Finding good gym shorts should not be this complicated. And yet here we are, in 2026, staring at a market flooded with "performance" shorts ranging from $12 to $78, all claiming to be the best training shorts ever made. Some of them are genuinely excellent. Some of them are $60 shorts that perform worse than what you can buy at Target for $15.
The HonestLifter team bought ten of the most popular gym shorts currently on the market and wore each pair for three-plus weeks through real training sessions over the course of eight weeks. Squats, deadlifts, bench press, running, burpees, box jumps -- the full range of movements you might actually do in the gym. Then we washed them repeatedly and checked for durability.
This is what held up, what did not, and whether the expensive ones are actually worth it.
How We Tested
Our HonestLifter testing process put every pair of shorts through the same battery of tests:
- The Squat Test: Multiple sets of deep squats (below parallel) to test mobility restriction, ride-up, and whether anything rides or bunches uncomfortably.
- The Deadlift Test: Conventional and sumo deadlifts to check for restriction at the hips and whether the shorts catch on the bar or your knees.
- The Run Test: 30-minute treadmill run at moderate pace to evaluate chafing, bounce, and how the shorts handle sustained sweating.
- The Pocket Test: Can you actually carry a phone, keys, and a card without them falling out during movement?
- The Wash Test: 15 wash cycles on warm, tumble dry medium, to check for shrinkage, pilling, and material degradation.
- The Smell Test: How well does the material resist retaining odor after a hard session? Some synthetic fabrics hold smell regardless of washing.
What Actually Matters in Gym Shorts
Before we get to the rankings, here are the features that actually matter for training shorts, in order of importance:
- Unrestricted movement: If the shorts limit your range of motion during squats, lunges, or dynamic movements, nothing else matters. Gusseted crotches and 4-way stretch fabrics are your friends.
- Fit and inseam: This is personal preference, but most lifters gravitate toward 5-7 inch inseams. Too short and you are constantly adjusting; too long and they bunch behind the knee during squats.
- Moisture management: Shorts that dry quickly and do not become a soggy, heavy mess during a sweaty session.
- Durability: Will they hold up after months of training and washing? This eliminates a lot of cheap options.
- Pockets: Functional pockets with zippers or secure closures are a genuine quality-of-life improvement. Your phone should not bounce out during box jumps.
- No liner (or a good one): Built-in briefs are polarizing. Some people love them; others find them restrictive and uncomfortable. The best shorts offer a liner that stays in place without riding up.
The 10 Shorts, Ranked
1. Ten Thousand Interval Short (7")
Ten Thousand has been making training shorts for years, and the Interval Short is their best work. The fabric has a substantial but not heavy feel -- it drapes well and moves with you through any range of motion. The 4-way stretch is excellent. Zero restriction during deep squats or sumo deadlifts.
The standout feature is the pocket system. Zippered side pockets hold a phone securely without bouncing, and the design is flat enough that you do not notice the phone during movements. The waistband sits comfortably without rolling, and the drawstring actually works (you would be surprised how many expensive shorts have decorative-only drawstrings).
After 15 washes, no pilling, no shrinkage, no material degradation. The odor resistance is above average -- these do not develop that permanent gym smell that plagues some synthetic fabrics. At $68, these are expensive. But they are a genuine buy-it-for-life training short. The price-to-value ratio is high because the quality justifies the investment.
2. Lululemon Pace Breaker (7")
Lululemon catches a lot of grief in the fitness community for being overpriced athleisure, and honestly, for some of their products that criticism is fair. But the Pace Breaker is a legitimately excellent training short. The Swift Ultra fabric is light, smooth, and dries remarkably fast. It handled the run test better than any other short in the lineup.
The fit is slightly more tailored than Ten Thousand -- if you have bigger quads, you might want to size up. The side slit provides good range of motion for squats, though the construction is not quite as robust as the Ten Thousand at the seams. Pockets are good but not zippered, which costs it points. Your phone can bounce out during dynamic movements if you are not careful.
Durability was good through our wash cycles, though we noticed very slight pilling on the inner thighs starting around wash 12. These are ideal if you split your training between the gym and running.
