Best Indoor Cycling Shorts for Women In The UK
Make your spinning session more comfortable and efficient with a great pair of indoor cycling shorts
Cycling is one of a series of recent exercise crazes to hit the fitness industry. People have been cycling through the UK for over two hundred years, but cycling as a way to tone and shape your body is a relatively new trend with a lot of positive health benefits. Cycling or spin biking is a low-impact exercise that creates a full-body workout, benefitting not just your muscles—everything from your legs to your core—but also your cardiovascular system, which improves your blood flow, increases your stamina, boosts your mood, and prevents against chronic issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. However, as any dedicated cyclist will tell you, you need to have the right gear in place in order to maximise your benefits. This is why here we are reviewing the best spinning shorts for women in the UK.
While outdoor biking is fun and entertaining, it’s also highly dependent on your local weather, so having a helmet and/or reflective rain gear along is important, although bulky. A far better alternative is indoor cycling. Rain or shine, a stationary bike will let you pedal away every day. You don’t need to worry about packing a heavy helmet or thick reflective gear, but you should make sure the rest of your gear is well-equipped to provide you with the best possible workout. Gloves, shirts, spin shoes and supportive undergarments may seem like easy or natural choices for a steady, sweatproof workout, but contrary to popular belief, the right pair of indoor cycling or spin shorts can make or break your daily cycle. Read on for the ten best indoor cycling shorts for women in the UK and why you should invest in them for your cycling journey.
Best Spinning Shorts For Women In The UK
Pearl Izumi W Escape Quest Cycling Shorts
If you’re looking for top-of-the-line cycling shorts that will provide the best and most durable fit for years to come, look no further. Pearl Izumi shorts offer the best of the best in every category, including breathability, durability, and protection and comfort from any kind of rider’s discomfort. Founded in 1950, Pearl Izumi cycling gear has been redefining the basics of cyclist wear for decades, providing time-tested and proven high-quality gear for every level and size of cyclists. Pearl Izumi is made by cyclists, for cyclists.
The Women’s Escape Quest Short are some of the best lower-cost cycling shorts money can buy. Specialised Transfer Dry fabric sets the benchmark for compression and moisture transfer, while a centre bib clip allows for customisable front strap position. Silicone leg grippers hold hems in place without constriction. As far as padding, the brand’s signature Women’s SELECT Escape 1:1™ Chamois is smooth next to skin with blended edge-free cushioning for maximum comfort.
A long inseam provides maximum comfort and protection from chafing or other heat-related rashes or stress while maintaining high breathability. Offering a variety of sizes and simple, smooth padding that protects without appearing bulky or thick, Escape Quest Shorts are unquestionably top-of-the-line and a great investment for any cyclist ready to get serious.
Baleaf Women’s Spinning Bike Shorts
Baleaf Bike shorts offer a better workout for a fraction of the cost. Providing high-quality, high-performing fabric and short design in flattering yet functional styles and colors, Baleaf is the perfect short for a veteran or budget cyclist looking for another addition to their cycling wardrobe. Whether you’re looking for the best shorts for your new spin class, the best fit for your indoor bike rides, or just a comfortable pair of bike shorts for any indoor cycling occasion, Baleaf has the functionality and durability you need to enjoy a superior cycle ride.
Lightweight soft fabrics provide supreme flexibility, breathability, and moisture-wicking features that keep you cool and dry in a few different designs and colors. Sticking to a neutral palette, these shorts pair well with any cycling shirt and offer large and comfortable pockets for storage during a workout without fear of any items falling out. Lengthy inseams provide the ultimate anti-chafing protection while stabilising your overall ride, and arc-shaped and flattering wide waistbands avoid riding-up during your workout while adding superior comfort.
Anti-slip elasticated leg hems keep the shorts in place, including securing the location of the anatomically-fit chamois pad for maximum comfort and relief from saddle pain. The only issue with these shorts is their tight fit; while designed to be perfectly snug and provide a firm and efficient fit for riders, they run small, so larger and even some smaller riders may have trouble locating their correct size.
