The super-thick waistband feels secure, and while they're snug (these are compression shorts, after all), they also feature ventilated mesh to air things out down there. Crafted with the active man in mind, these workout shorts are designed to provide maximum comfort and freedom of movement. which we tried back in 2015, but the company has spent the intervening years making small tweaks and adjustments to the design that have tipped the scales even further. The waistband is comfortable and functional with a simple drawcord to keep them where you want them. These shorts sport many well-thought-out features including a variety of pockets for your wallet, phone, and keys, an optional anti-microbial liner, a no-bunch waistband, and your choice of three different inseam lengths (5, 7, or 9 inches).

Some pairs offer a snug, compression-short feel, while others have a liner that feels more like a pair of active underwear. And if you’re worried about your shorts moving as you exercise, choose a model with an elastic drawcord at the waist to keep them secure and snug. If you want the feel of something more natural, we’ve included a great poly-cotton blend short in the list above. Brill loves the lightweight stretch fabric of the Interval short, which he says would be great for any sort of heavy lifting at the gym. If, like us, you need a little more function and practicality and don’t care about weight, we’d recommend looking at other options like the Chubbies Swim Gym or the Vuori Ponto.We began with nine pairs of gym shorts in 2021, and since then we’ve tested five additional pairs while dropping the weakest entries from our list (this is the “Best of” after all). They're super lightweight, quick-drying and satisfyingly stretchy, with a clever loop on the waistband to stash your shirt should you need to whip it off mid-workout (you know, as you do). For those reasons — and the wide size range, from XS to XXL — we think the Intervals are among the best investments you can make when it comes to gym apparel. These include cookies that allow you to be remembered as you explore the site within a single session or, if you request, from session to session.

The Rhone Mako shorts are a little bit more gym-presenting than we'd choose for public appearances, but that's because they're dialed-in for performance. Another nice touch is the zip pocket on the back, which is convenient for storing your phone while running. The cut is supremely flattering — particularly on more muscly thighed folk — and there's a netting brief liner that holds everything in place without being compressive (our tester thought they'd also make decent swim shorts).Plus, we think their full-zip, standalone phone pocket at the hip is the best-executed and most secure version out of all the shorts we tested. Sport shorts can have a slightly looser fit, but again can’t be too baggy so they interfere with your activities.

We have everything from high-waisted to knee-length, Lycra to moisture-wicking so no matter your preference, we'll have the right shorts for you. The waistband and drawstring are part of what make these shorts so comfortable and keep them riding on your waist without pinching or exerting undo pressure. We put each pair of shorts through a varied routine of cardio work to see how they manage moisture and perform during running activities. The Kore’s liner is less compressive than those of other pairs on this list, so we recommend it for more relaxed workouts. It was the same story in the weight room — squats, lunges, and deadlifts presented no problems or restrictions in range of motion.These shorts from Under Armour are as useful for hitting the gym as they are lazing around on rest days — but we're big enough to admit we prefer them for the latter. Sewell’s favorite part of Saxx shorts is the signature “Ballpark Pouch” liner, which he says “keeps everything in place and provides support. Clothing adds friction, so if you are near the higher end of your strength level, longer shorts may hinder you. If you aren't opting for compression shorts or pants, you may just want some better-fitting underwear to slip underneath.