The Best Athletic Shorts for Men to Buy in 2024, Tested by Editors

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THE TRUTH IS the best athletic shorts have the perfect combination of fashion and function. Whether you're going for a run or meeting friends for happy hour, an ideal pair should look and feel great in either settings. At Men's Health, we've tested countless athletic shorts for the past couple years to create our shortlist of the best ones to shop right now.

Our top picks are produced by a blend of performance fabrics that will wick away moisture and dry down quickly after sweat-inducing workouts. They also offer a hint of stretch to move freely and a handful of pockets to prevent your belongings from bouncing around during lengthy runs. Most of all, our roundup includes the best athletic shorts that won't make you look like a slab—taking you from the gym to the coffee shop and so on.

What to Consider

Length:

Pay close attention to the inseam length when picking out a pair of athletic shorts. If you're planning to wear them for running, you'll want something on the shorter side (think 5-inch inseam or less), so there isn't excess material getting in the way of your strides. For lifting, opt for something longer so you have coverage between your leg and the bench or barbell. A 7-inch inseam is a happy medium if you do a little bit of everything.

Material:

There are so many different types of material blends that are being created for athletic shorts. Now, the standard for a good pair of shorts seems to start with premium features like 4-way stretch, water-resistance, odor resistance and moisture-wicking capabilties. Quality athletic shorts are lightweight and breathable too—with many brands going to extra mile to create their own synthetic fabrics or add in their own unique liners. But we also cannot forget to recognize a good ol' fashioned pair of cotton shorts, a material that's forever a reliable go-to.

Pockets:

Pockets can make or break any pair of shorts or pants, but especially athletic shorts. Most of us work out with our smartphone nowadays, but regular side pockets won't keep it secure when you're doing high-impact workouts with lots of movement. Look for zippered pockets that are big enough to hold the essentials like your phone and keys. Or, the holy grail pocket, a liner pouch that will keep your phone securely in place.

How We Selected

To find the best athletics shorts for men, our style and fitness editors have personally tried on a variety of options that work in settings beyond the gym. For instance, we've worn Vuori's Kore Short during casual outings to grab coffee and GymShark's Arrival Shorts to run errands. We also consulted with our fitness director who also put more than 50 pairs of athletic shorts through the wringer—evaluating each one based on its design, performance, and durability.

Pace Breaker Lined Short 5"

We're set on the opinion every guy should own a pair of Pace Breakers. We've worn these athletic shorts for the last couple years (if not more) and they've held up no matter how many workouts and washes we've put them through. You have a choice of 5, 7 or 9-inch inseam in a variety of colors. Designed for endless comfort, this pair comes with fabric that wicks away moisture, dries quickly and stretches for you to move freely. We love that these shorts give your thighs and glutes ample breathing room as you're running in the gym or outside.

Read More: Best Running Shorts

Kore Short 5"

We love that the Kore Short is not limited to the gym. We found that it looked great in most casual settings, so you can wear them to grab coffee, lunch or groceries. Thanks to its moisture-wicking fabric, Vuori’s bestseller short held up during our sweaty workout sessions and dried super fast. There was also no sign of any kind of odor. Another bonus: this pair comes with built-in boxer-brief liner, which provides extra security to keep your nether regions comfortable and in place.

UA Launch Elite 7'' Shorts

We know how inconvenient it can be for your belongings to bounce around in your shorts as you’re doing your laps. Under Armour’s athletic shorts address that issue by offering an expandable water-resistant waistband, which stores your phone and keeps it dry. We wore this pair while sprinting on the treadmill and everything stayed in place. They also feel like a second skin and have a four-way stretch, so we didn’t feel restricted at any point of our workout. It’s also worth noting that these shorts have a moisture-wicking fabric and an internal mesh liner that will keep you cool and comfortable when the temperatures begin to heat up.

Arrival Shorts

If you’re trying to get the most mileage out of your athletic shorts, Gymshark offers a bunch of affordable options that you can wear everyday. Take the UK brand’s Arrival Shorts. Thanks to its soft elastic drawcord, we were able to adjust this pair to fit our waist comfortably as we ran with no distractions. In addition to the gym, we’ve also worn them for errands and trails, which is a testament to their breathability and mobility.

Despite there being no liner, we didn’t experience any chafing, and our nether regions remained safe and secure. If you prefer a shorter length for running, this option may not be ideal. However, they’re a happy medium if you do a bit of everything in the gym from lifting to cardio.

Tetra-Lite 7” Linerless Short

If you're looking for a pair of athletic shorts that prioritizes style as much as it does function, we suggest checking out ASRV’s offering. They’re made with a technical blend of nylon and spandex, which stretches up to 6 times in every direction, so we found out that they can handle long distance runs. The material is also coated with a water-resistant shell, which has kept us dry during jogs in light rain.

Speaking of jogs, there’s reflective detailing on the front that provides extra visibility for nighttime runs. In terms of storage, you have two zippered pockets—one on the right side for small valuables that tend to bounce—and the other in the back to secure your phone. Although this pair doesn’t come with any liner, we didn’t feel our skin rubbing up against the fabric.

5" Adapt Running Short

When it comes to running, you want your athletic shorts to feel light and airy. Enter Alo’s Adapt Short. It’s super breathable and made with two-way stretch fabric, which provides extra mobility. Our favorite part: this pair is designed with a built-in boxer brief to help keep your lower regions comfortable while you’re putting in miles. While running in this, we found that it did not bunch up, and felt comfortable even during our longest routes. Plus, there’s a hidden interior pocket to stash your keys and credit cards.

Explorer Shorts

It's true On Running is known more for its footwear options, however the company has been slowly growing its presence in performance apparel. The Explorer Short offers a unique design on what a hiking short should be, with premium features like ample pocket space and a stretchy, fully water repellent material that will keep you dry during rainy commutes to the gym.

7" Pursuit Short

Rhone is another top player when it comes to performance shorts. The Pursuit Short is a durable water repellant short that can be paired with athleisure or casual outfits. We like the 7" inseam in Asphalt, as the style provides more opportunity to wear with your everyday wardrobe, should you choose.

Athletic Shorts We Also Liked and Tested

• Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Sweatshort: When it comes to traditional sweatshorts, few make a pair better than Reigning Champ. The brand uses an ultra soft midweight terry cotton as its main material. But what truly elevates the sweatshort from traditional pairs are the small details like a ribbed waistband, a gusset, and flatlock seams.

• Ten Thousand Interval Short: It's hard to mention Ten Thousand and not think about their shorts. The Interval Short is by far one of the performance wear brand's best selling models thanks to it's moisture wicking fabric and no-pinch waistband. This pair is the chosen short for all types of athletes, from trail runners to CrossFit competitors. We love that the waistband doesn't bunch up and the shorts have an anti-odor treatment to keep the funk away.

• Tracksmith Falmouth Shorts: When you need to straddle the line a bit more between training and post-run relaxation, the Falmouth could be your new go-to. The slightly longer inseam and distinctive waistband are a stylistic nod to the shorts Roger Bannister wore when he broke the 4-minute mile in 1954. And if you're curious about performance, the moisture-wicking water-repellent nylon blend will help you stay dry when those surprise storms interrupt your run.

Shop More of the Best Athletic Gear

Best Moisture-Wicking Shirts | Best Workout Clothes for Men | Best Workout Clothes on Amazon | Best Gym Shorts | Best Running Shorts

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