The 23 Best Gym Shorts for Men – Styles for Every Type of Workout
Whether your training protocol of choice is running, CrossFit or just a casual kick-about, the best gym shorts will leave you free to focus on the task at hand. After all, the last thing you need is to be distracted by what you're wearing.
And we've all been there: waistbands sagging, phones swinging in pockets (with dangerous proximity to certain body parts), fabric chafing or restricting your strides and squats. So we're here to assure you that your gym kit never need kill your PB again, with our edit of comfortable and functional sports shorts for men.
Read more gym wear reviews — because to perform your best, it's important to feel your best
If you're a runner or cyclist, we suggest something streamlined like these compressive Brooks half tights or these Nike 2-in-1 designs. If you need something to accommodate – or at least aid – those leg gains, go for unrestrictive woven pairs cut for deep squats and deadlifts – Gymshark's offering ticks these boxes. Jumped on the HYROX craze? Opt for a durable short that allows for mobility, like this specially crafted Puma pair. For all-rounders, a classic jersey short will serve you for football practice, jogs, HIIT sessions, stretching, weight lifting and rest days too.
How to Choose Gym Shorts
Whatever your workout of choice, there are some key things to consider when shopping for the best gym shorts.
Material
The exact type of material you want in your gym shorts will come down to what you're doing — for example durable, hard-wearing fabrics for powerlifting, lightweight and quick-drying woven fibres for running or cardio. But generally you want to make sure there's some stretch to the material to allow you to move freely (look for elastane or nylon), and moisture-wicking properties to keep you dry and comfortable. Looking for LISS or rest-day shorts? Seek out terry fleece, jersey or cotton blends.
Style
Again, the style of your chosen gym shorts should depend largely on your workout — do you need short-shorts made for clocking up the miles, 2-in-1 or lined pairs that let you drop deep into lunges while holding everything in place (and protecting your modesty), or side splits for unrestricted movement?
Pockets
Let's face it, it's rare to hit the gym without your trusty smartphone in tow — music can boost performance, after all. So make sure your chosen shorts have all the storage space you could need, from zipped pockets for valuables and sports gel compartments to built-in key loops, shirt-stash tunnels and snug drop-in pockets (no more phones swinging around and painfully hitting you in the leg, or worse).
Fit and length
Do you like a bit of coverage, or prefer the freedom of movement offered by short-shorts? It's also worth taking your quad size into consideration — if you're a muscly guy, you may need a more generous cut in the thigh, but remember that slimmer fit shorts will snag less on equipment. If opting for a longer short ensure they're stretchy, otherwise you're likely to impede your movement — which we'd argue slightly defeats the point.
Looking to kit out your gym wardrobe? Read our tried and tested gym wear reviews, from gym tank tops and workout tees to the best gym trainers, sports sunglasses and wearable fitness tech.
How we Test Men's Gym Shorts
Along with the MH editors, we've enlisted the help of some willing gym bros to test all the workout shorts below — plus some others that didn't make the cut.
Throughout testing, we kept function, comfort and looks front of mind, asking questions like: are the pockets usable? Does the liner stay put rather than ride up? How well does the fabric wick moisture away? How's the stretch — can we move fully unimpeded? We also checked how well each pair of shorts fared after several washes, as well as how fast they dried.
Several hundreds of squats, lifting sessions, laps and lunges later and we've whittled down our edit of the very best men's gym shorts.
The 23 Best Gym Shorts For Men to Shop in 2025
This list includes offerings for any and all types of workout — from cardio, CrossFit and callisthenics to heavy lifting and HIIT. And, even better, they won't cost you a fortune. Keep scrolling to see our pick of the best gym shorts for men, starting from as little as £11.99.
Pace Breaker Lined Short 7"
These lululemon gym shorts were our tester's favourite, hands down. This was in large part down to how insanely soft and comfortable they are (you have to feel the grid mesh liner to believe it), but they also have a lot going for them on the technical front, with strategically placed vents, great stretch (no lunging issues here) and plenty of room to move freely.
They're super light, dry quickly, have pockets for everything plus an elasticated drawcord waist. They also double as great everyday shorts for sunny days thanks to their moisture-wicking prowess.
Also available without a liner.
Arrival Shorts
These no-fuss shorts are a Gymshark bestseller for a reason. They're affordable, functional and available in enough colours to match any and all of your other gym garms.
