Men's or Women's Cycling Shorts

[goldrushfinds]

I can't tell the difference, even after reading many articles. Please help!

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@goldrushfinds 

I would think that support in the front would be more beneficial to a man than a women as we are " self contained" and guys, well poor guys!!!

I'm voting on them being dudes shorts!

[tssullytacklebox]

Back in the day when I used to race (about 30 years ago) they were all unisex. The chamois inside is to protect from chaffing, keeping the lycra from moving or bunching up to protect your inner thighs.  100 miles even in a big gear is a lot of up and down movement against the seat ( also leather for comfort ). Not sure if there have been any changes since then.

[katzrul15]

DS rides and they look like the ones we buy at REI - Below is from the REI website on the difference between Mens and Womens biking shorts: 

Men's and women's shorts differ in several ways. ... As such, women's shorts have smaller waistbands and a more tapered fit just above the hips. In general, women are also longer waisted than men. So, most companies cut the front inseam longer in women's shorts.

Good luck!

[femmefan1946]

If there is no fly, go for unisex.

I agree with @katzrul15 

Most unisex garments fit men better than women.

Jeans are the worst since the heavy material makes it difficult to take in the waistband.

[katzrul15]

Agree on using UNISEX - with them being released in Nov 2014, going to be hard to make a real match 7 years later.  

We pay about $85 for DS's biking shorts.  They are not cheap.  Don't know anything about that brand.  We buy Izumi (went to look at a pair of DS's - they look really similar in the crotch - shaped like the seat of the bike)

BTW, I don't think biking shorts have a fly.  The ones DS has (Izumi) - there is no fly    (no fly, like a super-fly....lol)

[goldrushfinds]

Thanks for all your input. I will have to give them a closer look.

[chapeau-noir]

There are a ton of different shaped chamois, but those look like men's shorts.  Women's shorts have a shorter more round 'baseball' chamois while men’s chamois pads tend to have an inlet down the middle.  You can also try REI's site and see if you can compare their chamois.

[chapeau-noir]

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@tssullytacklebox wrote:

Back in the day when I used to race (about 30 years ago) they were all unisex. The chamois inside is to protect from chaffing, keeping the lycra from moving or bunching up to protect your inner thighs.  100 miles even in a big gear is a lot of up and down movement against the seat ( also leather for comfort ). Not sure if there have been any changes since then.

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Remember back in the day they were leather and you treated them with chamois cream.  Now some of them are like diapers - crazy thick - some, thank gawd, are still somewhat thin.

[tssully66]

If I remember correctly I used Profide on both my Ideale leather saddle as well as the leather chamois which was either pig skin or sheep skin. Hand washed with Woollite . And under no circumstances did you ever wear underwear with them. My first pair lasted over 50K miles before they finally wore out. I doubt that the modern day version is anywhere near as good.