Photo illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailer
Running shorts can make or break a run. In my 15 years of running, I’ve tested shorts that felt like a second skin, while others left me chafed, pinched, and uncomfortable. Much like a good pair of athletic shorts, the ideal men’s running shorts offer support without being too restrictive; their material should be thin and breathable, but able to withstand everything from the occasional jog to a season of marathon training; and finally, they should look good.
There are generally three types of running shorts: The most common have a classic brief liner – a good choice if you want something that doesn’t restrict you; Lined boxer shorts have a longer lining that fits snugly around the thighs; half-tights come lined or unlined. One of the most important features for runners of all kinds is storage: you need pockets for your gels, keys, phone, and other items you carry with you. Due to their design alone, many running shorts with brief liners simply don’t have the pockets necessary to carry a lot of gear. 2-in-1 shorts with their boxer-style lining have more pocket options, but sometimes the lining of these shorts is loose and feels more like a half-tight pair of briefs. That’s where half-tights come in – they offer a more compression feel that eliminates any shaking, and are a great option if you need more than four pockets to carry multiple gels for long races like marathons.
After testing nearly two dozen different pairs, I’ve found a few favorites that I highly recommend to runners of all levels. Below you’ll find my picks, as well as the top picks from running experts who have logged countless miles in multiple pairs themselves.
Update from 15.08.2024: Updated prices and verified stock for all products.
If you’re looking for a pair of shorts to wear daily, I highly recommend the Session. I’ve worn the Session in both the 5″ and 7″ versions since 2019 for all kinds of runs, from daily workouts to track workouts to long runs, and they haven’t shown any signs of wear. Much like the rest of the brand’s clothing, the Session has a collegiate aesthetic with a uniform-like cut, but it has a buttery-soft texture that makes it great for lounging too. It’s also a favorite of Citius Mag founder Chris Chavez.
Photo: Dealer
I’ve been running in my five-inch Nike shorts since 2013, and that durability is one of the reasons I recommend them most often. They’re not as soft as the Tracksmith shorts, but Nike’s technical fabric is lighter and a bit more breathable, making them ideal for hot days. Because the shorts have an inner lining, their pocket options are limited to a single zippered pocket on the back. But that simplicity is why Danny Perez, a New York City-based editor and marathoner, prefers these shorts for quick workouts. “I use them for shorter distances or tempo drills when I’m running with my phone in hand to check pace or times,” he says.
Matt Klein, DPT, professor of physical therapy at the West Coast University Center for Graduate Studies and founder of the blog Doctors of Running, prefers a shorter inseam, reminiscent of racing shorts. “I go through a ton of shorts,” Klein says. “I lean heavily toward short split shorts.” One of his favorites right now is the Core Sunset Splitz shorts, which are 2-inch inseam. “For those of us who wear racing shorts every day, this is a great option,” he says. “The two internal key pockets are also important, as storage is a must!”
I’ve been testing Van Cortlandt’s shorts for the past month, and they’ve been my go-to shorts for easy runs, workouts, long runs, and even a few 5Ks. These four-inch shorts are a good middle ground between split shorts (which often have a three-inch or shorter inseam) and longer shorts with a five-inch inseam. As someone with larger thighs, I’ve found that split shorts often ride up, but the Van Cortlandt’s four-inch inseam is just long enough to keep them from riding up or getting in the way. That inseam length and their breathability make them ideal for summer running. They’re made from a lightweight mesh fabric that feels like a lighter version of classic mesh athletic shorts. While they don’t have zippered pockets, they do have two interior pockets on the back that can fit a gel and credit card.
As I wrote in my roundup of the best athletic shorts, these shorts with a 5.5-inch inseam are my new favorites after testing them for two seasons of marathon training. The standout feature is the fabric, which is surprisingly breathable for how smooth and silky it feels (typical technical fabrics with this texture aren’t usually as airy). The Litewave’s boxer-short-style lining doesn’t bunch up, and the shorts have a zippered back pocket, as well as a hidden phone pocket on the thigh. The Litewave’s lining fits a little looser than half-tights for me, so keep that in mind if you like a more compressed feel—or want a more secure pocket for your phone (my phone jiggles around in the thigh pocket). Mike Ko, a running shoe tester known online as Kofuzi, is a fan of the Litewave. “It has a super comfortable lining that’s stretchy and can still hold a phone. The outer shell is light and flowy and feels great on both fast runs and relaxed summer days,” he says.
(Editor’s Note: They are a runner favorite and often sell out, so keep an eye out for restocks. The Version with 10 cm inseam length is still in stock.)
These 5″ inseam shorts from Ciele have been my regular running shorts for the past eight months. Their longer, stretchy polyester lining feels soft and breathable, especially on sweaty runs. (I find the lining more comfortable than some of my boxer briefs, which is why I wear these when I’m lounging around the house.) These shorts have a zippered back pocket, as well as a hidden phone pocket on the thigh.
Similar to the Litewave shorts above, these 10cm inseam shorts from Bandit combine a breathable outer fabric with a comfortable boxer brief liner. Perez prefers these 10cm shorts for most of his runs because of the Vento’s storage options (two hand pockets, two thigh pockets and a zipped back pocket). “The phone pockets on the liner are great,” he says.
These Janji half tights are the best I’ve ever tried because they’re so lightweight and pack so cleverly. I’ve run half marathons and 10Ks in them, and used them for my daily training in winter and summer. They have two deep thigh pockets that are good for phones or larger gels, and two more thigh pockets on top for smaller items like extra nutrition. Perez says these tights have turned him into a half tight evangelist, noting that he’s used them for long runs and his last two marathons.
I’ve been looking all year for a half-tight that doesn’t chafe. (With all that compression, there’s bound to be chafing down there, especially when running). While I haven’t found the perfect tight yet—I’m not sure there is such a thing—this unlined half-tight from Rabbit comes pretty close. Its polyester-spandex feels soft against the skin, not as technical as other athletic fabrics, and the fit is secure all the way up the thigh. Mike Ko agrees: “It fits great, with just the right amount of compression. And it has enough pockets to carry all your marathon gels.” It has two thigh pockets and a zippered back pocket that’s actually big enough for a phone.
I get hot when I run. I prefer to run in shorts or half-tights in the colder months, but I still want a firmer material when I’m working out so I don’t get cold, especially when I’m resting between laps on the track. I go for the Allston because they’re made of a thick nylon-spandex fabric and have a compressive fit. They have an inner lining (and are also available unlined) that provides extra support to keep everything in place. They also have grippy gel-like bands around the thighs that prevent riding up, which is why I prefer them for fast track workouts and tempo work where there’s a lot of movement and I don’t want to worry about my shorts getting in the way of my run. Similar to Tracksmith’s Session shorts, I’ve found the Allston half-tights to be extremely durable—the most durable of the half-tights in my rotation.
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