Touring - What is your favorite brand/model of baggy shorts with padded liner?

I'm looking to get some baggy shorts, mainly for having the convenience of pockets but also for more comfortable walking around off the bike without looking like I just got off a bike. I had a couple pairs of baggies I bought from Performance a few years ago. One was a basic pair and it was junk. The other pair was one of their nicer pairs but it was also still junk. I've been eying the Aerotech Touring baggies:
http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/baggy_bike_shorts.htm#touring
as well as the Endura Humvee baggies:
http://www.endurasport.com/Product.aspx?dept_id=112&prod_id=115
Anyone else out there have a brand that they really like? I ride with a Brooks B17 saddle which I've just started breaking in if that makes any difference. Incidentally I find the saddle to be totally comfortable and I've only been riding it a couple weeks so far. The problems with the Performance brand shorts were they made me feel like I was sliding around on the saddle a lot but that also might have had to do with the asshatchet I was riding at the time as well as other bike fit issues I was addressing. Still, I think you need to have some type of gusset or seamless crotch area as well as a back that doesn't slide down on you while you're riding. Something NOT in black would be nice as well.

I like shorts by Fox, I'm on my 3rd pair now.
After I wore out my 1st pair(after 2 or 3 years),
I bought my 2nd and 3rd shorts at the same time.
They last a long time, I wear mine from spring to
fall. Alternating my shorts for my 4 day per week
commute of around 100 miles per week.

http://shop.foxhead.com/store/products/Shorts/category/cat70013?categoryNavIds=cat20008%3Acat20134&mode=1

If there's an REI near you, check out the different
brands/models they carry.

I would probably just wear these shorts all year round. Right now I wear my regular bike shorts with the pad underneath my unpadded tights. I'd just do it the other way around and wear the tights underneath the baggies liner with the baggy shorts. Heck the extra layer of fabric my help keep my junk from freezing up.

corriene dennis in the uk make good stuff well actually there stuff is class, the mountain bike baggies are great.i paid 60 euro as far as i can remember ,the inner is top quality lycra padded shorts which can be worn on there own then the baggies are really well made anyway check her stuff out dont think you will be disppointed.

Would you consider shorts without an integrated brief like this (http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Mens-Touring-Shorts.html)or this (http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/ab1.htm) combined with a padded liner like this (http://www.rei.com/product/765677/canari-gel-bike-shorts-liner-mens)?

I tour with one short and two or three liners which takes up a lot less space than two or three integrated shorts which are usually really bulky. Just throwing out an option you might not have considered so sorry if it's off topic.

Would you consider shorts without an integrated brief like this (http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Mens-Touring-Shorts.html)or this (http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/ab1.htm) combined with a padded liner like this (http://www.rei.com/product/765677/canari-gel-bike-shorts-liner-mens)?

I tour with one short and two or three liners which takes up a lot less space than two or three integrated shorts which are usually really bulky. Just throwing out an option you might not have considered so sorry if it's off topic.

Well, one thing I really like about those Endura baggies is they have a snap in liner so you don't have to have multiple bulky pairs of shorts. Something like that would be great for my summer commutes to work because I could easily have a two or three pairs of liners and simply snap in a fresh clean pair while the dirty ones were getting washed and dried. I may find over time that with my Brooks saddle I won't need to wear padded shorts anymore, but I'm not holding my breath on that score. Frankly I think I prefer having the pad simply to lessen the possibility of any kind of pressure sores. The other thing is getting shorts that have a decent enough selection of pockets for carrying keys, wallet, cell phone, etc.

Hi

I am considering getting a couple of pairs of Ground Effect Juggernauts (http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product-detail-JUG-SHO.htm) and Underdogs (http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product-detail-UND-SHO.htm). I prefer the non-liner type of short as it provides more options, e.g., could wear bibs if I wished under the shorts.