PROS:
- Lightweight fabric, Lengthy Inseam, Affordable price
CONS:
- Tight fit means sizes generally run small, so accurate sizing can be a challenge
BEROY Women’s Indoor Cycling Shorts
Riders seeking the perfect cycling short to ensure the comfort for your long-time ride or breathable, dry shorts materials to keep everything in maximum comfort during cycling are in luck. BEROY women’s cycling shorts are designed with exactly those qualities in mind. Focusing on the design and production of each cycling short, BEROY maximises function, comfort, and quality in every short it produces. High-quality women’s cycling shorts with elegant sublimation designs are suitable for all levels and sizes of cyclists. Whether you prefer intensive spin or are just starting out on your own indoor cycling journey, BEROY will provide a high-quality fit for you.
BEROY shorts offer ergonomic design with a flat seam construction, designed to reduce chafing and improve your fit to enhance performance. Their lightweight, breathable and quick-drying fabric wicks away moisture and keeps you dry and cool all day long while the fabric’s natural compression provides a comforting and snug fit for maximum performance. Their mesh pane design keeps riders cool and flexible while maintaining an excellent stretch on seams.
Nonslip silicone bands on the hem prevent clothing upglide during workouts, avoiding painful chafing or riders’ rashes. Best of all, the seat of each short features a 4D Cushion in an ideal place to provide decent protection on your bike saddle while riding.
PROS:
- Comfortable, elastic stretch provides best fit for larger riders as well as inclusive sizing
- Mesh panels allow for maximum breathability
CONS:
- No pockets for item storage
- Cushioning can wear out over time if not carefully washed and maintained
Souke Sports Women’s Cycling Shorts
These shorts are the perfect fit for an indoor spin class. With a comfortable waistband, added pocket, lightweight yet durable material, and reinforced stitching, these shorts can withstand any intensity of workout and keep you pedaling for long stretches without discomfort. Premium material, a long inseam, and a humanized design make these the perfect choice for your next group spin class and are sure to garner you compliments as well as provide a high-performance experience.
Souke Sports highlights its durable and lightweight fabric. Unlike some spandex bike shorts, these are easy to put on; no more grunting, jumping, and flailing about as you try to squeeze into a tight-fitting spandex ordeal. These shorts remain flexible and elastic through many uses, no matter how far or long you cycle. The breathable function makes them very comfortable to use even during the hottest days, and its sweat-wicking abilities ensure you’ll be riding in cool comfort no matter how hot you may feel on the outside. Their humanised design also ensures the perfect fit because it was made with riders in mind.
Smooth and reinforced seams help reduce friction and chafing when cycling, while comfortable silicon edges to grip your legs and a breathable mesh design on both sides of thighs keeps things ventilated and in place. The crowning glory of these shorts is the 4D padding build into the seat of the shorts using 6 layers of multi-thickness density foam that distribute weight more evenly. A breathable top layer creates a chafe-free fit that keeps you cool and dry during tough rides, making these a top-notch choice for indoor spinning or spin class.
PROS:
- Lightweight fabric, 6-layer ventilated padding
- Pocket to hold valuables while in a spin class
CONS:
- Will need special washing techniques so as not to shrink material
- Tighter fit could be a challenge for larger riders despite offering up to 2XL sizes
Santic Padded Spinning Shorts For Women
Santic offers multistage high-density microbial fabric for all their padded shorts, creating a comfortable experience that effectively relieves saddle pain or any other riding discomfort while easing pressure on sit bone pressure points for the perfect ride. Whether hopping on your indoor bike or loading up for a spin class, these padded shorts are an ergonomic and aerodynamic choice that will make your cycling experience even more comfortable and long-lasting.
Santic’s specialized design for women creates an ergonomic and anatomically correct fit tailored to a woman’s most sensitive areas. Relieving pressure from sensitive points makes a huge difference in overall comfort and increases your ability to ride harder, faster, and longer without intense soreness or discomfort. The 4D cushioning pad is microbial, meaning it won’t mold in the wash or start to smell funky after repeated use. With high air permeability and a ventilated design around the short, the material remains breathable and durable so you can stay cool no matter how far or long you pedal.
