The Best Men’s Athletic Shorts for Working Out (and for Lounging Around at Home)

One of the most popular brands in running and fashion, Lululemon has made it a personal mission to create capable and comfortable clothing. This is especially the case for running gear such as the Lululemon Pace Breaker Linerless Short. These shorts are designed to be light, breezy and durable enough to handle marathons. The shorts are built with zippered pockets and are made with sweat-wicking quick-dry material that will stay light and clean throughout your workout. As for fashion, the shorts have three different lengths and come in 13 unique colors and designs.

Another incredibly well-known brand in athletic apparel, Nike is one of the most premier companies in the world for athletic shorts in particular. The focus on new, high-performing materials has created a more durable and more comfortable pair of shorts. The Nike Pro Dri-FIT Flex is one of the best options the company has to offer. The shorts stretch well to contour to your body as it moves while still fitting snuggly to work well as part of an outfit. The materials are lightweight and wick away moisture for more intense workouts. Additionally, if you are worried about sustainability, the shorts are made with at least 75% recycled polyester which has a 30% lower carbon footprint than traditional athletic shorts.

Bamboo Ave. is a smaller brand that makes up for its smaller scope by focusing exclusively on creating great athletic shorts. The newest product from the company, The Bamboo Ave. Boundless Short, is designed to work for any occasion. With a number of different color schemes, the shorts can easily be worn as part of a casual outfit. Additionally, by using upcycled coconuts, the shorts are also naturally odor-resistant. The Boundless Shorts are lightweight and stretchy and come with an optional liner as well as two different inseam lengths. The shorts are also made of recycled plastic bottles as well in an effort to improve sustainability.

Adidas has long been a big name in athletic and athleisure apparel with the company’s jackets and joggers being widely adopted into streetwear outfits. While Adidas has not made nearly as big of a splash with their shorts, the Adidas Aeroready Designed 2 Move Woven Sport Shorts are certainly worth considering. On top of incredibly high levels of performance, with the shorts built to pull moisture and stand up to heavy usage, they are also capable of being integrated into any fashion look with 6 different colors available.

It is very clear that performance and fashion remain two of the biggest hallmarks of a good athletic short, and the ALO Yoga Repetition Short finds the perfect balance between each. The woven fabric is lightweight and flexible for any workout or run that you could go on. There are pockets on the sides and on the back to store your phone wallet and keys with ease. What sets these shorts are part is simply how good they look. The Mineral Blue and Blue Agave color schemes in particular stand out as strikingly beautiful in many ways with the overall construction of the shorts also fitting well on the legs.

Under Armour has long been an athletic apparel company that focuses heavily on optimizing the performance of their products. The Men’s Curry Woven Mix Shorts are no exception with a woven mesh fabric to increase breathability and durability over a long period of working out. The shorts also are designed under Steph Curry’s line of products, so for basketball players, these shorts should be even more tailored to the game. The shorts only come in black which is something to consider, but the clean design and the durable fabric make it worth it for you to check out.

Outdoor Voices makes it clear in the name that the products can and should be used for outdoor activities as much as anything else. The Outdoor Voices All Day Shorts are built to handle any environment. The shorts come in 5 different colors and have a textured design that makes them unique in comparison to many other options on the list. The Cloudknit fabric is lightweight and flexible, but is also capable of holding up for long runs or hikes with ease.

While not quite as comfortable as the Boundless Short, the Ten Thousand Set Short makes up for it in pure performance and durability. The shorts stretch and move alongside me as I exercise, while the light fabric keeps me cool and comfortable in the heat. The shorts are also 100% amphibious, so I could easily wear them to the beach at trunks or take a dip in the pool without changing. The shorts are also chlorine and salt water resistant so they won’t be damaged under any circumstances.

Birddogs Coach Cockburns are designed for the sporty yet fashionable among us. With a clean exterior and a comfortable interior liner, the shorts have all the power for active working out while still being cozy enough to hang out in. The shorts also have a pleasantly surprising number of pockets which is also a big plus for anyone that has to carry their keys, phone, wallet and headphones case without a backpack or bag most of the time.

Chubbies have always had a cult following with the company at least being partially responsible for the return of shorter shorts with men. What often gets lost in the shuffle is that Chubbies actually make great pairs of athletic shorts. The Greeneries Sport Shorts are up there as some of the most comfortable and flexible shorts on the market. At the same time, the floral interior lining and short inseam give you all the classic Chubbies design traits without sacrificing performance.