Best women's cycling shorts 2025: all tested and approved by female cyclists

Combining the best women's cycling shorts with one of the best women's saddles is nearly guaranteed to increase your comfort on the bike exponentially. These two elements are now the only two areas where female-specific design and features are recognised as making a difference.

However, the shorts need to fit you well, of course, with padding in the correct place, no irritating seams, leg grippers that keep the shorts in place, and fabrics that work well in terms of breathability, wicking, and durability—all within your budget. After that, features such as colour, reflective details, and pockets can also be considered.

That is why we rate Velocio very highly in this guide, with no less than three mentions, including our top pick for best overall women's bib shorts, the Velocio Signature. Velocio have nailed the fit of their women's bib shorts, offering excellent chamois and comfort break solutions. We are very fond of their best women's cycling jerseys, too.

All the women's cycling shorts in this guide are tested and approved by our female testers. It's important to us here at Cycling Weekly that you get open and honest reviews from female riders. The majority of this guide is dedicated to bib shorts, as we believe they offer the most comfort, with many of them ideally suited for summer riding. For cooler weather options, you will need to check out our best women's bib tights.

Remember that the best women's cycling shorts will work even better when paired with the best chamois cream.

The quick list

The best women's cycling shorts: tested exclusively by women

Best overall

The Velocio Women's Signature Bib Shorts have quickly become a personal favourite of mine due to their sleek design and exceptional comfort. The standout feature for me, and undoubtedly will be for most women, is the innovative FlyFree design, which makes bathroom breaks quick and easy and a real game-changer on longer rides.

The shorts are made from recycled Italian compression lycra, and I found the compression noticeable yet comfortable, providing excellent support without feeling restrictive. The Signature Chamois pad lives up to its promise; designed by Elastic Interface specifically for Velocio, it offered superb comfort even on extended outings. I also appreciate the thoughtful detail of the mesh front panel, which adds a touch of modesty whilst helping to keep you cool on warmer days. The 45mm leg grippers are effective, keeping the shorts perfectly in place without any uncomfortable digging.

A good test of any bib shorts is whether you notice they're even there, and that is why I genuinely believe the Velocio Signature bibs are worth the slightly larger investment. Their blend of comfort, practical features, and quality construction makes them a top-tier choice for any cyclist.

Read our full Velocio Women’s Signature Bib Short review

Best value

The Core Collection from Rapha is designed for everyday use; they are much simpler, more rugged, and more affordable than most of the Rapha range. Thats thanks to a dense-knit material that certainly offers more durability, though I've found it can be a bit warm on particularly hot days.

The fit is remarkably comfortable, and the contoured design with flat seams has done an excellent job of preventing chafing, even on longer rides. I'm particularly impressed with the dual-density chamois; its size-specific design is a nice touch, and I've found it provides ample comfort for rides exceeding four hours, including those spent on the indoor trainer.

While these shorts don't feature an easy-pee system, which is something I've come to appreciate in other bibs, their durability makes them incredibly versatile. I've happily worn them for commuting, off-road adventures, and even under baggies. Despite being Rapha's most affordable bib shorts, they outperform almost anything in a similar price point and even some far more expensive options.

Read our full Rapha Women's Core Bib Shorts review

Best for long rides

As we come to expect from Assos, pulling on the UMA GTC shorts is a pleasure; with very little effort, it's a surprise to feel secure, thanks to a small amount of compression, which sets the tone for the whole review.

The fabric, the chamois, and the construction it is all excellent, given the price and the brand. It is really no surprise, I suppose.

Even with five hours in the saddle and consistent twenty-degree heat, the chamois posed me no trouble, and the support from the pad is very good. It is the kind of chamois that makes you think, 'where have you been all this time?' and 'why have I put up with so many bad ones until this point?'. All in all, it makes the UMA GTC shorts ideal for endurance riding and multi-day trips or back-to-back training days.

