The 15 Best Athletic Shorts for Men to Buy in 2025, Tested by Editors

I’ve gone through more athletic shorts than I can count, and Vuori’s Kore Short has been the most impressive. It carries every small essential, flexes for squats at the gym and pairs with casual fits for my coffee runs. I wash clothes a few times a week, and it’s survived more than 10 cycles without looking dingy. As a five-foot-eight guy with a slender build, this pair fits me like a tailored pant, but the fabric still falls away from my legs so that I get a nice breeze.

We tested the 5-inch style on a model with bigger quads, and he says the fit stayed roomy despite the slimmer cut. The short sat well above his knees, around the upper thigh, and he liked that it gave him freedom to move without clinging. If you’re between 5’9 and 5’11 and don’t mind showing a little extra leg, this length is perfect. But if you want more coverage, Vuori also offers 7- and 9-inch inseams. The built-liner hugs like compression tights—not uncomfortable or restricting—but supportive enough that you can skip wearing briefs altogether. In terms of material, the polyester-elastane fabric has a hefty-yet-lightweight feel with a silky texture.

Since it has that everyday aesthetic without flashy branding, I’ve worn it after workouts to run errands and even lunch. After a 40-minute Barry’s class, my gym shirt was drenched in sweat, but the short wasn’t soaked. It dried up within 10 minutes on my walk to pick up a post-workout smoothie. The price tag falls in the premium tier, but its quality makes it more than worth every penny. You’re getting durability, versatility, support for your family jewels, and options (limited editions colorways and different inseams).

Read More: Best Gym Shorts for Men

I worked out in this pair of Alo shorts for almost two hours, and surprisingly, I didn’t feel soaked. Normally, I’d look like I just walked off a long, humid hike, but the fabric stayed relatively dry the whole session. I threw in sprints, burpees, and outside of workouts, nearly 15 washes—and it’s still holding up like new. I’ve seen other polyester-elastane shorts start to show wear and stretch after a few wash cycles, but not with this one. No matter how long I work out or how much I sweat, I’ve noticed I smell fresh, with no lingering funk. The fabric itself feels thin in a good way—cool to the touch with a crisp, technical feel that flexes naturally but never comes off plasticky or cheap.

I usually stick to shorter shorts, but the 7-inch inseam feels just as comfortable without restricting my leg extensions and lunges. Its regular fit covers most of the thigh but stops right on top of the knee. Heads up: it’s only available in 7-inch, and there’s no liner—but it’s still lightweight and breathable, so it’s not a dealbreaker.

Unlike Abercrombie shorts that use external drawstrings, this waistband is thicker, firmer, and rests gently on the skin. It lays flat and doesn’t roll, no matter how I move. Plus, the zip pockets at the side and back keep small items like a flat cardholder or keys locked in place.This is a premium pick for a reason. Sure, budget shorts get the job done, but here you’re paying for durability, high-quality performance fabric, a reliable waistband that stays put, and storage that doesn’t let your stuff bounce around.

Even though Gymshark’s Arrival 7″ Short is the most affordable pick on our list, it performs just as well as pairs that cost offers a bunch of affordable options that you can wear everyday. I’ve tested them through sprints, lunges, and even quick outdoor circuits, and the lightweight polyester fabric wicks sweat and dries faster than I expected. Thanks to its soft elastic drawcord that stays put, our testers were able to run more than five miles with having to readjust it.

The 7-inch inseam hits just above the knee, giving a balanced look that’s neither too short nor too long, and the slim-but-not-tight cut lets me move freely without feeling restricted. On top of that, the Arrival Shorts come in a wide spectrum of colors—from classic black and navy to brighter shades like Core Olive—so you can pick a pair for workouts, casual wear, or both. For the price, they feel like a serious step up in quality, making them a perfect budget-friendly option that doesn’t sacrifice performance, fit, or style.

Despite there being no liner, we didn’t experience any chafing, and our nether regions remained safe and secure. If you prefer a shorter length for running, this option may not be ideal. However, they’re a happy medium if you do a bit of everything in the gym from lifting to cardio.

I’ve been racking up miles in Rhone’s Pursuit Short, and it’s quickly become one of my go-tos. The 7-inch inseam hits me about an inch or two above the kneecap—longer than a 5-inch that shows off plenty of thigh, but still cropped enough that it doesn’t bunch or flap when I’m running. You can grab it lined or unlined, and I’ve worn both. On heavy squat days, the liner gives me that extra bit of support, but for long runs or even grabbing coffee after, I prefer the unlined—it just feels lighter.

