Best Running Shorts for Men of 2024

Nothing is better than running down the trail with a feeling of levity and strength without even noticing the clothes you’re wearing. While comfort is subjective, there are certain qualities common to the best running shorts for men. In trail running and ultrarunning, the combination of feel, function, and personal style is what makes a great pair of shorts.

To compile this buyer’s guide, we tested men’s running shorts from some of the best-known brands in trail running and ultrarunning, some companies in men’s general fitness, and even some whose reach is outside the core running community.

Testing included running thousands of miles, mainly on trails but also some on the roads and track. It involved running in many climates and settings, from the Rockies of Colorado to rail trails in the Midwest to coastal trails and roads in California.

This guide is for runners seeking the best men’s running shorts in a variety of categories, including budget, fabric technology, storage, comfort, and much more. Learn more about our testing methodology, read our advice for choosing your next running shorts, and see our frequently asked questions about running shorts for men at the bottom of this guide.

Best Running Shorts for Men

• Best Running Shorts: Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5”
• Best Running Shorts — Runner-Up: Ultimate Direction Jason Schlarb Short
• Best Running Shorts for Marathons: rabbit Fuel n’ Fly 3″ Shorts
• Best Running Shorts With Storage: Ultimate Direction Hydro Short
• Best Running Shorts for Style: On Lightweight Shorts
• Best Basic Running Shorts: Patagonia Trailfarer Running Shorts – 6″
• Best Value Running Shorts: Path Projects Graves PX
• Best Running Shorts for Comfort: Tracksmith Session Shorts
• Best Running Half-Tights: rabbit Shredsters

Overall Best Running Shorts for Men: Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5″ ($85)

Pros:

• Great storage
• Competitively priced, considering all of the fabric technology, recycled content, and manufacturing transparency
• The outer drawstring is a subtle but ingenious feature that prevents rubbing

Cons:

•  Sizing runs small. I have a small waist but big legs and find my normal medium a bit restrictive

The Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5″ are the unanimous favorite of four testers on the iRunFar team. In some ways, it is the short to end all shorts for any type of running. In fact, one member of our team has run only in these for the past five years, his allegiance unchanged, even with an old pair worn to pieces. The price is reasonable at $85. With a HeiQ anti-odor treatment not found in other shorts at a similar price and the most stable pocket set-up of all the models we tested, there’s a lot to love about these shorts.

These shorts are available in two lengths, five inches and seven inches, and the brief liner provides a secure ride. The fabric is a perfect weight — substantial enough not to ride up, yet it feels lightweight and airy. In the five pockets, we’ve carried gels, keys, a light, a packable jacket, and even a large cellphone in the rear back pocket. The Strider Pro was updated in early 2023, but the changes were so subtle that even the most strident Strider Pro fan is unlikely to notice, which is a good thing with such a beloved piece of apparel.

Unlike many multi-pocket shorts, when loaded down, the Strider Pro doesn’t bounce around too much. A popular feature is the drawstring on the outside of the waistband, a very useful solution to the chafing or rubbing of interior drawstrings. It is somewhat surprising that Patagonia, which has not traditionally specialized in running clothes, has managed to make a pair of shorts highly appealing to trail runners. As one of the most loved outdoor apparel companies, the brand has established itself as one of iRunFar’s top picks for Best Running Apparel Brands of 2023.

Inseam: 5 inches | Liner type: Brief

Shop the Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5’’

Best Trail Running Shorts for Men: Ultimate Direction Jason Schlarb Short ($80)

Pros:

• Excellent internal storage with a bounce-free design
• Airy split-short design helps with unrestricted movement and breathability
• Trekking pole loops can also hold a shirt or jacket

Cons:

• Brief liner fabric and waistband storage fabric are a bit bulky and don’t breathe well
• A drawstring would help to dial in the fit when the storage pockets are fully loaded
• Hem fabric is plastic coated and can make the shorts stick together

The Ultimate Direction Jason Schlarb Short is not only comfortable, but it also lets you carry a small hydration bottle in your shorts rather than in your hand or a pack. When Ultimate Direction’s Hydro Short debuted several years ago, the concept of it was smart. The initial product failed in its execution because to limit the bouncing of a hydration bottle, the fabric tolerances needed to be so high many men couldn’t comfortably pull the shorts over their hips without them ripping.