Andrew

Hummvees are my favorite shorts period. For everything. The 3/4 length are great too. The liners are decent, if not stellar, but then liners in general are not as good as the better bike shorts anyway. They make a long version too.

kiltedcelt, As your saddle fits you well you may want to look at shorts that just have a chamois. Best thing to do is trial fit as many brands of mountain and touring bike shorts as you can. If you've found a brand/model of cycling shorts you like, you can wear seamless shorts over them. I like the nylon cargo style hiking shorts to wear over cycling shorts.

Brad

I may find over time that with my Brooks saddle I won't need to wear padded shorts anymore, but I'm not holding my breath on that score.

It is possible. I completed a 10 day tour using a pair of Jackson and Gibbons fleece lined baggie shorts and it worked great. This was on a nicely broken in B17. However, I tried doing the same on subsequent tours and it didn't work for me at all causing me to hit the nearest bike shop and buying several pairs of padded shorts. I wished I knew what happened because it was great not having to wear (tight) padded bike shorts for 8-10 hours/day.

You are right about the pocket issue, the ones I mentioned wouldn't do well in that regard.

Well, one thing I really like about those Endura baggies is they have a snap in liner so you don't have to have multiple bulky pairs of shorts. Something like that would be great for my summer commutes to work because I could easily have a two or three pairs of liners and simply snap in a fresh clean pair while the dirty ones were getting washed and dried.

Do they sell the liners separately? Most companies don't, which means you have to pay for the full short+liner combo if you want extras of either.

For myself, I've tried baggie shorts and decided they're almost always a poor short combined with a sub-par liner and sold at a premium price. When I want baggy shorts, I grab one of my high-quality lycra riding shorts and then pull a pair of my favorite hiking shorts over the top. You get the ultimate flexibility and you're sure that both pieces of clothing are top-notch...

Bellwether Escape Baggies have worked great for me. Nice quality, excellent resilient padding.

Do they sell the liners separately? Most companies don't, which means you have to pay for the full short+liner combo if you want extras of either.

For myself, I've tried baggie shorts and decided they're almost always a poor short combined with a sub-par liner and sold at a premium price. When I want baggy shorts, I grab one of my high-quality lycra riding shorts and then pull a pair of my favorite hiking shorts over the top. You get the ultimate flexibility and you're sure that both pieces of clothing are top-notch...

Endura does in fact sell liners separately, and apparently a lot of folks who like them buy a couple pairs of shorts and several extra liners. As for the other approach - a good pair of cycling shorts combined with a good pair of hiking shorts, what I like about the cycling specific ones are they usually have a stretch panel across the back and usually a higher rise in the back than traditional cargo shorts. I like what I see with the Endura shorts because they've got a seamless stretch panel crotch as well as loads of pockets and the snap out liners. I'm still looking for other suggestions though. So far, the Endura shorts, particularly the Humvees look to be the best.

I got me a pair sitting under the christmas tree. I think they came from dicks. I don't remember the brand.

I have a pair of fox shorts with a detachable liner that I really like (it's mesh, so that's nice when it's super hot and the shell is very lightweight as well, but seems durable enough), but my absolute favorite baggies are a gore pair (countdown I think is the model). Again detachable liner. I like that because I can wear any shorts underneath. Sure the ones that go with it have loops that snap around loops in the shell (or vice versa), but they don't require to be snapped together. When I'm commuting I prefer just to use tri shorts as my liners. I have 4-5 comfortable pairs and the nice thing is they have the pad to manage moisture, but it's much thinner so it dries more quickly while hanging up under my desk or in my locker (which lacks good airflow). My commute is only in the 5-10 mile range each way (depending on how long I feel like making it), so I don't need much cushioning, though I sweat a lot so moisture management is key.

Torpedo 7 (http://www.torpedo7.com.au/division/bike/picklist/mtb_shorts) have various brands/sizes at sale prices at the moment which may be of interest. I have ordered a pair of MACE Drogues to try out.

Andrew

I bought my 1st through 4th pair of shorts through Aerotech Designs. I'm one of the "those" types that is not comfortable trying on things at say a bike shop. So I ordered my first pair of baggy mountain bike shorts with the inner short with padding. Having never tried on bike shorts before I took a guess as to the size I would wear. The first pair I got didn't fit so good... So I was able to return them with NO PROBLEMS to Aerotech for another size. Since then I have ordered 3 other pairs of shorts.. They ship fast and great customer service.

