The 10 Best Running Shorts

Our male testers gave the Patagonia – Strider Pro top marks across the board for comfort, design and overall quality. Made of polyester stretch ripstop (that also happens to be 100% recycled), these shorts are both water-repellant and breathable. “They remained dry throughout my run without building up sweat,” one tester noted.

Another tester tried out the shorts in 40-degree weather and was surprised at how comfortable they were. “They kept the chill off, but didn’t get too hot,” he said. The shorts have large side vents that open up air flow as you run, and their antimicrobial inner lining and brief help keep things in place. The Strider Pro shorts also offer plenty of thoughtfully designed storage: four large envelope pockets on the sides and back made of stretch material and one center back zippered pocket for a phone. They’re available in 5-inch and 7-inch versions to fit shorter and longer legs.

The Girlfriend Collective – Trail Short combines running shorts with a built-in compression design under loose shorts. Our testers liked these shorts the best because their 2-in-1 feature made them easy and comfortable for running and other fitness, like yoga and pilates.

The wide band comprises a smooth elastic that doesn’t irritate the skin during exercise. The built-in compression shorts also prevent chafing between the thighs compared to the bikini-cut brief of other running shorts, even with a 2-inch inseam. To keep small items like keys or identification cards, there is a zippered back pocket that keeps your items safe and secure. We were surprised that it could almost fit an entire iPhone 13 Pro. Read more…

Lastly, we appreciate the sustainable and durable material Girlfriend Collective uses. These shorts are made of 100% recycled plastic and are certified as fair trade by Social Accountability International (SAI). These shorts are priced at $55, which is similar to other brand name shorts.

Made of polyester and spandex, the unique design of the Oiselle – Toolbelt Roga shorts feels like a hybrid of classic, airy running shorts and comfy yoga shorts. Their wide, stretch waistband, one tester said, was “as comfortable as my favorite yoga pants.” Below the waistband, the Roga transforms into a lightweight, breathable short that feels like air on the legs.

The “toolbelt” in the name refers to the Roga’s waistband, which includes no fewer than five pockets: four mesh pouches (two large and two small) along the front and sides and one zippered center back pocket above the rear. We stowed our phone in the back pocket and our keys and an energy gel in the smaller mesh pockets, and all remained solid and secure as we ran. The Roga features a built-in brief and is available in 1.75-inch, 4-inch and 6-inch inseams. We tested the 4-inch version and didn’t experience any chafing.

Made of quick-drying “HeatGear” fabric — a polyester and elastane blend meant to wick sweat from the body — the Under Armour – HeatGear compression shorts are designed to stay cool and comfortable. Because they don’t have any seams in high-abrasion areas, they minimize rubbing as well. They’re also anti-microbial and have a wide, 2-inch waistband to prevent them from sliding down as you run.

In short, the HeatGear shorts delivered. The wider waistband did help keep them up; they didn’t slide down or require any adjustment. Our testers reported that the shorts wicked moisture away well, didn’t chafe, kept them cool and “held things in place.”Read more…

The Mid length we tested comes in both regular (6-inch) and tall (8-inch) inseams, and the shorts are also available in Long (9-inch) and Extra Long (11-inch) lengths. Under Armour offers an inclusive size range: XS to 5XL.

The Senita – Rio shorts are the kind of effortlessly comfortable pair of shorts you want to wear all day long. They fit close to the body and feel like a second skin, but their nylon and spandex fabric stretches just enough to move and flex easily. During our tester’s run, the Rio shorts didn’t ride up — no awkward adjustments required — and their 7-inch length effectively protected our tester’s thighs from chafing.

The Rio shorts have one small pocket in the waistband that would fit a key, credit card or energy gel and two deep pockets built into the legs of the shorts. We were skeptical about storing our phone against our legs while running, but the Rio’s pockets were so snug that our phone didn’t budge as we ran. The Rio is available in 3.75-inch and 7-inch inseams, and you can also choose between high-waisted or regular shorts. There’s also a 5-inch maternity version; for a 5-inch non-maternity short with a fit similar to the Rio, check out the Senita – Baseline

The Brooks – Sherpa men’s running shorts are thoughtfully designed and comparable in quality to the Patagonia shorts, but lost major points because our testers couldn’t fit a smartphone into any of its three pockets. Despite this flaw, our testers appreciated that its back zippered pocket is moisture-resistant to protect its contents from sweat.

Besides this flaw, the Sherpa shorts are thoughtfully designed and comparable in quality to the Patagonia shorts, even though the Patagonias cost about $20 more. Our testers called the shorts “well-fitted” and noted that they “didn’t billow or flow in the wind.” Their DriLayer (moisture-wicking polyester) shell was soft, lightweight, and did indeed dry very quickly, and the interior mesh liner was comfortable and kept us chafe-free. “They’re much cooler and breezier than other shorts I’ve worn,” said one tester. The Sherpa shorts come in 5-inch and 7-inch inseams.

CRZ Yoga – Workout Shorts are classic running shorts made from polyester and spandex. They feature a loose-fitting outer layer and mesh liner briefs underneath. These shorts come in two inseam lengths, 4 and 2.5 inches, and are mid-rise (however, on petite-sized people, it sits at a high-rise level) with a drawstring waist to adjust the width. The wide band was secure and comfortable, and the back zippered pocket could hold valuable items during exercise.

Even though CRZ Yoga states the 4-inch inseam helps reduce chafing, our tester still experienced chafing between the thighs while running, and the briefs also rode up during movement, making them uncomfortable. These shorts come at a more affordable price with many different colors and sizes available. However, be wary of potential chafing around the edging of the brief liners if you are prone to these issues.

For women looking for a well-designed pair of classic running shorts, the Under Armour – Fly-By shorts fit the bill. Made of 100% polyester, which our tester called “super-soft and breezy,” the shorts also include a lightweight interior brief and mesh side panels for increased airflow. “Some shorts start to feel soggy when sweat in them, but these stayed dry,” our tester commented. The shorts’ 3-inch inseam was just long enough to prevent her thighs from chafing.

The Fly-By shorts have two deep side pockets and a hidden internal front pocket that’s just big enough for a key or an energy gel. The one thing missing from the Fly-By shorts is a zippered pocket for more secure phone storage.

The Sub Sports – Dual Compression shorts were a close runner-up behind the men’s Under Armour shorts, due to their tendency to slide down and require adjustment during a run.

The Sub Sports shorts are made of a nylon and elastane blend with “Moisture Transport Technology” — a combination that our testers found breathable, but a little on the warm side. “They weren’t too hot, but I would probably only wear them during colder weather,” said one tester. The Sub Sports shorts have a 9-inch inseam, which is great for preventing chafing but may be too long for some runners.

The Road Runner – R-Gear Recharge women’s compression shorts were right on the heels of the Senita compression shorts we tested, but we found that they weren’t as efficient at wicking away moisture. “They were breathable, but I could feel my sweat while I was wearing them,” said one tester.

Besides breathability, the polyester-spandex Recharge shorts prevent chafing and stayed up well as our tester ran. We also like their anti-bacterial liner and back zippered pocket, which is big enough to hold an average-sized phone. The Recharge shorts come in a good range of inseams for various leg lengths: 3.5-inch, 6-inch and 8-inch.