Best Wool Cycling Shorts for Men and Women [The best 4 options]

When you are cycling in chilly below 50 degree weather, you may want to opt for wool cycling shorts. There are a lot of options available for you and we rounded up the best so that you can make the right choice to keep your bum and lower parts of your body happy. Wool cycling shorts are great because they will keep you warm, while still wicking the sweat that you are making while getting a good workout. The best wool cycling shorts will usually have some mixture of spandex, lycra or a synthetic to add to the elasticity to create a balanced mix of warmth and comfort.

In this post we will list out the best options for warm cycling shorts for men and women to keep you toasty while riding in weather below 50 degrees. We have 4 available for you. We will also discuss if merino wool is a good option for cycling. We will finally close by talking about the best fabrics for cycling.

Invest in your knowledge:

These pieces of reading may be interesting to you:

• How Long Do Cycling Bibs Last?
• Are Cycling Jerseys Supposed to Be Tight?
• How to Wear Cycling Shorts Properly?

Best wool cycling shorts

1. [Women’s] Woolly Clothing Co. Merino Wool Bike Short – Standard Inseam
2. [Women’s] Woolly Clothing Co. Cycling Short – Miniature Inseam
3. [Women’s] Smartwool Women’s Merino Training Short
4. [Men’s] Under Armour ColdGear Leggings

Our Top 4 Best Wool Cycling Shorts

With many options to choose from, we have rounded up the best wool cycling shorts and merino wool cycling shorts available to keep you warm when cycling in the cold. Get a pair of these to be happy at all times while riding:

Woolly Clothing Co. Women’s Merino Wool Bike Short – Standard Inseam

Woolly Clothing Co. Women’s Merino Wool Bike Short – Standard Inseam

Features 

• Material Composition: 95% Australian Merino Wool, 5% Elastane
• Size Availability: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large
• Fit Type: Second Skin
• Closure Type: Waist Hug

Pros:

• Merino Wool Synthetic Mix: Great fabric to maintain high heat in low temperatures
• High performance sweat wick: wool and synthetic materials do not pool sweat but keep it away from your body
• Four season wear: Merino wool cycling short keep you warm for all seasons. Excellent base layer for the summer as well to shield your skin from the sun’s rays.
• Odor Resistance: All odors removed quickly as it does not attach to materials in clothing

Cons: 

• None.

These are extremely simple, professional grade wool cycling shorts. They are great for four seasons, and fit like a second skin. They hug around the waist for a secure fit and will keep you comfortable and warm while riding. We like these because the main feature that makes them stand out are the pockets for getting the items that you have around the house and around town.

We can’t think of any reasons for growth with these pants other than that you simply don’t own them now! They are top of the line and the perfect length to keep you warm and comfortable during longer rides. 

Woolly Clothing Co. Women’s Cycling Short – Miniature Inseam

Woolly Clothing Co. Women’s Cycling Short – Miniature Inseam

Features 

• Material Composition: 95% Merino Wool, 5% Elastane
• Size Availability: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large
• Fit Type: Second Skin
• Closure Type: Pull on

Pros:

• Merino Wool Synthetic Mix: Merino wool is a renewable wool that is super soft to the touch, warm and comfortable on the skin.
• Base Layer High performance sweat wick: Keep the body hot in the cool and keep the body cool in the heat
• Four season Comfort: Merino wool is perfect for all seasons. For providing a warm feel in the cold weather to comfortable snugness in the cool and spring times. This is perfect for cycling when wanting to be warm and comfortable.
• High Performing Odor Resistance: Wick sweat and odors immediately with merino wool synthetic mis to allow for high performance and comfort wrapped into one superior pant

Cons: 

• None.

The reason to get the woolly cycling pant is for the short inseam. This provides more flexibility if you are looking to get more pedals in than the average cyclist. You now can feel the wind at your skin while moving at the pace that you want to. These have very few amount of seams to allow for comfort and the highly sough after second skin feel. Move with your environment and your merino wool cycling shorts will too.

