Batbike,

Without knowing your specific circumstances....

Sizing charts are a tough thing. They are designed to be a "guide" and they do work for many people. But we often have customers whose body types don't fit the mold.

Often, we talk with women who are "thick waisted", ie, there isn't a very large difference between the waist and hip measurements. (maybe 5-6 inches instead of the more typical 8-10 inches.)

Although opinions on this vary, even here at TE, I tend to recommend that women built like this first try shorts that meet the HIP measurement, even if that means the waist measurement is a tad too small (there's a solution for that too, hang on...) Here's my philosphy. A proper fit through the hips gives you a greater chance that the chamois hit you in the right place, and that the fit/tension across the hips will be correct. It's really important not to get a short that's too big in the hips, as that will allow the chamois to move around a bit, which can cause chafing, as you noted.

So, what about the waist measurement? Won't that be snug? Well, we have a number of styles without waist elastic at all, like the Shebeest Nirvana short, the Sheila Moon V short and the Sugoi Lucky Short. The lack of an elastic waistband means there's more "give" and you shouldn't feel overly restricted. The first time you try a pair on, it may feel "odd" not to have the elastic waist, like they might even be prone to falling down. But they should stay in place, and you'll get accustomed to the different feel. You could even try a bibshort, as they won't have an elastic waist either, and won't give you the "falling down" feeling, since they have straps to keep 'em up.
I personally own a pair of the Sheila Moon V shorts, which are very comfortable (I think her leg grippers are slightly snugger than average, a positive or a negative, depending on your thighs). Although I *don't* have a pair of the Shebeest Nirvana Shorts, I *do* own several other pairs of Shebeest bottoms (Elite shorts, pedal pushers, Breezer Boardshorts) and love both the fits and the chamois.



Other times, we speak with women who are very pear shaped. ie. their hips are 11-13 inches larger than their waists. Again, I suggest they size for the hip.

So, now, what about that waist, which may be a little too roomy? Well, many of our shorts come with a drawstring waist, so you can always cinch them a little snugger if need be. Most Louis Garneau and Sugoi shorts have drawcord waists. Sugoi is probably the better place to start, as the leg hole openings are typically less restrictive than LG, and pear-shaped women often have thicker thighs. The Evolution shorts are fantastic and really reasonably priced at $80.

I hope this info helps.

Susan