Best running shorts for men in 2024

Sure, running shorts may not be the most exciting of products, but if you think about how many hours you spend wearing them for your run training, it’s clear just how important they are.

And vitally, they can affect performance, too. Below, we explain how we tested, what to look for and share our pick of the best running shorts for men.

Best running shorts for men

Ryzon Spectra Athletic Shorts

• RRP: $140/£110

If you like your run shorts to feel like they’re barely there, then you’ll love the Spectra shorts from Ryzon.

The fabric is incredibly lightweight and flowy, resulting in very high levels of comfort and a completely unrestricted range of movement.

There’s no inner lining, so you’ll either need to wear running underwear or let everything hang free, but do the latter and it can feel a bit breezy (luckily, they’re quite long so you shouldn’t accidentally flash anyone mid-run).

While that may not suit everyone, it does make it easier to pair these shorts with running tights underneath, which is handy for winter.

Given all that, there’s no support on offer here.

I loved the double-layer waistband of these shorts, which proved comfortable with no pressure points, but a drawstring to help get a secure fit.

There’s also a zip pocket on the rear that’ll take a key, card and one or two gels.

Salomon Sense Aero 7″

• RRP: $70/£65

You may not think $70/£65 is very cheap for some running shorts, but some brands are asking up to double that these days.

For what it’s worth, I think it represents good value here, as the Sense Aero 7″ shorts are fantastic.

The seven-inch length offers great coverage, yet the fabric feels like it’s barely there as it’s so lightweight and features a four-way stretch.

Range of movement is entirely free, while breathability was exceptional.

Inside, there’s also a comfortable brief liner that offers support, while flatlocked seams are used throughout. There’s minimal stitching around the waistband, too, which helps eliminate the risk of irritation.

While there’s no zip pocket, there are four elasticated pouches that sit just underneath the waistband. They’ll easily swallow multiple energy gels, a key, credit card or even a phone, but be warned that this space can get rather sweaty.

Despite not featuring a zip, I found the pockets secure enough for me not to worry about a key dropping out mid-run.

Under Armour UA Launch Elite 2-in-1 7″ Shorts

• RRP: $48/£55

The name’s a bit of a mouthful, but are these shorts as ‘elite’ as the name suggests?

Well they’re one of the cheaper options here, but aren’t too far away from the price of the Salomon shorts featured above. Despite that, I found there to be a reasonable drop-off in performance when comparing the two.

But let’s start with the positives. These Under Armour shorts come with a decent inner liner that feels comfortable and offers plenty of support. It wicks moisture reasonably well, too.

Unfortunately, the durability is in question, as my pair developed a small hole during testing, while some of the stitching inside looks a bit messy.

I also found the fit a little restrictive, particularly around the waistband and upper part of the shorts, which negatively impacts range of movement. The waistband was also quite thick, making things rather sweaty!

The outer part of the shorts is a lightweight fabric, but not as technical as some others on test here, while the two side pockets have no zips and feel rather pointless for running.

There’s an extra pocket at the rear that’ll take a phone, keys or gels and, despite not being a zip pocket, things stayed in there quite securely.

Craft Training Advance Essence 5” Stretch Shorts

• RRP: £45 (UK only)

These shorts from Craft come with an inner brief liner that offers good support, though I found it a little on the small side on the rear.

That wasn’t at the detriment of comfort, though, which these shorts largely deliver on.

That being said, if you suffer from thigh chafing, these might not be the best pick for you and you may want to consider a longer cut on either the liner or the exterior.

There’s a rear pocket but it has no zip, though proved secure enough for my few keys.

New Balance RC Short 5″

• RRP: $64.99/£60

These five-inch run shorts from New Balance are one of the shortest options here, which certainly means there’s no issue with overheating on warm runs.

On the flip side, they’re probably a bit cold for winter, particularly as there’s no substantial lining.

What you do get, though, is a brief liner, which is probably the closest fitting one here. It’s certainly supportive, but may not feel comfortable to everyone (it also makes it uncomfortable if you plan to wear these shorts with underwear).