Smartwool Women’s Merino Training Short

Smartwool Women’s Merino Training Short

Features 

• Material Composition: 90% Merino Wool, 10% Synthetic
• Size Availability: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
• Fit Type: Second Skin
• Closure Type: Pull on

Pros:

• Merino Wool Synthetic Mix: Super soft renewable material for cool weather
• High performance sweat wick: Keep body dry while out cycling and about
• Four season wear: Merino wool perfect for all season weather to keep you active when you want and allow you rest and relaxation when it is warm out
• Odor Resistance: Removed mixed and wicked odors for inviting body type
• Made in the USA: All products made in the USA and distributed in the USA
• 3 Colors: Black, Twilight Blue, Woodsmoke

Cons: 

• None.

The Smartwool Cycling short are great to keep you moving in the cold weather. These wool cycling shorts pull past the waist for a secure fit around the belly line to keep your body happy and secure when cycling. There are minimal seams outside of the waist lined pockets to create a true second skin feel and with the majority merino wool mix you will truly feel the comfort as you stroke your pedals away.

They come in all sizes and what we like about these are the burgundy color option to really make your skin pop while riding through the trees that you are so excited to move in. Machine washable, and durable, these will last you and you will be very happy with the choice.

[Men’s] Under Armour ColdGear Leggings

[Men’s] Under Armour ColdGear Leggings

Features 

• Material Composition: 100% Polyester
• Size Availability: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large, 3X-Large, Small Tall, Medium Tall, Large Tall, X-Large Tall, CC-Large Tall, 3X-Large Tall, 4X-Large Tall, 3X-Large Big
• Fit Type: Second Skin
• Closure Type: Waist Hug

Pros:

• 4 Way Stretch: Great fabric to maintain and stretch to a true second skin fit. Fits snug and tight without restricting movement of the avid athletic cyclist
• Sweat Wick: No sweat and odor pooling in the body regardless of location due to the 100% synthetic material made for heat in the cold
• Two season wear: This material will keep you warm in the winter and fall as an excellent base layer. Keep yourself toasty while cycling and staying cool in the right conditions
• Odor Resistance: Zero odor retainment with proper care
• Color Choice: 11 Choices in Color
• Size choice: 16 sizes for any person to choose

Cons: 

• No Merino Wool Content: Though these are still comfortable and amazing to the touch, they are not merino wool. This is a great alternate if you are looking for the performance wear specifically for an athlete, though if you are looking for merino wool, the other 3 options fare better.

It’s 2023.

Any man or woman can clothing as a unisex choice. However, if you are looking for something truly built tough and bult for men that will outlast anything else on the market, your choice will be Under Armor’s cold gear. This does not have any wool, though the layered synthetic build is made to keep you warm specifically in the cold. The pair that I own is too warm for anything over 50 degrees while cycling. These will last you for years and simply are the industry standard.

Is wool good for cycling?

Yes, wool is great for cycling. Ideally you will have a mix of wool and a synthetic material so that the wool stretches comfortably over your body. Merino wool is great for cycling. With Merino wool you receive the benefits of warmth of the body while still maintaining the sweat and odor wicking aid from the material. It will not soak up odor and sweat like other materials and your body will be happy.

What is the best fabric for Bike Shorts?

Any synthetic material such as lycra or polyester is the best fabric for bike shorts. These materials provide a great second skin and do not pool sweat like natural materials and fabrics do. With these materials they provide stretch, comfort and do not restrict movement so that you are able to continue moving freely and pedaling without restriction. 

Conclusion

Are these the best wool cycling shorts? We think so. Choose your best so that your legs will be happiest while pedaling through the greenery, up the mountains and along the beaches. If you choose to go with wool, your body will thank you and you will be happy that you decided to care about your skin in all choices of weather when getting out and exercising.