The Best Men's Workout Shorts

The Kore is the do-everything gym short. It has a built-in boxer-brief liner that stays put, 4-way stretch with a quick-dry finish, slash pockets and a back pocket, and it comes in 5, 7 and 9 inch inseams, with lined or unlined options. Vuori's page shows about 26,500 reviews at a 4.8 average, a huge owner base. It costs $78, and Vuori gives a generous 120-day return window. The trade-offs: the back pocket is open and can drag in water, Vuori positions it for medium-intensity workouts rather than racing and Vuori's own fit rating is about 3 of 5, with some owners sizing up. Skip it if you want a featherweight split-hem running short or you hate built-in liners. Vuori states the shell includes 48% recycled polyester. Our Vuori Kore review has more.

The Interval is Ten Thousand's best-selling training short, according to the brand, and it is built for burpees, lifts and intervals. The lined version has a compression liner with its own phone pocket, plus a hidden zip pocket, two hip pockets and a key pocket, which is the best pocket system in this group. It comes in 12 colors, with a lined or unlined choice, and costs $98 lined ($88 unlined). The trade-offs: the lined version is steep in price, neither the liner nor shell is recycled per the page and it is not as airy as the Session. Skip it if you want a cheap or very light run-only short. Ten Thousand's 30-day return policy is strict: request within the window and mail it back within 14 days.

The Pursuit lined 7" suits people who split time between gym and road. It has a medium-compression liner with two drop-in pockets, a zip pocket, two hand pockets and an in-out drawcord, and Rhone promotes it as Men's Health's "Best Workout Short." It costs about $84, and Rhone offers free returns within 45 days in the US. The trade-offs: Rhone's page could not display a price when we checked, REI reviewers say it fits slightly large and a compression liner is not for everyone. Skip it if you dislike compression liners or want unlined cooling. Rhone's page blocked our automated reading, so some fabric and size details come from retailers. Our Rhone Pursuit short review has more. It is tagged for training, running, lifting and HIIT in our data, which makes it one of the most versatile shorts here, and plus sizes are offered.

The Arrival 7" is a cheap, simple gym short that does the job. At $26 it is the lowest price on this list, with a longer 7 inch length for quad coverage, open side pockets, an adjustable drawcord and sizes from XS to 3XL. It comes in four colorways. The trade-offs: there is no zip pocket, so a phone can bounce, there is no liner and the fabric is plain 100% polyester with no stretch listed. Skip it if you need a liner or secure phone storage. Gymshark accepts returns within 30 days of delivery if unworn and unwashed, and items discounted 60% or more are final sale. For lifting and general gym days where you do not need extras, it is hard to argue with the price. It is also tagged for running, HIIT and everyday wear, and plus sizes are offered.

The Repetition 7" is a clean, woven short that can pass for casual wear. It has a stretch-woven performance fabric (86% polyester, 14% elastane), zip pockets at the sides and back and internal drawcords on an elastic waist. Alo describes the regular fit as true to size. It costs $78. The trade-offs: no liner is mentioned on the page, the black version was out of stock when we checked and it is less technical than running-focused rivals. Skip it if you want a liner or a short for long runs. Alo accepts unworn items within 30 days and covers return shipping on US orders with a prepaid label. It is tagged for training, travel and everyday use in our data, so it is a good choice if your gym bag is also your carry-on. Plus sizes are offered.

The Session is a featherweight 5 inch short for conditioning, circuits and runs. It is Ten Thousand's lightest, most breathable short, with a brief liner, a zip phone pocket, a zip card pocket, a perforated waistband and split hems. Sizes go up to XXXL. It costs $98 lined ($88 unlined). The trade-offs: the price is high, the optional trunk liner is slimmer than the Interval's and the light fabric may feel less substantial. Skip it if you want a heavier, compressive feel or a budget price. It is tagged for HIIT and speed work, so it suits hot gyms and fast sessions better than slow, heavy lifting. See our best men's running shorts for more light options. If you want the same brand in a heavier, more compressive style, the Interval is the one to compare, and Ten Thousand offers an unlined version of both.

The Pace Breaker is a light, linerless short with real storage. It has a side zip pocket, hidden phone and coin sleeves and a mesh back yoke for ventilation, and it comes in 5, 7 and 9 inch inseams. Lululemon says all the polyester is recycled, excluding trims, and owners give it 4.5 stars from about 1,800 reviews. It lists at $68, though the page showed $39 as a final-sale price. Skip it if you want a built-in liner, or you cannot risk a final-sale purchase. Our Pace Breaker review covers the details. Lululemon otherwise allows returns within 30 days. It is tagged for running, long runs, training and everyday use, so it works for a mixed gym and run day if you are happy wearing your own underwear.