Pads - not chamois anymore - come in various widths, lengths, thicknesses, densities, seamed, unseamed.... You want something that's comfortable. The hunt for comfortable shorts can be arduous. Those of us who have found comfortable shorts like them. No need to start the hunt unless you experience chafing.
Chamois is a type of leather, soft, smooth, leather. It was replaced by synthetic stuff primarily because of cost but also because synthetics dry faster. Cheaper, dry faster ... less comfortable, more prone to hosting bacteria colonies. Maybe not a great trade-off. Chamois cream wasn't a product until synthetics took over the market....
Last edited by philbob57; 10-06-18 at 02:52 PM.