RideGuard™ Impact Shorts
Crafted for those who move with rhythm and purpose
Padding that stays where it belongs, ride after ride
Most riders blame the seat. It's rarely the seat — it's the two hours of unbroken pressure on the same three square inches. RideGuard's memory foam spreads that load across your sit bones and tailbone, and the four-way stretch base layer keeps the pads locked in place instead of sliding down your thigh at the first bump.
Details & Size
Material
Polyester / spandex / nylon blend. Four-way stretch with breathable mesh ventilation panels.
What's included
One pair of shorts with removable impact pads. Red pads for upright and forward riding positions, grey pad for laid-back cruiser positions.
Sizing
Available S–3XL. Designed to sit snug against the body so the padding stays in place. Between sizes? Size down.
Care
Remove the pads before washing. Machine wash cold at 30°C, hang dry. Do not tumble dry, bleach or iron the padded panels.
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Processing
Orders are processed within 1–2 business days.
Delivery
5–9 business days within the EU. You'll receive tracking as soon as your order ships.
Shipping cost
Free on orders over €100. Standard rates apply below that.
Returns
30 days to return, unworn and with tags attached. Return shipping is at your own cost unless the item is faulty.
Size guarantee
If the size misses the mark, we'll swap it for free. Just email info@sonicnord.com.
Payment Methods
Material
Polyester / spandex / nylon blend. Four-way stretch with breathable mesh ventilation panels.
What's included
One pair of shorts with removable impact pads. Red pads for upright and forward riding positions, grey pad for laid-back cruiser positions.
Sizing
Available S–3XL. Designed to sit snug against the body so the padding stays in place. Between sizes? Size down.
Care
Remove the pads before washing. Machine wash cold at 30°C, hang dry. Do not tumble dry, bleach or iron the padded panels.
Shipping & Returns
Processing
Orders are processed within 1–2 business days.
Delivery
5–9 business days within the EU. You'll receive tracking as soon as your order ships.
Shipping cost
Free on orders over €100. Standard rates apply below that.
Returns
30 days to return, unworn and with tags attached. Return shipping is at your own cost unless the item is faulty.
Size guarantee
If the size misses the mark, we'll swap it for free. Just email info@sonicnord.com.
Frequently bought together
Rider reviews
Rob D.
No more stopping every hour
Rode 380 km last Sunday on my Softail. Used to be that after an hour I was shifting around in the seat looking for a spot that didn't hurt. Got off the bike this time and honestly forgot I had them on. Went with the cruiser pad, fits my riding position perfectly.
Marc W.
Two-day trip through the Eifel, no complaints
Did about 700 km over a weekend with the wife on the back. Normally by the second afternoon I'm counting down to every fuel stop. Not this time. Took the upright pads since I lean forward a fair bit on the GS. Only note is they run a touch generous, could have gone a size down.
Kevin B.
Pads come out, that's the bit I like
Bought these mostly out of curiosity. The removable pads are smarter than I expected — chuck them out before the wash and the shorts dry overnight. Build quality is a lot better than the cheap ones I ordered off a marketplace last year, those flattened out after three rides.
Spread the load, not just soften it
A gel seat pad still puts your full weight on the same two points — it just adds a layer. RideGuard works the other way round: the memory foam sits on you, not on the bike, so it spreads pressure across your sit bones, tailbone and thighs and moves with you every time you shift in the saddle.
Load spread across three zones
Sit bones, tailbone and upper thighs share the weight instead of two contact points.
Moves with you, not against you
Four-way stretch keeps the pads in place as your position shifts through the ride.
Load spread across three zones
Sit bones, tailbone and upper thighs share the weight instead of two contact points.