Aside from the luxurious comfort, Assos's Bisiclick easy-pee system is undoubtedly one of the better concepts I’ve tested and a fundamental standout feature, easily helping to justify the shorts' very premium price. With so many choices now available regarding easy-pee systems, some still significantly impact comfort and aren't as convenient or quick as claimed. However, Assos have nailed it, and it doesn’t require any item of clothing to be unzipped or removed. The X Frame design means the clasps are easy to reach and, more importantly, easy to recover.

There is no doubt these are a premium short, and the performance certainly justifies that cost. However, while many brands look to use more sustainable fabrics, we see no such efforts from Assos. While luxurious fabrics are rarely made from recycled materials, it is something that Velocio achieves, so why not Assos?

Read our full Assos Women's UMA GTV Bib Shorts C2 review

Best for warm weather

If the name didn’t give it away, the Velocio Ultralight bibs are indeed “ultralight”. The medium we tested weighs in at just 150g, and holding the bibs in your hand feels like holding hardly anything at all.

But how does it perform?

The chamois is thick enough to be comfortable during longer indoor rides but not so bulky as to become sweat-logged or chafe while on longer outside rides. The Ultralight bib straps feature a nice horizontal strap about three-quarters of the way up the back, connecting the two shoulder straps, which was fantastic and prevented the straps from slipping off my shoulders, something I regularly experience. Plus, the “easy pee” design, featuring extra-stretchy fabric just above the tailbone, makes it easy to pull down the bibs without removing the straps for a quick restroom stop. It may not be the best design, but it works, and it's simple.

Given the lack of material and the overall finish of the bibs, the cost feels slightly eyewatering. Although it didn’t cause any chafing or discomfort, it doesn't feel particularly premium. Additionally, the fabric is somewhat see-through when stretched, such as when bending forward for a more aerodynamic position or when standing to climb, which I’m not a fan of. This might not matter as much if you’re riding solo indoors, but it draws unwanted attention that I felt I was attracting out on the road.

Best for indoor cycling

If you’re looking for cycling shorts for indoor sessions lasting 60 minutes or less, then the Castelli Insider 2 might be for you…

In testing, the fit of the shorts was true to size with a nice compression to them—just the right amount to feel snug but not so much as to feel like a sausage. This leads us to the chamois.

The Insider 2 chamois is the definition of “barely there” - the padding is minimal but comfortable enough to ride for about an hour before starting to shift around on the saddle. It has Castelli’s classic honeycomb padding design but lacks the extra layer of padding beneath that honeycomb found on some of their other shorts.

The Insider 2 is highly breathable and lightweight, making it ideal for more than just cycling, and much of that stems from the thigh cutouts. The heavily perforated fabric (which is see-through in the outer thigh area) allows for tons of breathability and sweat-wicking but could be uncomfortable for those who prefer to cover more skin. Rest assured, the groin and behind areas are covered in non-see-through fabric, thank goodness.

Best cargo bib

The Velocio Utility Bib Shorts are no-nonsense, no-frills-attached bib shorts that just get you where you need to be going...

In testing, as with all the Velocio shorts we have tested with the “FlyFree” design, this feature really stands out and is incredibly useful, enabling women to take easier bathroom breaks thanks to the extra stretchy fabric above the tailbone. It's as simple as pulling the bibs down; the straps don't even need to be removed—a bit of a game changer if you need to go when you're out on a remote gravel road or far from a gas station.

The chamois is Velocio’s proprietary Signature Chamois, the same one found in their Ultralight and our best overall Signature shorts. It's a thick chamois that mutes vibrations caused by gravel and washboard surfaces, and it doesn't feel too bulky when you're off the bike either.

The Utility shorts' three pockets are deep and can hold everything you could need I found a flat kit, nutrition and phone not to trouble them at all. My only qualm was the lack of extra security on the pockets like the Assos Uma GTC shorts have. That said, the nutrition I stored in the pockets while testing stayed put, but it's always better to be safe than sorry, right?