The short design also features a slim but large pocket for easy phone or valuables storage without feeling like it will fall out during your workout. Anti-pilling and elastic thigh grips ensure that your shorts stay in place and don’t wear out, so you can log hundreds of miles in these shorts without them losing any of their original luster and strength.
PROS:
- Anti-pilling and gripping fabric
- Padded and custom-fit crotch area to relieve pressure on sit bone areas
CONS:
- Legs are shorter than some, which could lead to chafing or discomfort
- On the pricier side of the indoor cycle short market
NOOYME Women’s Indoor Cycling Shorts
These high-quality spin shorts are a dream come true for larger cyclists and heavy-duty riders alike. Featuring thick, but not bulky padding and comfortable material that keeps moisture and sweat out of the way, NOOYME offers quality material at the highest degree of sizing and performance. Their customer service team is another brand highlight; priding themselves on efficient and superior service, you can be sure that every question you ask is answered and that they’ll do their best to deliver the best fit, best-performing product right to your door.
NOOYME’s sophisticated design features silicone elements on the hem of the women’s cycling shorts to prevent slipping up or down so that the cyclists can enjoy the best comfort even on intense rides or during spin classes that require a lot of elevation or extraneous movement. Their women’s cycling shorts are also highly sweat-absorbent: very elastic, moisture-wicking, breathable, quick-drying, antibacterial, and very comfortable on the skin, creating the perfect fit while remaining fresh-feeling and avoiding stale or stuffy sensations after hard and sweaty workouts. Chafing is a thing of the past with these shorts in your wardrobe.
NOOYME shorts are also equipped with a dense and breathable seat padding that supports your hips and can thus relieve pain. The seat padding on your hip feels like a second skin, so you won’t even notice the padding while still reaping the benefits. The wider 3D padding that is used in the women’s cycling shorts was specially designed for women, making it more comfortable for larger riders or riders who are putting in an intense workout. With sizing up to 3XL, NOOYME is one of the more size-inclusive indoor cycling options available, making them another great choice for riders of any level of ability and size.
PROS:
- Anti-bacterial, sweat-absorbent padding that doesn’t feel bulky or uncomfortable
- Wide range of sizes
- Good customer service
CONS:
- Padding makes it uncomfortable to wear undergarments underneath your shorts, so riders should be prepared to slip these on without undies in order to get maximum comfort and use out of these bike shorts
WOSAWE Padded Spinning Shorts For Women
One of the most affordable cycling short brands on the UK market, WOSAWE prides itself on offering quality products at budget prices. As a professional cycling brand that also manufactures and distributes all its own products, you can expect to find quality materials, professional performance, and reasonable prices without dealing with middleman expenses with WOSAWE. WOSAWE shorts offer exceptional ventilation and one of the best gel-padded cycling shorts available today, managing to consistently deliver high-quality products for extremely affordable prices.
WOSAWE’s gel pad is without a doubt the shining feature of its cycle shorts lines. 4D gel padding prevents friction, chafing, soreness, and discomfort while maintaining breathability. The gel pad area is equipped with over 80 vents built into the fabric to ensure that sweat and moisture are wicked away to provide the ultimate cooling experience even while you work. Breathable mesh is featured throughout the product to ensure that the shorts are ventilated and absorbent all over, not just in your sweatiest areas.
However, their exceptional padding does appear a little thick and creates a noticeable bulge in the pant crotch area that could be an issue for fashion-forward cyclists. The thickness is mostly minimised by the remaining ergonomic design of the shorts. Lightweight material, 3D cutting for an anatomically correct fit, and advanced sewing processes make these shorts formfitting, durable, and comfortable to wear on any length of cycle workout.
