Best Urban Cycling Shorts: Top 16 for Bike Commuters

Simply stunning casual bike shorts. Lightweight, breathable, fast-drying and flexible. These shorts tick every box.

There’s even a gusseted crotch to maximise protection on the shorts most sensitive area.

These Ornot shorts also have nice deep pockets and are a pleasure to ride in, especially on warmer days.

The short version of Ministry of Supply’s stunningly versatile Kinetic pants, these are probably the best-looking urban cycling shorts on this list.

In terms of style, they are incredibly versatile – they can be pair with a smart dress shirt for evening entertainment, a t-shirt for your ride, or even with a vest for the beach.

The Ministry of Supply Kinetic Shorts are extremely breathable and offer plenty of stretch. They’re also easy on the waistband, and have urethane dots (like rubber) in order to provide a bit of friction if you want to keep a shirt tucked in.

These smart-looking urban cycling shorts are perfect both on and off the bike.

Off the bike, they look great and can be dressed up with a smart dress shirt for evening activities or dressed down with a tee or polo for a trip to the beach (“Strandvägen” is actually Swedish for “beach road”).

These bicycle shorts are made from a blend cotton, polyester and spandex, and the result is a stretchy, breathable short that performs superbly while pedalling. There’s even reflective detailing on the rear pockets.

I’ve covered DUER a few times on Discerning Cyclist, from reviewing their excellent No Sweat Pants to visiting their head office/shop in Vancouver.

Indeed, I’ve also become acquainted with DUER’s Live Lite commuter shorts during the past couple of years and they’re absolutely top notch.

These are slim-fit performance shorts, made from a blend of cotton and breathable materials to keep you feeling fresh on warmer days. They’re also soft against the skin and have moisture-wicking and anti-bacterial properties due to the TENCEL Lyocell material which is derived from eucalyptus.

The fit and stretch means you can easily squat in them without busting seams, so cycling is no problem.

If you’re looking for comfortable, breathable and crease-resistant gear for travelling and commuting, Bluffworks are well worth checking out. They even make office-friendly suits you can cycle in.

Bluffworks Ascender Shorts are the optime of what their products are all about: they’re lightweight, breathable and practical as hell. I mean, they have nine (9!) pockets. How is that even possible?

These shorts with a 9” in-seam have a simple but elegant style and come in a relative loose regular fit. They’re also extremely lightweight, moisture-wicking, quick-drying and anti-microbial.

While padded bike shorts are in no-short supply for Lycra-clad cyclists, it’s a significantly bigger challenge to find stylish commuter “baggy” cycling shorts with padding.

But Club Ride have stepped up in a big way to fill this void thanks to their Fuze Short.

And it’s not just any old gel padding inside these 12” shorts, you’re getting a premium two-hour chamois lining which you can switch out whenever you want.

And the cycling functionality doesn’t end there…

These shorts also boast a gusseted crotch, two-way stretch, are water resistant, have Velcro adjustments and even boast reflective detailing for good measure.

The Rapha Men’s Technical Shorts are designed for both on and off the bike activities. They are made from a durable, breathable, and quick-drying fabric to support everyday wear, featuring a cut that allows freedom of movement.

The shorts include a low-profile flatlock and bonded seams for comfort, high visibility and reflective trims for low light conditions, two hand pockets, two back pockets, and a concealed essentials pocket on the side leg. They are secured with a center front snap button and made of 88% Nylon and 12% Elastane. For care, washing at 30°C and avoiding tumble drying are recommended.

The Men’s Newton Active Shorts by Ministry of Supply are engineered for high performance and comfort. Key features include lightweight, breathable fabric that’s moisture-wicking, discreet pockets, and S.Café odor control technology.

Made with an athletic fit and varying inseam lengths, these shorts offer an ideal blend of function and style for active wear. They are crafted from recycled polyester and elastane, with a liner that includes S.Café Silver for odor management.

Unsurprisingly, the women’s Randonnee Shorts feature all of the same great features as the men’s version, that means you’ll find a pair of lightweight shorts with a technical fabric that is breathable, quick-drying and stretchy.

The Randonnee shorts are also longer than Chrome’s Seneca shorts, with an in-seam of around 11.4” (although this varies by size).

These shorts look great and use technical fabric that is stretchy, quick-drying and very breathable – making them great all-round urban cycling shorts for ladies.

The Randonnee shorts feature four pockets, including a zipped rear pocket, as well as a button-down back pocket.

The most stylish ladies’ cycling shorts on this list.

Ministry of Supply create performance activewear that looks extremely smart and looks great in more formal settings – while also being capable of paired with other items so they can look good as casual wear too.

The Momentum shorts provide a flattering fit with an extremely soft fabric that feels great against the skin.

What’s more, these shorts are also water-resistant and don’t create easily. They’re also extremely stretchy to make for comfortable rides.

The Sigr Cycling Chino Shorts for Women, named ‘Strandvägen’, are designed for comfort and style and are suitable for both the beach and biking. These khaki shorts feature a great cut with enough stretch for biking, reflective details for visibility when the back pockets are folded, and a pilling-resistant fabric.

They’re made from a cotton, polyester, and spandex blend, ensuring durability and flexibility. A vegan-friendly back logo label emphasizes the brand’s commitment to ethical materials.

These are described as “close-fitting baggy shorts” which seems somewhat contradictory…

However, what Velocio mean by this is that the Gravel Shorts are more like regular fitting shorts (rather than skintight Lycra) but still boast a figure hugging design.

In terms of functionality, these women’s bike shorts are packed with it.

The Velocio Gravel Shorts feature four-way stretch which is perfect for freedom of movement, while there are also two zippered side pockets with mesh lining that comfortably (and securely) fit a phone.

The fit of these shorts is also interesting and ideal for cycling. The shorts have a low-profile waist with a subtle adjustment strap (basically a built-in belt).

These ladies’ shorts are also extremely lightweight having been made from a high-tech 115gsm polyamide/elastine blend. There’s even a DWR coating to repel light rain.

These shorts really are packed to the brims with functionality: they offer four-way stretch, an aptly named “NoCrackBack” (i.e. a raised rear to prevent exposure), a gusseted crotch, interior drawcords and even reflective detailing.

They are on the longer side with an 11″ inseam, but these are some seriously stylish women’s urban commuter shorts – although they’re technically MTB shorts!

At under $80, too, these Club Ride shorts provide excellent functionality for a very reasonable price.

The Women’s Anza Short from Chrome Industries is designed for urban cycling and features durable, water-resistant, 4-way stretch fabric for performance and comfort.

Key features include a 5-bar webbing u-lock holster, full-length seamless double-layer crotch, quick dry capabilities, and reinforced seams. It offers a slimmer fit with a 6″ inseam, making it a practical choice for city commuters.

The Women’s Stretch Utility Short from DUER is designed for versatility and comfort, featuring a high-rise fit and crafted from a lightweight, breathable fabric. It includes a zip closure, stretch fibers for ease of movement, and plant-based lyocell for antibacterial and moisture-wicking properties.

The fabric composition includes cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, LYCRA® T400® Polyester, and LYCRA® Spandex, making it both durable and comfortable. Additionally, the shorts are designed to flatter the behind with a special rise shape and are machine washable for easy care.

The Women’s Hummvee Lite Short with Liner is a lightweight, comfortable option for cycling, especially in warm weather.

It features a durable four-way stretch fabric with a DWR finish, a Clickfast™ detachable liner with a women-specific 200 series pad for comfort, multiple pockets for practical storage, and an elasticated waistband for a secure fit.

Designed for both urban cycling and mountain biking, it offers functionality and style for riders.