SynergyMen's Tri Shorts

I have owned multiple pairs of the other Synergy bike / Tri shorts which I have really enjoyed through 6 sprint triathlons and many miles of training. Unfortunately, these shorts just don't fill the bill for me. Even though I purchased the same size, these don't fit comfortably and the chamois is a really poor design. The quality appears to be good, but beyond that I just don't like them. Too bad I missed the return window or they would have gone back. Wore my old shorts in my May Triathlon.

I like these tri shorts - the material seems nice, the drawstring is flat and substantial but unobtrusive, and the leg grips seem wide and effective, but without the nubby bumps or sticky feel common to most tri shorts. The stitching seems nicely done and the fit pretty much matched the size chart. My sizing is right at the top end of their specs for Synergy medium sized shorts for waist and hips, and the fit on me reflected that - nice fit at those 2 locations. The fit around the thighs is a bit snug, but I have large thighs (5000+ miles cycling/year) so most people shouldn't have a problem. And their email told me the inseam for the medium was 6 to 6.5 inches, which was perfect for my needs. The pad seems about the right thickness for tri shorts, and had a thin, clear plastic "sanitary protection" sheet glued to the center of the pad, which I presume is removable before use? (No paperwork or instructions came with the shorts, so ?)However, the pad insert is 50% wider than in any of my other tri shorts - 4" wide at the crotch versus 2" wide on TYR shorts, and 8" wide at the rear! This was not uncomfortable when I tried them on over a pair of thin unpadded compression shorts, but the extra width CHANGES the inseam measurement data. Yes, the inseam is 6" measured from the edge of the insert pad. However the extra pad width means it is closer to being a 9" inseam when worn. (Laying them flat on my TYR tri shorts with a 7" inseam measured from the pad, the Synergy shorts have about 1.5 inches extra length when their waist and pad is aligned with the TYRs).Unfortunately, I need an inseam 7" or smaller because I use a Humon Hex muscle oxygen monitor. A 9" inseam would mean the monitor would need to be too close to my kneecap. So while the 9" length would not be a problem for many users, it was a deal breaker for me.These will be great tri shorts for many people, well constructed and with a nice fit. Just be aware that the leg openings will be a bit snug if you have big thigh muscles, and the extra wide pad makes the inseam measurement misleading.

Very happy with my purchase. I tested the shorts on an Olympic distance triathlon, comfortable enough padding for the bike leg and light enough that I found it barely noticeable on the run.I did end up buying one size up from my usual after reading the reviews saying it runs small. I was happy with the fit of the size L, not too tight and not too loose either.

Summary: Very good tri short. Would recommend, just be careful on the sizing. I’ve used these shorts for about 4 months now, mostly for road and MTB training, one race, one time backcountry skiing as a compression layer. Overall I am very pleased with the value and performance, and would recommend to others. I do feel that the sizing is a bit slim, but this has not affected comfort for me and in some ways is likely a benefit in terms of performance and long-term durability. If your training starts to slip and you like good food and drink as much as I do these shorts will probably let you know, if you know what I mean. Compared to shorts from many other brands that I’ve used and considering the price-point I think these are at least as good if not better than many others. I am particularly happy with the comfort and slimness of the padding, and feel that the cushioning is comparable to higher-end shorts but with less bulk, weight and water retention. I took away one star because like others have experienced the logos on my shorts began to fail after first use. It’s a shame because I think the logo is pretty cool and helps the aesthetics. Getting a swim cap with the order was a nice plus. Good job Synergy on this product, just make those logos stick!Reviewed by a multisport athlete with 25+ years experience

I purchased these for the Xterra triathlon this summer and I was very pleased overall with their performance. I was nervous since some of the other reviews said they run small. I am a medium for Pearl Izumi and have a 31 waist so I went with that. They were a little snug but they are a compression short and well they are supposed to be a little snug. As far as the legs, they felt a little tight when I tried them on but during the event I did not even notice them, in fact I had my best bike split ever. I am not new to triathlon and have other shorts but these out perform every thing else I own. The chamois is more comfortable that other tri specific shorts and dries out quicker. If you are thinking these will replace a regular pair of cycling specific shorts with a good chamois, think again. Tri shorts are designed to dry fast, provide cushion on the bike and not feel like a diaper during the run and these are great for that but they are not your standard cycling shorts. That being said, they are worlds better than a pair of Jammers, believe me I know. Overall I am very happy with these shorts and would recommend them to a friend.