Why is everyone wearing cycling shorts these days? Maybe it’s because you can wear them for almost everything, from spin class to just sitting on the couch. Sustainable bike shorts are the perfect warm-weather counterpart to sustainable leggings.
They’re half the length, but all the heart! No matter the garment, we prefer to sweat without sweatshops and forced child labor (not to mention numerous environmental consequences.)
That’s why we’ve rounded up our favorite options that are made by environmentally conscious brands that not only use responsible materials and fabrics but also ethical labor and low-waste packaging.
When you cycle back to this list in the coming months, we’ll have refreshed it using our new Brand Rating System that assesses brands against a broader range of eco-related criteria, like climate impact, circularity, and chemical use. You can read about it here.
Until then, grab your helmet and eco-friendly water bottle, clip in your shoes, and let’s get pedaling.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Eco-Friendly Bike Shorts For Cycling To Couch Surfing
If you’re looking for recycled bike shorts that don’t ride up, try Girlfriend Collective’s. We took them for a spin and love how stretchy and lightweight they are while still providing support in all the right places.
We love Boody’s bike shorts. They’re made of organically grown bamboo fabric in a closed-loop system using non-toxic solvents. Did we mention they have a handy hidden pocket?
Index: Sustainable Biker Shorts
- Boody Jump to brand
- Girlfriend Collective Jump to brand
- MATE The Label Jump to brand
- Tree Tribe Jump to brand
- Threads 4 Thought Jump to brand
Boody
About Boody
Price Range: $39–$57
Boody takes care of men’s and women’s bodies when they’re in motion or at rest. They carry bike shorts for women—in both modest 5” or longer 8” inseams— which come equipped with a handy hidden pocket.
Boody’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The men’s and women’s bike shorts are made with a blend of 60-70% bamboo viscose, 20-30% GOTS-certified organic cotton, and ~10% spandex.
Their organically-grown bamboo fabric is certified by PETA, Ecocert, OEKO-TEX, and the FSC. It’s processed in a closed-loop system using non-toxic solvents. They utilize SGS testing to ensure all final products are free of harmful chemicals.
Supply chain & labor practices:
All organic bamboo is grown in responsibly managed forests in China, where it is also turned into bike shorts via partners that adhere to strict WRAP labor standards.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Eco packaging (recycled paper and vegetable inks) is used for all shipping.
Inclusivity:
Women’s sizes XS-XL and men’s sizes S-XL are available.
Girlfriend Collective
About Girlfriend Collective
Price Range: $48–$62
Bike the bullet and bust open those sustainable wallets because Girlfriend Collective has all the affordable yet comfy bike shorts you’ll ever need. Compression high rise, seamless maternity, pocket bike shorts, and more. They even have sustainable skorts (which are essentially just ethical bike shorts with an extra piece of fabric.)
Girlfriend Collective’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Their moisture wicking fabric consists of 79% BPA-free recycled bottles and 21% spandex. Both their recycled fabrics and safe dyes have OEKO-TEX certification.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Most of their supply chain is based overseas in factories that are verified by third parties and hold certifications like SA8000 and WRAP.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Water used to dye their fabrics is treated in a rigorous wastewater treatment facility before being disposed of in a healthy stream. All packaging is 100% recycled and recyclable, as these recycled polyester bike shorts are also fully recyclable via their closed loop program, ReGirlfriend.
Inclusivity:
The representation of models on their product pages is next level (like, Trek Butterfly Madone level). With plus-sized options a plenty, their ethical shorts range from XXS–6 XL.
My Personal Review of Girlfriend Collective’s FLOAT Ultralight Bike Short:
“I took a spin (literally) on the FLOAT Ultralight Bike Short, and I love how it strikes the perfect balance between a lightweight and breathable fabric that’s super secure and supportive where you need it—like the slightly tighter hems that keep the legs from riding up and the ultra-high tummy supporting waist.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
MATE The Label
About MATE the Label
Price Range: $85
Our slow fashion friend MATE the Label has our back with clean essentials for the whole family like the oh-so-rare organic cotton bike shorts that make us want to immediately hop on a Peloton….or just say we did.
