Shorts That Don't Suck - Part 1
let's get loose.
Just in time for the end of summer…a review of run shorts!
**Before I start - a H-U-G-E thank you to all of you who commented + reached out with your support after my last post. I really didn’t think about it at the time when I was writing it, but I really ended up putting my big scary goal out there into the universe for everyone to read. Which had I thought about it prior to posting, it probably would have seemed a bit, erm, TERRIFYING and in retrospect is a bit ‘welp, sh*t’ which was also appropriately on theme. So thank you. Thank you for reading, supporting and just being awesome. I appreciate you all.
I’ve been working on this post for a while, adding to cart, deliberating and subsequently purchasing a variety of shorts to find the few and far between that I not only want to run in, but are also so comfortable and versatile I don’t have to relegate them to the singular drawer in my closet I have dedicated to running clothes. In short (ha), Shorts that Don’t Suck.
Because I am 100% team summer, I am also 100% team shorts and nine years ago I set a goal that I’d live someplace where I could run in shorts year round. Since moving to SF nearly eight years ago, I’ve only run in tights once which was last fall, when I was on my period and while I really wanted to wear sweatpants, tights seemed like the only acceptable alternative. It wasn’t awful, but I didn’t love it. I was hot, my legs were itchy, and I couldn’t wait to get them off.
A disclaimer before I get into it : shorts are an incredibly personal purchase decision as the fit entirely depends on body type, shape and personal preference. I don’t have a lot of issues with how things fit as my shape is generally that of a ruler or a 12 year old boy. I have very few curves, and the hips I had when I was pregnant have returned to normal. My waist is non-existent and even more so since doing pilates, which has been great to build up my core strength for running but not so great when trying to shop for basically anything that doesn’t contain at least 8% spandex.
Running shorts can be divided into 2 categories : loose and tight. Today’s review will be focusing entirely on loose shorts. These shorts are cut looser (obvious but needs to be said) and usually have some sort of liner in them - a brief (so you don’t need undies) or a very short tight (also known as ‘2-in-1’ shorts). Here’s where personal preference comes in - I hate 2-in-1 shorts. I wear loose shorts because I want to essentially feel naked when I’m running. I want the fabric to float around me and to feel completely unrestricted in my stride. In my opinion, 2-in-1 shorts are really more about wearing a short tight but wanting the coverage of an additional layer of woven material. Let’s parking lot 2-in-1 shorts for now and we can touch on this a bit more in ‘Shorts That Don’t Suck - Part 2.’
Before we get into it, let’s spend a minute discussing what functionality means in a short. Again, very personal subject. I like to think of shorts as my running utility belt. Whatever I need to carry on my run needs to be stored somewhere on my body. There are accessories than can help solve this need - running packs to carry hydration, flip belts to carry a phone, etc. For me, if I’m going out for a run where I don’t need to carry water, I want to run accessory-free. So I demand my shorts (or my bra in some cases) do the heavy lifting for me. This means I need a pocket for my phone, keys, and maybe a gel. But maybe you don’t need to run with a phone or you’re totally cool wearing a flip belt, so this might not be as important…again, this is where personal preference comes in.
Other things to consider are rise and inseam. Some shorts (most of lululemon’s core assortment) will come in different rise and inseam options. For me, I don’t love a super short short anymore but I also don’t want to run in basketball shorts so my ideal inseam is 3”- 4”. Rise I’m a little less particular about, but if I have the option I’ll go with a high rise. Simply because on the rare occasion it’s hot enough where I can run in just a bra I prefer to have a little more coverage.
Lastly, shorts need to stay put, neither riding up nor falling down. I have less of an issue with loose shorts riding up (more on this during the short tights review), however an iphone in the pocket combined with the bounce factor of running can be a recipe for some runners crack so this is where an interior drawstring becomes necessary.