My only regret.... I put 15,000 miles on my bike as an adult before I got my first pair of bike shorts. Now I can't stand to ride down the block without them on.... DOH!!!

+1 Humvees.

L.L. Bean makes a very good pair with pockets in black.

Prana Mojo (http://www.prana.com/mojo-short.html)

Lightweight poly microfiber
Quick drying
Plush elastic waistband
Mesh-lined front pockets
Full inseam gusset
Rear cargo pocket
10" inseam

If you need padding/chamois, you can always wear a padded liner short underneath.

I have several pair of Performance Boulder II shorts that I have been very happy with.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1091840_-1_1590008_20000_400067

I like the J&G touring short. Work well, comfortable, look fine, long lasting and a good value.

Do they sell the liners separately? Most companies don't, which means you have to pay for the full short+liner combo if you want extras of either.

For myself, I've tried baggie shorts and decided they're almost always a poor short combined with a sub-par liner and sold at a premium price. When I want baggy shorts, I grab one of my high-quality lycra riding shorts and then pull a pair of my favorite hiking shorts over the top. You get the ultimate flexibility and you're sure that both pieces of clothing are top-notch...

I am not one to wear baggy shorts. That said, if I wanted to, I'd probably do what sstorkel is suggesting.

I went ahead and purchased a pair of Endura Humvee shorts with removable liner. I'll try them out and see how I like them. If they pass muster I'll probably purchase at least another pair or two with extra liners.

I went ahead and purchased a pair of Endura Humvee shorts with removable liner. I'll try them out and see how I like them. If they pass muster I'll probably purchase at least another pair or two with extra liners.

Do let us know how they go. I am considering a pair as well.

Andrew

Endura Humvees are great but noone has mentioned that Endura also makes a Humvee Lite in a wonderful soft, slippery fabric that doesn't seem to hold or show dirt. My husband finds the Lites so comfortable that they're his preferred golfing shorts as well. In paring down our load for this year's TransAm, he happily left the stiff, roll-up-bulky-in-the-panniers regular Humvees home and only took the stone (grayish) colored Lites along with both sets of liners. You can always wear the liners alone. BTW, they run small, these are a large.

http://bicyclelife.topicwise.com/doc/page/pic/?pic_id=1035348

Suzanne

Endura Humvees are great but noone has mentioned that Endura also makes a Humvee Lite in a wonderful soft, slippery fabric that doesn't seem to hold or show dirt.

Good point about the lights. How do they go in the heat and can you remove the liner?

Thanks
Andrew

They're perfect for hot weather (we live in the desert - Arizona, USA). The liners snap in & out.

They're perfect for hot weather (we live in the desert - Arizona, USA). The liners snap in & out.

Thanks for the reply. Very helpful. One more question if I may. I assume that they would work fine with other liners. I am thinking along of the lines of using Ground Effect Underdogs (http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product-detail-UND-SHO.htm) or the like.

Regards
Andrew

I can see the obvious benefit of using a padded undershort and I can see the advantage in a outer shorts designed specifically for cycling, although I probably wouldn't pay the price premium myself. However, I just cannot see any advantage in connecting underwear to outer wear via poppers or similar. Can anyone enlighten me?

I don't see any advantage to the snaps or why you couldn't use any liner you want with the Humvees.

why you couldn't use any liner you want with the Humvees.
Good to hear. Thanks for your replies.

Andrew

Follow up review of the Endura Humvee shorts with liner:

First of all the liner is a joke. The crotch pad is made out of some kind of stiff fabric and no matter how many times you wash it, it never seems to soften up. Also, because it's not anatomically cut it tends to bunch up in your crotch making you feel like you've got a cardboard diaper wedged up your butt. Worst cycling short EVER! The outer short has a nice appointment of pockets and seems to fit okay, however it just looks really odd with all the weird block colors and the strange cut of the rear/side? pockets. Ultimately, a bit overdone in all respects. The snaps on the inner/outer short seem pointless. The outer short looks overblown with "features" in terms of pocket shapes, placement, design, even down to their ergonomic zipper pulls. Overall I just don't think they're worth the money. I've been wearing them for a couple months now using my regular cycling shorts underneath and while they're okay, I just wouldn't buy another pair. I'm back to square one, looking for other baggies with removable liners or non-cycling specific shorts to wear with cycling liners. I'm still eying the Aerotech Touring shorts though.