With a slightly loose fit they're ideal for guys chasing leg gains or anyone who wants an incredibly comfortable pair of gym shorts that don't fall short when it comes to performance.
Stride Dri-FIT 2-in-1 Shorts
One of Nike's best-selling pieces, these 18cm lightweight shorts are a must-have for runners. The unrestrictive shell allows for long strides and maximum flexibility, while the skin-tight liner provides coverage and holds everything in.
Another nice touch is the zip pocket on the back, which is convenient for storing your phone while running.
Also available in grey, coral or this fluro green colour. Plus you can find them with a brief liner, or in 13cm length.
Zeroed In Linerless Short 5"
These understated, stylish shorts suit pretty much every workout plus double up as breezy summer casual wear. They're cut with plenty of room in thighs and glutes for ultimate comfort and are confirmed chafe-free by our testers (even by those with hefty quads).
Super light and with a good amount of stretch, these feel premium and come in true to size — but the waist is elasticated and has a drawcord if you do want to size up for a baggier fit.
There are deep, open pockets on each side plus a zipped pocket on the back right hand size, which is the ideal size for a phone. They wick sweat effectively and dry fast, leaving you free to focus on your workout.
And while these 5-inch numbers have a touch of the Paul Mescal about them, that's nothing that can’t be solved by donning a sports boxer or opting for the 7-inch length — but we personally prefer the shorter length for more freedom of movement.
Men's AEROREADY Essentials Shorts
There are few designs as iconic as the adidas three stripe. These shorts pair well with everything, be it a plain white tee or your gym garms, and thanks to three pockets (one made purely to stop your phone falling out) they're super handy too.
A drawstring elasticated waist means you can get the perfect fit (and they won't fall down mid-squat — bonus), plus they're super lightweight and dry fast.
Licence to Train Short 7" Lined
Our tester liked how these lululemon shorts are super roomy but still hold everything in, with the liner acting like a (very effective) compression short. Wide hems keep the undershort from slipping and the trunk section is similar to the brand's best-selling (and insanely comfortable) Always In Motion boxer shorts.
The outer shorts are split for a better range of motion and throughout Lycra adds incredible stretch (so absolutely no excuse not to drop fully into that lunge). You really can move every single which way in these — so they'd be great for yoga too. The drop-in phone pocket easily fits large smartphones plus there's a sneaky hole for headphone wires.
A drawcord waist keeps things comfortable, there a tons of pockets plus a vented panel at the back — and they're available in a bunch of easy to match colours. Also available without a liner.
Sport 5" Shorts
These simple shorts are suitable for pretty much any occasion — from playing sports to pumping iron. Made from a light, breathable material they have side splits for greater range of motion, an adjustable drawcord on the waist and reflective detailing should you don them for a twilight run.
We love this cool grey shade but they come in a bunch of other colours too. Also available with a built-in liner.
2-in-1 Training Shorts Men
HYROX is the fitness phenomenon sweeping Instagram and dominating locker room chat — if you don't know, get to know. But because it consists of both running and functional fitness, finding the right gear is paramount if you want to ace your next event.
While really any versatile gym short geared for mobility will do the job, we do like the reassurance of something purpose-made — which is where Puma comes in. Yep, Puma has partnered with HYROX to release a range of race-ready gear, and these shorts tick all the right boxes.
Made from a durable weave fabric, they have a comfortable elasticated waistband, excellent sweat-wicking capabilities and zipped pockets on each side to keep essentials safe. Plus they have side splits and plenty of room in the legs both for freedom of movement and for those with chunkier quads.
Prefer to wear your own undershorts? These versions don't have a built-in liner.
Power Washed 5" Shorts
Sometimes you just need tough, no-nonsense gear that can go the distance and get the job done. Enter these shorts. Designed for heavy lifting, they have reinforced triple stitching and are made from a hardy polyester/cotton blend to withstand even the most testing of sessions.
Ribbed panels ensure you can still move freely and there's plenty of space in the thigh for leg gain kings. Plus we love the old-school gym distressed look too. Available in a ton of different colours.
Men's UA Vanish Woven Shorts
Under Armour is known for making reliable, robust kit complete with features you'd expect for a higher price point. These are easily its best gym shorts, made from a durable, four-way stretch woven fabric that can withstand barbell scrapes as well as deep squats.