The fabric is nylon-elastane, and it reminds me of the smooth stretch you get from a high-end track jacket—soft but with some grit so it doesn’t feel flimsy. It moves without sticking, which is key once the sweat kicks in. And unlike other shorts that come in two or three colors, the Pursuit has more colorways than anything else on this list. My favorite? The electric cobalt blue. It’s bold without being loud and pairs with just about every tee and training top I already own.

The waistband stays put—no digging, no sliding around—even during interval sprints. I found that the zippered side pockets keep everything secure rather than a distraction. Plus, the reflective details add more visibility for my nighttime runs.

Read More: Best Running Shorts for Men

For the past few years, I’ve gravitated toward shorts that hit mid-thigh because they’re more comfortable and more flattering for my build. That’s why I keep this pair from Abercrombie in rotation. It has a 6-inch inseam, which is longer than the typical five-inch benchmark for short shorts, offering a standard cut that feels roomy without looking as though I’m swimming in fabric. This cut makes it ideal for guys with bigger thighs. Inside, you don’t get any liner, but that makes it easy to slip on and keeps the vibes breezy for hot days.

The nylon fabric makes a swishy sound with a crinkled texture that’s not unique, not sloppy. Unlike the other solid-colored shorts we’ve tested, this one is flanked with cool stripes for a little stylish touch. In fact, this pair is so polished that I’ve paired it with the socks-and-loafers style hack, while keeping the top neat with a cardigan layered over a tank. Think of a sporty vibe with a touch of prep, so the look works perfectly for a weekend brunch or music festival. It’s not infused with stretch like some pairs from performance brands, but the lightweight nylon dries ridiculously fast after a sweaty session. No matter how many times I’ve tossed it in the wash, I haven’t seen fray, piling or color fade.

It’s a budget option, so you can justify picking up a couple, especially in different colorways. Just watch the pockets—they’re not super deep, though there’s a handy zip pocket inside the right-hand side for cards and keys.

Most athletic shorts tap out after a few wear or washes, but not this Bonobos pair. Over the course of three months, we washed it more than a dozen times, took it on long hikes, bike rides, and even wore it for pool days. Like the Patagonia Baggies and Wellen short, this pair doubles as a swim trunk that doesn’t balloon while you’re taking a dip. I said all that to say, despite putting it through the wringer, it’s still in the same shape from day one.

The nylon-spandex blend has a slightly rougher, more rugged feel; like a stiff boardshort. On our tester, the 5-inch inseam sits relatively high on the thigh—almost gripping—which means guys with thicker quads may want to size up for a more relaxed, breathable fit. He has muscular legs and noted that while the short looked sharp and streamlined, it was snug enough to remind him the pair was performance-oriented, not just casual wear.

The fabric has a slight “snap-back” feel, so even after heavy squats and hiking up rocky terrain, the short maintained its form, resisting sagging or twisting at the waistband. What’s different here is the drawstring with contrast tipping, which adds extra style points.

Read More: Best Swim Trunks for Men

Within 10 minutes after my workout, my Mack Weldon Stratus Active Short was nearly dry. But by the time we wrapped our cooldown stretch, it was bone-dry and ready to wear for errands. The polyester-spandex fabric feels light as a feather against the skin—soft, flexible, and barely there. Tiny dots along the sides are laser-cut ventilation panels that act like built-in air vents. keeping your legs cool and stopping sweat from sticking.

The 7-inch inseam hits halfway down the thigh, giving just the right amount of room above the knee so you don’t look like you’re drowning in fabric. What sets this pair apart are the fit options: you can get them lined, unlined, or with a compression layer. The compression version is no gimmick—it actually hugs your muscles and supports natural movement through lunges, sprints, and squats.

Zippered pockets on both the side and back means you can stash and dash without worrying about losing a thing. The only downside? It’s one of the more pricier shorts on our list. But considering it dries faster than anything else we tested, fits like it’s tailored for athletes, and offers multiple build options in one design, this pair has earned its price tag.

If there’s one short I reach for when I want endless stretch, it’s this one from Uniqlo. The polyester fabric flexes like crazy—whether I’m dropping into deep lunges, stretching out post-run, or pedaling across town. And here’s the wild part: it doesn’t even have spandex in it. I even yanked the material in opposite directions just to see if it would give out, and it snapped right back like nothing happened. The polyester material has this soft, almost T-shirt-like feel—light and breathable instead of plasticky—which makes it comfortable enough to wear to lounge, not just for training.

