Buying & Trying so many cycling shorts

I don't want to have a gazillion pairs of cycling shorts I don't like hidden away in my dresser drawers. I don't want to spend a gazillion dollars on the gazillion pairs of cycling shorts that I don't like that are hidden away in my dresser drawers. So how do I do figure out what shorts to buy (yes, I've read reviews) so I don't wind up with a gazillion pairs of shorts I don't like? If I try riding in them and I don't like them, I can't return them because they are worn. So what do I do? I don't mind buying them on line and returning them if I don't like them, but how do you know they will even work if you can't try them out while riding your bike? :confused:

This is the million dollar question. And it reminds me that I have at least 3 pair in a drawer that I need to sell... :rolleyes:

When you do find a short/brand that works, stick with it. For me it's Pearl Izumi. But even that's not a guarantee. One of the shorts I need to sell is a pair of PI.

Trying them on at the shop will help. Too tight on the legs- don't buy. Chamois hanging out the back- don't buy. Fabric sagging- don't buy. Waist too high or low, don't buy. Fabric too thin- don't buy.

But yes, the main thing is to ride in them- so a bit of a problem there.

It helps if you can even just sit on your saddle and learn how the chamois will behave. But there's still trial and error. And it's expensive.

Use the TE: For Sale/Wanted section.

I keep looking, there never seems to be anything there for me!

When I was losing weight and needed to buy smaller shorts, I phoned Team Estrogen and got a lot of good advice from the sales staff. They sent me two pairs, and I had planned to send one back, but liked them both and decided to keep them both.

If you don't know what you like yet, it might be a good way to help you get started. And you can return them if they don't fit, but you won't be able to ride in them and then return them....