3. Target All in Motion Training Short (7")
Here is where things get interesting. The All in Motion training shorts from Target cost $20. Twenty dollars. And they are genuinely good. The fabric is a polyester/spandex blend with decent 4-way stretch. It is not as refined or luxurious-feeling as the Ten Thousand or Lululemon fabrics, but it is completely functional for training.
The built-in liner is comfortable and does not ride up excessively. The fit is relaxed, which gives you plenty of room for squats and deadlifts. Pockets exist and hold a phone, though they are not zippered and are not as secure as the premium options.
Durability is where the price shows. By wash 10, some pilling was visible on the inner thighs, and the elastic on the liner started to feel slightly less supportive. You might get 6-12 months of regular training out of these before they need replacing. But at $20, you could buy three pairs for the price of one pair of Ten Thousands, rotate them, and likely come out ahead on cost per wear.
This is our budget pick and it is not even close. If you are on a budget, stop reading and go buy these.
4. Vuori Kore Short (7")
Vuori makes comfortable clothes. That is their whole thing. The Kore Short is extremely soft, with a cottony feel from their DreamKnit fabric that is actually a synthetic blend. They feel like you are wearing sweatpants but with the performance characteristics of training shorts.
The comfort comes at a trade-off: the fabric is heavier and holds moisture longer than the nylon-based competitors. During our run test, these were noticeably warmer and took longer to dry. For pure lifting, this is not a significant issue. For conditioning work or running, it can be.
Movement range is good. The liner is one of the better ones we tested -- comfortable and stays in place. Pockets are deep and functional. These are excellent casual/lifting shorts if comfort is your top priority. Less ideal if you do a lot of high-intensity conditioning.
5. Nike Dri-FIT Flex Stride (7")
Nike is Nike -- consistent, reliable, and available everywhere. The Flex Stride is a solid all-around training short that does not excel in any single category but has no major weaknesses. Dri-FIT moisture wicking works well. The fit is classic Nike -- slightly loose, familiar. The brief liner is fine but not exceptional.
The fabric has good stretch and handled squats without restriction. It dries at a reasonable rate. The reflective details are a nice touch if you train outdoors. Pockets are standard depth, no zippers.
Durability is good -- Nike fabrics hold up well over time. No significant pilling or degradation after our wash cycles. The price at $55 puts these in the mid-range, which feels about right. These are perfectly fine training shorts. Not exciting, but competent and widely available.
6. Rhone Mako Short (7")
Rhone occupies the premium end of the men's athletic market, and the Mako Short is their flagship training short. The fabric is perforated nylon that provides excellent airflow -- these are the most breathable shorts we tested. The construction quality is noticeably high, with reinforced stitching and a clean, tailored fit.
So why only 8.0? The price. At $78, these are the most expensive shorts in our lineup, and the performance advantage over the Ten Thousand shorts (at $68) or even the Target shorts (at $20) does not justify the premium. You are paying for the brand name and the slightly more refined aesthetics.
The fit is also slightly narrower through the leg compared to the Ten Thousand, which can be restrictive for people with larger thighs during deep squats. If you have average-sized legs and prioritize breathability, these are fantastic. If you have powerlifter thighs, try them on before committing.
7. Gymshark Sport Short (7")
Gymshark shorts are popular in the gym, and the Sport Short is their most well-rounded training option. The fabric is a standard polyester/elastane blend that performs fine for moisture management and stretch. The fit is moderately slim, which looks good but can be tight on larger legs.
No built-in liner, which is a positive or negative depending on your preference. The construction feels less robust than the premium options -- the stitching at the side seams showed early signs of stress during our squat testing, though nothing actually failed.
At $40, these are priced reasonably for what you get. They look good, they function adequately, and they are widely available. But they do not stand out in any category. The Target All in Motion shorts perform similarly for half the price, which makes the Gymshark value proposition harder to justify on pure performance.
8. ASRV Silver-Lite Short (5")
ASRV is the Instagram aesthetic brand, and the Silver-Lite shorts deliver on aesthetics. The silver-infused nylon is genuinely effective for odor resistance -- these were the best in our smell test by a wide margin. The 5-inch inseam provides maximum range of motion and the trendy short-shorts look.
The fabric is ultra-light, almost to a fault. It feels delicate. During our durability testing, a small snag appeared on the outer thigh from contact with a barbell knurl. At $62, snagging after a few weeks of use is not great. The fit is also extremely tapered, making these a poor choice for anyone with above-average thigh circumference.
