In how many guises are MTB shorts made?

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Asked 3 months ago

Modified 3 months ago

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MTB-specific shorts seem to be currently made in the following guises:

Shorts from special rip-resistant fabrics and strategically placed pockets, with no padding. Rider can size up and wear padded liners (or road shorts, or road bibs or liner bibs), underneath if they like.
Shorts as above (#1), but sold bundled with padded liners similar to road shorts, but the liners are made from a fabric so thin they resemble undergarments more than road shorts.
Shorts with padding built into the seating area, but that are not to be worn "commando". Athletic or some kind of undergarment go underneath.
(For men) Shorts with padding built into the seating area (as #3 above), but with a sewn inside mesh akin to that found in swimming trunks. At least one maker seems to have devised a mechanism (velcro? snaps?) to make the liner detachable, perhaps in the interest of washing one part more often than the other, or replacing it.

Are these categories, especially #3 and #4, accurate? Did I miss any?

This is a sequel to an earlier question.

asked Aug 24 at 9:15

Sam7919

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I've got some that are unpadded, lycra inner, baggy outer. They're meant for mtb use, and weren't expensive, but I'm more likely to use them on the unicycle. Padded cycling underwear and non-bike-specific baggy cargo shorts are another option
– Chris H
Aug 24 at 15:25
1

Rider can size up and wear padded liners --> there's no need to size up to wear bibs/shorts underneath
– Paul H
Aug 24 at 19:07
Also FWIW, I've never seen #3 or #4, but I exclusively shop for #1
– Paul H
Aug 24 at 19:08
Not really an answer, but I'm also not sure if #3 is a thing. What differentiates a no-underwear pair of cycling shorts from a yes-underwear one? And I thought the general advice was to never wear underwear underneath. #4 definitely exists though.
– MaplePanda
Aug 25 at 1:58

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