The Best Underwear for Horse Riding of 2026

The no-roll waistband is the first thing we notice about the Reamphy shorts, and it is the reason they earn a place here. A waistband that folds under breeches turns a good ride into a fidgety one, and this pair is built to sit flat without digging in. The smooth boyshort cut also slides under close-fitting breeches without bunching at the leg.

The fabric is soft, stretchy, and breathable, and the leg openings stay put without a grippy band. The three-pack is a practical rotation for riders who wash gear often. They are not as flat at the front as the YADIFEN pair, but they make up for it with a more relaxed feel around the waist.

The lighter colors are the weak point: nude and white can show through light breeches, so treat those as layering colors rather than stand-alone shorts. If you mainly want a smooth, no-roll short and do not need compression, this is the one we keep coming back to.

Cotton is a deliberate choice, not a default. If you like the feel of a natural fiber against your skin and you are not spending hours sweating in the saddle, the wirarpa boy shorts are the pair we point to. The cut is roomy through the leg, which keeps the fabric from creeping into the crease where chafing starts.

The cotton is soft and gets softer with washing, and the four-pack is a sensible rotation for everyday riding. The boy-short length gives more coverage than a brief without the slick, compressed feel of a shaping short. We also like that the waistband is soft rather than a wide band of firm elastic, so it does not press into you when you sit deep.

The trade-off is moisture. Cotton holds onto sweat longer than a synthetic blend, so on a hot, long ride it can feel damp against the saddle. We treat these as a cool-weather or shorter-ride pair, and we size up if we are between sizes because the fit runs close.

They are also less opaque than the dark colors suggest, so pair them with breeches you trust. If you want cotton next to skin and a relaxed leg, this is the pair; if you need fast-drying performance, go with a synthetic short instead.

Thin and airy is the point of the Yeblues shorts, and it is why they earn a spot for hot-weather rides. The fabric is light, and the no-roll waist keeps them from turning into a folded band under breeches. We like that they add almost no bulk through the seat, which matters when your breeches already fit closely.

The long leg gives good coverage against inner-thigh rub, and the stretch is generous without feeling loose. In warm weather, the thin fabric is a relief; it does not trap heat the way a heavier cotton short can. The four-pack is also useful if you ride several days a week and do not want to run laundry every night. For a rider who overheats easily, the breathability is worth the trade.

The BESTENA four-pack is the budget entry we recommend, and it does the basics well: the shorts are soft, stretchy, and breathable, with a waist that stays put instead of rolling down. The leg is long enough to cover the inner thigh, and the fabric is thin enough to disappear under breeches. For a rider who wants to test whether a short layer helps before spending more, this is the low-risk way in.

The seams are the weak point. A few pairs have split at the seam, so we inspect them after the first wash and keep the darker colors for riding. Those are real caveats, but the four-pack makes this a sensible starter set for a rider who is not ready to commit to a premium pair.

The TDONE five-pack is a brief, not a short, and that is the whole reason to consider it. Some riders hate the feel of a leg band under close breeches, especially in the summer, and a seamless high-waisted brief can be the cleaner choice. The full-coverage front and flat seams are designed to disappear under leggings and breeches.

The fabric is soft and stretchy, and the high rise stays put without a visible panty line. It suits riders who do not have a serious inner-thigh chafe problem and mainly want a smooth layer that will not show through light-colored breeches. The five-pack is generous for the money.

The obvious limit is coverage: a brief cannot protect the inner thigh the way a boyshort or short can, so if your chafing starts where your legs meet, this is not the pair. For a rider who wants minimal bulk and a flat front, it is a useful alternative to the shorts on this list.

The reason the POKARLA shorts are here is the size range. The listing covers regular and plus sizes, which is more than many of the boyshorts on this page, and the cotton boxer cut is aimed at the same inner-thigh rub as the rest. For a rider who has had trouble finding a cotton short that goes up in size, that matters.

The fabric is soft and the leg is roomy, so it does not feel like a compression short. The waistband is gentle on the belly, and the shorts stay in place without rolling up on the thigh. They suit cool-weather riding and riders who prefer a natural fiber next to skin.

The sizing is inconsistent, and the shorts run small for some riders, so the size chart is not a sure thing. The roomy leg helps, but you may need to size up or order two sizes and return one.

If you are plus-size and want cotton, these are worth a look, but order with a return plan and check the waist before you ride. For a hot-weather ride or a rider who wants a seamless synthetic layer, the YADIFEN or Yeblues shorts are the better fit.