As for the cut, it’s relaxed-yet-tailored. If you’re around 5’10”, the inseam stops just above the knee—long enough to feel covered, but not so long that it swallows your legs. Uniqlo’s DRY-EX fabric, a high-performance quick-dry polyester material, pulls sweat away fast, so I don’t feel sticky after heavy use. This summer I wore them on back-to-back bike rides in 80-degree heat, and it kept me cooler than more expensive pairs I’ve tested. Uniqlo uses minimal branding, so it looks polished enough to pair with a polo and sneakers.

That said, there are a couple trade-offs. It only comes in the 5-inch inseam, so you don’t get to choose from 7- or 9-inch cuts. I’ve also noticed slight pilling after but this didn’t occur until after a few months of washes. Still, for the amount of stretch you get and how quick they dry, this short is tough to beat, especially as an affordable pick.

The North Face Action Short is the one pair I keep reaching for because it does everything: hike, swim, work out, travel, etc. It comes in short, regular, and long, but the regular hits right above my knee. The fabric’s wild: it’s this lightweight stretch nylon with FlashDryXD, a fast-drying polyester-blend which lives up to the name. You can cannonball into a pool, hop out, and by the time you’ve found your sandals, it’s already halfway dry. What I love most is the feel. It’s not clingy or crunchy—this pair is more like a broken-in windbreaker, but cut into shorts.

When I’m wearing it, I don’t think about it at all, which is kind of the point. The short moves the way I move, so whether I’m lifting, jogging, or just chasing down a coffee, I don’t have to readjust. However, there’s no built-in liner, which means I pair this with my go-to compression underwear. And while the material is crazy light, it doesn’t block wind the same way thicker shorts do on a chilly day.

When you need a short that can blur the line between training and recovery gear, the Patagonia Baggies should be your new go-to. I’ve worn it straight from the gym to lunch without changing, while other testers swear by it for swimming laps. The 6-inch cut lands right above mid-thigh—high enough to show some leg, but not so short they feel skimpy. You have the freedom to move and a little airflow, but here’s the trade-off: if you’re used to longer shorts, this pair will take some confidence to pull off.

At $75, it’s an investment, but one that pays off. Like the Bonobos pair, the nylon fabric is impressively durable. In six months, our pair went through everything: hikes, swims, workouts, mud, sand, chlorine, and 10+ washes without losing color, shape, or structure. The material is crisp and sturdy with that signature “swish” sound when you walk, more like a broken-in sailcloth than plasticky bargain-bin windbreakers.

The slimmer cut through the thigh and hip gives them a sharp silhouette, though guys with bigger quads might want to size up for comfort. Outside of recreation, our style editors love pairing it with a t-shirt and sneakers for a backyard BBQ or day at the park.

At first glance, Nike’s offering could pass for a chino short. It doesn’t have that shiny gym-short finish, so you can wear it to brunch or while running errands. But under the hood, it’s built with Dri-FIT technology, Nike’s proprietary fabric that wicks sweat fast. It’s kept us cool in the gym and during the dog days of summer. This style only comes in a 6-inch inseam, but the waist range is generous—running from 28 to 42.

The cut is relaxed without being sloppy like baggy basketball shorts, roomy through the thigh but still sitting firmly in short-shorts territory, landing almost three-quarters up the leg above the knee. The smooth polyester feels closer to a chino than a gym short, so it feels structured but never stiff. A small locker loop sits on the left hip, a detail made for hanging them up post-workout or by the pool. And with zippered pockets to lock down your essentials, you can train knowing these shorts will keep everything safe and sound.

Our tester tried the 5-inch unlined version (it also comes in 7-inch) and said it felt like a mix between his softest sweat shorts and loungewear. He called it the most comfortable athletic shorts he’s worn, crediting the stretchy, breathable fabric and the cut that never pinched his thighs—even during heavy squats. After a 30-minute HIIT session, he stayed dry and could run errands straight from the gym without changing. The grid-textured fabric feels almost like seersucker for workout gear: light, airy, and textured enough not to stick to sweaty skin.

Although it’s trimmed through the leg like the Bonobos short, it’s still roomy enough for muscular quads. The side vents give extra mobility for burpees while also letting air circulate around your legs. You can choose a version with or without the built-in liner. I ran three miles in the lined one and didn’t have to adjust myself once. There are five pockets, including a zippered one that holds your phone without bouncing, and they’re designed with mesh material that drains quickly, so you can even use this for swimming.

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