I Love love love my Shebeest shorts! I have a pair of the SSS and the pedal pusher knickers which both have their middle Chamois (blue one), I also have a pair of the elite distance shorts, and just ordered another pair. This has their grey chamois for long distance rides, so it is thicker.

I don't like PI shorts because of the chamois, but love the Shebeest ones. So, if you love the PI chamois you might not like the Shebeest one. I find that chamois is well shaped, has varying desnsities of foam in different parts, no seams, and doesn't do the whole diper butt thing.

Other things I like are that the lycra isn't the shiney kind, but nice and matt and thick. They have a nice contoured waistband, high in the back and scoops down below my belly button in the front. And the leg grippers aren't the clear plasticy kind, but are more like little dotts along the bottom edge of the shorts.

One word of warning about the elite distance shorts. They have a mesh pannel on the small of the back. I really like it, but I know some people get worried that there is the chance that it will expose things they don't want exposed. I have never had that problem (or at least no one ever tole me I did ) it sits above my butt more on the small of my back, and I have a rather ample rear end.

REI had these shorts on sale too... I wonder if Shebeest is changing the short or chamois? hmmm... contemplating buying another pair.....