The Best Running Shorts for Men (Summer 2026): Tested and Reviewed

Regardless of your body type or style preference, the ideal running shorts should disappear during your run—never bunching up, chafing, or restricting—and they should look good too. We tested 57 men’s running shorts over the course of a full year to find the best options available. Here’s the cream of the crop.

While you’re at it, be sure to check out our picks for the best running shirts for men.

Updated May 2026:  After testing new running shorts all fall and winter in sunny Southern California and comparing them to the shorts we tested last summer, we’ve selected new winners in eight of eleven categories, and named the Rabbit FKT 5” short best overall for its comfortable, free-flowing ride and ample, convenient pockets. For an amazing value at under $30, check out the Terignota Sendero Short.

Best Men’s Running Shorts: At a Glance

With a five-inch inseam and a polyester-spandex shell, these semi-relaxed shorts are designed for—but not limited to—trail running. Testers praised the comfort of Rabbit’s FKT (Fastest Known Time) short and called it “free-flowing.” The durable shell drapes naturally, and, with a slight stretch, allows an unrestricted range of motion throughout the stride.

The silky-soft, highly supportive internal brief is one of the more comfortable liners I tested. It’s also coated with an odor-resistant treatment, keeping it fresh—though I didn’t let too many runs go by without washing.

I’ve always found trail running shorts to be superior when it comes to pockets, and this is no exception. With one zippered rear pocket, four side drop-in pockets, and four internal pockets, this short takes carry capacity to the next level. The rear zippered pocket is large enough to fit my iPhone 14 Pro with very little bounce, thanks to the wide two-inch waistband with a drawstring to cinch it tight. One tester noted some initial difficulty keeping the drawstring tied, but ultimately sorted it out with a little extra attention. If you like to carry fuel, keys, phone, cash, and more on the run, the Rabbit FKT has you covered.

Runner Up, Best Overall

Tracksmith Twilight Shorts

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
+ Elegant, high-quality construction
+ Comfortable flat elastic waistband
+ Premium brief liner
– Limited pockets
– Phone bounces in rear zip pocket

The Twilight Shorts are not just functional, they’re elegant. The shell, made with the typical polyester-spandex blend, feels more substantial and durable than others with the same DNA, while maintaining a stretchy, comfortable feel. Designed with a relaxed fit, the durable shell is, according to one tester, “airy and doesn’t cling, staying away from my body with a smooth, attractive drape.”

The stretchy elastic waist—with a smooth, flat band and integrated drawstring—rested smoothly against the skin, staying flat, tight, and comfortable. The brief liner, made with the same polyester-spandex blend as the shell, felt more like smooth wool, with similar moisture-wicking characteristics. As an added bonus, the liner is treated with Polygiene to prevent bacterial build-up and resist odor. I’ve always found it effective, but I’d still recommend washing these after every run.

Just one gripe: Storage is limited, with only one rear zip pocket and three internal drop pockets built into the brief liner. The zippered pocket is plenty big enough for a phone, but allows a decent amount of bounce while running. The internal pockets are fairly shallow, so stored fuel sticks out slightly.

Best Value

Terignota Sendero Short

Sizing: XS-XL

Pros and Cons
+ Lightweight, airy shell
+ Abundant storage options
+ Exceptional value
– Limited colors
– High-rise waistband may feel awkward at first

With all the features of the best men’s running shorts that cost twice as much, the Terignota Sendero Short proves that high performance and sharp design don’t have to break the bank. Its polyamide and elastane grid-patterned outer shell is remarkably lightweight and airy. The no-fuss internal mesh brief liner offers a good amount of support without feeling restrictive. One tester gave the short the highest praise: “It’s one of those shorts that disappears on the run.”

The Sendero’s highlight is no doubt its carrying capacity. Built with trail runners in mind, the wide waistband includes four mesh pockets and a rear zippered pocket spacious enough to fit an iPhone. One tester noted that the high-rise fit of the waistband—unusual on a men’s short—felt a bit awkward at first, but he quickly became accustomed to it after a few runs. Even with the wide waistband, however, when the pockets were fully loaded, we had to cinch the drawstring tightly to keep everything secure and minimize bounce.

Best Wear-Anywhere

Rabbit High Country Shorts

Sizing: S-XXL

Pros and Cons
+ Versatile for everyday wear
+ Lightweight and airy boxer brief liner
+ Generous pockets
– Heavier than others
– Snap-button waistband doesn’t hold securely

While technically designed for hiking, the Rabbit High Country Short is the most versatile active short I’ve tried. It has all the DNA of good running shorts—it’s airy and moisture-wicking, with a supportive brief liner and uber-comfortable stretchy shell—but leans more into casual active wear, mostly due to a heavier weight than typical running shorts, plus waist and pocket snaps.