MATE the Label’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
While these are mostly organic cotton bike shorts for women, they contain some spandex for that essential stretch. The color options are courtesy of low-impact dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The brand’s organic cotton is sourced in India and turned into shorts in an LA factory within 15 miles of their HQ. This local supply chain reduces their impact and means workers are provided with fair living wages and benefit from stricter labor laws.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Shipping materials by boat from India allows them to further minimize impact—but being Climate Neutral-certified doesn’t hurt, either!
Inclusivity:
The shorts are available XS–3X and their diverse selection of models is always inspiring. As one reviewer of their eco-friendly biker shorts writes: “Curvy gals, delight in this fit and fabric that don’t dig in and stay on comfortably.”
My Personal Review of MATE the Label’s Organic Stretch Biker Short:
“Love the convenience of bike shorts but hate the stifling, squeezing hug of spandex? Same, so I was stoked to find MATE’s mostly organic cotton bike shorts don’t feel like that at all. They still contain a little spandex, so there is plenty of shape retention, but they overall provide so much more mobility than other bike shorts I’ve tried. I will say the cotton makes them a little thicker and more moisture-retentive than I would want in literal bike shorts, but for a general home workout or just wearing casually, these are perfect. I practically lived in them this summer.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Tree Tribe
About Tree Tribe
Price Range: $30–$40
From child poses to downward dog, Tree Tribe’s eco-friendly bike shorts move with you. And let’s just say that warrior pose turned into a wacky warrior pose. Water-based inks are used to create high-resolution graphics on their fabrics. Fluorescent mirage, northern lights, unicorn galaxy, night leopard, snowflake, and many more.
Available in either natural or high-waisted options and sewn together with panels of flatlock stitching, the shorts are durable enough for working out, climbing mountains, or exploring exotic locations on your next vacation.
Tree Tribe’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Upcycled polyester and spandex provide a soft compression and flexible stretch.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Each item is handcrafted in the USA.
Inclusivity:
Their sizes are a little more limited, with sustainable women’s shorts ranging from XS–XL.
Community & charitable giving:
With each pair of sustainable yoga shorts (or whatever other sustainable yoga clothes) you buy, a tree is planted. They have planted over 400,000 trees in 12 different countries.
My Personal Review of Tree Tribe’s Exotic Escape Yoga Shorts:
“My favorite Tree Tribe item must be the comfy yoga shorts, in particular, the Exotic Escape design—because here at Sustainable Jungle, I obviously can’t resist anything jungle-themed! Fortunately, I never once felt like I needed to escape from wearing them. The super stretchy fabric—which isn’t too thick or compressive—is incredibly comfortable when either doing yoga or lounging around.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Threads 4 Thought
About Threads 4 Thought
Price Range: $38–$58
LA-based Threads 4 Thought helps us #WearThoughtfully with their activewear, loungewear, and basics for men, women, and kids.
For making pedal-powered positive change for our planet, their biker shorts for women are available in various styles and colors.
T4T’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Blended recycled polyester and spandex.
Supply chain & labor practices:
T4T works with many factories, which all adhere to a Code of Conduct that prohibits forced and child labor and excessive work hours, among other things.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
A Climate Neutral Certification applies to most of the brand’s range. Thanks to recycling and reuse, their partner factories use 50% less water on average.
Inclusivity:
Men’s shorts run S–XXL and women’s in XS–XXL.
Thank you for this exhaustive list! I didn’t want to order more pants from a fast fashion mega-corp. I placed an order with Threads 4 Thought and hope they work out!
You’re welcome Sheryl, would love to hear how the bike shorts turned out?
Unable to find any cycling shorts with chammy’s – all reviews are for lifestyle ‘bike shorts’ please don’t waste your time like I did. These are not brands for women who cycle more than 2 miles at a time.
Thank you for this long list of amazing companies☺️
But, do you know of anyone who makes bike shorts with padding? I am doing the long rides of 90 plus kilometres twice a week and need ’real’ bike shorts in order to ‘save my buy’ so to speak😉
Best wishes,
A hopeful female biker,
Kristina
We’ll keep an eye out Kristina, we’ve been asked a few times now! Let me know if you find any!