[Closed] Do Gel padded shorts offer more cushioning?

I can't comment on gel but expensive shorts are way better than cheap ones. The trick is to find some in a sale making the price almost reasonable. Well worth it given the use and improvement in quality of ride

Yes, and Decathlon 700 are very good for £25. Consider bibs too for long days, the lack of a tight waistband really makes a difference to comfort.

Use some cream, basic skin cream will help a lot. I always invest in good padded bib shorts. Bibs keep them in place, more comfy.

I like the Planet X Pro ones and they're about £30 at the moment.

My Lusso gel shorts started off fine but after sometime the gel seemed to disappear leaving a useless pad. Now just buy ones with quality foam pads - I like Castelli which last very well.

Define gel.

I actually dont mind shorts as opposed to bibs, never really liked bibs. I use chamois cream every time i ride but my biggest problem is not being able to ride enough to toughen sit bone area. This is the main problem but dont have time to sort that so i think better shorts might help in some small way, every little bit helps.

All bottoms are different. What works for one may be hell to someone else.

I don't use padding, just the right saddle

oMrsFry makes a good point; the different permutations of arse shape, saddle shape, padding design/thickness/material make it almost impossible, IME, to get anything that's actually comfortable without spending a fortune on buying and trying different saddles and shorts.

I've got to a comfort level of 'okay, just' and accepted that's about the best I'll get.

Yes, and Decathlon 700 are very good for £25.

My Lusso gel shorts started off fine but after sometime the gel seemed to disappear leaving a useless pad.

Yeah, I'm not overly impressed with mine: the gel pad is very thick, but less comfortable than my DHB shorts, which use a much thinner, conventional pad. Shame really, as they're UK-made.

The point of the pad was originally to prevent the shorts from creasing and folding and to absorb moisture. Some time around 1990 kit manufacturers decided that synthetic was easier to maintain (true) and that padding was the main objective (untrue IMO) and started buying thick foam pads to sew into their shorts.

The most comfortable shorts I own are some older dhb 3/4 bibs that have a smooth brushed fabric and thin but dense pad, on the left here. Newer dhb shorts have a thick spongey pad with a rougher material, on the right. The old, thin pad is supremely comfortable but the new, thick pad allows my sit bones to sink in and the rough material irritates my anal area and the thick sponge makes the whole area hot and sweaty. I'm still trying to find shorts with a thinner denser pad like that on the left. So far all I've discovered is that there are relatively few pad makers supplying a lot of garment manufacturers.

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Shape of the pad always does it for me, Fox liners seem to have a good comfy fit for my arse.

Endura liners were always too big, I have some Altura ProGel that are somewhere between - comfy but not quite as good as the Fox.

LBS sent out a mailshot about the new Endura FS260 Pro bibshorts that are supposed to be brilliant as you can get different pad sizes to suit your arse size. £99 seemed a bit steep to me though.

I recently threw out some old RonHill things with a bit of padded chamois inside, they were lovely but were far too past it.

I can't answer for sure but the comfiest shorts I've tried so far are Altura progel ones, which were the same cost as some older Lusso ones which weren't gel but were about the same price (£40-£50), and were very nearly as comfy, and some dhb ones which were similar price again but weren't gel and are considerably less comfy.

as said every butt is a variation on the theme but another vote here for altura gel - surprisingly better than "chamois" as in 100km day don't even think about any discomfort versus standard knicks are starting to get a bit ooh, not a fan of creams - though many are and probably help - I just prefer not to lubricate when out of the house

edit and often heavily discounted

The altura gel shorts are one of a few that are on my radar, i think on ebay they can be had for £25 ish, yet to check cycle stores/web.

I stopped with bibs. I now have some pretty tight and smooth under armour undies, me balls up to my naval and never any issues.

Glide on the saddle, wicks away sweat, don't crush said balls. Bibs and pads made me way sweatier and was just a faff when you want to walk around after biking somewhere.

Say no to pads.

@globalti have you tried the higher end Sportful tights?

Yeah I recently got some bibs, noticed that some of the Altura gel undershorts were £25ish. Considered them even though I prefer bibs.