Your favorite Shorts?

I am sure this topic has been beat to death, but there are always new shorts coming out, so certainly worth the discussion. I want a short that super comfy, but not compressive. Compressive shorts are not a good thing on a recumbent bike as they tend to cause the legs to go numb, since on a short wheel base bike, your legs are above your hips.

I have used LG, PI, and Sugoi. I've read some wonderful reviews about the Craft shorts more recently. I have always wanted to try the Castelli shorts but the price is usually a factor.

So throw your two cents in!

Have you looked at the Terry site? The Liberty's look interesting

I do have a pair of Castelli shorts (Vizio.1, so they're a little older, but I think they just changed the name and the leg grip things). Love the fabric, but I don't love the fact that the logos peel and the chamois is a bit much for me.

I prefer my Sugois. Actually, I really loved the Primal Wear Prima shorts--not too much chamois, and actually somewhat less of it than in my Sugoi shorts. They're not super-compressive at all, although you may want to take that with a grain of salt. They were slightly too big when I got them and it just went downhill from there! ;)

I have two pairs of shorts that the fabric is a bit too stretchy for me, but they've both been discontinued :( It looks like the EO Fille shorts might meet your criteria, but they sure are pricey for a four-panel short! Last year's model is on sale though - and looks to have a better chamois than the "new and improved" model - if you fit a small or medium.



Castelli Vizio Due are very compressive, so I wouldn't recommend those to you.

Anyone tried the Castelli Velocissmo short? Those look super nice!

Terry Bellas (compressive and longer) for temperatures below 75 and Shebeest S Pros for warmer temps, long rides. The Shebeests are shorter, lower waisted. I don't try new brands at all. I started with the Terry T shorts and went from there.

Definitely Louis Garneau 3K Tri Shorts... fantastic material, high waistband that you can easily fold down. Well worth ~$100 full price (though you can always get a deal), wish I could sell all my other shorts and buy a full drawer of them.

Louis Garneau Zone3K found on TE, are wonderfully comfy. Material is not shiny lyra but stretches just enough. The chamois is the same one in the neo power LG short that many people like. The yoga waist doesn't cut into your middle, but lets you breath. I have the neo LG short, but it isn't near as comfortable around my middle.
The length isn't as long as some cycling shorts. Info says 5 1/2". I think my size L seems longer than that because I don't like shorts to be too short, but these seem o'k.

I am surprised there were not many replies here. Perhaps many like myself still looking for the "right" short.

I do think the Tri shorts are the way to go. The pads are not like diapers. But it might not be protective enough for long distance riders. As I am a recumbent rider, the thin pad is welcomed.

After debating for a long time, I decided to try a pair Assos shorts. Heavenly and very flattering. Before those, I had the Neo shorts from Louis Garneau -- I like the fit, but they are too long. Also, I liked the Sugoi RSE, but the leg gripper leaves bright red marks on my legs and is a bit uncomfortable.

I did try some Giordana FR carbon shorts and the fit was very odd on me: loose at the legs, tight at the waist. I returned those.

My older shorts (now demoted to trainer work) were Pearl Izumi. They were ok.

My question would be if padding is even needed for a recumbent? TE has a bunch to chose from and they are generally cheaper than shorts with a chamois. My guess they are a lot more breathable, too...

For a recumbent - there is nothing better than a rowing trou. They have modesty padding only and only on the rear area, exactly where you sit on a bent.
http://www.jlrowing.com/stock-items-trou.html

not compression, but form fitting - they look exactly like bike shorts but without the pad.

I just got a pair of the Pearl Izumi Tri shorts and it just has a piece of cloth, like underwear, for the lining. As I ride recumbent and regular mtn bikes, I do still have to own shorts with padding for the mtn bike. The Pearl Izumi tri shorts are super nice.

I'll check those rowing shorts out and the other on TE.

I don't have a "favorite" yet - I haven't tried enough of them. But I have a not-favorite, which are the Gore Oxygen short. I got a medium. The legs are certainly tight enough, but the back of the waistband can pull up about 3-4 inches above my waist (I'd imagine that's to avoid a plumber's crack, but EEK! too much extra fabric) and doesn't fit very snugly either (and I have a...rotund...bottom), and the chamois is too big. This pair is a couple years old so they might've changed the fit since then, but I definitely need to look for another pair of shorts to replace them.

Well, so far I would have to say that my favorite pair at the current moment is a pair of Craft PB shorts that I actually bought second-hand off of somebody right here on the TE forum. I can't remember who it was, though. :o But I really do love those shorts, so "thank you" to whoever sold them to me. :D

Linda