The built-in boxer brief liner is lightweight, airy, and perfect for runs and everyday use when it’s too hot and humid to wear a thick pair of boxers. The durable, water-repellent face fabric, made from nylon and spandex, is unrestrictive but rather heavy.

The waistband has two snap buttons that didn’t quite hold the shorts securely, but a built-in drawstring let me adjust the tightness. Two deep, zippered hand pockets on the sides, plus smaller hidden zipper pockets and two snap pockets on the rear, make it easy to carry bigger items like a wallet or keys casually, and secure smaller things on a run.

These shorts are all I wear to the gym, out running errands, and lounging around the house. If I were changing for a long run, I wouldn’t pick these over a pair of dedicated running shorts, but they can handle a quick, impromptu run without feeling awkward. I’ve tagged them as my one travel short that can do it all.

Best Run/Gym Hybrid Short

Proof Airweave Short 6″

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
+ Most stretch of any short tested
+ Perforated, highly breathable shell
– Too thin and airy for heavy lifting sessions

I wasn’t familiar with Proof until I started researching this guide and learned that this new label is Huckberry’s in-house active brand. Proof’s design manager, Jordan Crosby, is a lifelong runner who spent seven years at Nike working on track and field kits for Olympians before joining Huckberry, so this isn’t just another brand trying to pass casual clothing off as running gear.

The Proof Airweave is a lightweight, stretchy short that quickly became my go-to for both running and casual wear. Most men’s active shorts come in 5-, 7-, or 9-inch inseams. The Airweave is 6 inches, which I found to be the perfect length to avoid feeling restricted on the run while remaining suitable for everyday activities. The shell is 80 percent polyester and 20 percent spandex, giving it more stretch than any other short I tested. The fabric has tiny holes throughout, making it extremely light and breathable. The brief liner shares the shell’s airy feel and offers a medium level of support. Note: If you’re into a thick shell and highly supportive liner for lifting, look elsewhere.

The pockets are designed for both running and everyday use. Two zippered pockets, one rear and one side, assure items won’t fall out on the run, and another very small drop-in pocket sewn into the liner can hold two gels. Two side hand pockets hold keys and a wallet when you’re just hanging out.

Best Split Short

Adidas Adizero Running Split Shorts

Sizing: XS-L

Pros and Cons
+ Outstanding pockets for split shorts
+ Ultra-thin, supportive, and breathable liner
– Very short inseam
– Large brand stripes

Split shorts, by their nature, are designed for total freedom of movement, at the expense of modesty or convenience. Because of that, I have never found a sturdy, good-looking split short with adequate pocket capacity for long runs and marathons. Until now.

These split shorts carry more than any other shorts tested. Made with a very short two-inch inseam, these aren’t for the modest runner, as testers all noted. But if you’re up for showing a lot of leg, you’re in for a treat. “I love shorts that make it feel like you’re running with nothing on but with the necessary support, and these took that concept to another level,” said one of our faster testers.

The recycled polyester lining is ultra-thin and breathable. “The longer I ran, the more I forgot I was wearing them,” said a tester with a 2:28 marathon PR. The brief liner offers surprisingly good support, which, for an inseam this short, is a must.

But the standout feature is the pockets. A thick waistband anchors three front drop-in pockets and one rear zippered pocket that wraps the entire back. Front pockets seem a little odd, but I’ve found they’re a lot easier to get things out of when running fast. And I appreciated the key loop sewn into a side pocket; one small detail I wish more shorts had.

One complaint: the large Adidas-branded stripes might be a deal breaker for many. Still, if you can get past showing the stripes, you’ll be rewarded with one fast pair of split shorts.

Best Splurge

Ciele ATShort 5″ Brief RS

Sizing: XS-XL

Pros and Cons
+ Attractive styling
+ Durable nylon ripstop shell
+ Supportive, smooth liner
– Expensive

Everything about these shorts is slightly different from most running shorts: very large hand pockets, a split-short cut but a relaxed five-inch inseam, and a rear zippered pocket set off-center, like the wallet pocket in a pair of everyday shorts. Yet despite a drawer full of top-notch running shorts to choose from, I kept coming back to these. I just felt comfortable in them; they look fantastic when worn casually, and the relaxed cut lets them flow effortlessly while running.

The shell material is ripstop nylon, on the thicker side, with good stretch. It’s the only pair I tested that’s made with nylon instead of polyester, which gives it a slightly more durable feel. Ciele treated the ripstop to resist chlorine and salt, to protect the fabric during a post-run swim, and on days when you finish a hot run with shorts gone stiff and crunchy.

