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Few activewear essentials are as versatile as bike shorts. For some context, the bike-short trend was all the rage in the ’90s, famously popularized by Princess Diana. The style ultimately fell out of favor until the late 2010s, when it got a high-fashion upgrade. Seen on the runways at Off-White, Saint Laurent, and Chanel, among other designers, bike shorts have solidified their status as a chic wardrobe must have with the celebrity stamp of approval. They’re perfect for styling to the nines, throwing on with an oversize logo tee, or wearing to break a sweat at your cycling class.
True to their name, bike shorts hit your mid- to low-thigh — i.e., long enough to prevent inner-thigh chafing from a bike seat — and conform tightly to your body to ensure they stay in place while you pedal. The majority of these athletic bottoms are made of compressive, stretchy, and sweat-wicking materials such as lycra, spandex, and nylon, which are comfortable to work out in, whether you’re biking or not. If you’re not wearing them to sweat, there are plenty of bike-short options featuring the same silhouette but with more fashion-forward materials like cotton and polyester.
To help you find the best pair to suit your lifestyle, we rounded up the 13 best bike shorts for women, including options from Amazon, Target, and Nordstrom. Our curated shopping list has picks for avid workout enthusiasts, homebodies, and style gurus, so you may have a hard time choosing just one pair.
— Additional reporting by Marisa Petrarca