Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What are the best shorts for riding a recumbent trike? After years of touring around the world — and recently finishing my Van & Trike Tour across North America — I’ve learned that the shorts you wear on a recumbent matter WAY more than you might think.
Normal shorts can ride up your legs, dump your phone, wallet or keys out of your pockets, and put uncomfortable buttons, zippers and hardware directly between you and your recumbent seat.
So I went on Amazon, bought a pile of different cycling shorts, hiking shorts and men’s 3/4 capri pants, rode with them, and compared them to the shorts I’ve been using for years.
In this video I break down what I look for in the perfect recumbent riding shorts:
• Below-the-knee / 3/4 length
• Deep, secure pockets
• Zippered storage
• Lightweight but structured material
• Nothing uncomfortable pressing into the seat
• Comfortable both ON and OFF the trike
• Good enough for long-distance touring
Some were great. Some went straight back to Amazon. And one pair has officially replaced the shorts I’ve been touring in for years.
🚲 SHORTS FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO
🏆 TACVASEN Men’s Capri Pants — MY PICK
Quick Dry Cargo Hiking / 3/4 Long Shorts
amzn.to/4zqseJm
Hidkat Men’s 3/4 Capri Pants
Below Knee Long Shorts
amazon.com/dp/B0DNB29BD5
ARSUXEO Men’s Loose Fit Cycling Shorts
Mountain Bike / Water Resistant 1903
amzn.to/4hW27DR
Endura Men’s Hummvee 3/4 Shorts with Liner
Mountain Bike Baggy Cycling Shorts
EDIT: I later discovered the padded liner is removable! 🤦♂️
amzn.to/462MC5B
Little Donkey Andy Men’s Quick Dry 3/4 Pants
Lightweight Hiking / Fishing / Travel Capri Shorts
amzn.to/4qtggKU
BERGRISAR Men’s Cycling Shorts
Loose Fit Mountain Bike Shorts with 6 Pockets
amzn.to/4gzuhTI
THE OG SHORTS — EKLENTSON Men’s Cargo Shorts
These are the original shorts I’ve ridden in for years and are unfortunately no longer available, but here’s the old listing for reference:
amazon.com/dp/B07NNMG3ST
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 The Search for the Perfect Recumbent Shorts
01:46 Why Normal Gym Shorts DON’T Work
03:03 Why Recumbent Riding Changes Everything
03:49 How I Lost a Brand-New iPhone
05:40 My OG Recumbent Touring Shorts
06:02 Why I Prefer 3/4-Length Capri Shorts
08:26 The Crash That Destroyed My Other Pair
11:09 My Lightweight Kathmandu “North Face” Capris
13:16 Hidkat 3/4 Capri Workout Shorts
15:00 ARSUXEO Mountain Bike Shorts
16:52 Endura Hummvee 3/4 Cycling Shorts
17:40 Little Donkey Andy 3/4 Hiking Pants
19:08 BERGRISAR Mountain Bike Shorts
20:09 🏆 TACVASEN — My New Favorite Trike Shorts
20:48 Why These Won
22:40 36 vs. 38 Waist Fit
23:30 What Makes the Ideal Recumbent Short?
24:32 What I’m Keeping & Returning
25:34 Finding Recumbent Gear Is a Pain!
25:55 What’s Next for JaYoe?
WHY 3/4 SHORTS?
For me, the sweet spot is a pair of shorts that extends several inches below the knee. On a recumbent, your knees come much higher relative to your waist than they do on an upright bicycle. Shorter shorts can gradually ride up your legs, while normal open pockets can actually dump their contents as you pedal.
I’ve learned some of these lessons the expensive way!
I also want riding clothes that work when I get OFF the trike. When I’m touring, I might spend hours riding and then immediately walk around a village, city or restaurant. I don’t want to carry separate clothes just to look and feel normal off the bike.
That’s ultimately why I chose the pair I did.
⚠️ AMAZON DISCLOSURE
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them at no additional cost to you.
🚲 ABOUT JAYOE
I’ve ridden recumbent trikes tens of thousands of kilometers around the world, and this video wraps up the gear side of my recent Van & Trike Tour across North America.
With the tour behind me, it’s time for the next chapter.
China is next. 🇨🇳
Subscribe and come along for the ride.
加油! (Jiāyóu!)