This does all make for a free-flowing range of movement that’s entirely unhindered, though the shorts do ride up somewhat, meaning thigh chafing could become a slight issue (here’s our pick of the best anti-chafe balms, which would help).

Ventilation and breathability is, understandably, very good, as is moisture wicking, with the short’s perforated outer helping with that regard.

You also get a zip pocket that’s large enough to take keys, a card or a gel or two, while the waistband is adjustable via a drawstring, which works well and feels comfortable.

The colour isn’t my first pick, but luckily there are currently nine options to choose from in this regard.

Montane Dragon Twin Skin Shorts

• RRP: £65

As the name suggests, Montane’s Dragon Twin Skin Shorts feature both a regenerated nylon inner and a loose, lightweight outer.

The combination makes for a really comfortable experience and my only slight criticism is that the seam at the waistband can be a little annoying if you go underwear-free.

The fit’s on the loose side, but the stretch waistband and internal drawcord keeps the shorts secure.

A zip pocket at the rear offers enough space for a key, card and energy gel, while reflective detailing helps boost visibility. In short, I really loved running in the Montanes.

Zone3 2-in-1 Phantom Short

• RRP: £85

Similar to the Soar running shorts on test, this option from Zone3 is at the more expensive end of the market.

The 2-in-1 Phantom shorts look great, with subtle branding and detailing, but it’s the inner compression short that generates the main talking point here.

This extra lining offers added warmth when there’s a chill in the air, while its compressive nature is said to help increase blood flow, reduce lactic acid build-up and improve performance and recovery.

It’s hard to comment accurately on if that’s been achieved here without controlled scientific testing, but they were certainly supportive. In fact, it’s worth noting that the inner is extremely compressive, with my legs bulging out of them at the bottom.

Despite this, they remained comfortable to run in, though the waistband tended to slowly pull downward due to the claw-like grip of the inner. While the latter adds welcome warmth in winter, you may find it a little warm in summer.

That aside, moisture wicking is impressive and they dry quickly, too.

Storage is taken care of with a hidden, elasticated pouch-style pocket on the inner short, which could happily hold a key, gels or a phone (though it might get a little sweaty!).

Montane Slipstream 5″ Shorts

Buy from Cotswold Outdoor (£45.50)

• RRP: £65

The cut of these run shorts see them finish halfway down my thigh, meaning they may not be suited to especially nippy conditions.

Range of movement is fab, while the inner pant offers reasonable support.

The seams aren’t as minimal or protected as we’ve seen elsewhere, which could hamper comfort for some.

A zip pocket at the rear is large enough for a key and a couple of gels, while a drawstring helps achieve a secure fit.

Soar Run Shorts

• RRP: $130 / £95

Soar says the 17cm Short is designed to allow for a smooth and chafe-free run. With that, you will lose a certain amount of warmth, but I never felt this was a deal-breaker on my winter runs.

The cut ensures a decent level of coverage, sitting just a few inches above the knee, but unless you’re particularly hardy, you may want to supplement them with some running tights in sub-zero temperatures.

When the mercury starts to rise, the lack of liner, lightweight fabric and ventilation holes help avoid overheating, while the material also proves to dry quickly, too.

A zip pocket at the rear is large enough to house keys, gels or even a phone at a push, while reflective detailing helps boost visibility.

Comfort is also top notch, with the smooth brief liner providing decent support and causing zero chafing.

Yes, they’re £95 and that’s a lot of money for a pair of running shorts. But if you’re happy to spend that much, you’ll be getting a top-quality, comfortable and versatile piece of kit that you can use throughout much of the year.

Angry Pablo EarthTone Workout Shorts

Buy now from Angry Pablo

• RRP: $75/£60

Angry Pablo is primarily a cycling brand, but it’s also brought various bits of run/workout kit to the market over the last couple of years.

On test here is the brand’s Workout Shorts, which come with a 2-in-1 design.

