Whether you’re looking for a new pair of chamois to go under your favorite pair of mountain bike baggies, some padded cycling underwear to wear to spinning class, or a good bike liner short to wear on your bicycle commute to work, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we share nine of our favorite pairs of padded cycling underwear to help make your ride a little bit more comfortable. We’ll also discuss what you should look for in bike underwear (also known as a chamois) so you pick the right pair for your bottom side.
August 2023: Updated prices and added additional purchasing options.
But First…..What’s A Chamois?
If you’re already familiar with chamois and bike shorts, you can skip this section.
That said, a lot of women searching for a pair of cycling underwear aren’t familiar with the term. A chamois is a pad that’s sewn into your bike shorts or a liner that goes under your shorts (or pants or skirt).
If you already have padded bike shorts, then you’re good to go. You don’t need a liner!
But if you have a pair of baggy mountain bike shorts without padding OR you want to wear padded underwear under a skirt, dress, or pair of regular shorts, then you’ll want to look for a liner with a chamois.
A good chamois is one of the most important factors to a woman’s enjoyment on the bike, and yet one of the most ignored. Many of us simply accept the sub-par chamois that came in our favorite bike shorts or skip the padding all together because its just not comfortable.
If you’ve been struggling with pain or chafing on the bike, then it’s probably time to try a new liner or pair of padded shorts.
Our Favorite Bike Chamois/Underwear
| What We Love | Price | ||
| 1 | Club Ride Drift Chamois | Medium thickness chamois | $49.95 |
| 2 | POC Re-Cycle Boxer | Soft, recycled polyester material | $69.95 |
| 3 | Shredly Biker Cham | Beautiful colors and prints | $98 |
| 4 | Baleaf Cycling Underwear | Budget pick | $21.99 * |
| 5 | Wild Rye Eleanor Chammy | Super comfy pad and waist | $115 |
| 6 | Terry Mixie Liner | Pairs well with cycling skirts | $52.95 |
| 7 | Terry Aria Liner | Pretty, lacy liner | $69.95 |
| 8 | Mons Royale Epic Shift Liner | Merino wool wicks sweat, stink free | $109.95 |
| 9 | Louis Garneau Cycling Undies | Affordable briefs | $34.99 |
* Last updated: 2023-10-07 at 09:58 – More Info
Club Ride Drift Chamois
The Club Ride Drift is one of my favorite chamois liners. Club Ride advertises it as their “2hour” liner but it has a nice mid-range thickness that works for the vast majority of women on the vast majority of their rides.
Looking for a chamois for a shorter short? The Club Ride June has a relatively short inseam length (3″) and works well under regular shorts for rides around town or to spin class. You can also pair it with some Club Ride Eden shorties.
If you a more substantial chamois, Club Ride has you covered there too. The 3 Hour Montcham chamois offers more padding.
All three chamois (but particularly the Drift Chamois) now comes in really adorable prints and colors as well.
Read Our Review: Club Ride Chamois
Price: $49.95 List
POC Re-Cycle Boxer
POC makes my favorite helmets, and I rather dig their Re-Cycle short liner as well. The material on these boxer-briefs are super soft, and is made from (you guessed it) recycled polyester.
Compared to their previous liner (the Essentials boxer), the Re-Cycle brief is cut a bit more generously (not to tight) and is a bit more affordable. These were are two cons about the previous bottom, so we’re happy to see them addressed in the Re-Cycle.
The other change is that the POC liner now has a more substantial chamois. This is great for those looking for plenty of padding, but steer away if your want a more minimalistic pad.
Price: $69.95 List
Shredly Biker Cham
The Shredly Biker Cham is probably the prettiest chamois liner you’ll ever see–so go ahead, let it peak out the bottom of your shorts or even wear it on it’s own. There’s nothing that screams “underwear” about the Biker Cham so you can easily wear it under your baggies OR by itself.
It comes in several adorable colors and prints and coordinates well with Shredly shorts. The perforation at the bottom adds a little feminine touch.
We also really like that there is a pocket (unusual!) that’s big enough to fit a phone (or in my case–emergency cash and ID).
The only thing to keep in mind is that they run a little small–especially around the waist–so gals with a thicker mid section will be better off peaking a different option.
