Bicycle. Do padded biker shorts really work instead of replacing an uncomfortable seat or is it a gimmick?

Even the most perfectly fitted saddle is uncomfortable the first few times out. After 40 years of cycling, I still feel some discomfort the first couple of times on the road each spring, even if I train indoors all winter. Cycling shorts help, the padding is perfectly placed to relieve pressure, good ones will have pads of varying thickness that won't bunch up. The long tight fit of the legs of the shorts protect your inner thighs from friction against the sides of the saddle. The fabric wicks sweat away from your skin and allows it to evaporate into the air