Compare
RideGuard vs
The Usual Fixes
Most riders try a gel pad or a sheepskin first. Here's why they keep coming back to this.
| RideGuard | Seat Pads & Covers | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the padding sits | On your body, moving with you | On the seat, you slide across it |
| Riding position | Two pad types — upright & forward, or laid back | One shape for every bike |
| Pressure points covered | Sit bones, tailbone and upper thighs | Seat surface only |
| Heat build-up | Mesh panels and full-depth air channels | Gel traps heat, sheepskin worse in summer |
| Switching bikes | Goes where you go | Stays strapped to one seat |
| Visible on the bike | Nothing to see, worn under your jeans | Changes how the bike looks |
| Cost | €49,95 | €80 to €400+ for a custom seat |
Two bones carry everything
Sit on a bike and almost your entire upper body weight lands on your ischial tuberosities — the sit bones. The soft tissue between them takes the rest. That's why the discomfort starts in the same spot every ride, and why a softer seat doesn't fix it.
Padding placed by anatomy
Foam sits directly over the sit bones and tailbone, not spread evenly across the whole short.
Load pushed outward
Ridged surface zones move weight onto the surrounding thigh instead of two pressure points.
Stays aligned as you move
Compression fabric holds the pads over the same spot whether you're leaning forward or sitting back.
FAQ
Everything riders ask before they buy.
Which pad type should I choose?
Go by how you sit on the bike. If you lean forward — sport, naked, adventure — take the red pads. They cover your sit bones and upper thighs, where the weight lands when you're tipped forward. If you sit upright or laid back on a cruiser or tourer, take the grey pad. It covers the sit bones and tailbone, which is where your weight goes in that position. Ride both styles? Some riders order one of each.
Will anyone be able to tell I'm wearing them?
No. They're cut as a base layer with no bulk at the waist and no visible seams through denim. Pull them on under your jeans in the morning, wear them off the bike at the coffee stop, nobody looks twice.
Do the pads shift around while riding?
They sit in fitted internal pockets, and the compression fabric holds them against your body rather than against your trousers. That's the difference with cheaper padded shorts — those migrate down your leg on rough road and end up padding your knee instead of your backside.
I've already tried a gel seat pad. Why is this different?
A seat pad sits between you and the bike, so your weight still lands on the same two points — it just adds a layer underneath. RideGuard sits on you. The padding moves with you every time you shift position, and it goes wherever you go: your other bike, a rental, a mate's pillion seat.
Won't I overheat in summer?
The base layer is moisture-wicking with mesh ventilation panels, and the pads have air channels running through the full thickness of the foam rather than just holes in the surface. Heat moves out instead of sitting against your skin. Most riders report they run cooler than in plain cotton underwear.
How do I know which size to order?
Take your normal size. Between sizes? Go down — these are meant to sit snug so the padding stays put. We stock XXS to 5XL, and more than half our orders are 2XL and up. If the size misses when it arrives, we swap it free.
How do I wash them?
Take the pads out first, then machine wash cold at 30°C and hang dry. No tumble dryer, no bleach, and don't iron the padded panels. The pads themselves wipe clean with a damp cloth.
What if they don't work for me?
Thirty days to try them. Ride in them, put some real miles on them. If they're not doing what you hoped, send them back for a full refund. No forms, no questions.
Trusted by riders worldwide
No more stopping every hour
Rode 380 km last Sunday on the Softail. Used to be that after an hour I was shifting around looking for a spot that didn't hurt. Got off the bike this time and honestly forgot I had them on.
Works, but order a size down
Did about 700 km over a weekend through the Eifel. Normally by the second afternoon I'm counting down to every fuel stop, not this time. Only note is they run a touch generous. Should have taken the XL. Support sorted a swap without any fuss.
Tried the gel pad first. Waste of money.
Had a gel seat pad strapped to the Gold Wing for two seasons. Slid around, got hot, didn't actually help much. These do more for a fraction of what I paid for that thing, and they come with me when I'm on the other bike.
Wore them through a heatwave
Was sceptical about extra layers in 32 degrees. Genuinely cooler than the cotton boxers I usually ride in. The vents in the foam aren't just for show.
Nobody knows they're on
Main thing I was worried about was walking around a café looking like I was wearing a nappy. Zero bulk under jeans. Wife didn't notice until I told her.