Descente Strata shorts...Sizing? Fit?

[KathiCville]

I'm slowly but surely looking around for a pair of seriously comfortable shorts that can go the distance for a century ride in the fall. One of the shorts I'm considering is the Descente Strata. It seems to have gotten mixed reviews here on the TE forums--particularly the chamois.

I'm wondering about fit/sizing compared to other brands. According to Descente's chart I'm probably on the upper end of Small. I'm 5'3", about 118 lbs, pear-shaped, 28" waist, hip 37" on a good day.

I've read elsewhere that the leg opening at the bottom doesn't fit snugly?? I don't like the tight elastic hem of most shorts, but too loose doesn't sound good either. My thighs aren't thin, but they aren't particularly heavy either. I like longish inseams.

Thoughts from anyone who has these shorts?

I'm also pondering Assos, Sugoi's RS, Louis Garneau's Neo Power and Shebeest's S-Pro. (Right now, Shebeest reigns supreme in my closet.) The Sugoi and LG shorts are winging their way toward me right now from TE.

[OakLeaf]

I just returned a Small and Medium pairs of these.

Size wise, the Medium definitely fit me. So that ought to give you a good idea since I've got/am getting your old SSS shorts. (Although it seems like the other SSS shorts I have don't fit exactly the same - there may have been some size variation in those over the years.)

Anyway, there was a lot I liked about the construction of the Descent Strada shorts - a whole lot. But the chamois was just... huge.

When I stood up, the edge of the chamois, where it transitions from the butt to the crotch, cut into my thighs/butt - literally created a hard edge that pressed uncomfortably into my flesh.

I figured that wouldn't be an issue on the bike, so I sat on the saddle - I don't have a trainer, but I propped myself up with an arm on a desk and pedaled backwards just to give the shorts a chance in riding position. There, the chamois seemed like it was in the right place on my butt, but now its hugeness in front was apparent. As my legs moved, the front of the chamois rocked back and forth. It was too hard and thick to flex with my movement and conform to my body. It was obvious that if I actually rode in those shorts, it was going to chafe my forward parts really badly.

So back they went. I was really disappointed. I thought the leg openings fit fine, although I do have thunder thighs. It was definitely a difference from shorts with grippers, and of course not having actually ridden in them, I can't say for sure they wouldn't ride up.

[KathiCville]

Thank you, LOL! JUST the kind of first-hand (-butt?) feedback I was looking for! You've just saved me the trouble of ordering and returning them! Too bad that the chamois is such a problem on shorts that otherwise seem to be well designed....Maybe one of the other brands/models I'm looking at will be the ticket.

[beccaB]

I like the Chamois on the descente bliss shorts I have, but my husband says he can see anatomy from the back. :0 !!!

[VeloVT]

I have an older pair of Bliss shorts and I find that chamois pretty comfortable, like Becca.

Also, FWIW, I wear size small shorts from PI, Terry, Castelli, Sugoi, Shebeest but my Descente shorts are medium.

[7rider]

My Strada bib shorts fit great. Nice compression (hmmm...is that "snug"?), very comfy. I didn't have to size up or anything.
The chamois, on the other hand, I hated for the first 3 rides. I gave it a "3 strikes and your out" chance to redeem itself. By the 3rd ride, I could tolerate the chamois, so the bibs stay in use-rotation.
BTW: Strada shorts on sale at STP.
Also...I don't care for the rise on my Bliss capris. I feel like they are constantly too low and I have to hitch them up constantly....

[KathiCville]

Great feedback, thanks! ... My Sugoi and LG shorts from TE will probably arrive today, yayyyy, just in time for the weekend.

[Selkie]

Anyway, there was a lot I liked about the construction of the Descent Strada shorts - a whole lot. But the chamois was just... huge.

I figured that wouldn't be an issue on the bike, so I sat on the saddle - I don't have a trainer, but I propped myself up with an arm on a desk and pedaled backwards just to give the shorts a chance in riding position. There, the chamois seemed like it was in the right place on my butt, but now its hugeness in front was apparent. As my legs moved, the front of the chamois rocked back and forth. It was too hard and thick to flex with my movement and conform to my body. It was obvious that if I actually rode in those shorts, it was going to chafe my forward parts really badly.

I had the exact problem with the bib shorts. I felt like I had a "package" up front, if you get my drift. After trying to wear them on the trainer, I got rid of them.

[mudmucker]

Great feedback, thanks! ... My Sugoi and LG shorts from TE will probably arrive today, yayyyy, just in time for the weekend.

I am a big fan of the Sugoi RS. I think their FX chamois has changed from last year - in my opinion, for the better. Because of the change in chamois they are now my top favorite short over the Shebeest's I had. I found LG fit me funny.

Post your "findings" when you've tried both out...

[KathiCville]

Well, last night I took three new pairs of shorts for brief, gentle spins around my neighborhood---obeying all of the rules of etiquette to maintain their returnability. The three I tried are: Craft's Master short; Louis Garneau's Neo Power (a TE staff pick); and Sugoi's RS short. All came highly recommended by TE'ers. I ordered Mediums in all three.

For reference, I'm 5'3", about 118 lbs, pear-shaped, age 51. Thighs definitely aren't as slim as they were 25 years ago, but they're not noticeably heavy either. I usually wear a 4P or XS in most 'street clothes.'

Craft Master short. Definitely comfy, but has less compression in the Medium by far than either the Sugoi RS or Garneau Neo Power Short. I got a nice deal on this short last week on Steep Planet (1/2 price) so I'll hang on to this pair as a comfortable 'everyday' short for rides of 20mi or under. Possibly could have gone with a Small, for more compression, but the chamois in the Medium seems to fill the bill. Nice material, good fit overall for someone my size. (I wore them on a 20-miler this morning after deciding last night to keep them. So far, so good!)

Sugoi RS. Loads more compression than the Craft. Paneling pattern prevents unsightly bulging while firmly holding all the relevant parts in place. I wondered if I should have gotten them in Large, rather than Medium, but my BF *thinks* they fit the way they should. I've never worn a serious compression short with a long inseam so it's a novel feeling to have my thighs so cradled. I like the support, for sure, but it probably will take a little getting used to. No diaper butt, yay! The chamois seems to be a good fit. A long ride, of course, will be real test. One thing that does seem a little odd to me---the Sugoi shorts SQUEAK against my saddle. It's obviously the material, but it certainly sounded bizarre as I was pedaling last night! These, I think, are keepers. Hoping to take these for a serious ride this coming weekend.

Louis Garneau Neo Power Short. Of the three, this is the one with the longest inseam and (in the Medium) the most compression. I really like the V-shaped waistband that doesn't cut in. And I like the length. No diaper butt; chamois seems to fit as it should on someone my size. Of the three, this one makes me wonder if I should try it in a Large??? I like the wide band at the bottom of each leg BUT I definitely have a noticeable bulge above the band. Maybe that's fine?? Maybe it's more important that the overall compression be pretty solid, even if it means a less-than-sleek-looking inner thigh?

I don't think the bulge looks bad (just annoying), but I wonder if it's telling me that the short is too tight? Anyone else have these who can weigh in with an opinion? I hate to have TE send me a Large if what I'm experiencing in terms of fit in the Medium is pretty much on the mark.

I'm a little on the fence about this pair, fitwise, so I might hold on to them, try them on a couple more times after riding in the Sugois, and then decide what to do.

In reading old TE threads about shorts and fitting, I noticed that many of the veterans seem to advocate erring on the side of a smaller size in order to benefit fully from the compression. Is that the rule of thumb?

Cheers!