Let鈥檚 concede that making a great-fitting women鈥檚 chamois is tricky. That鈥檚 why many companies have shrugged it off, choosing instead to use a generic, unisex pad that鈥檚 really shaped for men. It鈥檚 the most cost-effective option. Yet women typically benefit from a broader cushion in back paired with a narrower nose. It鈥檚 challenging to fit all bodies with one design, but a few brands have dedicated themselves to offering good women鈥檚-specific solutions.
Graced by Grit Cycling Capri ($118)
Best For: Being seen

The high-contrast black-and-white pattern is flattering and practical for road rides when you want motorists to notice you. But don鈥檛 write this off as fluff gear. The fabric is compressive and slick, so it feels almost frictionless against the saddle, and hits that elusive goal of low-bulk protection. It鈥檚 the culmination of a year of design work鈥攑lus a $50,000 investment in machinery鈥攂ut the result is a USA-made pad that eliminates tenderness after a three-hour ride.
Shredly Yogacham ($65)
Best For: The hottest days

Trapped sweat is the bane of the baggies-wearing crowd, who need the abrasion resistance of an overshort and the padding of a dedicated chamois. Enter the , which Shredly founder and dedicated mountain biker Ashley Rankin spent more than five years refining. The shorts and pad are both perforated for maximum sweat mitigation. Plus, the wide, relaxed waistband feels as unrestrictive as my yoga pants鈥攈ence the name鈥攕o it鈥檚 almost as good as a bib at allowing free, unconstrained movement.
Wild Rye Chammy ($109)
Best For: Eliminating muffin tops

Low-cut bottoms won鈥檛 pinch your gut, but they can create an unsightly roll of skin above the waistband. The women behind 鈥攌now about that firsthand. The company鈥檚 keep the same high-waist cut that made the original version popular but use a slippery, low-friction fabric that slides beautifully beneath a pair of baggies. The 0鈥12 size range (instead of the standard S/M/L) lets you get an exact fit. And the pad is a top-shelf number imported from Italy, where so many of the best cycling things are made.
Sugoi W RS Pro ($170)
Best For: Hassle-free peeing

It鈥檚 great to see more companies offering women鈥檚 bibs that give wearers a functional way to pee (without first stripping off their shirts). But my favorite so far is , which omits stiff zippers or clips and has just enough elasticity in the suspenders to let you yank them down when you need to. The design is perfect simplicity, and the pad is primo: the nose is perforated for moisture management, and laminated stitch-free seams make it ultra-smooth.
G-Form Pro-B Bike Compression ($120)
Best For: Hucking

I figured wouldn鈥檛 have a great chamois because they鈥檙e designed for downhill and trail riders who don鈥檛 spend a ton of time sitting on the saddle. But to my surprise, the pad kept me plenty comfortable through 60-to-90-minute lunch-hour XC rides. The impact protection is so subtle that I barely registered the bulk. They鈥檙e a smart, functional choice anytime you鈥檙e riding technical terrain.