The liner is a smooth nylon-and-elastane blend that’s supportive and comfortable. One thing surprised me: the waistband is a basic elastic shirred band (it looks textured and scrunched), which irritated some. This was never an issue for me, but I expected a more premium flat waistband on such a high-priced short.

At first, I thought the side pockets and wallet-ready rear pocket were a silly, non-functional design choice—even carrying a phone without bouncing is impossible. Yet the more I wore them, the more I appreciated their convenience for everyday carry post-run.

The odd combination of features won’t suit everyone, but what these shorts have going for them is comfort, fit, and a refined aesthetic. Plus, I just feel faster in these than in any other pair of shorts in the test.

Best for Trail Running

The North Face Summit Series Pacesetter

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
+ Comfortable
+ Anti-odor
+ Sun protective
– Shallow pockets

You know that pair of shorts you instinctively reach for every time you get ready for a run? The Summit Series Pacesetter became that pair for our testers. There wasn’t one standout feature; these shorts just nailed the basics: a comfortable waistband, a supportive and breathable brief liner, and a durable, stretchy shell. It all comes together in a short that felt “flowy and barely there,” according to one tester—even on a super humid Wisconsin morning with a dew point in the high 60s.

Although it’s marketed as a trail running short, we wore them just as often on the road. “They strike a good balance between a casual athletic look and performance-oriented freedom of movement,” said another tester. One small but appreciated detail: The inseam is cut slightly longer than the outer seam to help guard against chafing without hindering mobility.

Storage is solid, with three pockets—a rear zip pocket large enough for a phone and two side mesh stash pockets—that hold the basic carry items for short and mid-long runs when a vest isn’t needed. Our only gripe: The side mesh pockets are a bit shallow, and their elastic openings could be tighter.

Best Compression Liner

Bandit Vento Next Gen 5” Short

Sizing: XS-XL

Pros and Cons
+ Most supportive compression liner tested
+ Zero ride-up thanks to rubber grip strips
– Internal gel pockets are narrow and tight

I rotate through about five or six running shorts between each wash, and the Bandit Vento Next Gen 5″ makes the cut every time. If I’m not running in them, I wear them to the gym. The best feature is the compression liner—by far the most supportive liner I’ve tested, with rubber strips along the bottom to keep it from riding up while you run.
The shell is a nylon-and-spandex blend with tiny venting holes, giving the shell an airy, unrestrictive feel. The seamless waistband is on the thicker side, with a hold so strong I’ve never had to tie the waistband strings to keep the shorts from sagging.

Ten pockets combine gym and running storage. Two side leg pockets, built into the compression liner, hold a phone or credit card securely. Four long, narrow internal pockets are sewn into the liner at the lower back and work well for gels. The pockets are quite tight, which minimizes bounce, but I struggled to load items in and out on the run.
I used to shrug in bewilderment at running shorts with side hand pockets, but after testing them over the years, I’ve become quite a fan. They’re not practical on the run, but they add a lot of convenience at other times for carrying things like car keys and a wallet.

Best Half Tight

Nike ACG Lava Loops Half Tight

Sizing: XS-XL

Pros and Cons
+ Built-in internal brief offers support and modesty
+ Smartly designed seven-pocket system
– Rear mesh zip pocket isn’t waterproof

These half-tights, part of Nike’s new All Conditions Gear collection, are the best I’ve tested. They’re designed for trail running—making them more durable, weather-ready, and loaded with pockets than typical running tights—but any road runner would appreciate them just as much.

The highlight for me is the built-in internal brief, which offers far better support than any half-tight I’ve worn, while adding a little modesty up front. The waist is a smooth, two-inch flat band with a built-in drawstring that can be tied from the inside or the outside to add security, although the elasticity of the waist was plenty strong enough to hold the tights up.

I found the pocket system just about perfect. Seven pockets all have smart features that make carrying specific items easier. Two deep side pockets on the legs work great for carrying a large phone, stashing trash, or even for stuffing an emergency shell or light layer. Three mesh drop-in pockets sit in the front for quick access to fuel, with two pull tabs making them easier to open. A rear zippered mesh pocket keeps a phone from bouncing around. Lastly, there’s one narrow but deep internal pocket, plus two elastic cinch cords to secure poles or a discarded shirt. My one gripe is that the phone pocket isn’t waterproof.

Best 7” Shorts

Rab Talus Running Shorts

Sizing: XS-XXL

Pros and Cons
+ Extremely lightweight
+ Long, supportive liner
+ Great pockets
– Runs a little tight

For testers who prefer the added leg coverage of a seven-inch inseam, the Rab 7” Talus Running Shorts stood out as the clear winner. Longer shorts often feel restrictive or suffocating, but not these. Made of a lightweight, single-weave stretch fabric with a fluorocarbon-free DWR finish, the shell was invisible once we started moving. Four-inch side splits kept the longer hem from interfering with our strides.