Follow up review of the Endura Humvee shorts with liner:

First of all the liner is a joke. The crotch pad is made out of some kind of stiff fabric and no matter how many times you wash it, it never seems to soften up. Also, because it's not anatomically cut it tends to bunch up in your crotch making you feel like you've got a cardboard diaper wedged up your butt. Worst cycling short EVER! The outer short has a nice appointment of pockets and seems to fit okay, however it just looks really odd with all the weird block colors and the strange cut of the rear/side? pockets. Ultimately, a bit overdone in all respects. The snaps on the inner/outer short seem pointless. The outer short looks overblown with "features" in terms of pocket shapes, placement, design, even down to their ergonomic zipper pulls. Overall I just don't think they're worth the money. I've been wearing them for a couple months now using my regular cycling shorts underneath and while they're okay, I just wouldn't buy another pair. I'm back to square one, looking for other baggies with removable liners or none cycling specific shorts to wear with cycling liners. I'm still eying the Aerotech Touring shorts though.

This is why I prefer the Zyme (http://www.competitivecyclist.com/product-apparel/2012-endura-zyme-34-pants-5682.16.1.html) over the Humvee. I thought they had quit making them...luckily I was wrong (don't tell anyone).

I'll take this opportunity to mention Aero Tech Designs Cyclewear (http://www.schnaubelt.com/index.htm).

I've been using their apparel for years now, and it's good stuff. Comfortable, long wearing, good value. I can vouch for their shorts, tights and gloves only - I don't often shell out for real jerseys.

They make baggy shorts (I wear lycra) and their website is well organized without distracting nonsense. BTW they make nearly everything they sell, as well as many name-brand cycling apparel companies products.

http://www.schnaubelt.com/bikeshorts.htm

Separate the 2 , several pair liner padded shorts + 1 pair, of outer shorts..
you want to have clean stuff next to your cleaned skin Daily.
as a carbuncle/saddlesore prevention.

I'll take this opportunity to mention Aero Tech Designs Cyclewear (http://www.schnaubelt.com/index.htm).

I've been using their apparel for years now, and it's good stuff. Comfortable, long wearing, good value. I can vouch for their shorts, tights and gloves only - I don't often shell out for real jerseys.

They make baggy shorts (I wear lycra) and their website is well organized without distracting nonsense. BTW they make nearly everything they sell, as well as many name-brand cycling apparel companies products.

http://www.schnaubelt.com/bikeshorts.htm


Failed to mention they're having spring sale, ending today, 10% off with code SAVE10

Being a slight fellow, I've yet to find some that don't make me look all toothpicky. Also being thon means I really have to try stuff on first hand to see if I am swimming in them or not.(so getting things via the internet isn't practical.

I found some Cannondale cycling shorts at EMS for a ridiculous markdown price of like 20 dollars each (from 45 each).

What I do, is buy a cheap pair of Columbia / Adidas/ whatever nylon comfy swimming trunk I can find at TJ Max or Marshalls. I cut the liner out, and rock those as my over shorts. They are very comfy, and are the same material that any of your fancy pants shorts are. Plus, if you camp out at a lake or somewhere you can swim, you're able to wear these! Nylon shorts dry out really quick too. You can rock two of these combos for the price of pair of the Humvee shorts.

Thanks for the mentions everyone. Our Save10 promo code has ended, but we created pedal10 for everyone on the forums. It's good for 10% off till the end of April! If you have any questions about any of our products, email me at Steve@aerotechdesigns.com. Here are our different baggy shorts (http://store.aerotechdesigns.com/lofitcysh.html) My favorites are the Outlaw Bullets (zippered cargo pockets and built in buckle) and the Aero Tech Cargo.

