By Fitnosia Team: Updated in 2022
Indoor cycling is an excellent way to stay fit and active. The most critical item of clothing to help you stay comfortable while cycling indoors for longer is indoor cycling shorts with padding. The best spinning shorts will help you stay on the bike for longer, allowing you to smash your fitness goals and not leave getting off the bike feeling uncomfortable. If you are used to cycling outside and already have a pair of padded shorts, you are better off getting some new pairs specifically for indoor cycling.
The best indoor cycling shorts will have plenty of padding, strong seams, good fit, and, most importantly, be extra breathable. Unlike cycling outside, you need your shorts to help you cool down, no matter what the weather is outside. That is why spin bike shorts exist. They have slightly different properties to your standard cycling shorts. This list will help you find the right padded cycling shorts for you, no matter your budget. There is also a helpful buyers guide at the end of the article that should help you make an informed decision.
| Number | Name | Materials | Layers | Padding | Mesh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PEARL IZUM Escape Quest | Spandex | 2D | Foam | No | No |
| 2 | Eco-daily Men's Shorts | Nylon & Spandex | 4D | Foam | Yes | No |
| 3 | Men Cycling Shorts | Nylon & Spandex | 3D | Foam | No | No |
| 4 | BALEAF Men's Shorts | Nylon & Spandex | 3D | Gel | No | Yes |
| 5 | Sponeed Men's Shorts | Polyester & Spandex | 3D | Gel & Foam | No | No |
| 6 | Santic Cycling Shorts | Nylon & Spandex | 4D | Coolmax | Yes | No |
| 7 | NOOYME Men's Shorts | Polyamide & Spandex | 3D | Gel | No | No |
| 8 | Qualidyne Men's Shorts | Spandex | 3D | Gel & Foam | No | No |
| 9 | NICEWIN Men’s Shorts | Nylon & Spandex | 3D | Gel & Foam | No | Yes |
| 10 | CYCWEAR Men's Shorts | Nylon & Spandex | 4D | Coolmax | Yes | No |
First, some indoor cycling shorts with padding from Pearl Izumi. They make some great cycling apparel, especially for indoor cycling. There are performance-ready spin shorts that sit comfortably.
They come with a 9.5” inseam and 6-panel anatomic design. This means that the fabric sits nicely around your waist and legs without being too tight or baggy in places. The blended thickness of the material makes for excellent breathability.
Due to the Select transfer material, these are moisture-wicking and tight-fitting (as they should be). These are relatively simple men’s spinning shorts, with a preshaped foam padding that conforms to your body’s contours.
Conclusion
The Pearl Izumi Men’s Escape Question indoor cycling shorts are a good start if you are looking for some padded spin shorts that are not restrictive or too bulky. The foam padding is not as thick as others on this list. So these are best paired with a comfortable gel padded seat.
Pros
Cons
These are an affordable pair of padded shorts for indoor cycling. They are a premium blend of Nylon and Spandex. Giving you the perfect mix of 4-way stretch and durability. So confident are they of the quality of their seams they have stitched together 14-panels to mold perfectly to the contours of your body.
The material is excellent at wicking moisture away, and there are large mesh panels on the sides of the legs. This is a massive bonus for indoor cycling shorts as it improves their breathability dramatically.
The padding comes from a flat protection pad. This is 6 layers of high impact foam that has been designed to help absorb the harshest of vibrations and reduce chafing. The surface of the pad is ultra-soft, and thanks to the layering, it is also ultra-breathable.
Conclusion
For the price, these are an absolute bargain for your first pair of indoor padded cycling shorts. Do not be put off by the price. The seams are strong, and thanks to the innovative design, the shorts are incredibly breathable. They have wide anti-slip leg bands to top it off, so these shorts will not ride up your legs while you are spinning.
Pros
Cons
Another very affordable option for your first pair of indoor cycling shorts. They have the preferred Nylon and Spandex blend of materials, offering 4-way stretch and comfortable fit.
The material is the perfect blend of breathable, stretchy, and durable. Thanks to their composition, they also have SPF50+ protection, just in case you decide to take your spin bike out in the garden in the summer.
The padding is a relatively thin foam padding. It has creases to conform to your body but is not as well thought out as some of the more expensive indoor cycling shorts for men available. Nevertheless, these shorts will help prevent chafing thanks to their lightweight design and discreet padding element.
Conclusion
These indoor cycling shorts are perfect if you want to try out your first pair of padded shorts for a spin session. The build quality is good enough to last, but the padding’s design and thickness does let them down slightly.
Pros
Cons
The BALEAF Men’s Cycling Shorts offer you protection from pain and numbness thanks to the 3D gel padding. The padding has panels of extra thick gel padding where you need them most.
