I'll chime in with the shorts I currently own and the positives and negatives of each. Note, I'm a size XL (5'9" and a size 12/14 pant):
1. Sugoi RS tris shorts--these are part of my tri club kit. They look nice on (one of my female tri friends actually told me that my butt looks smaller in them!), they have silicone leg grippers (which I'm totally okay with), and my legs don't look like sausages in them (that's a huge plus 1 for me). My current issue is that they don't work with my Adamo saddle. The stitching/seam on the chamois sits right on top of the edge of the Adamo. It's quite uncomfortable after about 25 miles. On a different saddle, though, I liked them a great deal. Moderate leg length.
2. DeSoto Carerra--these are currently in my rotation. I like the overall fit, no sausage legs, no leg gripper, but they stay perfectly in place. The chamois is felt, and like the Sugoi RS, it's just a smidge too narrow for my saddle. It doesn't rub like the Sugoi, but it's not the greatest. Leg length is a little shorter than the Sugoi, which I like.
3. DeSoto 400 mile shorts--I ADORE the chamois in these shorts, particularly for riding in an Adamo. There are no leg grippers, but the legs stay perfectly in place, and the fabric is very supportive. For some reason, though, the waist on the 400 mile shorts is MUCH tighter than the waistband on the DeSoto Carerras (and a MUCH higher waistband) I wear them, but I wish the waist were an inch or so bigger and didn't come as high). Long inseam.
4. Castelli Body Paint Donna--Love the fit. Has an unusual leg opening/gripper that is difficult to describe. It stays put, doesn't pinch, and doesn't create sausage legs. The chamois is wide enough that I don't have any weird rubbing on the edge of the saddle, but I'm not sure yet that I love the chamois. They're omfortable on and flattering (for a big thighed girl like me). As of today, this is the short that I'll probably pair with my tri kit for half iron distances. Medium inseam length.
I've heard rave reviews for the Coeur shorts. Everyone I've seen in them loves them. Their inventory right now, though, is quite limited and I can't find it in my size in black.
1. Sugoi RS tris shorts--these are part of my tri club kit. They look nice on (one of my female tri friends actually told me that my butt looks smaller in them!), they have silicone leg grippers (which I'm totally okay with), and my legs don't look like sausages in them (that's a huge plus 1 for me). My current issue is that they don't work with my Adamo saddle. The stitching/seam on the chamois sits right on top of the edge of the Adamo. It's quite uncomfortable after about 25 miles. On a different saddle, though, I liked them a great deal. Moderate leg length.
2. DeSoto Carerra--these are currently in my rotation. I like the overall fit, no sausage legs, no leg gripper, but they stay perfectly in place. The chamois is felt, and like the Sugoi RS, it's just a smidge too narrow for my saddle. It doesn't rub like the Sugoi, but it's not the greatest. Leg length is a little shorter than the Sugoi, which I like.
3. DeSoto 400 mile shorts--I ADORE the chamois in these shorts, particularly for riding in an Adamo. There are no leg grippers, but the legs stay perfectly in place, and the fabric is very supportive. For some reason, though, the waist on the 400 mile shorts is MUCH tighter than the waistband on the DeSoto Carerras (and a MUCH higher waistband) I wear them, but I wish the waist were an inch or so bigger and didn't come as high). Long inseam.
4. Castelli Body Paint Donna--Love the fit. Has an unusual leg opening/gripper that is difficult to describe. It stays put, doesn't pinch, and doesn't create sausage legs. The chamois is wide enough that I don't have any weird rubbing on the edge of the saddle, but I'm not sure yet that I love the chamois. They're omfortable on and flattering (for a big thighed girl like me). As of today, this is the short that I'll probably pair with my tri kit for half iron distances. Medium inseam length.
I've heard rave reviews for the Coeur shorts. Everyone I've seen in them loves them. Their inventory right now, though, is quite limited and I can't find it in my size in black.