If you want the shortest, lightest, best-smelling gym shorts available and you have a slim build, these will appeal. For most lifters, the durability concerns and narrow fit are deal-breakers at this price point.
9. Hylete Fuse Short (7")
Hylete markets to the CrossFit and functional fitness crowd, and the Fuse Short reflects that with a reinforced gusseted crotch and deep pockets designed for workout cards (or phones). The shorts are built tough and handle dynamic movements well.
The downside is the fabric itself. It feels stiffer than most competitors and does not drape as naturally. It takes longer to dry after heavy sweating. The liner is adequate but not as comfortable as the Vuori or Lululemon options. At $58, these are priced in premium territory without delivering a premium feel.
Solid for CrossFit-style workouts where durability matters most. For general lifting or running, there are better options at this price point.
10. Born Primitive Training Short (7")
Born Primitive positions itself as a military/tactical fitness brand, and the Training Short follows that aesthetic with subdued colors and a utilitarian design. The fabric is a standard polyester/spandex blend with adequate stretch and moisture management.
These are perfectly serviceable shorts that do not particularly stand out. The construction is decent. The fit is relaxed enough for full range of motion. Pockets are functional. But nothing about them justifies $50 when the Target All in Motion performs comparably for $20, or when the Ten Thousand offers substantially better quality for $18 more.
Not bad shorts by any means, but they live in a price bracket where they face stiff competition from better options above and below them.
Comparison Table
| Short | Price | Inseam | Liner | Zip Pockets | Squat Test | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Thousand Interval | $68 | 7" | Optional | Yes | Excellent | 9.4 |
| Lululemon Pace Breaker | $68 | 7" | Optional | No | Good | 9.0 |
| Target All in Motion | $20 | 7" | Yes | No | Good | 8.7 |
| Vuori Kore | $68 | 7" | Yes | No | Good | 8.5 |
| Nike Flex Stride | $55 | 7" | Yes | No | Good | 8.2 |
| Rhone Mako | $78 | 7" | Yes | Yes | Average | 8.0 |
| Gymshark Sport | $40 | 7" | No | No | Good | 7.8 |
| ASRV Silver-Lite | $62 | 5" | Optional | Yes | Excellent | 7.5 |
| Hylete Fuse | $58 | 7" | Yes | No | Good | 7.3 |
| Born Primitive | $50 | 7" | No | No | Good | 7.0 |
Our Picks
HonestLifter's top pick: Ten Thousand Interval Short. The best combination of performance, features, durability, and design. The zippered pockets alone are worth it. These will last years.
Best value: Target All in Motion. At $20, the performance-to-price ratio is unmatched. Buy two or three pairs and rotate them. You will spend less than one pair of premium shorts and have training shorts covered for the year.
Best for running + lifting: Lululemon Pace Breaker. The Swift Ultra fabric handles sweat and running better than the competition, and the shorts are still comfortable for lifting.
Best for comfort: Vuori Kore Short. If how the shorts feel on your body is the top priority, nothing else comes close. These feel like wearing nothing.
Best for large thighs: Target All in Motion or Ten Thousand. Both have relaxed cuts through the leg that accommodate bigger quads without restriction. Avoid the Rhone, ASRV, and Gymshark if you have powerlifter legs.
The Honest Truth
Gym shorts are gym shorts. The difference between a $20 pair and a $68 pair is real but modest. The $68 pair will feel nicer, last longer, and have better pockets. The $20 pair will cover your legs and allow you to squat. Both will let you train effectively. Spend according to what you value, not what social media tells you is essential.
A Word on Inseam Length
Inseam length has become weirdly tribal in gym culture. The 5-inch crowd looks at the 9-inch crowd like they are wearing capri pants. The 9-inch crowd thinks the 5-inch crowd is trying to audition for a Baywatch reboot. None of it matters as much as people think.
Here is a practical framework for choosing your inseam:
- 5-inch inseam: Maximum range of motion, virtually zero restriction for any movement. Popular with CrossFit athletes, sprinters, and people who prioritize function over everything. You will show a lot of thigh. If that bothers you, size up.