Read Review: Shredly Biker Cham
Price: $98
Baleaf Cycling Underwear
The Baleaf Cycling Underwear is my #1 pick for women on a budget. Even though these are “entry level” bike underwear, I still wear them quite often even though they’re tucked in my drawer with much more expensive options.
These are great shorts for women brand new to cycling, for use at spinning class, or for bike commuting. The waistband and chamois are comfotable, although they aren’t seemless. If you have really sensitive skin you may want to upgrade.
Read Our Review: Baleaf Cycling Underwear
Price: $21.99 (Last updated: 2023-10-07 at 09:58 – More Info)
Wild Rye Eleanor Chammy
Like the Shredly chamois, the Wild Rye Eleanor Chammy is designed to be worn with or without shorts over it. It’s incredibly adorable–and comfortable too.
We really like the waist on the Eleanor which is far superior to most. It’s wide, stays in place, and doesn’t dig in.
The padding is incredibly soft and comfortable–and is made in Italy to boot. Of course, that helps add to the price….which is high, but worth it in our opinion.
Price: $115
Terry Women’s Mixie Bike Liner
Terry is the leader in women-specific cycling apparel, so we’re not surprised that their chamois is better than most.
While the Terry Mixie is marketed as a “recreational” chamois, any women who prefer a minimalistic chamois will dig these seamless bottoms. They also happen to come in pretty prints and coordinate well under the Terry Mixie skirt, or any cycling skirt for that matter.
The Mixie is a bit longer than most–more a short length than a boxer or brief–which is great for those who prefer a little extra coverage but doesn’t work as well under short shorts.
Price: $52.95
Terry Aria Bike Liner
Like plenty of ventilation? Me too. That’s why I like the Terry Aria liner.
This liner is made of a stretchy mesh material with LOTS of little holes. Even the chamois itself has perforations for airflow.
Finally, we like that even though no one will see it, the bottoms are finished with Italian lace. Because you know that they’re pretty.
Price: $69.95
Mons Royale Epic Merino Shift
Not a fan of synthetic materials? Check out the Mons Royale Epic Merino Shift liner.
This merino wool liner dries quickly which is a plus on both hot, sweaty days and cold, wet days. Merino also does an exceptional job of staying stink free.
The liner has a chamois that’s minimalistic, but comfortable enough to wear for up to 5 hours.
Price: $109.95
Louis Garneau Women’s Cycling Undies
Here is a true pair of cycling “underwear.” These are perfect because you can wear them under any bottoms–a dress, skirt, jean shorts, whatever…
The Louis Garneau Cycling Undies are super minimal, so these aren’t the bottoms to wear for a century ride, but for short cruises around town or at spinning class, you’ll have plenty of cushion. They are also super affordable which we appreciate (as will you).
Price: $34.99
What To Consider When Choosing A Bike Short Liner
Not sure which of these liners are best for you? Read on for some tips on how to choose.
Type of Riding
What type of riding are you going to be doing? Depending on whether you are going to be commuting, riding around town, or mountain biking, you’re choice might be different.
Mountain Bike Chamois
While most (but not all) baggy mountain bike shorts come with a pair of chamois, we actually prefer to buy our chamois separately. Why? Just like every woman is different, so is every woman’s underside.
Some women prefer skinny chamois, while others like more padding. If you are experiencing chafing, saddle sores, or general discomfort, chances are switching your chamois might help.
The other awesome thing about buying separate chamois is that you can wear them with any short. And you can wear the same pair of shorts several times while putting on a fresh liner everyday–which is particularly nice when doing a week-long bike packing trip, for instance.
Best Choices For You: POC boxer, Shredly Biker Cham, Wild Rye Eleanor Chammy, Club Ride Drift
Commuting / Recreational Riding
Whether you’re riding to work or simply cruising the bike path on the weekend, chances are you don’t want to don lycra bike shorts. The good news is that you can put some padded cycling underwear under your favorite skirt, shorts, or pants, and cruise in comfort.
Instead of a more bulky chamois look for a liner with a minimalistic chamois. Chances are you are riding shorter distances and don’t want a bulky diaper under your outfit. The other thing to consider is the length–if the liner has too long of an inseam, it might not work under your clothes.
Best Choices For You: Terry Mixie, Club Ride June
Spinning / Indoor Cycling
Whether you’re headed to spin class or simply hitting up the trainer in the basement, you’ll probably want a more minimalistic chamois. That’s because when we’re riding indoors, we usually only ride for an hour or two.
