Why is everyone wearing cycling shorts? Because they’re amazing! From spin class to just sitting around, sustainable bike shorts are the perfect warm weather counterpart to sustainable leggings.
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 our Brand Rating System is going to consider labor practices AND sweat-ready sustainable materials—along with much more in this 22 criteria system you can read about here. Cycle back to this piece in coming weeks to check for updates to the list based on this new vetting process.
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.
The Best Eco-Friendly Bike Shorts
If you’re looking for bike shorts that don’t ride up, take a spin in Girlfriend Collective’s sustainable biker shorts. They’re stretchy, light-weight, and made from recycled water bottles.
Index: Recycled Or Organic Bike 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 sustainable 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 bamboo 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.
Community & charitable giving:
In addition to supporting 1% For the Planet, Boody supports a variety of other organizations with their time and returned/unsold products.
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 and 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.)
We took a spin (literally) on the FLOAT Ultralight Bike Short. We 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.
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.
MATE The Label
About MATE the Label
Price Range: $85
Our slow fashion friend MATE the Label always 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 wear the comfy bike shorts and say we did.
The Organic Stretch Biker Short has quickly become a favorite garment of ours, especially for lounging about in warmer months. Because they’re organic, they don’t fit and suction too tightly, so while we find they’re perfectly suitable for working out, they more comfortable than the average pair of bike shorts for less active activities.
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.”
Community & charitable giving:
As 1% For the Planet members, they’ve donated more than $500 million to countries around the globe supporting environmental and social welfare causes.
Tree Tribe
About Tree Tribe
Price Range: $30–$40
From child poses to downward dog, Tree Tribe’s sustainable yoga 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 flat lock stitching, the sustainable shorts are durable enough for working out, climbing mountains, or exploring exotic locations on your next vacation.
What better than the Exotic Escape shorts?! That’s the pattern we went with when we tested these shorts. Fortunately, we never once felt like we 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.
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.
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 eco-friendly bike shorts for women are available in various styles and colors.
T4T’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
These sustainable bike shorts are made of 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:
Sustainable men’s shorts run S–XXL and women’s in XS–XXL.
Community & charitable giving:
Through a partnership with the International Rescue Committee, a portion of profits benefit in-need communities in the wake of disaster.
Amber obtained Bachelor of Arts degrees in English, Creative Writing, and Psychology from The University of Oxford and Arcadia University. She is an avid crafter, gardener, quail farmer, wannabe novelist, and self-proclaimed eco adventurer. From living in a camper van to living in a tiny house, she is enamored by the small and self-sufficient; and aspires to one day become an off-grid micro-farmer, bridging sustainability with non-toxic living and eating. With a passion for outdoor sports like rock climbing, skiing, and travel, having already backpacked across 30 countries, she is always up for the next big adventure while seeking ways to minimize her impact along the way.
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!