PROS:
- Lots of ventilation and breathability to wick away moisture
- 4D gel pad to prevent any and all discomfort in sensitive areas while riding
CONS:
- Gel pad appears thick and feels bulky between the legs when not on a ride
NICEWIN Biker Shorts For Women
Stylish and efficient, NICEWIN biker shorts offer a fashionable fit for any indoor cyclist looking to add a twist of personality into their riding gear. The brand offers brightly coloured shorts that are sure to keep their stripes no matter how many washes they go through, and their heat-transfer printing process ensures you won’t have dye rubbing off on you as you sweat through your workouts. A perfect beginner’s bike short, this brand offers maximum comfort and style while maintaining an efficient workout.
These indoor cycling shorts are constructed of high-quality polyamide and spandex, aiding with airflow and heat dissipation and featuring moisture-wicking, breathable and quick-dry fabric. A four-way stretchy crotch area with high elasticity enables you to avoid potential torn fabric while ventilating the area for maximum coolness during your workout. An internal pad remains in the ideal position throughout the ride. The 3D stereoscopic pad is made of high-density foam and silicon gel, designed to keep sensitive regions from over-heating or sweating while effectively minimising vibration on long rides. The padding offers excellent shock resistance and comfort, especially when used with hard, uncomfortable bicycle seats.
Where NICEWIN spinning shorts shine, however, is in their overall silhouette. Their inverted triangle high-waist fit spreads pressure evenly around the waist for a firm but comfortable fit while maintaining a trendy appearance. Elastic silicone particle grippers with flat seams to decrease irritation keep the pant legs in place instead of rolling up when riding, without squeezing the leg excessively. Despite these great features, the biggest pro of the NICEWIN biker shorts is their pockets. Two large side pockets allow for phone or card storage while you pedal, so if you’re riding at a gym, studio, or even in a separate area of your home you can keep valuables on you. Featuring sizing up to 2XL, NICEWIN shorts are the perfect starter pair for everyone.
PROS:
- Pockets
- High-waist
- Leg-grips to prevent rolling down
- Elastic and breathable fabric
CONS:
- Pad is thinner than other brands can wear down over time, leading to loss of comfort while riding
XGC Indoor Cycling Shorts For Women
Specialising in offering high-quality, high-performance cycling gear, XGC cycling shorts are made for indoor spin and cycling to offer maximum comfort and elite performance. Designed for the avid cyclist, these shorts offer comfort, durability, and breathability to ensure pro-riders can stay on their bike for extended periods without soreness or discomfort. Ergonomic design, 3D material cutting, and an advanced sewing process make these shorts comfortable, efficient, and lasting.
One of the highlights of this brand of short is their anatomically fitted 4D memory foam high-density breathable silicone sponge cushion. Designed specifically for the female body, it cushions every sensitive area, making longer cycle rides even more possible. Its high air permeability and elasticity paired with the resilience of the padded material will effectively relieve hip pain or discomfort caused by cycling. Light-reflecting panels are built into this functional, breathable, moisture-absorbing, and sweat-releasing fabric, which maintains good breathability and efficient sweat releasing so that you will not feel stuffy or have to deal with fabric sticking to your skin while you work.
However, this brand offers limited sizing only going up to an XL, so larger riders may have trouble finding a good fit within these tighter-sized cycling shorts. Some riders also reported the short legs rolling or sliding up during their workout, which could cause chafing or other discomforts. Ultimately, these shorts are perfect for the seasoned rider with an arsenal of indoor spin tips and tricks to help keep them pedaling away in maximum comfort.
PROS:
- Anatomically-fit 4D memory foam pad for optimal riding comfort
- Efficient sweat-release
- Material rarely sticks to the skin even when sweaty
CONS:
- Small size range
- Shorts don’t always stay down during workouts
- Tighter fit than most cycling shorts
LAMEDA Spinning Shorts For Women
These cycling shorts are designed for women on the go, perfectly customized and padded to ensure a comfortable yet breathable seat on your indoor cycle. LAMEDA is a renowned manufacturer of Professional Cycling Clothing. Made from the best fabrics LAMEDA, a renowned professional cycling company, has to offer, our cycling shorts are guaranteed to last a long time. LAMEDA cycling shorts are designed with safety and comfort in mind, making them a must-have for every serious cyclist out there.