How we test

The team here at Cycling Weekly are constantly testing and clothing more than anything. That is due to the seasonal nature of clothing, with fall/winter and spring/summer, as well as the huge variety of layering and styles. Frankly, you can't go out on your bike without wearing something, so it's easy for us to put thousands of hours into all kinds of garments.

More than any other piece of cycling clothing, cycling shorts are likely the most subjective. Thats why when it comes to the best women's cycling shorts, we always have women test these products, and where possible, we have multiple women test to ensure they suit different anatomies. The team absolutely, from time to time, endure pain and discomfort to bring you honest reviews and advice.

What are we looking for?

Fit, feel, and comfort are all important factors when assessing shorts, as is the quality and durability of the fabric, and that is why we always look to put shorts through a number of washes throughout testing.

Last but not least, we always try to use products not just shorts in a range of temperatures and conditions, regularly totally out of their intended use range, because you never know what surprises might arise.

You can find out more information on our testers and on how we test via our helpful guide.

How to choose women's cycling shorts

There are a few key areas to consider when choosing cycling shorts as a woman. Most important is the chamois, whether it’s supportive enough – and in the right places – to be comfortable over long durations. The best way to test this is really only once you are on a bike, so make sure to ask the shop if you can just sit on one before making a purchase or make sure you can return them.

Next is the quality of the material and the fit. You should look for a set of shorts which is gently compressive to provide support for your muscles whilst not feeling too tight or constrictive. Higher-quality fabrics tend to give a nicer feel against the skin and are more breathable during hard efforts on hot days.

Wide-leg grippers help keep the shorts in place while also distributing pressure evenly to prevent digging in. Likewise, wide bib straps serve a similar purpose in distributing the pressure there.

It's also worth considering extra carrying capacity, as the best cargo bib shorts will typically include pockets, usually located on the thighs, allowing you to carry more on your rides and reach them conveniently.

Finally, there is whether the short has an easy-pee system. The straps of a traditional set of bib shorts mean you typically have to remove your jersey to get the straps down when you take a nature break. Some shorts these days are designed so you can keep your jersey on – which is particularly useful when your pockets are full of spares.

What to look for in a set of the best women's cycling shorts

• Check the chamois or pad - There’s a fine line between sufficient padding and too much bulk, long days in the saddle will require more cushioning, but you need to balance this with breathability and effort.
• Do a quick squish test - this will give you a rough idea of the level of padding, but also take into account the construction: is it made from foam, gel, or both? As a rule of thumb, the more variety and densities of layers, the more cushioning you will receive
• Do you prefer waist or bib shorts? - For most scenarios, we believe that bib shorts are better; however, it's a personal preference. Bibs help to keep your shorts up and in place and even offer some muscle support. Waist shorts provide more flexibility and more convenience when it comes to toilet stops.
• Overall fit and feel - Look for a close fit, but none that restricts, and pay attention around the legs as this can be a tricky area to get right. They should feel snug enough not to ride up, without squeezing the thigh and giving that ‘sausage leg’ look.

More on Women's bib shorts versus cycling waist shorts

There are two types of cycling shorts: bib shorts and waist shorts, each with pros and cons. Choosing the right type depends on your riding needs, which may based on your body, style of riding and personal preference.

The main advantage of waist shorts is their simplicity, giving easy access for comfort breaks during long rides or quick changes for office commutes. Without an upper section, shorts are cooler for hot days or indoor training and are typically lighter and cheaper.

However, all forms of bike riding require bending around where the waistband sits, which can lead to discomfort. Some shorts address this issue with a low-slung waistline, but that can create an unflattering appearance and a gap between the shorts and the jersey. This is where bibbed shorts have a distinct advantage.

The bib straps help to keep the shorts up and eliminate the need for such a compressive waistband, and in general, can be made to offer a better fit around the legs and lower back. A bib short also allows for better seam and panel placement, thanks to the stronger structure, which ultimately offers better comfort overall.

Frequently asked questions about women's cycling shorts