They're incredibly light, wick sweat away with ease, have a handy adjustable drawcord waistband and perforated panels for maximum breathability. Even better, they're available in four muted colourways that go with any and everything.
Sports Shorts
From H&M's new Move collection, these shorts are cut from a moisture-wicking material and feature split seams plus an adjustable drawstring waist that makes them super comfy.
They're available in staple colours black and navy, plus a dark khaki. They're also a bargain at £11.99, so it's a win-win. We'll take three.
247 X Puma Shorts
We're big fans of 247, the performance wear arm of Represent, and the brand's latest collab with Puma boasts a 12-piece training apparel, footwear and accessories collection fronted by HYROX Master Trainer Jake Dearden.
These six-inch shorts epitomise the fashion/performance hybrid the collection embodies; they're loaded with training-friendly features (we're talking reflective heat transfer, bonded seams and reverse-zipped pocket) and cut in a stylish silhouette that doesn't scream gym bro.
Wearing these is a dream; they're super light, with a barely-there feel, have a slight stretch to the fabric and generous side splits allow total freedom of movement. The waistband is really flexible and vented, so there's no swear buildup, and has storage loops on the back, so you can tuck in a vest or attach a clip. Plus the zipped pocket on the back fits most smartphones with no problems. Easy breezy in short form.
Train Essentials Woven Training Shorts
These adidas gym shorts are incredible value. Made from a light woven fabric they're comfortable, with plenty of give, and feature adidas' AEROREADY technology — no, sadly not a pocket dedicated to stashing chocolate bars, but clever sweat-wicking and cooling properties to help you stay focused on smashing that PR.
Kore Short
SoCal brand Vuori is known for its all-day silhouettes and beach-to-bench versatility, and the Kore short — arguably the most popular item the brand makes — is a great example.
With a soft, stretchy and sweat-wicking hidden liner (that just so happens to be the most comfortable we've tested) these are an easy, grab-and-go style short that pair well with tees, tanks and hoodies. The elasticated waistband is comfortable and has an adjustable drawcord, while anti-odour tech keeps you feeling fresh. Function, meet form.
We find Vuori tends to err on the larger side, so if you're between sizes, choose a size down.
Challenger Men's Dri-FIT Brief-Lined Running Shorts
Despite having 'running' in their name, thanks to ridiculous comfort and brilliant stretch, these Nike shorts also make excellent gym shorts — and you don't just have to take our word for it, as the brand says so too, recommending them for running, training and yoga.
They're super light, wick sweat effectively, are split for greater mobility and the secure back pocket fits a phone (or gels) — plus there are valuables pockets on each side.
Available in six easy-to-style colours and a new MH favourite.
Element Baselayer Shorts
Gymshark's seamless shorts fit like a second skin on the thighs, making them perfect for spin classes, running or wearing as a base layer. You could even stick them under a pair of trackies to keep you warm on winter walks.
Supportive, sweat-wicking and the ideal length (average 8 inch inseam), they're everything you need from a hard-working pair of undershorts. Available in three different colours but we're partial to classic black.
Men’s Apex 6” Woven Shorts
These were among the lightest pairs of gym shorts we tried, so if you're after a barely-there feel then look no further. That said, the material, light as it is, is the type that rustles, so is a tad noisy and certainly isn't soft — but is durable.
There's good stretch in the waistband, breathable mesh sections on each side seam (as well as splits for mobility) and reflective detailing. The zipped side pockets are roomy and the storage is angled downwards, rather than spreading across the front of the thigh, helping you avoid a painful phone-swinging encounter.
If you're between sizes we'd recommend going up a size if you want full range of motion, and do bear in mind that these don't have a liner, so you'll need to wear sports boxers underneath. Our testers deemed these good all-rounders as well as excellent running shorts — and they're water-resistant so ideal should you get caught in a shower (likely).
Dri-FIT Men's Fleece Training Shorts
Great for lounging or LISS activities, Nike's cosy sweatshirt shorts are an absolute staple. Made from a soft terry fleece and Nike's Dri-FIT technology they wick away sweat, keeping you dry as well as super comfortable, while an elasticated waist and drawcord means anyone can get a perfect fit.