These shorts are stretchy and durable (80% Nylon / 20% Spandex). They are also breathable and excellent at wicking away moisture. The flat-seam stitching helps to remove the risk of chafing or unnecessary irritation.
The most unique thing about these spin bike shorts is the phone holder built into the leg. By using an additional thin layer of material, they have created a snug pocket. This is a nice feature not only for your phone but to store keys or money while you are busy working out in a spin studio.
Conclusion
At this price, these are a well-made pair of padded cycling shorts. The addition of the pocket makes them extra useful. However, the best thing about these shorts is the ergonomic gel padding, not something you always find on shorts this affordable.
Pros
Cons
The Sponeed padded cycling shorts range prides itself on its unique and effective padding. The 4d gel padding does more than just keep your butt protected from saddle sores. It also works with you to keep you cool.
These indoor cycling shorts are made of 80% Polyester, 20% Spandex, which makes them lighter than any of those made with Nylon. Perfect for increased breathability and comfort while cycling indoors.
The padding is also designed to wick away moisture and is contoured in such a way as to be breathable without compromising on comfort. Also, these shorts have a thin but effective silicone leg band to keep the shorts in place.
Conclusion
Thanks to the innovative padding system, these shorts are incredibly comfortable for long periods spent on your spin bike. In addition to their design, they are also breathable and will not lead to you overheating. As if that was not enough, they also have a pretty cool design printed on them (it certainly beats the standard black all over that many shorts have).
Pros
Cons
The Santic Cycling Shorts for men are affordable padded shorts that are both comfortable and breathable. Thanks to the Coolmax foam pad, they work with you to help keep your body cool.
The 12-panel anatomic design is comfortable and well thought out. These shorts wrap around your legs and waist without leaving any saggy or restrictive parts. Despite the number of seams, you do not feel any irritations while wearing them.
They are made of 82% Nylon, 18% Spandex, making them durable and stretchy. The Coolmax padding is extra breathable thanks to 38 vents perforated throughout the padding, promoting airflow and heat dissipation.
Conclusion
Although the padding only comes from several layers of foam, it still feels comfortable. Thanks to the vent system, they also help to keep you cool during intense workouts. These are a very affordable introduction to the added comfort you will enjoy when wearing a pair of the best spinning shorts.
Pros
Cons
The Nooyme men’s cycling shorts are a pair of silky smooth shorts with a narrow but effective 3D gel padding layer. Despite their understated design, these spin shorts are there to help you smash your indoor cycling training goals.
The shorts are made of 80% Polyamide and 20% spandex, making them soft to the touch and stretchy. They combine with the flatlocked seams to make a very comfortable pair of indoor cycling shorts that do not cause any chaffing or irritation.
The 3D gel pad is relatively narrow compared with other affordable padded cycling shorts for indoor cycling. However, they still offer all the protection you need while sitting in the saddle. The padding is breathable, moisture-wicking, and anti-bacterial.
Conclusion
These are a high-quality pair of affordable padded cycling shorts for indoor cycling. The padding is discrete and effective, and the silicon leg straps help keep the shorts in place throughout the ride. For the price, these are a great introduction to the world of padded cycling shorts.
Pros
Cons
The Qualidyne Men’s Bike Cycling Shorts are affordable, comfortable, and highly durable. You may not get the same extent of padding that you do on more expensive padded spin shorts, but they will make you wish you had them all along for shorter rides.
The ergonomic fit is due to the 9-panel anatomic design. The panels are snug where you need them to be, without being too restrictive. The shorts material is both breathable and stretchy that provides chafe-free comfort.
The padding is a 2 layer foam system. Fortunately, it is ergonomically designed, so it is thicker where you need it to be. However, do be mindful that more expensive cycling shorts will give you thicker padding.
Conclusion
These are some of the best budget indoor cycling shorts available. This is due to their high-quality design and fit, in addition to the ergonomically comfortable padding that molds to your body perfectly. As you spend more time on your saddle, you may want to upgrade to a gel padding system, but for 30 min to 1-hour spin sessions, these are perfect.
Pros
Cons
The NICEWIN indoor cycling shorts are functional and comfortable. They have a few extra features you do not often find on a pair of exercise bike shorts at this price. They also come in several different cool styles and color combinations.
The material is breathable and quick-drying due to being a combination of Nylon and Spandex. Thanks to the reinforced stitching, they are also incredibly durable. The soft sponge padding is layered and promotes effective moisture wicking and improved airflow, in addition to giving you that extra padding you need.
