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Home > Forum > Triathlon Forum > Cheap tri shorts?

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Cheap tri shorts?
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MarkRebuck
Apr 2, 19 11:05
Post #1 of 11 (2069 views)
Last year, I got back in to cycling after several years away. This year, I'm thinking of getting back in to triathlons.

As I replaced my old/worn cycling kit, I discovered several options for acceptable-quality and low-price (~USD$40) cycling bib shorts. Between The Black Bibs, a few providers on Amazon, and Performance during their going-out-of-business sale, I'm now fully stocked on cycling shorts. But I'm struggling to find anything for tri shorts. Given the generally more simple construction of tri shorts, I find this rather surprising.

Anyone have and sources for affordable kit? I don't need anything fancy. Just something black with a minimal fleece pad.
-Mark Rebuck, http://www.markrebuck.com/
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Re: Cheap tri shorts? [MarkRebuck] [ In reply to ]
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ronbizkit
Apr 2, 19 11:12
Post #2 of 11 (2047 views)
I've been happy with these for training.

https://www.ghsports.com/...t/gh-mens-tri-short/
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Re: Cheap tri shorts? [MarkRebuck] [ In reply to ]
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ggeiger
Apr 2, 19 11:13
Post #3 of 11 (2041 views)
Don't skimp. Cheap shorts are just that. Look on Classifieds and buy used if you have to, but bargain shorts are seldom a good thing.
Gary Geiger
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Re: Cheap tri shorts? [MarkRebuck] [ In reply to ]
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Parkland
Apr 2, 19 11:51
Post #4 of 11 (2011 views)
My first pair of tri shorts were discontinued Nike shorts. I still have them and use them once a week along with my wattie ink and innerforce brand.

They’re good shorts and I think I paid around $25 for them on backcountry or REI.
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Re: Cheap tri shorts? [ggeiger] [ In reply to ]
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realbdeal
Apr 2, 19 12:01
Post #5 of 11 (2000 views)
Agree. Get some on sale ones from 2xu or zoot or a trusted company like that. Most have a sale of some sort going. I've been riding in cheap bike shorts for years now and after my first quality bib shorts I'm not going to spend $20 on any cheap shorts ever again.
Benjamin Deal - Professional - Instagram - TriRig - Lodi Cyclery
Deals on Wheels - Results, schedule, videos, sponsors
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Re: Cheap tri shorts? [realbdeal] [ In reply to ]
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MarkRebuck
Apr 2, 19 12:10
Post #6 of 11 (1985 views)
Last time I was buying kit (a decade ago), there was a huge quality gap between $40 stuff and $80-120 stuff. So I sucked it up and bought the more expensive stuff.

Times have changed. The recent set of ~$40 bib shorts I bought are at least as good as the older shorts ever were.

I'm not sure if the same closure in the cost/quality gap has arrived in the tri short domain, but it certainly has in the bib short domain.
-Mark Rebuck, http://www.markrebuck.com/
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Re: Cheap tri shorts? [MarkRebuck] [ In reply to ]
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Murphy'sLaw
Apr 2, 19 18:12
Post #7 of 11 (1897 views)
SLS makes some decent shorts, and when they go on sale on Amazon, they are a killer deal.

PS - I LOVE their compression socks and sleeves.

That said - Desoto Tri shorts are great, and seem to last nearly forever.
So over the fullness of time, they may be a better deal.

float , hammer , and jog

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Re: Cheap tri shorts? [MarkRebuck] [ In reply to ]
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pete459
Apr 2, 19 18:17
Post #8 of 11 (1889 views)
The ironman website has good sales on apparel from old races. I'm on my trainer 4-5x a week, so I have a bunch of pairs of tri shorts that i rotate through that i only paid about $40 each for. I believe the brand is Zoot. Just keep in mind that sale products usually aren't returnable so make sure you know your size.
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Re: Cheap tri shorts? [Murphy'sLaw] [ In reply to ]
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Duncan74
Apr 2, 19 18:33
Post #9 of 11 (1879 views)
Murphy'sLaw wrote:

That said - Desoto Tri shorts are great, and seem to last nearly forever.
So over the fullness of time, they may be a better deal.

I got a DeSoto top from R&A Cycles for $27 late last year. So worth checking there.

As mentioned I'm also still using a pair I bought in 2005 for weekly trainer sessions so it's hard to complain about value....
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Re: Cheap tri shorts? [Duncan74] [ In reply to ]
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Murphy'sLaw
Apr 3, 19 10:30
Post #10 of 11 (1765 views)
Duncan74 wrote:
Murphy'sLaw wrote:

That said - Desoto Tri shorts are great, and seem to last nearly forever.
So over the fullness of time, they may be a better deal.

I got a DeSoto top from R&A Cycles for $27 late last year. So worth checking there.

As mentioned I'm also still using a pair I bought in 2005 for weekly trainer sessions so it's hard to complain about value....

Yeah, I still have 2 pairs of Desoto Tri shorts from ‘05 & ‘06 respectively, which I occasionally break out and use, and they have held up shockingly/remarkably well.

Once a season I’ll go Old School for one of our club sprint Tri races, and wear one of those shorts, and my HVTC Tri top, which is also from ‘06.
I’m not sure what’s holding them together anymore, but as long as they aren’t translucent or have holes, I’ll keep trotting them out.

float , hammer , and jog

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Re: Cheap tri shorts? [MarkRebuck] [ In reply to ]
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daustin
Apr 3, 19 11:08
Post #11 of 11 (1748 views)
what distance triathlon? If it's sprint or olympic you won't be on the bike all that long so for me cheap tri shorts were always fine. Beyond that I felt like I was on the bike long enough where better tri shorts made a difference. also depends on your definition of cheap. I've had good luck with 2xu and DeSoto (when on sale)
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