This article will feature some of the best budget women’s cycling shorts worth your money.
Not going the absolute premium route when it comes to cycling shorts doesn’t mean you have to skimp on quality. There are a great number of shorts that’ll be perfectly adequate in providing many miles of comfortable cycling.
The thing to look out for is the quality of the seat pad or chamois. In general big brand names simply offer better protection against a sore bum, and often the most expensive shorts hold the most technologically advanced chamois. But unless you’re training for the next crit or want to ride a really long distance, it’s something you don’t need.
With an average price of just shy of 200 dollars I consider any cycling short to be a budget that does not cross the 130 dollar mark.
For that kind of money there are a lot of excellent options to suit your personal needs. So let’s take a look at some of those best budget women’s cycling shorts.
Pearl Izumi Women's Expedition Short
The Pearl Izumi Women’s Expedition Shorts are affordable cycling shorts with plenty of storage and an understated design.
The short features a women specific dual-density Women’s ELITE Escape 1:1® chamois. Its top layer can move independently from its foam layer, which reduces friction and chafing. It means that these shorts are perfect for your average dry ride and will prove to be comfortable for a number of hours in the saddle.
The short is made from compression fabric and has 2 large thigh pockets alongside a smaller back pocket. This means you can store larger objects, like your phone, as well as smaller ones like multiple energy bars or small tools. The compression fabric ensures a snug, yet comfortable and flattering fit.
Furthermore, the short has a wide and comfortable waistband and silicone printed hems to keep them in place.
For anything but ultra-distance riding, these shorts are a fantastic option, that doesn’t hurt your wallet too much, offers good storage options, looks the part, and are durable as well.
- Affordable, durable mid-tier cargo shorts
- None
Pearl Izumi Women's Sugar 5 inch Short
The Pearl Izumi Women’s Sugar 5 inch Short is exactly what it says, a perfect hot conditions cycling short. Either for use on the bike or indoors.
The short offers the Women’s SELECT Escape 1:1® chamois, which is a single-layer seat pad designed for shorter rides. So it’s perfect for a nice summer ride or a quick spin class.
It has two small mesh pockets for you to stow away objects like your keys, cards, or a quick snack. The short is made from soft, lightweight, and high-stretch SELECT Transfer fabric, with a comfortable, wide, non-pinching waistband.
- Short short for the recreational female cyclist
- Not meant for long-distance road cycling
Pearl Izumi Women's Symphony Capri
The Pearl Izumi Women’s Symphony Capri is one of the very few 3/4 cycling tights you will find online. It sits comfortably across the knees and features the same silicone leg grippers used in more traditional cycling shorts.
The standout feature of this high quality capri is the chamois, which is the dual-density Women’s ELITE Escape 1:1® seat pad. It’s one of the most comfortable pads in the market and just one step removed from what pro riders use.
A comfortable waistband is designed to sit snugly but not constrictive during a cycling position. And the Elite transfer fabric keeps you cool, is UV resistant, fits snugly and looks great.
- One of the few capri shorts on the market with high-quality, and comfortable chamois
- None
Giordana Women's Fusion Bib Short
The Giordana Women’s Fusion Bib Short offers their thicker 3-layer 13 m. Cirro-W chamois.
The rest of the shorts offer a lot of the same characteristics. The same overall shape with clipless straps ending in a comfortable large back panel, with tall laser cut hems that grip comfortably. It’s a high-waist short to provide appropriate coverage and support for a flattering figure.
The chamois has an Aloe Vera infused layer that prevents bacteria build-up and offers cooling factors, is sewn atop a tick 8mm. layer of memory foam. This open waffle-textured layer offers excellent moisture-wicking and ventilation properties, preventing it from becoming a damp, attention-grabbing patch on longer rides.
A bit less performance oriented for the casual rider, these shorts will still amaze when staying many hours in the saddle.
- Durable, great-looking mid-tier bib short
- None
Castelli Free Aero Race 4 W Short
The Castelli Free Aero Race 4 W Short is probably one of the best cycling shorts out there.
Featuring their high-end Progetto X2 Air Donna chamois, you’re ensured of a comfortable ride. The chamois featured additional inserts for female-specific pressure areas, underneath a soft skin layer, and a multi-density foam layer.
The short has a very lightweight construction with dimpled thigh panels for female cyclists ambitious enough to care about minimal aerodynamic gains. Flatlock stitching ensures a seamless feel and large GIRO4 leg grippers with vertical silicone strips keep the short in the correct place without pinching.
One of the best strapless cycling shorts your money can buy.
- One of the very few performance shorts on the market
- None
Castelli Prima Bibshort
The Castelli Prima Bibshort is a fantastic affordable option that still manages to look great from the Italian giant.
It’s almost an insult to call these cycling bibs entry-level, since they still feature the amazingly comfortable KISS Air2 Donna chamois. It’s an anatomically shaped dual-density layer, which provides the right kind of support in areas where more pressure is applied. This layer sits underneath an incredible soft skin layer. All layer are seamlessly integrated and Castelli always manages to never make their shorts feel or look bulky.