- 7-inch inseam: The sweet spot for most lifters. Enough length to cover most of your thigh while still providing full range of motion for squats, lunges, and deadlifts. This is what we recommend as the default choice unless you have a strong preference for something shorter or longer.
- 9-inch inseam: More coverage, slightly more casual look. Can potentially restrict range of motion at the knee during deep squats, depending on the fit and fabric stretch. Works fine for most training but is not the optimal choice for lifters who do a lot of deep squats or dynamic leg movements.
Your body proportions matter here too. If you are 5'7" with shorter legs, a 7-inch inseam will sit just above the knee and look proportional. If you are 6'3", that same 7-inch inseam will look like a sprinter's short. Try on a few lengths and see what works for your frame before committing to a multi-pair purchase.
The Liner Debate
Built-in liners (compression briefs sewn into the shorts) are the most polarizing feature in gym shorts. People either love them or cut them out with scissors. There is no middle ground.
Arguments for the liner:
- One less thing to think about -- no separate underwear needed
- Reduces chafing during running and dynamic movements
- Provides support during exercises like box jumps, burpees, and sprints
- Eliminates the visible underwear line issue
Arguments against the liner:
- Can feel restrictive, especially during heavy squats and sumo deadlifts
- Adds an extra layer of heat and moisture retention
- Limits your underwear options (some people prefer specific compression shorts)
- If the liner rides up or bunches, it is annoying for the entire workout with no fix
Our recommendation: buy shorts with an optional or removable liner if possible. Ten Thousand does this well -- their liner snaps in and out, giving you the best of both worlds. If you are forced to choose, and you primarily lift weights (not run or do HIIT), go linerless and wear your preferred compression shorts underneath.
Understanding Gym Short Fabrics
The fabric composition of your shorts determines almost everything about how they perform. Here is what to look for:
Nylon-Based Fabrics
Nylon is the gold standard for training shorts. It is durable, lightweight, moisture-wicking, and dries quickly. Most premium training shorts (Ten Thousand, Rhone, some Lululemon lines) use nylon-dominant blends. When paired with 10-15% spandex or elastane, you get a fabric that stretches well, recovers its shape, and holds up to years of training and washing.
The downside of nylon is that it can retain odors over time, particularly if you hang-dry in a damp environment. Some brands add anti-microbial treatments (like ASRV's silver infusion) to combat this. These treatments work initially but can fade over many wash cycles.
Polyester-Based Fabrics
Polyester is the workhorse fabric of the budget and mid-range training short market. It is cheaper to produce than nylon, still wicks moisture reasonably well, and is quite durable. Target, Gymshark, Nike, and most under-$50 shorts use polyester as the primary fabric.
The trade-off compared to nylon: polyester fabrics tend to feel slightly less smooth against the skin, can pill more easily (especially in the inner thigh area from friction), and generally do not drape as naturally. The moisture-wicking performance is adequate but typically a step below premium nylon fabrics in terms of how quickly they dry and how effectively they manage heavy sweat.
Cotton Blends
Avoid cotton for training shorts. Cotton absorbs moisture rather than wicking it, becomes heavy when wet, takes forever to dry, and can cause chafing during any kind of sustained movement. Cotton gym shorts are for watching sports on the couch, not for training.
Making Your Shorts Last
Regardless of how much you spend on gym shorts, how you care for them significantly impacts their lifespan:
- Wash on cold or warm, never hot. Hot water degrades synthetic fabrics faster and breaks down elastic components.
- Avoid fabric softener. Fabric softener coats synthetic fibers and reduces their moisture-wicking ability. If your gym shorts have stopped wicking sweat effectively, fabric softener is probably the culprit.
- Tumble dry on low or hang dry. High heat is the enemy of spandex/elastane. It causes the elastic fibers to break down, leading to shorts that lose their stretch and shape.
- Do not leave sweaty shorts in your gym bag. This should be obvious, but bacteria thrive in damp, dark environments. The longer your sweaty shorts sit in a bag, the harder it becomes to get the smell out, even with washing.
- Turn inside out before washing. This protects the outer face of the fabric and helps the sweat-contact surfaces get cleaned more effectively.
Following these basic care guidelines can easily double the effective lifespan of a pair of training shorts. The people who complain that their expensive shorts "fell apart after six months" are usually the ones machine-washing on hot and tumble-drying on high.