#RecumbentTrike #RecumbentCycling #CyclingGear #CyclingShorts #TrikeTouring #BikeTouring #RecumbentBike #CyclingTips #JaYoe
What are the best shorts for riding a recumbent trike? After years of touring around the world — and recently finishing my Van & Trike Tour across North America — I’ve learned that the shorts you wear on a recumbent matter WAY more than you might think.
Normal shorts can ride up your legs, dump your phone, wallet or keys out of your pockets, and put uncomfortable buttons, zippers and hardware directly between you and your recumbent seat.
So I went on Amazon, bought a pile of different cycling shorts, hiking shorts and men’s 3/4 capri pants, rode with them, and compared them to the shorts I’ve been using for years.
In this video I break down what I look for in the perfect recumbent riding shorts:
• Below-the-knee / 3/4 length
• Deep, secure pockets
• Zippered storage
• Lightweight but structured material
• Nothing uncomfortable pressing into the seat
• Comfortable both ON and OFF the trike
• Good enough for long-distance touring
Some were great. Some went straight back to Amazon. And one pair has officially replaced the shorts I’ve been touring in for years.
🚲 SHORTS FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO
🏆 TACVASEN Men’s Capri Pants — MY PICK
Quick Dry Cargo Hiking / 3/4 Long Shorts
amzn.to/4zqseJm
Hidkat Men’s 3/4 Capri Pants
Below Knee Long Shorts
amazon.com/dp/B0DNB29BD5
ARSUXEO Men’s Loose Fit Cycling Shorts
Mountain Bike / Water Resistant 1903
amzn.to/4hW27DR
Endura Men’s Hummvee 3/4 Shorts with Liner
Mountain Bike Baggy Cycling Shorts
EDIT: I later discovered the padded liner is removable! 🤦♂️
amzn.to/462MC5B
Little Donkey Andy Men’s Quick Dry 3/4 Pants
Lightweight Hiking / Fishing / Travel Capri Shorts
amzn.to/4qtggKU
BERGRISAR Men’s Cycling Shorts
Loose Fit Mountain Bike Shorts with 6 Pockets
amzn.to/4gzuhTI
THE OG SHORTS — EKLENTSON Men’s Cargo Shorts
These are the original shorts I’ve ridden in for years and are unfortunately no longer available, but here’s the old listing for reference:
amazon.com/dp/B07NNMG3ST
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 The Search for the Perfect Recumbent Shorts
01:46 Why Normal Gym Shorts DON’T Work
03:03 Why Recumbent Riding Changes Everything
03:49 How I Lost a Brand-New iPhone
05:40 My OG Recumbent Touring Shorts
06:02 Why I Prefer 3/4-Length Capri Shorts
08:26 The Crash That Destroyed My Other Pair
11:09 My Lightweight Kathmandu “North Face” Capris
13:16 Hidkat 3/4 Capri Workout Shorts
15:00 ARSUXEO Mountain Bike Shorts
16:52 Endura Hummvee 3/4 Cycling Shorts
17:40 Little Donkey Andy 3/4 Hiking Pants
19:08 BERGRISAR Mountain Bike Shorts
20:09 🏆 TACVASEN — My New Favorite Trike Shorts
20:48 Why These Won
22:40 36 vs. 38 Waist Fit
23:30 What Makes the Ideal Recumbent Short?
24:32 What I’m Keeping & Returning
25:34 Finding Recumbent Gear Is a Pain!
25:55 What’s Next for JaYoe?
WHY 3/4 SHORTS?
For me, the sweet spot is a pair of shorts that extends several inches below the knee. On a recumbent, your knees come much higher relative to your waist than they do on an upright bicycle. Shorter shorts can gradually ride up your legs, while normal open pockets can actually dump their contents as you pedal.
I’ve learned some of these lessons the expensive way!
I also want riding clothes that work when I get OFF the trike. When I’m touring, I might spend hours riding and then immediately walk around a village, city or restaurant. I don’t want to carry separate clothes just to look and feel normal off the bike.
That’s ultimately why I chose the pair I did.
⚠️ AMAZON DISCLOSURE
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them at no additional cost to you.
🚲 ABOUT JAYOE
I’ve ridden recumbent trikes tens of thousands of kilometers around the world, and this video wraps up the gear side of my recent Van & Trike Tour across North America.
With the tour behind me, it’s time for the next chapter.
China is next. 🇨🇳
Subscribe and come along for the ride.
加油! (Jiāyóu!)
#RecumbentTrike #RecumbentCycling #CyclingGear #CyclingShorts #TrikeTouring #BikeTouring #RecumbentBike #CyclingTips #JaYoe
