Originally Posted by Vinnems

I've done a lot of consulting in the textile and fashion industry, so I know there is a HUGE mark up when it comes to clothing. Having been an avid bicyclist for years, I know that there is a huge mark up on parts. So what do you get when you combine the two? Absolutely outrageous prices.
Padded shorts shouldn't be that expensive. So I decided to look into some of the cheap ones on Amazon, see if any are worth it. For a comparison, I have a pair of Canari shorts that I've ridden to the point they are completely flat and have no support, so I know what a 'decent' priced pair and quality feels like.
I ordered four brands, two sizes each so I could get a feel for sizing: Ohuhu, 4ucycling, Baleaf, and Xcellent. All were around $10 (except Baleaf at $15) and had a decent amount of reviews already. I also HATE logos all over my clothes, and these were all just plain black so that was a bonus. And with free returns, I wasn't risking anything at all. I will link full reviews later for those interested, but here's the summary.
Ohuhu and 4ucycling are complete garbage. You'd be better off sticking a dish rag in you track shorts. The padding is so spongey that it offers no support at all and to me, feels like I'm not wearing padded shorts at all. It felt like, out of the bag, my Canari shorts did after years of riding and smashing. The material of the shorts is like paper, I can't see it lasting that long.
Xcellent, I was IMMENSELY pleased with. Right out of the bag, I could feel how supportive the padding was. I put 50 miles on them and my buns felt great after. The quality in manufacturing is definitely there. I couldn't believe all that was only $10.
Baleaf, which was a little more expensive, definitely shows why. The ends of the legs have that rubber liner on them to keep them from slipping, and the construction is a little bit higher quality. The padding feels good too, but I haven't put any serious mileage on them yet. This weekend I will and I'll post an update.
If anyone has any questions on the brands, let me know. But I really do recommend the Xcellent brand ones if you're looking for good quality at a very reasonable price.