The Cost-Per-Wear Calculation
When people debate whether expensive gym shorts are "worth it," they usually focus on the sticker price. That is the wrong metric. The right metric is cost per wear.
Here is the math. A $68 pair of Ten Thousand shorts that lasts 3 years of twice-weekly use gives you roughly 312 wears. That is $0.22 per wear. A $20 pair of Target shorts that lasts 8 months of the same use gives you roughly 68 wears. That is $0.29 per wear.
The premium shorts are actually cheaper per wear because they last so much longer. But this only matters if the shorts genuinely last that long and you actually wear them that frequently. If you rotate between five pairs and only wear each once a week, the calculus changes. And if you are the kind of person who gets bored with gear and wants something new every few months regardless of condition, the durability premium is wasted.
Our practical recommendation for building a gym shorts wardrobe on a budget:
- Starter setup ($60): Three pairs of Target All in Motion. You are set for a year of training. When they wear out, replace them.
- Upgrade path ($130-$150): One pair of Ten Thousand (your primary, heavy-training short) plus two pairs of Target All in Motion for variety and rotation. Best of both worlds.
- All-in ($200-$270): Three to four pairs of premium shorts (Ten Thousand, Lululemon, or Vuori based on your preference). Rotate them. They will last years.
Do not buy five pairs of premium shorts on day one. Buy one, train in it for a month, confirm you like the fit and feel, and then invest in more. Nothing is worse than spending $300 on shorts that turn out to ride up during squats or bunch in the wrong places.
One final note: the single most important feature of any gym short is that you actually wear it to the gym. The best shorts in the world do nothing sitting in your drawer because you decided to skip today's session. At HonestLifter, we will always tell you the same thing -- the gear matters less than showing up. But when you do show up, it is nice to train in something that does not fight you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What length gym shorts are best?
A 7-inch inseam is the sweet spot for most lifters. It provides enough coverage while allowing full range of motion for squats, lunges, and deadlifts. A 5-inch inseam offers maximum mobility and is popular with CrossFit athletes and sprinters, but shows more thigh. A 9-inch inseam provides more coverage but can restrict movement at the knee during deep squats. Your height and leg proportions also matter -- if you are taller, a 7-inch inseam will look shorter on you. Try a few lengths before committing to multiple pairs.
Are expensive gym shorts worth it?
It depends on what you value. Premium shorts ($60-78) typically use better fabrics like nylon/spandex blends, have superior moisture management, zippered pockets, and last significantly longer. A $68 pair of Ten Thousand shorts lasting 3 years costs about $0.22 per wear, while $20 Target shorts lasting 8 months cost about $0.29 per wear. However, the performance difference during actual training is modest. Budget shorts like Target's All in Motion at $20 are genuinely good for training. If you are on a budget, the cheap shorts work fine.
Best shorts for squats?
The best shorts for squats need unrestricted hip and knee movement, a gusseted crotch, and 4-way stretch fabric. In our testing, the Ten Thousand Interval Short and ASRV Silver-Lite scored highest in the squat test. Avoid shorts with narrow cuts through the thigh (like Rhone Mako or Gymshark Sport) if you have larger quads. A 5-inch or 7-inch inseam works best -- 9-inch can bunch behind the knee in a deep squat. Lined or unlined is personal preference, but make sure any liner does not ride up during deep hip flexion.
Lined vs unlined gym shorts?
Built-in liners reduce chafing and eliminate the need for separate underwear, which is convenient for running and high-intensity work. However, liners can feel restrictive during heavy squats and sumo deadlifts, add extra heat, and if they ride up there is no fix mid-workout. For primarily lifting, we recommend going linerless and wearing your preferred compression shorts underneath. For running and HIIT, a liner is more convenient. The best option is shorts with a removable or optional liner, like the Ten Thousand Interval Short.
Best gym shorts under $30?
The Target All in Motion Training Short at $20 is our top budget pick and it is not close. It scored 8.7 out of 10 in our testing, beating several shorts that cost two to three times more. The polyester/spandex blend provides decent 4-way stretch, the built-in liner is comfortable, and the fit accommodates larger legs well. The trade-off is durability -- expect some pilling by wash 10 and around 6-12 months of lifespan with regular use. But at $20, you can buy three pairs for the price of one premium short and rotate them.