The shorts I chose, in no particular order : Lululemon 4” High Rise Speed Up Short, Tracksmith Session Short, Lululemon 3” Fast and Free Short, Outdoor Voices LightSpeed 3” Short, and Old Navy Tech Stretch 3” Run Shorts. This is by no means a complete market analysis of all the run shorts currently out there, however, I wanted to pick an edited assortment of shorts I felt best represented what I was seeing. I looked for two main criteria when selecting shorts to purchase (with my own money! no sponsored posts here!), try, and ideally add to my run short repertoire. I wanted shorts that were functional and looked good. By ‘looked good’ I was looking for shorts that didn’t scream ‘I’m running!’ and I might actually wear in a non-athletic setting. TBD if all of these shorts checked that box but if I went for a run or hike in any of them and ended up grabbing beers after I could still add a cool hoodie and some birks and make it work.
I’ve been running in a version of these for years and these are the short I’ll pull out time and time again when I need guaranteed performance. It’s actually this short that set me out on my quest to find other Shorts that Don’t Suck. Back when they were still called simply ‘Speed Shorts’ I used to wear the mid-rise 2.5” inseam but when I returned to running postpartum the proportion just seemed a bit, micro for my liking. I purchased the 4” inseam on the updated ‘Speed Up’ Short and while I liked the coverage, I was still craving something a bit more…versatile? Looser in the leg? Less utilitarian?
A dependable short that will (literally) go the distance, these shorts are the standards by which I compare all other running short purchases. They are hands down the best in terms of function. The waistband is a compression knit fabric and the body of the short is a lightweight, super stretchy woven - it’s sort of like the best of both worlds between a loose short and a short tight. In regards to pocketing, they’re basically a tool belt with legs. The back zip pocket fits an iphone and easy access front pockets fit keys, gels, etc. I like the leg to fit a little looser so I wear a size 4 in these, which means the waistband isn’t as tight as it could be but they have an interior drawcord that keeps everything in place. 10/10 would recommend for performance as these have never let me down. Due to the slimmer fit in the leg and lighter weight high-stretch fabric I’d recommend these as an option for anyone worried about loose shorts riding up.
Tracksmith Session Short
I love these. Of all the new shorts I tried these are my absolute favorite. The only let down I have is the lack of pocketing which almost deterred me but I’m glad I bought them anyway. I have a pretty low tolerance when it comes to pocketing on shorts because I feel like the crappy little interior key pocket is such an outdated cop-out. Like who carries just a key when they run?! Luckily for all of us, these do come with a larger well designed back pocket that might not fit my phone but securely fits keys, a credit card or a gel.
The fabric is super lightweight, quick dry and they have a built in brief liner that is also very comfortable. This is the one running short I own that I will actually hang out in after my run for a very, very long time. I like to wear these on days I run with Dougie because it could be hours until I’m able to shower or change my clothes (TMI but we’re friends so it’s cool, right?). They’re literally just. that. comfortable. 10/10 recommend for performance, versatility and everyday wear. Sadly since purchasing it looks like this version has been discontinued in favor of a faster more minimal speed focused iteration. Big sad face over here for Team Wylder.
Lululemon Fast and Free 3” Short
Tried these on a whim due to a recommendation from a couple friends. I was a little skeptical, because again there was no phone pocket and also I’ve had not great experiences in the past when running in split shorts. But just to reiterate my love of a bargain, I purchased a pair on sale so I’d feel a little less annoyed if I hated them. While I might now be stuck with a print that screams ‘Florida Mall Walker’ I am very pleased to report that not only do I love them but the back pocket that says it doesn’t fit a phone actually does fit a phone! Well, my regular sized iphone 12..any of you running with an ipad might still be SOL. In which I apologize because it would have been so easy to just design the waistband the tiniest bit wider to accommodate an actual phone pocket.