And no, we won't tell if they see more of the sofa than the gym floor.
Team 247 2-In-1 Shorts
Is five pockets enough? These classic black 2-in-1 numbers from Represent have both an open hand and zipped pocket on each side, plus a slip pocket on the liner the perfect size for a credit card (we also managed to get an iPhone 13 Mini in there).
Looks-wise the shorts drape nicely with a slightly ruched look — and if you wanted to accentuate this sizing up wouldn't be a problem thanks to the elasticated drawstring waistband.
The lightweight outer shorts are roomy in the thigh, while the undershorts feel silky against the skin and feature a deep hem dotted with silicone grips to keep them in place. We did find these weren't as effective on hairier-legged fellas, but thanks to that wide hem the shorts still stayed put fairly well.
Men's AEROREADY Chelsea Small Logo Shorts
We love a versatile hard-worker here at MH, and these soft, stretchy shorts from adidas tick all the boxes.
They have an elasticised waist with drawcord for comfort, stay put even through the most gruelling workouts and wash well too. But the best part? They're at home both on the street and the gym floor.
Boxer Brief Sport
Sometimes compression undershorts are a bit much, but your baggy boxers don't exactly cut it when it comes to holding everything in during HIIT. Enter sports boxer shorts, and in particular, these beauties from underwear specialists Step One.
Made with super-soft and stretchy bamboo viscose, these boxers have anti-chafe panels on the inner thighs so are ideal for wearing under looser gym shorts or joggers where you still need a bit of protection.
The long length gives great coverage and while they don't give as much support as traditional undershorts they're still great for football and running as well as lower impact activities.
Available in six tongue-in-cheek colours (juicy plums, we're looking at you).
Brook Active Sweat Shorts
These shorts, crafted from sustainable and naturally sweat-wicking bamboo, are super soft, stretchy and crazy comfortable. As such they're ideal low-key strength training, yoga and Pilates (but you'd probably want to wear an undershort), as well as chilling/rest days.
The wide, elasticated waistband is soft but supportive without cutting in, there are zipped pockets on each side and — having worn these on warm days — we can attest to their brilliant breathability too.
We'd say they're true to size but they're not the roomiest in the quads so if you want a baggier fit, size up — because of the drawstring waist they're easy to adjust.
£25.00 at bambooclothing.co.uk
Men's Session Shorts
Available in a 5-inch in-seam and three colours, these shorts are ideal for cross-training or cardio-heavy workouts.
They're designed for runners but with features such as super stretchy fabric, split seams and a comfy antimicrobial liner to keep things fresh they're just as at home on the gym floor.
What Should You Wear Under Gym Shorts?
What you should wear under your gym shorts first depends on the style you've opted for. If they have a built-in liner, be it brief, mesh or full compressive undershort, you don't really need to wear anything else, and adding unnecessary fabric into the mix can increase your chances of sweating and uncomfortable chafing.
If your chosen gym shorts are simply a shell, consider wearing compression shorts, base layer shorts or specially-designed sports boxer shorts underneath. We like these Gymshark base layer shorts and lululemon's Always In Motion Boxers.
Can I Use Gym Shorts For Swimming?
You certainly can wear gym shorts for swimming, particularly if they're lightweight and fast-drying — plus a pair with a mesh brief liner will be closer to the real thing. But bear in mind that most gym shorts are not made to withstand the effects of chlorine and salt water, so may discolour or degrade if used regularly.
But if you take your swimming seriously, or just want to be fully comfortable in the water, we recommend investing in separate swimming shorts.
Essentially — for a once off when you're in a pinch, wearing lightweight gym shorts to swim in is probably fine, but don't make a habit of it.
What Are The Best Gym Shorts?
Men's Health UK found lululemon's Pace Breaker Lined Shorts and Nike's Dri-FIT 2-in-1 Shorts were the best gym shorts overall. Both scored very highly for comfort, freedom of movement and versatility, and both include that all-important liner which takes the hassle out of sourcing a pair of suitable undershorts.
lululemon's offering just edged out Nike fin terms of storage options, comfort and a continuous drawcord liner which ensures no rubbing while you move, but Nike's 2-in-1 shorts offer slightly better value.
For an unlined and versatile pair, you can't beat the lululemon Zeroed In Linerless Short.
You Might Also Like