If you plan on wearing your liner under a pair of regular gym shorts, you’ll also want to make sure the inseam is pretty short.
Best Choices For You: Louis Garneau Undies, Baleaf Undies
Read Also: What NOT To Wear To Spin Class
Chamois Thickness
One thing to consider before ordering a pair of liners is how thick the chamois is. The thicker the chamois the better suited it is for longer rides, but even then, some women may prefer more minimalistic chamois.
In fact, over time, you may want to experiment with chamois of different thicknesses to see what feels most comfortable for you.
Inseam Length
The liners on this list vary quite a bit in terms of inseam length. Some really look like underwear, while others look like briefs, and some look like full-length shorts.
Consider what you want to wear the liner underneath when choosing. There’s nothing worse than having your liner stick out of the bottom of your short legs.
Material & Stitching
Most of the liners on this list are made of a synthetic material. The Mons Royale, liner, however is made of merino wool. If you prefer natural materials, then that might make an easy decision for you.
The other thing to consider is whether the bottoms are seamless. Women with very sensitive skin will want bottoms without any seams that rub. Seams can also help contribute to saddle sores.
Ability To Wear The Liner By Itself
Most chamois liners are designed to be worn underneath baggy shorts (or pants). Some, however, can be worn with or WITHOUT a liner.
Both the Wild Rye Eleanor Chammy and the Shredly Biker Cham are two options that work just as well on their own as they do under baggy shorts. This makes them nice if some days you like to wear baggys (to the bike park perhaps?) but other days like to go more minimalistic.
More Reading to Make Sure Your Butt is Happy
Bike underwear isn’t the only thing you can do to help your bottom side stay comfy on the bike. We also recommend picking a great saddle and possibly a chamois cream as well. Read on to learn more!
- 9 Best Women’s Bike Saddles & How To Choose!
- 7 Best Chamois Creams for Women & How To Use It!
- How to Prevent and Heal Saddle Sores
About The Author
Kristen Bonkoski is the founder and owner of Femme Cyclist.
An avid cyclist for a few decades now, she took to cycling during her late teen years — a time when she needed something to help boost her self-esteem and confidence.
Mission accomplished, the sport has become an important part of her life. Kristen’s favorite disciplines are mountain biking and bike commuting, although you can also find her cranking out a century on her road bike and touring with her husband and son. If it has to do with two wheels, she enjoys doing it.
Kristen is a certified USA Cycling coach, and she runs Rascal Rides, a website about biking with kids.
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A podcast for women who love bicycles! We we celebrate all forms of riding and all forms of women, so whether you’re a road cyclist, mountain biker, or bike commuter, you’ll find your community here. Each week we’ll week bring you interviews from inspiring women, and offer tips and tricks to help you thrive on the bike.
Kristen,
I would like to know the manufacturer of the purple/pink liner with the navy chamoi at the beginning of the article? Thank you for all the information!
So, do you wear these chamois liners or undies without other underwear?
You don’t wear underwear with these. Chamois are the underwear to prevent soreness.
You didn’t give recommendations for thicker liners. I actually do better in the mens shorts. For some odd reason I tend to sit forward and get seat sores not on the butt. I used. Pair of mens bike shorts from Walmart of all places and had no issues the entire ride. More coverage up front.
My name is Wanda too which one you use I am looking for the small coverage and i saw few men ones and I think are the best. Just looking for good ones.
The Club Ride 3 hour chamois is my absolute favorite liner! Never any chafing and so comfy. I wish they’d make it in a shorter short also! I wear with my Fox Ranger shorts and they’re a perfect match!
Question, can you have bike shorts that are too big.? I automatically gravitate to an extra large. I have Gerneau shorts and come home after an hour. And a bit with chafing and sore sit bones.
I met a woman who wears the underwear and bike shorts to protect herself. Thoughts?
Its all about the padding…. but no photos of the padding!!!!
Crazy non information.
I find it sad that chamois details never mention their width dimensions. All my chamois are 7” wide at the widest part. These do not cover my sit bones on some bike seats. I am 70 and I sit upright on my seat putting stress on my sit bones. Older riders sometimes have very little fat in their butt. Do you know of any chamois that are wider? Thank you! Claudia McCarter