adventure-ready shorts are as at home bikepacking the Pamir Highway as they are your cycle superhighway into work. The compression fit keeps them casual comfy, and the chamois is classic Rapha – to us it felt just slightly thicker than most, so ideal for long days and rough roads.

Quick-drying fabrics – including the pad – make them great for touring, where you need them ready for the morning. But what makes them a real favourite is the capacious mesh side pockets, which freed us from needing to wear a jersey: we’ve managed to stash a phone, drink, and snacks in them without any issues.

Elegant, stylish, and technically outstanding, these comfortable shorts fit like a glove. We loved the high waist: this meant the shorts felt almost like wearing bib shorts, with just a whisper of a waistline that didn’t cut in or chafe, even on long rides or when we changed position. Ending just above the knee, which is our favourite cut for cycle shorts, they stay in place brilliantly with discreet grippers that felt secure even when we built up a sweat. The pad is excellent, comfortable and quick drying, with support that will last thousands of miles.

We love everything about these brilliantly designed, comfortable bib shorts – we tested the blue patterned pair, and it quickly became a favourite for when we were bored of basic black. Beautifully cut, they fit snugly and softly, particularly around the seamless straps – which lay flat and didn’t chafe, even on our longest rides.

The pad is large and mostly flat, making it ideal for long days in the saddle, and the design is short but not too aggressive. Best of all, there’s built in stretch for what Pearl Izumi calls “elegant nature break convenience” – in other words, you don’t need to take them off to use the bathroom.