Chamois Guide
What to Know and What to Look for in Your Next Chamois
The chamois is the real MVP of any cycling kit. It can make or break your comfort and performance. Our custom collections come with thoughtfully designed chamois that you can upgrade to any option from our chamois collection. Design a custom kit that fits your ride to the smallest detail.
Hours: 6-8
Men's Century
Ultra dense chamois with antibacterial treatment for long-lasting comfort - GC Collection
Hours: 4-6
Men’s Signature 2.0
Highly breathable, elastic perforated foam pad with gel inserts to provide maximum support - Firma, Signature, Gravel Collections
Hours: 4-6
Men’s Power GT
Soft, anatomical pad ideal when breathability and temperature regulation are crucial - Velocity Collection
Hours: 4-6
Men’s Max
Perforated chamois is lighter, more breathable and elastic for optimal comfort in the hottest conditions - Velocity Collection
Hours: 6-8
Men’s Pro 2.0
Best all-around option for all disciplines, ability levels, and distances - Velocity Collection
Hours: 2-4
Men’s Criterium
Highly breathable, elastic perforated foam pad for short duration, high speed rides - Arrow Collection
Hours: 2-4
Men’s Team
Body-conforming memory foam padding - Axis Collection
Hours: 2-4
Men’s Tri
Quick-drying chamois that won’t get in the way during a swim or run - Triathalon Collection
Hours: 6-8
Women's Century
Ultra dense chamois with antibacterial treatment for long-lasting comfort - GC Collection
Hours: 4-6
Women's Signature
Signature chamois with high density 120 kg/m2 foam, gel insert, and carbon fibers woven into the face fabric is perfect for long rides - Firma, Signature, Gravel Collections
Hours: 4-6
Women’s Power GT
Soft, anatomical pad ideal when breathability and temperature regulation are crucial - Velocity Collection
Hours: 4-6
Women’s Max
Perforated chamois is lighter, more breathable and elastic for optimal comfort in the hottest conditions - Velocity Collection
Hours: 4-6
Women’s Pro 2.0
Selected by the pros for its body conforming comfort and breathability - Velocity Collection
Hours: 2-4
Women’s Team
Memory foam pad provides comfort by conforming to the body - Axis Collection
Hours: 2-4
Women’s Tri
Quick-drying chamois that won’t get in the way during a swim or run - Triathalon Collection
Hours: 1-3
Kids Team
Memory foam padding for everyday riding - Axis Collection
A cycling chamois (pronounced “sha-mee”) is a shock-absorbing, antimicrobial pad sewn into bike shorts. It relieves uncomfortable pressure, prevents saddle sores, and wicks away moisture. A good chamois is a must-have for any ride lasting longer than an hour.
Your chamois should deliver when the ride gets demanding
Hincapie’s line of chamois is engineered to avoid all of that. All of the bibs and shorts we offer, whether for short sprints or all-day endurance rides, are built with anatomical shaping, strategic padding density, and breathable, quick-dry fabrics that wick moisture and reduce friction. Each style is rigorously tested by elite cyclists to make sure it supports your ride, not sabotages it.
When you ride with a Hincapie chamois, you get long-lasting support, efficient power transfer, and comfort you can trust mile after mile.
Ordering custom shouldn’t mean guessing on fit. Before every Hincapie custom kit order, you’ll receive a free home try-on kit to make sure everything feels just right, down to the chamois.
If you’re not sure about the fit or placement, our designers will work with you to upgrade the chamois in your shorts to a different style so your gear fits your body, your ride, and your goals.
The right chamois depends on three key factors: your anatomy, your riding style, and how long you’re in the saddle. The right chamois can make the difference between powering through a ride or cutting it short.
At Hincapie, we take the guesswork out of the process. With over 15 years of experience designing performance chamois for elite cyclists, we’ve developed a full range of options tailored to different body types, disciplines, and distances. From the pad’s shape and density to how it’s positioned within your shorts, every detail is crafted to match your ride.
Here’s how to select the chamois that fits your needs:
-
Your chamois should conform to your shape and have channels that reduce pressure and optimize blood flow in the right spots. Our expert designers consider the natural pressure points for men and women.
Men’s chamois have an anatomical depression in the middle to prevent numbness from restricted blood flow and an elongated front to ensure proper support.
Women’s chamois have a wide back to accommodate female sit bones and a short front to eliminate any excess fabric that chafes sensitive areas.
Our chamois have minimal seam lines that reduce friction, so you stay comfortable, even on the longest rides.
-
The density and details of your chamois depend on your discipline, performance goals, and ride duration. For example, our 1–2 hour time trial chamois is designed for a short distance in an aggressive riding position, and our 2–4 hour triathlon chamois is designed to keep you dry and comfortable while cycling, swimming, or running.
- A slim foam pad in your chamois works well for short distances, unless you’re riding over 10 miles multiple days per week.
- High-density gel chamois offer premium shock absorption for long-distance riding, as they are thinner and denser than foam.
- Hybrid gel and foam chamois, when correctly designed, provide a balance of shock absorption and cushion over long distances.
Each chamois is built for performance–dense, yet thin, and supportive, yet flexible.
-
Even the perfect chamois won’t work if it’s in the wrong spot. Proper placement is key to preventing pressure and friction.
Fit tips:
- Shorts and chamois should stay snug and not shift in the saddle, causing uncomfortable friction.
- The widest part of the chamois should align with the widest part of the saddle when seated.
- Always test your bibs or shorts in a riding position to make sure the chamois lines up with the saddle and feels natural to your body.
How long does a chamois last?
Here’s how you know it’s time to replace your chamois:
- It feels flat and heavy
- It’s unraveling or shifting in the shorts
- It smells even after washing
- It’s stretched out or misshapen
When it’s time to replace your chamois, there’s no patching things up. Once the structure breaks down, comfort and performance go with it. That’s why every Hincapie chamois is built with premium, durable materials—so your gear keeps up with your ride, season after season.
Outfit your team in shorts and bibs with a chamois that stands up to high mileage and intense training
Every detail of your chamois—from pressure relief to moisture control—impacts how your riders perform. Hincapie chamois are designed to give you an edge in endurance, efficiency, and recovery. Because when your chamois performs as it should, your whole team does too.