Hi, I've been using these for the past 5 years. They aren't cheap. I have a few pairs. They are comfortable on the saddle and dry quickly in the rain. In cold weather I wear light long underwear pants underneath the shorts. They look a bit dorky but I prefer the flexibility of layers to spending a lot for one item that suits one weather condition. In the winter the long underwear are useful under pants.

Another follow up to this thread. I've been cycling with the Endura shorts for quite some time now - several months in fact. The shorts are okay I still take issue with the color block design which still seems a bit strange. The fabric is a bit heavy so for summer riding the Humvee Lite would probably be better. I've tried the included liner again but it's too damn uncomfortable. When you're on the bike you don't really notice it, but it's so stiff and bulky that as soon as you step off the bike you can feel this piece of cardboard wedged up your butt crack. Not comfortable at all! I also looked into the Zoic Black Market shorts which also have a removable liner. Interestingly enough, they seem to have the same godawful poorly designed pad as the Enduras. I tried on the Zoic shorts at REI and found that they carried under shorts liners at a very affordable price. Well, no dice there either. The REI padded liners are just as awkward and uncomfortable as the Zoics and Enduras. I recently bought a pair of the Aerotech Baggy Touring shorts. According to their sizing chart I should wear a size large from them. The padded liner is comfortable but seems a hair on the large size. I might have been better off with a medium possibly. The outer shorts are a combination of nylon and some sort of stretch nylon fabric. While they're comfortable, putting anything in the side pockets causes them to make the legs of the shorts flop around in a ridiculous and distractingly uncomfortable manner. You have to frequently adjust the contents of the pockets to keep whatever it is far down on the side of your thigh in order to keep the legs of the shorts from flying around while you pedal. In addition to that, the gussets in the cargo pockets are a stretchy fabric which helps accentuate this flappy pocket issue. Pretty much a design fail all around. I wonder if the shorts in a medium would fit any better? However, Aerotech as a strict policy against returning anything you've worn other than for a couple seconds to try them on. I can understand this to a certain extent, however you'll never know just how well a pair of shorts will fit until you're able to wear them on the bike for a few miles. Even a riding a trainer indoors won't help much. Anyway, you can't really return them once you've worn them anyway. Given my experience with the pocket design on the Aerotech Baggy Touring shorts, I can't recommend them. The liners are alright though, so I probably will get more of them. I'm currently looking at some shorts with potentially better pocket design which are manufactured specifically for police and EMTs. Once I get a couple pairs of those shorts I'll tender a review.

Wow, 2 shocking discoveries:

1. You can not return bike shorts once you've worn them, and

2. bike shorts with heavy stuff in the pockets bounce around as you pedal (just like stuff carried in any other short).

I'm glad 1. exists, as I don't want to take the slightest chance of getting a case of the now antibiotic-proof gonorrhea, or whatever is living in some other persons nether region that might survive to the second owner. No returns on underwear, swimsuits, etc has been long been the policy of apparel merchants everywhere, for good reason.

Bike shorts normally have no pockets for the exact reason you just discovered - stuff gets in the way when you're pedaling. I would think anyone buying baggy bike shorts with pockets would expect this outcome, and accept it as a compromise that is the obvious result of the choice you made.

Aerotech ATD commuter shorts with whatever favorite padded underwear. They are a very well made short and not so loose that you have fabric flapping.

Endura does in fact sell liners separately, and apparently a lot of folks who like them buy a couple pairs of shorts and several extra liners. As for the other approach - a good pair of cycling shorts combined with a good pair of hiking shorts, what I like about the cycling specific ones are they usually have a stretch panel across the back and usually a higher rise in the back than traditional cargo shorts. I like what I see with the Endura shorts because they've got a seamless stretch panel crotch as well as loads of pockets and the snap out liners. I'm still looking for other suggestions though. So far, the Endura shorts, particularly the Humvees look to be the best.

