Need some female riders advice...

My sister needs some proper mountain shorts for mostly XC riding.

What brands of baggy shorts do you girls like and/or recommend?

She is in the south bay so any local shops that carry them?? She could trek to The Path if necessary.

And any general advice is welcome.

Thanks!!

 

Oakley has some good ones

 

Oakleys are funky sizing - fox have always worked best for me..

Some AWESOME deals here: http://www.hucknroll.com/womens-mountain-bike-shorts

But can't go wrong at the path either.

 

fox has some funky sizing. oakley has always worked best for me. :lol:

i am not a fan of fox shorts. i love the oakleys and i also like pearl izumi and shebeest.

 

She needs to get into a shop to try some on, but I agree about deals on websites. Its just tricky to buy the right size.

 

My girlfriend Alison is a big fan of Loeka. They're female only and seem to have better sizing than companies that mostly cater to men. Unfortunately they are Canadian and I don't know of any local shops that carry them.

 

My most comfortable cycling shorts were made by Zoic. I pick my Zoic shorts over Fox and Pearl Izumi all the time.

 

i love my loeka as well & they seem to fit me the best; however, i don't think they make any w/built in chamois. i might be wrong, but my 3 pair don't have chamois.

for built in chamois, i like oakely, the xs fit me well, fox seem to run big iirc. zoic were ok, too, & i think they were affordable. personally, i don't like the built in chamois baggies. those are typically xc baggies & i only wear baggies for dh. those are longer & baggier & material is usually more durable.

good luck.

 

I think it really depends on her body shape! Fox and Oakley are funky for me, as well as Loeka. Descente fits juuuust right for me (big booty). So it depends on whether she is tiny, curvey, bigger, etc. LOL dunno if this helps much, but just thought I'd throw it out there, finding mtb shorts for women is sooo hard, esp in bigger sizes (although I'm told its tough for smaller girls too!). Find a brand/model that fits her well and then buy multiple shorts of that kind before they get updated for the next year's model!

 

I know CbHarping is a big fan of Sombrio and the new Troy Lee Designs women's shorts. She prefers shorts that are a little longer.

 

Here are some local spots to "test fit:"
REI - Pearl Izumi and She Beest
The Path - Specialized
Rock N Road - Oakely and Specialized
Perfomance - their own brand (everyone knocks Performance but I've yet to hear a complaint about their clothing)

 

Shorts... like all pieces of clothing are very personal having to do with body shape, comfort, function etc.

Many women like Shebeest's "Breezer" board shorts. I am a fan of Terry's products but I love the old style they used to sell; I am not enamored with the newer style they are selling (they are too long). REI actually has some nice shorts as does Performance if price is an issue.

Personally, I always cut out the liner and use my own cycling shorts underneath the shell. Any short that has pockets and alittle bit of lycra and stretch in them can be used as mountain bike shorts, provided you wear regular cycling (lycra) shorts underneath.

Best thing... keep trying on shorts to find the ones that fits and functions best.

 

I have always preferred Oakley shorts, and they fit great. The material lasts forever. I usually wear a size small, but Oakley tends to be a little bigger, so the XS works for me. Best deals are at the Oakley Sale, or sometimes www.oakleyvault.com has amazing prices (rarely found shorts, though).

 

Fox and oakley both have good ones, but I agree sizing is a little hit and miss & you really need to try them on. Some have built in chamois & some not. Honestly I started out riding baggies & once I tried lycra they are typically all I ever wear. You can't beat them for breathability and comfort. For those I typically wear the squadra gear and also have tried pearl izumi which is pretty good. I'll occasionally wear baggies & have a pair of Loeka DH shorts that I wear over my lycra . They are comfortable & very durable. They typically also have elastic in the top so they are flexible for padding under or wearing without.
I got them off of dept of goods for $50 here are the shorts they have from Loeka now:
http://www.departmentofgoods.com/sales/search.html?mv_session_id=63VnChv3&aff=1&q=loeka
I have this pair & caught them on their 50% off sale: http://www.departmentofgoods.com/loeka-downhill-capri-bike-short-womens

 

Damn... Looks like she has her work cut out!! Thanks to all so far... I will have to re-read this thread and make a list!

 

I say tight and skimpy! oh wait, you are looking for advice from, not for. opps my bad

 

^ I'm surprised it took 16 posts ! Won't be long now before the images start to show up. HA ha

 

If you want to PM me her size info I'll see what I have around and could try to get them to you/her.

 

I wear men's short as women's shorts are too short for me. My favorites are Fox and Oakley.

 

Zoic works pretty well for me, but I still like the fit / stable chamois of regular lycra shorts best. Over time I've gone pretty much to Hincapie bibshorts (like the longer legs). When I ride in baggies, it's Zoic. Fitting them on is pretty much required.