23 Best Gym Shorts For Men, Tried & Tested by MH

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, and have been described by some MH editors as ‘the unicorn of gym shorts — lightweight, comfortable, and fresh even after the sweatiest leg day.’

They also double as great everyday shorts for sunny days thanks to their moisture-wicking prowess. We’ve had ours for over two years and are still impressed by how cooling they feel mid-workout and how they bounce back like nothing happened. Credit to lululemon’s brilliant design: a comfortable liner, super light material, four-way stretch that moves with you, and a back mesh panel that’s basically AC for your glutes.

Also available without a liner and in a 5-inch inseam.

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. The woven polyester material is light and sweat-wicking, they wash well and dry fast too.

While these are a slim fit, they still worked well for our large-quadded testers so are a solid pick for guys chasing leg gains — or simply anyone who wants an incredibly comfortable pair of gym shorts that don’t fall short when it comes to performance.

Also available in a 7-inch inseam.

The Nike Form Men’s Dri-FIT Unlined Versatile Shorts are basically the Swiss Army knife of gym shorts — flexible, comfy, and sustainable to boot. Fitness coach Faris Khan, C.S.C.S., swears by them: ‘They offer an unbeatable combination of comfort and flexibility, making them perfect for everything from jogging to lifting weights.’

Thanks to Nike’s Dri-FIT technology, they wick sweat faster than you can say “leg day.” The unlined design is so lightweight and free-moving, you might forget you’re wearing them (don’t worry, they’re still on). ‘Unlined, lightweight, moisture-wicking, and allow for complete freedom of movement — that’s my bar for great gym shorts, and these deliver,’ says Khan.

The 7-inch (approx. 18cm) inseam is perfect for squats, lunges, or making a fashion statement without looking like you borrowed your dad’s basketball shorts. The pockets are a little shallow and don’t have zips, so bear that in mind if you like having your phone on you. But at just £37.99, these shorts deliver on a lot of fronts without breaking the bank — or your stride.

Pick them up in black here, in a black and grey graphic print here, or they’re available in a longer 23cm inseam.

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.

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, flexible and tough enough to keep up with even your most over-the-top trainer. The stretch-woven fabric lets you squat, lunge, or sprint without feeling like you’re wearing a straitjacket. Plus, the sweat-wicking material dries incredibly fast.

There’s a handy adjustable drawcord waistband with internal drawcord that keeps the fit secure without digging into your skin—because let’s face it, nothing ruins a good workout like an uncomfortable waistband. Plus there are perforated panels for maximum breathability. Your ultimate workout wingman.

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 keeps you supported and sweat-free and 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.

Choose from a huge array of colours and three inseams: 5-inch, 7-inch and 9-inch.

One of Nike’s best-selling pieces, these 13cm lightweight shorts are a must-have for runners. The unrestrictive shell allows for long strides and maximum flexibility, while the full-length, skin-tight liner provides coverage and holds everything in.

Because they’re so light and flexible and offer unrestricted mobility, these also make excellent gym shorts. Another nice touch is the zip pocket on the back, which is convenient for storing your phone while training.

Prefer a brief liner? You’re in luck — choose from a 13cm inseam or 18cm inseam.

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. Whatever you’re doing, they don’t budge.

Unlike many undershorts, these have a super useful drop in pocket on the thigh for your phone (or gel), ensuring none of the bounce you can experience with looser shorts.

Supportive, sweat-wicking and the ideal length (average 7 inch inseam), they’re everything you need from a hard-working pair of undershorts.

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.

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 with grips 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, cut with extra room in the glutes and thighs, 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 on the liner easily fits large smartphones and there’s a zipped back pocket too.

A drawcord waist keeps things comfortable, there are 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 in a 7-inch inseam or 5-inch inseam.

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.

From H&M’s Sport collection, these shorts are cut from a moisture-wicking material and feature split seams plus an adjustable drawstring waist that makes them super comfy.

The material is flexible and breathable, and all together these are of such a high quality that it makes it hard to believe the dinky price tag.

They’re available in staple colours black, navy and dark grey and they’re an absolute bargain at £11.99, so it’s a win-win. We’ll take three.

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.

Sometimes you just need tough, no-nonsense gear that can go the distance and get the job done. Enter these Power shorts from Gymshark. 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 distressed look too. Available in a bunch of different colours.

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.

These 2-in-shorts from Seissense (pronounced ‘sea sense’), launched back in June as part of the brand’s 50+ piece collection — the result of two years’ development. As you’d expect for something with so much thought behind it, these have useful features aplenty, including the brand’s ‘Fuze Tech;’ a chemical-free antimicrobial that kills odour-causing bacteria, keeping you fresh and your shorts lasting longer.

Supremely comfortable, these shorts move seamlessly with you, stretching and flexing with no limitations, while side splits further aid mobility. We’re also big fans of understated look — the branding is nice and subtle.

The liner short is one of the softest we’ve felt (due to collagen infusion, apparently), has a decent length (coming well beyond the hem of the shell) and is compressive in a reassuring way, but may feel a little tight on those with larger quads. The outer shorts are super light (and if you’d rather just have those, opt for the brand’s lightweight Granary Basic Short).

On the storage front, there are two large hand pickets with a separate key pocket on the left and large zipped pocket on the right, plus a drop-in pocket on the left thigh of the inner shorts, which is large enough for phone.

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.

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 — particularly at that price.

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.