These shorts are notable for their elasticity, smooth stitching, and perfectly padded seat to maximise rider comfort. With a material that’s 80% polyamide and 20% spandex, these super stretchy cycling shorts will give you a nice snug fit without feeling impossibly tight or suffocating. The breathable material ensures optimal sweat absorption and quick-drying, allowing fresh air to circulate while you cycle so you stay effectively cool and dry.
Reinforced stitching throughout the shorts means they’ll stand up to any number of workouts and last for years, but the ultimate highlight is their padded cushioning. LAMEDA’s 3D memory sponge pad is specially designed for women’s cycling shorts, which can relieve hip and joint pain associated with biking posture and ease the pressure between your hips and your indoor cycle seat during long spin sessions. With elasticity, padded comfort, and easy breathability, LAMEDA shorts are definitely some of the best-padded cycling shorts on the market.
PROS:
- Breathable
- Durable
- Padded for optimum comfort
CONS:
- Likely need to be dry-cleaned or specially washed to avoid mold in the padding
- Sizing only goes up to 2XL which could be a problem for plus-sized women looking to start cycling
A Buyer’s Guide to The Best Cycle Shorts For Women
Now that we’ve talked you through ten of the best options for cycle shorts available on the UK market today, it’s important to remember some other key factors that will help you make the best cycle short purchase.
Long Inseams are essential
These are critical for avoiding chafing or rashes after you cycle. Nothing is more painful than an inner-thigh rash that rubs on every fabric or pant you try to wear until it heals. Look for long, breathable inseams that are at least seventeen centimetres in length, or, if you’ve found a shorter inseam short that you’ve got your heart set on, consider looking into an anti-chafing salve or lubricant to help increase performance and comfort.
Seek out Padded (but not Bulky) Seating Areas
This is another big one for optimum comfort. Padded bike shorts make a large difference in riding comfort, especially for riders starting spin or cycle classes or anyone looking to start logging a lot of cycle miles. However, your padding should be as sleek as it is comfortable. You don’t want to feel like you’ve got a sanitary pad stuck between your legs, so test out gel pads first to see if you can find a good fit before heading to memory foam.
Aim for Breathability
Sweat builds up fast, especially when you’re working with the limited range of motion that cycling provides. Despite being low impact, the nature of being seated while you cycle causes most of your sweat and heat transfer to concentrate in your crotch and sit bone, which can make for some hot, uncomfortable, and even odorous situations. Selecting ventilated, mesh panelled, or otherwise breathable fabrics will help distribute that heat and avoid sweat or odour build-up.
Stick to A Budget
Cycle shorts can easily run the gamut, costing as little as £15 and as much as £200. Especially with cycle shorts, a higher price does not always equal higher quality. Lower-budget selections often can provide the same benefits and quality as their higher-priced counterparts at half the cost. Read reviews and comparisons to determine which shorts give you the best value for your money and be sure to have a clearly defined budget so you know what your spending limit is.
Function is Important (but Fashion Can Be, Too!)
Your cycle short purchase does not have to be limited to neutral basics. Though many bike shorts come in plainer tones like black or grey, many brands offer fun colours and patterns to please every personality. Once you find a style that suits you, don’t be afraid to select some exciting colours or designs that truly speak to your style while providing great functionality as well.
The Final Verdict
When it comes to cycle shorts, the UK market offers a lot of variety. With so many options comes a range of different styles, special features, and budgetary levels, which means that selecting just one pair of cycle shorts as the best of the best is a challenge. Ultimately, cyclists should be looking for padding, durability, and breathability that’s both aerodynamic and ergonomic. With that in mind, the Pearl Izumi Escape Quest short simply can’t be beaten. Its superior design and high-quality material will last cyclists years, and its top-notch record of use both professionally and privately proves that Pearl Izumi really does work. However, for cyclists working with a lower budget, the BEROY Women’s Bike Short is the top choice. Offering breathability and fashion in one durable and efficient package, you can’t go wrong with Pearl Izumi or BEROY.