What I love about these shorts the most is that I feel absolutely naked when running in them in the absolute best way. Not ‘naked’ in an exposed kind of way, which for a split short design like these is no easy task. I’ve run in wind, fog and hot as balls weather and in all conditions these pulled through. A note about the hot as balls run - I did get what can only be described as a reverse wedgie from the brief liner…which I’ve never experienced before. Like camel toe, but invisible? I think it was a one-off due to the humidity and maybe an elongated stride as I was doing some speed work. I wore these again on a grueling 9 miler in the Marin headlands and had absolutely no issues. My big toe, however, will never be the same but another story for another day and do we really need toenails? Deducting one point due to the unofficial maybe phone pocket : 9/10 would recommend.
Outdoor Voices LightSpeed 3” Short
I’ve tried OV running shorts in the past and haven’t liked the fit, but I was curious. The waistband is a bit…excessive but it’s a design I’d been seeing for a while and was intrigued to try. I was actually debating about purchasing these instead, but I prefer a leg cut that’s a bit more curved and OV’s price point felt more accessible for a style I wasn’t really sure about. Running in these was interesting…I think I’m probably between sizes and had they not been sold out of nearly every size except the xs (a good sign perhaps?) I probably would have sized up to compare. I kept thinking how amazing these would have been to run in postpartum as the built up waistband offered more support than my other shorts and kept me aware of engaging my core during my entire run. Two things I would have loved to have helping me out in those early ‘what are abs’ days of pp running.
I have two complaints with these, one of which might be due to these running a tad small. My first beef is that the built in brief is really tight. Tight and also a bit on the skimpy side. A friend once described wearing a pair of running shorts that had built in briefs so skimpy she swore they were modeled after a pair of skims undies and I think I now know from experience what that feels like. Of all the things I’m paying attention to and thinking about, the brief liner of my run shorts should not be one of them. I ran 7 miles in these and luckily only had to pick my wedgie once, so I guess it could have been worse.
My second beef (more of a minor annoyance, really, because I like a granimals approach to my running wardrobe) is that because of the more built out waistband my usual tanks don’t work as well. These shorts call for something cropped and boxy, whereas I am a slim and fitted kinda gal. Luckily I had one cut off tank in my drawer I could wear, but these will overall take a bit more thought when wearing and I’m not sure I have the energy for it.
Debatable if these fit the criteria of ‘Shorts that Don’t Suck’ but the back pocket does fit my phone! There’s also a small zippered pocket for things like keys and gels so honestly, I’d say these shorts don’t suck but (had they been in stock) I probably should just be wearing a small. (I’ll save my rant about consistency in sizing for another day.) 6/10 would recommend as these are my least favorite out of all the shorts I tried.
Old Navy Tech Stretch Run Shorts 3”
These are the least functional shorts I run in, but I wanted to include them because the price is accessible and the fabric is great. They have absolutely no function beyond that excluding the annoying interior flap pocket that I’ve used but been terrified my keys would not return home with me. I love them, however, because of the minimal and retro aesthetic. I’ll wear these around the house with an oversized tee or hoodie and I’ll also wear these out on a run with this bra (because it has pockets!) or when I run Dougie in the stroller (which is basically like pushing a shopping cart - room for everything!) These are the shorts I’ll wear when I want to do a hike but then grab lunch or a beer after and not look like I just got off a mountain. These are the shorts I’ll wear for a casual 5 miler when I don’t want to take life too seriously. These are the shorts I bought purely for the color because they were only $19.99 and probably with an extra 30% off. Low stakes, low function but cute so who cares. 10/10 for versatility, 2/10 for functionality.
There we go, 5 shorts that (for the most part) Don’t Suck. Let me know if you have any additional ones you’d like to add to the list in the comments below and also LMK what it is that you love about them!
Happy Running y’all. Let’s hope it stays warm long enough for this review to feel seasonally appropriate.
*k
Loved this!! I am a huge fan of the Lulu 4” speed up. Consider me influenced to try out tracksmith!
anyone looking for the tracksmith session shorts, happy to report they can be found here : https://www.tracksmith.com/collections/product-archive-women
grab 'em before they're gone!