The Best Padded Mountain Bike Shorts

The Best Padded Mountain Bike Shorts

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For the mountain biker, wearing the right shorts is a key component to enjoying your day on the trail. Proper mountain bike shorts with good padding are essential to keeping you comfortable in the saddle for hours of riding, and when you're bouncing your way down a hill, you'll be glad that you invested in a solid pair. The best mountain biking shorts have the right amount of padding and offer comfort and ventilation on long rides.

Mavic Stratos

With a seamless inner short and a 3D pro insert for maximum cushioning with minimal bulk, Mavic's Stratos mountain bike shorts are built for comfort. The Stratos features Climaride technology in which the fabric has micro perforations to allow for better venting on hot rides, and their light weight won't drag riders down. In a five-star review on BikeRadar.com, Mountain Biking U.K.'s Guy Kesteven said the shorts "look cool, feel cool and are outstandingly comfy," and noted their fit and stretching capabilities, which Kesteven said "give a fantastic 'you won't know you've even got them on' kind of fit."

Fox Racing Sergeant

A solid mix of form and funciton, Fox Racing's Sergeant mountain biking shorts perform well on the trail, but are at home off the trail as well. This versatility is due to the contemporary cargo styling and fit as well as the Sergeant's removable inner liner and chamois. A review on BikeRadar.com called the Sergeant "the coolest, comfiest shorts around," citing the vented liner and perforated chamois.

Smartwool Rambush

The best gear stays out of your way and allows you to enjoy your sport, and Smartwool's Rambush does that. From the removable Merino wool/lycra inner short to the soft polyester outer short with the stretch panel, the Rambush is designed for comfort. In a Gear of the Day review, Bicycling.com said the Rambush was "very comfortable" and gave the shorts one of the best compliments gear can receive by saying, "I never had to think about them at all; I just rode."

Article Written By Billy Brown

Billy Brown is an outdoor sports writer living in Northern California. An avid rock climber and trail runner, he's been writing about outdoor activities, fitness and gear since 2005. He regularly contributes to "The Record Searchlight," uncooped.com, and Trails.com, as well as other print and online publications. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Simpson University and is a NASM-certified personal trainer.

Write for Trails.com
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