+1 These look the best in all the contempory short/liner combos. My favs have long been a pair of Pearl Izumi Detour mtb shorts. They're about 13 years old and still going strong. Wish they hadn't discontinued those. Is there anything comparable in style and fit, these days?

Wow, 2 shocking discoveries:

1. You can not return bike shorts once you've worn them, and

2. bike shorts with heavy stuff in the pockets bounce around as you pedal (just like stuff carried in any other short).

I'm glad 1. exists, as I don't want to take the slightest chance of getting a case of the now antibiotic-proof gonorrhea, or whatever is living in some other persons nether region that might survive to the second owner. No returns on underwear, swimsuits, etc has been long been the policy of apparel merchants everywhere, for good reason.

Bike shorts normally have no pockets for the exact reason you just discovered - stuff gets in the way when you're pedaling. I would think anyone buying baggy bike shorts with pockets would expect this outcome, and accept it as a compromise that is the obvious result of the choice you made.

Yeah, I wouldn't want someone else's pre-worn shorts either. The point I was trying to make, perhaps not worded clearly, was that the true test of fit only comes from actually wearing the shorts while performing the activity for which they're intended. For the obvious disgusting reasons you mentioned, you can't return stuff you've worn and sweated up. Still, it means I'm out over $70 for a pair of shorts with a really lousy fit. A fit I might add that couldn't really be determined until the shorts were worn while pedaling vigorously on the street. As for your remark about things flopping around in the pockets. Well, I think it's reasonable to NOT expect things in the pockets to flop around a ridiculous amount. I have several other pairs of baggy shorts with attached liners and the Endura Humvees with detachable lining. NONE of those other pairs of baggy cycling shorts have pockets that flop around everywhere when I put my keys and cell phone in them. The Aerotech touring shorts are just a piss-poor design. They're far too loose and their choice of a stretchy fabric for the cargo pocket gussets is just a plain poor choice.

+1 These look the best in all the contempory short/liner combos. My favs have long been a pair of Pearl Izumi Detour mtb shorts. They're about 13 years old and still going strong. Wish they hadn't discontinued those. Is there anything comparable in style and fit, these days?

Don't know about the Pearl Izumi shorts you're talking about, but as is the case with most of these cycling apparel and parts producers, they can never leave anything alone. I had some really nice Pearl Izumi cycling gloves that served me well for years. They had a nice simple palm with minimal padding and none of this ridiculous ergonomic padding that seems to be the thing with all cycling gloves these days. Alas, PI makes nothing so simplistic anymore. Fortunately I've found a glove made by Fox that fits the bill, so I'll probably buy a couple pairs at least. As for the shorts, other than the color block design which I don't really care for, I kinda like the Humvee shorts, except the padded liners as I've mentioned are bloody abysmal. I like the Aerotech liners okay so I've been looking for other liner-less shorts to wear with them. I've found a few models made specifically for police and EMTs that look to be comfortable and have more stable pockets so I'll be giving them a try. I'll post a review it they end up being worth a crap.

So far, every link I have followed takes me to a pair of shorts that looks exactly like biking shorts, which, I believe, is the opposite of what the OP wants. I, personally, take a pair of lightweight $15-20 cargo shorts from Kohl's, pull them over a pair of $25 Andiamo riding briefs, and I'm good to go. So far, none of the $85 padded "baggy" shorts I've seen in any store look as relaxed and ordinary as this combination. HOwever, when I wear my "baggy" black bike shorts (which I bought online based on a photo that was a total misrepresentation) I get looks from every direction, as if I am wearing a bra and panties or something.

Which of course begs the question, were you actually wearing a bra?
Sorry, couldn't resist

(Benny Hill humour btw)

I, personally, take a pair of lightweight $15-20 cargo shorts from Kohl's, pull them over a pair of $25 Andiamo riding briefs, and I'm good to go.
The thing I don't like about wearing regular everyday shorts is that most don't have a gusseted crotch and as a result will have seams along the inside legs, leading to potential chaffing issues during lengthy rides. There are a few shorts out there with gussets and I'll be looking into some of them.