Triathlon padded briefs are good if you do not suffer from the saddle rubbing on your inner thighs during the bike section, your thighs rubbing together during the run section and you are happy to be watched and photographed by strangers as you go around the course without feeling exposed and embarrassed. I got 8 seconds on regional TV after my first triathlon, but then I did draft onto the TV camera car while wearing a red and turquoise tri-suit.
Although swim jammers, cycle shorts and Lycra running shorts look similar there are design differences in them and compromises have to be made to make triathlon shorts that work well in all 3 sports.
Cycle shorts have a seat pad, originally made from the skin of the Swiss chamois goat, although synthetic pads are now used. A thinner and faster drying pad has to be used in triathlon shorts.
Cycle shorts have leg grippers and swim jammers have elastic in the leg end hems to stretch the shorts past the big upper leg muscles and achieve a compression effect, this is not wanted when running (and is irritating) so there is nothing added to the leg end hems. The shorts are able to ride up over the upper leg muscles without ill effect and can be shortened if desired.
Cycle shorts have very high waists, as the racing cyclist bends forwards over the handlebars and low waisted shorts might expose the small of his back on chilly days. Swimmers prefer lower waisted jammers, the solution to this issue is lower cut shorts and upper body clothing that is longer at the back (to reach the shorts) or is cut away so as only to give somewhere to pin a number. (The upper clothing to be put on at the swim/bike transition).
Jammers are designed to be worn without underwear (though some swimmers wear speedos underneath) but many have some form of inner lining. Cycle shorts are meant to be worn without underwear and are shaped with space and support at the front. Lycra running shorts are designed to be worn with underwear, their 2 panel design leaves little in the way of space or support for the runner who goes commando. Since many jammers and cycle shorts use the more supporting and comfortable 6 panel design, it seems better to make tri shorts in this pattern.
The side panels in cycle shorts are curved into a natural sitting position, while jammers and Lycra running shorts have straight sides. The tri shorts designer must decide whether to make his shorts straight sided or give a little curve to them.
Triathlon shorts should have a waist cord to tie them, jammers, Lycra running shorts and some cycle shorts have waist cords. A garment that will go through the varied rigours of a triathlon needs to be secured and ignored through the course of the event.
After working through the design compromises above I would rather like to make some triathlon padded swim briefs and shorts just to see how they come out.
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