Do You Wear Underwear With Cycling Shorts? (And What Padded Underwear Is For)
No. Padded cycling shorts and bib shorts are made to be worn on bare skin, so underwear only adds seams and trapped sweat where you sit. Padded cycling underwear is a different product: a thin padded layer you wear under normal shorts or pants for commutes and casual rides.
In short
- Padded cycling shorts and bibs are worn on bare skin, with no underwear.
- Padded cycling underwear is for riding in normal clothes, on commutes and casual rides.
- Never stack padded underwear under padded shorts. Two pads move against each other.
- Wash padding after every ride, hang it to dry and keep it out of the dryer.
Do you wear underwear with cycling shorts?
Not with padded cycling shorts or bibs. The chamois, the padded insert sewn into the seat, is shaped to sit directly against your skin and move with it. Put a pair of briefs between you and the pad and the pad stops doing its job.
Our guide to bib shorts vs cycling shorts covers how to put bibs on and how they should fit. This article picks up the question riders ask next: why the rule exists, and where padded underwear fits in.
There is one common exception that is not really an exception. Women usually wear a sports bra under the jersey and bib straps, and a thin base layer on top is fine for anyone. Neither one sits between you and the saddle.
Why don't cyclists wear underwear under padded shorts?
Three things go wrong when underwear meets a chamois.
Seams in the wrong place. Underwear has elastic edges and stitched seams at the leg openings and the crotch. On a saddle, those lines get pressed into your skin thousands of times per ride. A chamois is built with low profile stitching to avoid exactly that.
Trapped moisture. Cotton underwear soaks up sweat and holds it. Saddle sores are generally put down to a mix of friction, heat, pressure, moisture and bacteria in the saddle area, according to a 2020 review in Methods and Protocols. Damp cotton adds two of those at once.
A layer that slides. Cycling shorts grip your legs with silicone bands so the pad stays put. Underwear underneath is a separate layer that can bunch and shift, and a moving layer is what rubs.
None of this means a short ride in jeans will hurt you. The rule is about padded cycling kit, on rides long enough for small things to add up.
What is padded cycling underwear for?
Riding in normal clothes. Padded cycling underwear looks like a pair of fitted boxer briefs or briefs, with a gel pad in the seat. You wear it as underwear, under whatever you were going to wear anyway.
That makes it useful in a few situations:
- Commuting to work in pants or chinos, then sitting at a desk all day.
- Casual rides, bike paths and e-bike trips where you want some padding but not Lycra.
- Mountain bike or gravel rides in loose shorts.
- Bike tours on holiday, where you get on and off the bike all day.
- Spin classes and short indoor sessions.
Our Men's OCG Soft Mesh Gel Padded Cycling Underwear-Shorts use a soft, flexible mesh in a Lycra, spandex and polyester blend, with a contoured silicone gel pad. The product page says they are made to sit under casual and work clothing, and they come in black or white.
With the clocks going back on November 1, plenty of commuters swap shorts for long pants for the darker months. Padded underwear goes under those pants just as well.
Cycling underwear or cycling shorts: which do you need?
It depends on the ride, not on how serious a cyclist you are. Most regular riders end up owning both.
| Padded cycling underwear | Cycling shorts or bibs | |
|---|---|---|
| Worn | Under normal clothes | As the outer layer |
| Underwear underneath | It is the underwear | None |
| Best for | Commutes, casual rides, spin, loose MTB shorts | Road rides, group rides, rides over an hour |
| Pad (ours) | 3D silicone gel pad | 9D contoured silicone gel chamois |
| Leg | Soft mesh, low-profile cut | 45 mm silicone leg grippers |
| Looks | Invisible under clothes | Cycling kit |
For road rides of an hour or more, cycling shorts or cycling bibs are the better tool. Our shorts and bibs use a 9D contoured silicone gel chamois and 45 mm silicone leg grippers that are made to stop pinching and shifting on long rides. Padded underwear is the answer when you do not want to look like you are wearing kit at all.
Can you wear padded underwear under cycling shorts?
Please don't. Two pads on top of each other do not double the comfort. They slide against each other, bunch up and create new pressure points, and you end up with more friction, not less.
Pick one layer of padding per ride. Padded shorts or bibs on bare skin for kit days. Padded underwear under your clothes for everything else. If padded shorts feel like they are not enough, the fix is usually fit or saddle position, not more foam.
How do you choose and look after padded cycling underwear?
Start with the cut. Men's padded underwear comes as fitted shorts. For women there are two shapes: the Women's OCG Soft Mesh Gel Padded Cycling Underwear Shorts Bundle (3 Pack) for a short leg, and briefs such as the Women's Plain Gel Padded Cycling Underwear-Briefs, made of 80% polyester and 20% Lycra. The full range, including prints, is in our women's cycling underwear collection.
Size next. Underwear has to sit close so the pad stays where you sit. Each product page carries its own size note, so read it, then check your measurements against the OCG sizing charts before you order.
Then think about how many pairs. Padding has to be washed after every ride, just like cycling shorts. If you commute most days, one pair runs out fast. That is the reason for the Men's OCG Soft Mesh Gel Padded Cycling Underwear Shorts Bundle (3 Pack), which the product page says costs less than buying three single pairs.
Care is simple:
- Wash after every ride, at 86°F (30°C), as the care label says.
- Use liquid detergent and skip the fabric softener and bleach.
- Hang to dry. Keep it out of the dryer, and do not iron or dry clean it.
Prints are part of the fun too. The Men's Must Be Bananas Gel Padded Cycling Underwear-Shorts are one example, and the whole men's and women's range sits in cycling underwear.
Non-customized items come with 60-day store-credit returns. The details are in our returns policy.
Padded cycling underwear
Frequently asked questions
Do cyclists wear underwear under bib shorts?
No. Bib shorts and cycling shorts are worn on bare skin. A base layer on top and a sports bra are fine, because they do not sit between you and the saddle.
What is the difference between cycling underwear and cycling shorts?
Cycling underwear is a padded inner layer worn under normal clothes. Cycling shorts are the outer layer, with a thicker chamois and silicone leg grippers, made for longer rides in kit.
Can you wear padded cycling underwear for a long road ride?
You can, but padded shorts or bibs suit rides over an hour better. Their contoured chamois and leg grippers are made to stay in place for hours in the saddle.
Can I wear padded underwear under padded shorts?
No. Two pads slide against each other and cause the rubbing you wanted to avoid. Use one or the other.
What if I still get sore spots?
Check the fit of your shorts and your saddle position first. For sores that do not heal or keep coming back, see a doctor or health professional.
Sources
- Prevalence, Prevention and Treatment of Saddle Sores among Female Competitive Cyclists (Methods and Protocols, 2020)
- Online Cycling Gear, Men's OCG Soft Mesh Gel Padded Cycling Underwear Shorts Bundle (3 Pack)
- Online Cycling Gear, Men's OCG Soft Mesh Gel Padded Cycling Underwear-Shorts
- Online Cycling Gear, Women's Plain Gel Padded Cycling Underwear-Briefs
- Online Cycling Gear sizing charts
- Online Cycling Gear returns policy
