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The best shorts give you the freedom to move without chafing or restriction during your workouts – here is our pick of the high-performance gym shorts available in 2023.
Gym shorts are a bit like sports boxers: not the most exciting bit of workout kit, but find the right pair and you won’t want to wear anything else.
Conversely, you don’t know what you’ve got till they’ve gone, because if you’ve had the misfortune of wearing an ill-fitting or ill-suited pair you’ll know that the chafing and general discomfort is real.
Of course, style is subjective and there are various lengths, colours and materials to choose from. However, most men are going to want a pair that sit an inch or two above the knee (those hard-earned quad muscles deserve some limelight). You’re also going to want the shorts material to be light enough so as to go unnoticed during high-intensity workouts, but not so flimsy that your gentleman’s agreement takes centre stage.
Zipped pockets can be good if you prefer to hit the gym sans backpack, but bear in mind that big zips have the potential to rattle around, which can be off-putting during vigorous exercises – burpees, for example.
To help make your decision slightly easier, here’s our list of the best gym shorts for men…
Get kitted out for the colder months with the best gym sweatpants and joggers for men
These are our favourite gym shorts for men
MEN’S FITNESS BEST BUY
Adidas Designed 2 Move Climacool Shorts
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RRP £20, amazon.co.uk
Fit: 4.5/5
Style: 4.5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Materials: Recycled polyester plain weave | Features: Front pockets; Drawcord on elastic waist; Mesh inserts on back and inner thigh; Climacool ventilation | Sizes: XS – 6XL | Colours: Black or Grey
Lightweight, highly breathable and supremely comfortable, these are the best gym shorts for men that we tested, featuring temperature-regulating Climacool and a recycled fabric that’s made to move.
Put them to the test in this home dumbbell HIIT workout for a full-body burn
MEN’S FITNESS RECOMMENDED
UA Vanish Woven Shorts
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RRP £36, underarmour.co.uk
Fit: 5/5
Style: 4/5
Comfort: 5/5
Materials: UA Vanish (ultra-light durable woven fabric) | Features: Perforated panels for ventilation; 4-way stretch material; elastic waistband with pull draw; open hand pockets; notched hem | Inseam: 8″ | Sizes: S/M – XXL | Colours: 8 colours available
Under Armour kit is always reliable, and these gym shorts were made to make your workouts as comfortable as possible, featuring temperature-regulating Heat Gear tech and a breathable mesh detail.
Asics Icon Shorts
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RRP £30, amazon.co.uk
Fit: 4/5
Style: 3/5
Comfort: 4/5
Materials: Polyester | Features: Moisture wicking; drawstring fastening; lightweight construction | Inseam: 7″ | Sizes: S, M, L | Colours: Black/grey
Drawcord adjustability ensures a customisable fit, but it’s the length we like with these: not too long, not too short. Asics is a reliable name in the running world, and the Icon Short is a typically solid bit of kit.
Lululemon Pace Breaker Linerless 7-inch Shorts
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RRP £48, lululemon.com
Fit: 4.5/5
Style: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Materials: 86% recycled polyester, 14% elastane | Features: front pockets with hidden inner pockets; zippered rear pocket; streamlined fit; 4-way stretch material; elastic waistband with interior drawstring | Inseam: 7″ | Sizes: XS – XXL | Colours: 23 colours available
Also available in a lined model, the Pace Breaker is a lightweight, fast wicking short that works well during cardio and outdoor workouts. Its fit is relaxed enough to feel comfortable throughout a range of movements, and a side/rear ventilation strip keeps you cool during intense sessions.
Tracksmith Session Shorts
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RRP £77, tracksmith.com
Fit: 4.5/5
Style: 5/5
Comfort: 4.5/5
Materials: 86% nylon, 14% elastane, lining 89% polyester, 11% elastane | Features: Zippered back pocket, hidden inside pocket; 4-way stretch material; elastic waistband with internal drawstring; split side seams | Inseam: 5” or 7″ | Sizes: XS – XXL | Colours: berry, emerald, sea pine, wine, navy, charcoal, black
Available in a 5-inch or 7-inch inseam, these Session shorts from Tracksmith look as sharp as they perform. It may look like an out-and-out running short but with antimicrobial liner, split seams and stretch fabric they’ll easily cope with cardio and cross training workouts too.
Saxx Underwear Gainmaker Shorts
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RRP £65, saxxunderwear.com
Fit: 4/5
Style: 4.5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Materials: 88% recycled polyester, 12% elastane | Features: two front pockets, one with zip; 4-way stretch material; elastic waistband with internal drawstring; BallPark Pouch liner; notched hem | Inseam: 7″ | Sizes: S – XXL | Colours: graphite, black
Featuring a relaxed-fit shell with 4-way stretch fabric, there’s loads of room to manoeuvre in these multi-sport shorts. Invisible FlatOut seams and the amusingly named BallPark Pouch liner make these one of the comfiest shorts we’ve tested, whether you’re weight lifting, rock climbing or pavement pounding.
Allbirds Natural Run Shorts
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RRP £68, allbirds.co.uk
Fit: 4.5/5
Style: 3.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Materials: 51% merino wool, 32% recycled nylon, 11% nylon, 6% elastane | Features: two front pockets, one with hidden inner pocket; rear pocket; elastic waistband with drawstring; split side seam | Inseam: 7″ | Sizes: XS – XXXL | Colours: black, navy, pine
Carbon neutral sportswear brand Allbirds’ shorts are natural by name, natural by nature. They’ve all the moisture wicking properties you’d expect from a wool blend but are surprisingly light and comfortable to the touch. Their relaxed fit and hint of stretch help accommodate every squat, stretch and stride too.
TCA Utility 2-in-1 Shorts
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RRP £24, tca.fit
Fit: 4/5
Style: 3.5/5
Comfort: 3.5/5
Materials: 90% polyester, 10% elastane | Features: compression inner short; zippered pockets with breathable mesh; built-in phone pocket on inner short: elastic waistband | Inseam: x″ | Sizes: S – XL | Colours: anthracite or tornado
TCS’s Utility short is an affordable, reliable midweight short combining quick wicking TCA DRY technology, plenty of pocket options and the compression benefits of an inner short. Built to deal with the rigours of any gym-based workout, its athletic fit still gives you plenty of room to move.
Myprotein Men’s Velocity Ultra 7-Inch Shorts
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RRP £35, myprotein.com
Fit: 4/5
Style: 3/5
Comfort: 3/5
Materials: Polyester and elastane | Features: Side seam zip pockets; hem split for mobility; perforated yoke and gusset for ventilation; internal key pocket; mesh waistband with internal drawcords; reflective details | Inseam: 7″ | Sizes: XXS – XXXL | Colours: Black or Ice Blue
Perfect for runs or the gym – with woven-stretch fabric for unrestricted movement when squatting or lifting – these durable shorts feature unrivalled ventilation and mobility, along with plenty of pockets to protect your essentials.
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