These shorts also come with three super useful pockets. On the back, you have a small zipped pocket for keys, etc. You also get leg pockets for your phone and any other valuables you need. These are an excellent addition to a pair of spin bike shorts with padding. Really useful for carrying everything you need during a spin session.
Conclusion
Although the foam padding could be a bit thicker, these are some decent budget padded cycling shorts for spinning. Thanks to the pockets, they mean you can carry everything you need without fearing leaving them behind in the gym or spin studio.
Pros
Cons
To round off the list of the best-padded bike shorts for spinning, we have CYCWEARs Bike Shorts 4D Coolmax Padded Cycling Shorts. They are made of 80% Nylon & 20% Spandex, which makes them durable and stretchy.
The sponge foam padding comes from 5-layers of intricately stitched foam. This provides plenty of comfort while you are in the saddle. The design helps to offer the support you need where the most pressure will be on the exercise bike seat.
These are one of the most comfortable pairs of breathable spinning shorts due to their ergonomic design and well-fitting elasticated waistband, and silicon leg bands. They stay in place throughout your whole workout.
Conclusion
They come in a range of styles and colors, and as long as you pick the right size, they will be a perfect fit. The foam padding gives most cyclists protection, but it is wider than some other padded bike shorts for indoor cycling.
Pros
Cons
Breathability
When searching for the best indoor cycling shorts, you need to be aware of a few things. Firstly it is super important that the padded cycling shorts for indoor cycling you choose are breathable. You will be getting hot enough during your workout without having a thick pair of shorts and super absorbent padding that just keeps hold of all your sweat. This breathability can come from mesh paneling throughout the shorts or simply be provided thanks to the composition of the materials that are used.
Materials
You will have noticed that most of the best spinning shorts are made of a synthetic blend of Nylon and Spandex. These materials complement each other well to make a high-quality piece of indoor cycling clothing. The Nylon (also known as Polyamide) provides durability as it is incredibly hard-wearing. In addition, Nylon is very effective at wicking away moisture, very important to help your body regulate your temperature. When combined with Spandex, you get the stretchiness and tight fit you need from padded cycling shorts. The combination of these two materials makes the most durable and comfortable shorts for indoor cycling. Polyester is also an effective material at keeping you cool. However, it is often not as hard wearing and durable as Nylon.
Sizing
Choosing the right size padded cycling shorts for indoor cycling is essential. If you buy them too small, they will be uncomfortable, restrict blood flow and ruin your spin session. If you buy a pair of padding cycling shorts that are too large, you risk them being baggy and not staying in place. No matter how good the elastic waistband and silicone leg band are, if your shorts are too big, they will roll up and cause you more problems than they solve. Once you have decided on the best indoor cycling shorts for you, be mindful that many of the sizes advertised are Asian sizes. You will need to go at least one size larger than you would when buying from an American brand. Also, make use of all the reviews, previous buyers’ comments, and any size chart included in the listing.
Finding the right fitting padded shorts for indoor cycling can seem a bit overwhelming. Unlike cycling jerseys, there are a lot of different manufacturing methods used when constructing the best indoor cycling shorts. Take notice of how many panels the cycling shorts have. Due to the human body’s shape and the unique sitting position, while cycling, the most comfortable shorts for indoor cycling have several panels of material stitched together to give the perfect fit. The addition of these panels means that the shorts are more ergonomic and fit to your body’s lumps and bumps without being too tight or restrictive in some areas.
Padding
You are looking for the best spinning shorts to improve your comfort while training on your exercise bike. This protection comes from the padding sewn into indoor cycling shorts. The material and design of the padding will impact how comfortable they are, especially on longer rides. Generally, the budget cycling shorts will have thinner foam padding. Do not write these off, as they will help prevent some chafing and aches and pains compared to not wearing padded cycling shorts. However, the design is more important than the material alone.
Rather than one uniform layer of padding, you will want a 3D or 4D style padding that adds additional protection to the pressure points that your body will have with the seat. This will alleviate numbness and help you to stay in the saddle for longer. It is personal preference as to whether you want gel padded shorts for spin bike exercise or happy with the less supportive foam padding system. It also depends on the exercise bike seat you have and how long you plan to train for. If you have a very hard and unforgiving seat, you should consider the thicker, more cushy protection given by 3D or 4D padding systems.
After reviewing so many top shorts for spin bike workouts, there can only be one winner. The best indoor cycling shorts for men are the Eco-daily Men’s Cycling Shorts. They are ergonomically designed with a 14-panel construction, including large mesh panels to further improve breathability and come with a comfortable, breathable, and moisture-wicking foam padding. The best part of these indoor cycling shorts is that they do not break the bank. They are very affordable considering how high-quality and well throughout they are.