Furthermore the cycling shorts are made from Pro Dry Soft Lycra®, which ensures maximum breathability and moisture-wicking characteristics on long and hot days in the saddle. Mesh straps and a back panel finished with reflective elements at the back of the legs finish the design.
A truly fantastic cycling bib for female cyclists who’re looking for a solid combination of quality and affordability.
- Great-looking, comfortable bib shorts for an even better price
- None
Castelli Velocissima 3 Short
The Castelli Velocissima 3 short offers a slim feel while still offering enough protection to keep you in the saddle comfortably for many hours.
The KISS Air2 Donna chamois is a multi-layered pad with differently gender-specific densities offering moisture-wicking and ventilation aspects in its durable microfiber.
The popularity of Castelli lies in the fact that they offer excellent quality in affordable packages. The Castelli Velocissima 3 short is a great example of this, with a premium-looking short offering the right amount of comfort.
The elegantly striped legs end in firm leg grippers that keep them in place without making your legs look like something you can buy at your local butcher shop.
The cooling Endurance Evolution compression fabric is available in a number of gorgeous colors other than your standard black.
- Great-looking compression shorts
- None
Sportful Neo W Bibshort
One of their more affordable options, the Sportful Neo W Bibshort still packs a lot of features necessary for comfortable rides.
The classically designed cycling bib offers mesh straps and a large mesh back panel. These are connected to 4-way stretch Lycra®, and finished with elastic long hems with an elastic band.
The no-fuss design minimizes the use of seams and features Bodyfit Pro W MD chamois, which is a dual-layered pad where a soft skin layer is seamlessly attached to a soft foam layer.
Sportful has been at the top of their game when it comes to offering high-quality cycling bibs, and the Sportful Neo W Bibshort is a great entry-level option.
- Affordable, entry-level bib short
- None
Craft Adv Endurance Lumen Bib Shorts
The Craft Adv Endurance Lumen Bib Shorts are more than excellent shorts for a very reasonable price.
Beautifully designed, they offer a form-fitting mesh back panel that wraps around your body into a high waist, ensuring a great look with comfortable straps at the front.
The C2 pad has three layers of various densities made in a way that reduces waste. The thickest parts sit at the sit bones offering necessary damping qualities.
The shorts themselves are made from recycled polyamide, so you know Craft is big into sustainability. The brand is known for creating very durable products.
A great product for female road cyclists who can appreciate high-quality comfortable bib shorts for a decent enough price.
- One the best value-for-money bib shorts
- Has entry-level chamois
Craft Essense Bib Shorts
The Craft Essence Bib Shorts are a great allround choice for budget-minded female cyclists.
One of Craft’s most affordable cycling bibs feature their C3 chamois, which still provides ample levels of comfort with a hollow-fiber pad.
Craft displays a high degree of corporate responsibility, with this short being created with recycled polyamide. So if that’s something you value and look for in a product, Craft is definitely worth choosing.
The cycling bib has a wide center front strap, which ends in a large back panel. It’s up to you whether or not you like such a configuration.
Highly affordable and with sustainability in mind, the Craft Essence Bib Shorts is a great choice for the recreational female rider.
- Extremely budget-friendly bib shorts made from recycled polyamide
- None
Specifications budget women's cycling shorts
Name | Price | Chamois | Straps | Material | Hems | Pockets | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pearl Izumi Women’s Expedition Short | 100 USD | dual-density Women’s ELITE Escape 1:1® | none | ELITE Transfer In-R-Cool® fabric | laser-cut w. silicone gripper | 2 thigh pockets, 1 back pocket | |
Pearl Izumi Women’s Sugar 5 inch Short | 65 USD | Women’s SELECT Escape 1:1™ | none | SELECT Transfer fabric | silicone gripper | 2 mesh stretch pockets on lower legs | |
Pearl Izumi Women’s Symphony Capri | 130 USD | dual-density Women’s ELITE Escape 1:1® | none | ELITE Transfer In-R-Cool® fabric | silicone gripper | none | |
Giordana Women’s Fusion Bib Short | 130 USD | 3-layer 13 mm. Cirro-W | seamless straps w. mesh back panel | Lycra® | tall laser-cut | none | |
Castelli Free Aero Race 4 W Short | 126 USD | Progetto X2 Air Donna | none | Forza fabric | GIRO4 leg gripper | none | |
Castelli Prima Bibshort | 110 USD | KISS Air2 Donna | back bib panel | Pro Dry Soft Lycra® | GIRO3 leg gripper | none | |
Castelli Velocissima 3 Short | 120 USD | KISS Air2 Donna | none | Endurance Evolution compression fabric | raw-cut w. silicone | none | |
Sportful Neo W Bibshort | 110 USD | Bodyfit Pro W MD | clipless | Lycra® | laser-cut w. silicone gripper | none | |
Craft Adv Endurance Lumen Bib Shorts | 120 euros | 12 mm. 3-layer C2 | mesh straps w. mesh back panel | recycled polyamide | elastic woven w. silicone | none | |
Craft Essense Bib Shorts | 90 euros | C3 | center strap w. back panel | Lycra® Sport Energy | elastic woven w. silicone | none |
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