Fit proved true-to-size and the inner liner feels very compressive – not too much, but enough to feel like its supporting the muscles.

That inner liner uses flatlock seams and I found it comfortable when wearing both with or without underwear.

The polyester fabric also wicks moisture away well, while the lightweight outer allowed full range of movement.

The only blot on the record here is that the waistband wasn’t quite as stretchy as I’d have liked, so that can feel restrictive at times.

There’s a drawstring on the waist for extra security (it wasn’t needed, though), while a small zip pocket on the rear is big enough for a key, card and even a small energy gel or two.

You’ll also find a stretch pocket on the thigh on the inner liner, which will take a phone (or gels), but it gets a bit sweaty there.

On Running Hybrid Shorts

• RRP: £80

Yes, £80 for shorts has me wincing as well. But what you’re getting here are two pairs of shorts, a tighter inner pair and a relaxed outer that clip together.

The cost-per-wear ratio is acceptable as I’ve worn both together, the inners for swimming or the outer over run tights.

A no-sew design, supple waist and Italian fabric add to the classy package.

How we tested

The running shorts reviewed here have been tested by 220 Triathlon‘s expert panel, who have decades of kit testing experience to their name.

We’ve tested these shorts based on a set of specific criteria, with one of the main aspects being comfort. This comes in the form of a well thought-out waistband, low-profile seams and impressive materials.

Other criteria that ranks highly for us when testing includes breathability, moisture wicking, value for money and features (e.g. zip pockets, drawstrings on the waistband and reflective detailing).

The options rated above have been tested during number of runs in different environments and weather to ensure they perform as hoped even when things get a bit sweaty or damp.

What kind of shorts are best for running?

As with a lot of things, the answer to this question is likely to be different from person to person, depending on your preferences and your plans.

For example, the ideal length of your shorts depends on the time of year, while your preference for a liner may come down to whether or not you have some tried and trusted running underwear you rely on.

What is uniform across all of the best men’s running shorts, however, is that they use high performance material. By this, we mean a technical fabric that’s thin and lightweight, wicks moisture away well (unlike cotton), and allows for a wide range of movement.

Some shorts will also feature ventilation holes, ideal for keeping you cool, and an anti-odour treatment, which’ll help keep the pong at bay.

How to choose the best running shorts for men

Men’s running shorts come in all shapes and sizes, including lengths as short as three inches and as long as nine (measurements are based on the inseam).

A longer cut delivers added protection from the elements, including sunshine, wind and chilly temps. However, they’ll also be heavier, particularly when wet, and may be more likely to lead to chafing.

Shorter cuts don’t offer as much of a barrier to the elements, but are cooler, lighter and can result in a greater freedom of movement.

Your choice of length is likely to be influenced by the conditions you’re running in, what you find comfortable and what you prefer style-wise (not everyone is a fan of short shorts).

You’ll also need to decide whether or not you want shorts with an inner liner. The majority of men’s running shorts come with one, sometimes in the shape of a brief, though sometimes as a lengthier compression liner, which can help reduce chafing.

Depending on the compressive nature of the lining, the inner may offer benefits such as improved blood flow and reduced muscle inflammation. However, the benefits of particular garments are hard to qualify and many liners aren’t truly compressive, but are just close fitting.

• What is chafing and why do I get it?
• What’s the best cream to use for chafing?

Then we come to pockets… Once again, this is a personal choice. If you carry your phone in an armband, your needs will be different to someone that wants to carry it in a pocket. We like to see a minimum of one zipped pocket for a key, gels or other essentials.

If there’s a pocket for your phone, it needs to be secure and not bounce around while you’re in motion, which is why most pockets are located on the waistband. Some men’s running shorts will also feature elasticated pockets on the lining, which are good for stopping objects bouncing around, but can get quite sweaty.

And then there’s the question of comfort, which is probably the most important consideration of all. If your running shorts chafe or restrict your movement, it’ll impact your enjoyment and performance, so try before you buy.