How to Choose the Correct Chamois
Padded bike pants or bike underwear have a chamois (pad) sewn into them. A bike chamois provides a layer of cushioning and protection to help with comfort on a bike seat.
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What is a Bike Chamois?
A chamois is the padding sewn into bike specific clothing like padded bike pants and padded bike underwear. To achieve the best from your chamois, it should sit directly between you and the bike seat. This helps to reduce discomfort and allows you to sit on your seat for longer periods of time. A chamois should be worn directly against your skin with no other fabric or seams touching it.
Padded Bike Underwear – These are your underwear, they are your base layer to wear against your skin. You wear your padded bike underwear with an outer layer of your choice.
Padded Bike Pants – These are your base and outer layer to be worn against your skin, you should not wear normal underwear with them.
For an overview of what padded bike pants are please read this story Fancy Pants – Why wear padded bike pants?
A Bike Chamois sewn into the inside of lycra biking pants.
Features of a Bike Chamois
Shape and Thickness – Chamois come in a range of shapes, densities and thickness’ as they are designed to match to specific types of riding and different ride times or distances. All bike chamois’ padding is made from compressed foam with a layer of technical fabric covering the top. A chamois is shaped like a bike seat. The rear provides support for the sits bones, the mid region sits between your legs and the nose of the chamois provides some cushioning for the front of your body. It is the mid and nose region that is constructed differently for men compared to women. Kids chamois are smaller to match the smaller body size a child has.
Moisture Wicking – For the chamois to perform well over time it needs to be able to wick moisture – pull moisture away from your skin and prevent bacteria growth (bacteriostasis). As the chamois will be sewn onto the fabric of the pant or underwear it is also important that this fabric also wicks moisture. Reducing the build up of moisture helps prevent problems like chafing, saddle sores, thrush etc.
Breathability – A good quality chamois meant for endurance or performance type riding will also have perforations to increase breathability and aid in quick dry times.
Feel – Some bike chamois are flat and stiff, while others are flexible and soft. They can also be pre-contoured or molded to match the shape of a body. Again this depends on the type of riding the chamois has been designed for.
The underneath of a bike chamois showing the build up of the layers of foam padding.
How to choose the right chamois
Match with the length of time you ride
A Chamois will have different densities and thickness depending on the length of the ride it is designed for. For the best comfort on your bike the chamois you choose should match the length of time that you ride or the time you want to work towards spending on the bike.
Generally the longer the length of riding the greater density to minimise the amount of compression of the foam at key areas in the chamois. This helps with providing a feeling of protection even after long hours of riding, it shouldn’t feel like the foam has been completely squashed or collapsed.
A chamois should be gender and size specific
Chamois are different for men and women to match their differences. Chamois designed for kids are significantly smaller than an adult chamois… an adult chamois will be uncomfortable and bulky for a child. Look for minimal style chamois with less bulk for youth as they grow into an adult body.
Other considerations
If you are particularly uncomfortable on a bike seat or a ‘heavy rider’ then an endurance chamois is a better solution to support your comfort no matter the length of time you are riding.
Some riders do not like the sensation of bulk that an endurance chamois provides. If you do not find bike seats particularly uncomfortable and do not enjoy the sensation of bulk then a minimal, slim style chamois is a good option.
If you suffer from front of body compression, pain or numbness then a thin, slim density or thickness through the nose of your chamois is your best solution… Learn more soft tissue compression & pain.
Chamois Options at goRide
goRide has a range of chamois specifically selected to suit different riders. All the chamois in our Bike goUnders are imported from an Italian manufacturer called Elastic Interface – a company that are world leaders in chamois development, technology and production.
Chamois Solutions for Women
Recreation Chamois
Best suited to:
- riding less than 2 hours
- those who prefer minimal slim padding
Available in 2 styles:
Endurance Chamois
Best suited to:
- riding 2 hours+, up to 6hrs or multiple times a week
- heavy riders and/or those particularly uncomfortable on their bike seat
Available in 2 styles:
Endurance Active Chamois
Best suited to:
- riding on uneven terrain
- riding 2 hours plus or multiple times a week
- this very flexible chamois suits those that move on/off their seat eg; mountain bikers. Those that like a chamois to mold to their body
Available in :
Fitness Chamois
Best suited to:
- riding 1-4 hours
- regular riders
- dense thick pad
Available in :
Chamois Solutions for Men
Mens Endurance Chamois
Best suited to:
- Men riding from 1hr to 6 hours
- Regular riding, multi day tour/holidays
- Great cushioning & density throughout length
Available in :
Mens Boxer goUnders
Mens Health/Prostate Chamois
Best suited to:
- Men for short times 5 mins to max 2 hours
- Indoor, upright, stationary, rehabilitation bike, fitness riding
- Well padded in the rear & largest front cutout we could find for prostate issues
Available in :
Mens Boxer goUnders
Mens Connection Chamois
Best suited to:
- Men riding from 1 to 5 hours
- Experienced comfortable riders, hot, humid conditions
- Provides feel & connection to bike saddle
Available in :
Mens Boxer goUnders
Chamois Solutions for Kids/Youth
Kids Chamois
Best suited to:
- Regular riding, family holiday/cycle trail
- Kids who are uncomfortable on their bike seat
Available in :
Girls Youth Chamois
Best suited to:
- Youth Girl (11 to 15yrs)
- Regular riders, multi day tour/holiday
Available in :
Boys Youth Chamois
Best suited to:
- Youth Boy (11 to 14yrs)
- Regular riders, multi day tour/holiday
Available in :
Youth Boy goUnders
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I’m an older woman on the bigger side am looking for padded shorts, underwear etc to make cycling on my e bike more comfortable, do you have a shop in Nelson where I can view, live in Richmond.
Hi Maggie,
goRide is a small online only business. We deal with a lot of women who ride E-Bikes so I’m sure we can help. Please look out for the email I have sent you.
Regards
Annette