The short’s best feature might be the high-rise waistband, which has built-in pockets that kept items locked in place. “There’s a flat-out bonkers amount of storage around the waistband,” said one ultrarunner tester. Two rear drop-in pockets flank a zippered lumbar pocket and easily held an iPhone and plenty of fuel.

The long (7-inch inseam) boxer brief liner also impressed. Constructed of a single-jersey fabric with a subtle mesh structure and odor-control treatment, it provided secure-but-unconstricting support. “This was more supportive than most, and I normally strongly prefer briefs. It takes a really good pair of long liners to change my mind,” said one tester.

Sizing ran small, which is typical for European brands. If you’re between sizes and prefer a looser fit, consider sizing up.

Men’s Running Shorts Comparison Chart

What to Look For in Running Shorts

Running shorts vary in length, liners, pockets, fit, and fabric. Your choice will depend on the types of runs (and post-runs) you’ll wear them for, and your personal preferences for feel and fit.

You’ll want a length that is short enough for full, unimpeded motion (the faster the run, the shorter and more split the shorts tend to be), but long enough to feel decent on the trail, road, or post-run coffee shop.

Liners range from soft, loose briefs to compression-shorts-like stretchy boxers. Some running shorts have none at all for those who prefer to wear their own underwear. Choosing between liners is a matter of personal taste; we prioritize those that balance breathability and range of motion with coverage and control.

Pockets need to be big and secure enough for whatever you want to carry: phone, keys, cards, gels. Pocket placement is important to allow convenient access and avoid bouncing and chafing, as is the robustness of the waistband to prevent sagging when carrying anything heavy, like a phone.

When it comes to fit and fabric, as with all hot-weather running gear, you want pieces that breathe, wick moisture, move naturally, dry quickly, delay stink, and don’t get in the way.

Here are some quick tips to guide you while buying the best warm-weather gear:

• Look for high-quality synthetic fibers. Yes, our top picks include a few items with natural fibers. But for the most part, specially designed varieties of polyester, polyamide, nylon, and the like can handle summer running’s high sweat rates better than wool and cotton. Natural fiber options will serve you well if you want apparel that transitions smoothly from the road, track, or trail to the coffee shop or bar after your run.
• Seek sun protection. Even if you run at dawn or dusk, or on shaded trails, sun damage can be insidious. Many shorts and tops come with a UPF coating. Running tan lines aren’t something to be proud of.
• Check for chafing. If you’ve ever been rubbed raw by a rigid seam or sagging liner, you won’t want to repeat the experience. Abrasion accelerates when you’re drenched in sweat. Look for flat seams, unobtrusive logos, and other elements of construction that will minimize chafing.
• Go with the flow. Our picks in this review strike a balance between being loose enough to allow cooling air flow and so billowy that they impede normal running form.
• Banish bacteria. Many hot-weather running items incorporate an anti-bacterial treatment that greatly reduces nasty odors from setting up shop. These pieces not only can be worn many more times before needing to be washed, but also lessen your chance of developing a funky skin situation.
• Invest in quality. It can be tempting to think, “Whatever I run in is going to get soaked anyway, so I’ll just buy the cheapest gear out there.” Such reasoning quickly falls apart when the inexpensive item itself starts to fall apart because of constant exposure to sweat and frequent laundering. Instead, invest in fewer high-quality pieces that hold their form and don’t hold odors; the best running shorts are better than more cheaply made gear that have to be replaced after one season.

How We Test Men’s Running Shorts

• Number of testers: 10
• Number of running shorts tested: 57
• Number of miles run in testing: 4,500+
• Highest testing temperature: 90 Fahrenheit

Our testing team ranged across the U.S.—from coastal Maine and western Maryland to central Wisconsin, the high plains of Nebraska, the urban bake sites of Chicago and Houston, and out to Santa Barbara on the California coast, plus, for good measure, the running hub of Eugene, Oregon. All are dedicated runners with average weekly mileage ranging from low 20s to mid 70s. Some have been running for 30 or more years and can compare today’s running apparel to previous attempts to keep runners cool in the summer.

We focused on a subjective combination of moisture management, comfort, versatility, value, and looks to answer a simple question: Of all the apparel you logged summer miles in, which would you be most likely to recommend to fellow runners?

Meet Our Lead Tester

Cory Smith

Cory Smith is a Santa Barbara, California–based athlete, online running coach, writer, and former national-class miler at Villanova University, specializing in training advice and running gear reviews. His gear reviews are informed by 30 years as an elite runner, with a trained eye for product design and functionality. He loves going deep on the technical side of shoe design and where running is heading next.

A cross-country race Cory Smith ran while testing running shorts.

(Gaia GPS is owned by Outside Inc.)