More Padding is Not Always Better (And Other Advice on Bike Chamois)

Before you embarrass yourself, let’s be clear on pronunciation: In the U.S., chamois is pronounced “shammy.” This French word refers to a very important part of cycling shorts and tri kits that makes your rides much more comfortable. It can be an overlooked piece of gear in triathlon training, but if you invest in the right one, you can ride longer and focus on your performance, not the soreness in your rear end.

What is a bike chamois?

A bike chamois refers to the pad built into the crotch of cycling shorts and tri kits. It is typically made of foam or gel, and the shapes are different for men’s and women’s anatomy. There’s also a pretty wide range of quality levels and price points.

What does a bike chamois do?

Ultimately, a chamois makes your ride more comfortable. “With any performance bike, your saddle is not a cruiser seat, right?” says Ryan Maguire, co-founder of Pedal bike shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and an almost 20-year bike industry veteran. “Your saddle is fairly minimal with not a whole lot of padding there, so the chamois adds to that padding to put a little bit between you and the bike.”

For long rides (say, 90 minutes or longer), you’re going to want to invest in a good pair of bike shorts with a high-quality chamois because of how much time you spend in the saddle. That might mean more padding is required, but that’s not always the case. The chamois in a triathlon suit is much more minimal for race day, because you don’t want what feels like a soggy diaper between your legs on the run. But tri shorts won’t serve you well for training day in and day out.

“Having a good pair of bike shorts makes all the difference” when logging huge mileage on the bike, Maguire says, “and a good pair of shorts has a good chamois.”

What to look for in a bike chamois

Not all bike shorts are created equal. “I find pretty much all of my suppliers tend to have a ‘good,’ ‘better,’ and ‘best’ line,” Maguire says. And the easiest way to tell a higher-quality chamois from a lower-quality one is by visiting a bike shop and feeling them. Even pads that are the same thickness are going to have different densities and riding experiences.

“If you squeeze the chamois with your hands, a cheaper chamois is going to just be like a sponge – it’s going to lack density,” Maguire says, “whereas a more expensive chamois is going to be a little bit stiffer, it’s not going to feel as soft, and there’ll be more density to it.”

In the long run, that denser chamois is going to be much more comfortable and will last you much longer. The chamois in an inexpensive pair of shorts will wear out more quickly.

Another major difference is the construction of the chamois, which includes how it’s cut and how it’s attached to the shorts. In the higher-end shorts, Maguire says, the chamois tends to be laser cut, which allows for minimal, much flatter seams, meaning a lower chance of chafing down there on your ride.

How to pick the right bike chamois

When it comes to purchasing a pair of bike shorts, of course, budget comes into play. Maguire says you should expect to spend about $50 for an inexpensive pair of bike shorts (in the “good” category), about $85-$100 for a “better” pair of shorts, and around $150 for a high-quality pair.

Maguire recommends shooting for that mid-range level of bike shorts, if budget allows. “It can be overwhelming – getting into the sport, you’re spending all this money,” he says. “And obviously a $50 pair of shorts is going to be better than nothing, but there’s a pretty noticeable difference from that $50 short to that $85 to $100 pair of shorts.” If you can swing it, the $150 pair will be the top of the line and usually features the laser-cut, densely constructed chamois.

And when you’re ready to purchase, Maguire recommends trying on some pairs in person at a bike shop (remember to wear underwear for the try-on, please, but don’t wear underwear once they’re yours). “Different brands fit differently, so I think it’s totally worthwhile to go to your local bike shop and actually try it on versus just blindly buying something online,” he says.

The shorts should fit like a second skin – they should be snug without feeling restrictive. That means the right pair will take some effort to pull on all the way, but it shouldn’t feel like it’s cutting off any circulation. Once they’re on, the chamois should fit comfortably right up against your sit bones. Your local shop can advise you on finding the right fit and brands to meet your price point. Maguire notes that a good chamois won’t save you from picking the wrong-sized saddle, though, so every triathlete should be sized for their saddles, something your bike shop can also help you with.

Once you’ve found the right shorts and chamois for you, make sure you take proper care of your shorts to extend the life of that chamois. Maguire says you don’t have to hand wash them – he throws his own in the washing machine – but it’s important to use a fairly mild detergent, and never use a fabric softener, as it will clog the pores in the sweat-wicking material on the shorts and make them less breathable and effective. Always hang dry the shorts; never throw them in the dryer.

Budget vs. expensive bike shorts