The Best Running Shorts for Racing, Training, and Adventures

As a woman runner, I come across the same conundrums as my colleagues, but with the additional problem that shorts tend to ruck up or down around my differently shaped waist and hips. One way of getting around that is with tight shorts, but my favorite are Oiselle’s Roga (running-yoga) shorts, which are running shorts with a wide, soft yoga-style waistband.

It's semi-fitted, so it's not too revealing, and the 4-inch inseam is modest enough on my 5'2" self. The wide, soft waistband has a zip pocket that's big enough to hold my iPhone 16 immobile against the small of my back while running. There's a liner, so you can wear these commando (although I usually do not) with an interior drawstring to adjust the fit. I particularly like Oiselle's Roga fabric, which is a blend of bluesign-approved polyester and Spandex that's simultaneously light while having enough weight to it to hang properly and not get crinkled up in between your legs.

I've worn these for about a year and they've held up—I put them in the washing machine, but I also hang them to air dry. My only caveat is that these are medium-weight shorts and they're worn high, so they're a little heavy for summer weather or racing. —Adrienne So

I’m not a huge fan of running with my upper thighs on show. But when I want to feel completely free and super light for all-out efforts, I’ll sometimes reach for the shortest of short shorts, and when I do, these racy Session Speed Shorts are my go-to.

A speedier—and shorter version—of Tracksmith’s excellent Session Shorts, these 3-inch inseam speedsters strip everything back to the almost-bare basics, so you can drive forward, unencumbered in total comfort. (Editor Adrienne So runs in the women's version of these as well.) The high-stretch Italian knit outer is light, loose, and incredibly soft and luxurious. The retro overlapped side splits add a touch of classic style while boosting your range of movement. The comfortable brief-style liners aren’t as supportive as you’ll get from a two-in-one short, and everything can feel a little bit “naked.” But your dignity is well protected. I’ve run scores of track sessions in these without fretting over potential wardrobe malfunctions. Those inner briefs also pack Polygiene antimicrobial powers to ward off unwanted stinks.

I’m also impressed with the storage, which is pretty good for short shorts, too. There’s a hidden zippered pocket on the right hip and another small fuel pocket in the liner. It’s all a bit unstructured, and anything too heavy tends to bounce around, but if you really need to stash small essentials, it’s good to have the option.

These Represent 247 shorts offer versatile, mellow compression. I use them for everything from short and fast to longer, leisurely mileage. This is a half-tight I can happily use up to a marathon distance.

They come with supportive built-in liner briefs that feature big but soft—and crucially flat—seams. Those pose less chafe risk. The outer half-tights are made from a silky smooth, four-way stretch fabric that’s soft against your skin and hugs but also flexes to allow a good range of motion. On hotter runs, I found the nylon-polyester blend wicked well enough. Though I preferred them as a close-fitting barrier to keep out the cold when temperatures dropped. Storage space is OK. The back zippered pocket below the waist can handle my large smartphone. There are two tiny drop-in pockets on the liner briefs, but I found these really too small for anything beyond a key or a small earbud case.

The drawstring waistband is broad and soft enough for good comfort, but the drawstrings themselves are a bit long. I ended up with pretty big loops out front, which were a bit of a flapping distraction.

The 7-inch twin short is probably my favorite style. I like how the outer-liner combination offers extra comfort, coverage, protection and support. However, some longer hybrid shorts can be a bit heavy. These HOKAs manage to buck that trend with plenty of dignity protection with a light, fast, free flowing feel.

The high-stretch outer short fabric is super soft, brilliantly lightweight and flexible so it feels like you’re wearing less short. Meanwhile, the inner boxer-style liners are also wonderfully thin, breathable, and silky smooth. You don’t get that really locked-in suit-of-armor feel that some higher-compression liner shorts offer, but everything is still well held. The almost seamless design here meant I could happily run up to two hours without any troubles. The thin fabric also dries fast and was minimal enough that I could wear my favorite running underwear too.

The wide, soft drawstring waistband sits comfortably on your waist and doesn't cut in or roll up. When it comes to storage, there’s one stretch mesh back pocket with two entry points that offers really versatile stash space. You can fill it with gels, or stick a jacket through there, or trekking poles. There’s another drop-in mesh pocket on the inner thigh that’s made for a phone, but the thin fabric doesn’t hold it as securely as I’d like. Finally, a small zippered waist pocket can hold keys or a gel but not much else. I’ve stuck these through multiple wash cycles, and the liners have held their shape. Even the leg cuffs remain snug and don't go flaccid and roll up after a number of runs.

These half-tight shorts have some serious Olympic sprinter vibes. Part of an Adizero Control collection and a collaboration between Adidas and material experts Rheon Labs, the marketing blurb says they’re made using a reactive super polymer material (that’s the tiger stripes) that limits energy loss by positioning muscles into the most efficient position.

The idea is that the soft and flexible polymers instantly become more rigid and supportive when you perform high-intensity movements. I can’t really confirm the performance enhancement, but what I can attest to is that comfortable, locked-in, tight fit that makes your quads and hammies feel seriously protected. They’re long in the leg and very compressive, with leg cuffs that hold and don’t ride, and a soft, wide waistband that stays put too.

The seams are a bit chunky, so I wouldn’t necessarily trust them without a whole load of lube on long runs. There’s also not really enough room under for layering up underneath. The other missing component is storage, as there's not a single pocket in sight. That’s not surprising when you consider they’re built for all-out performance and for the shorter, faster stuff. They're at their best for intervals on the track. Though I also found they worked quite well as a base layer when I wanted more muscle support.

My top running short recommendation for when you need maximum storage with easy access to a whole host of kit, the CimAlp’s Aoste H 2-in-1 are as close as you’ll get to the storage capacity of a race vest, crammed into your shorts.

I ran 1,830 miles across Europe—a marathon a day for 67 days—in a single pair of these, and not only were they excellent for day-to-day comfort in some grueling conditions, they’re still going strong. Designed for long-haul trips on the trails and into the mountains, they pair a thick outer short that’s robust and durable with a built-in base-layer liner short that’s not overly compressive but keeps everything secure and rock solid down under.

The killer feature here is the storage. There are two large zippered leg pockets, plus an integrated storage belt in the waistband that has four big stretch mesh drop-ins (one with Velcro fastening). They’re ideal for storing fuel, phone, or headlamp where you need it, or they can even take a 20-ounce soft flask without too much bounce. They’re a bit on the heavy side, but I’ve happily raced marathons in them too. Size up.