The Jason Schlarb Short takes the Hydro Short foundation and makes it much more comfortable and high-performance. While it won’t fully replace a hydration pack, it will make a waist belt redundant. It has 365-degree storage around the waist, with room for a plus-sized iPhone, a 550-milliliter soft bottle, snacks, and a lightweight jacket. There are two rear loops for storing trekking poles.

The short is brief-lined, and the sides have splits, making it feel light and airy. As for bounce? The storage pockets have the excellent ability to sort of “spill out” instead of sagging down. And because there is no drawstring, this keeps the shorts from bouncing or falling down. Still, some of our testers wouldn’t have minded a drawstring to tighten everything down a bit. The shorts look great in Ultimate Direction’s signature blue and are also available in black.

Inseam: 4 inches | Liner type: Brief

Shop the Ultimate Direction Jason Schlarb Short

Best Marathon Shorts for Men: Rabbit Fuel n’ Fly 3″ Shorts ($75)

Pros:

• Lightweight, comfortable, good at wicking moisture
• Excellent storage

Cons:

• Nothing yet

Rabbit’s Fuel n’ Fly 3″ Shorts are excellent for short and long runs alike. As the name suggests, they are adept at carrying plenty of fuel in their ample pocket space. Rabbit employs Polartec’s Power Dry with Fresh Face technology on the liner brief to boost its moisture-wicking capabilities. The brief also features Bluesign-certified peppermint oil to help mask stink. We also love that the material of the main portion of the shorts is 99% recycled.

These shorts feature five pockets, including one outer zipped pocket. There’s plenty of room to haul and store fuel like gel packets and keys or cards. The shorts provide the perfect amount of lightweight support that still allows the legs to reach a full range of motion.

Inseam: 3 inches | Liner type: Brief

Shop the Rabbit Fuel n' Fly 3

Best Running Shorts for Men With Storage: Ultimate Direction Hydro Short ($100)

Pros:

• Extensive storage that doesn’t bounce
• Nice styling
• Improved liner

Cons:

• High cost
• Stitching tolerance is awfully tight
• Some might find the bulk around the waist cumbersome

These second-edition shorts have come a long way in the two years since their debut. While the original Ultimate Direction Hydro Short was a good introduction to the brand’s “wearable gear” — a very fitting name for apparel that has built-in carrying capabilities — there were negative reviews of the original model.

In that first iteration, the fabric in the crotch was known to chafe, and while the belt (the most crucial component to keeping these shorts from sliding off your butt while loaded with water and gear) worked, it was problematic. Now, this second version has a magnetic clasp and a belt that allows you to cinch from both directions instead of only from the left, like the original version.

In the original model, the belt didn’t stretch enough for many people to hoist the shorts over their hips. This has improved, but the stitching components are still a little tight, and it’s easy to hear the stitches stretching or slightly tearing if you pull too hard when putting them on or off.

Like the original Hydro Short, this updated version is blue, but it’s a bit more jewel-toned than the original, which is an improvement in style. The performance is quite remarkable, considering a runner can carry 24 ounces (600 milliliters) of water in two 300ml water bottles included with and specifically designed for the Hydro Short. These small, hard bottles are unique, and you will have trouble trying to jam non-Ultimate Direction bottles in the pockets. These pockets can carry a lot more than just water bottles, including windbreakers.

The weight-carrying system doesn’t cause the shorts to bounce or stretch, and using the pockets on the move is no trouble. There is a third pocket in the center back. There is a comfortable inner brief with a pouch feature called the Hydro Hammock liner that is a massive improvement over the original.

The Hydro Short is a thoughtful, meaningful, and innovative product that eliminates the need for a waist belt or hydration pack for most trail running distances.

Ultimate Direction doesn’t use any proprietary fabric technology like Polygiene or recycled materials. Its products are not Bluesign-certified, and there is no consumer transparency about where or by whom the shorts are manufactured. But they are arguably the most innovative shorts we tested.

Inseam: 4 inches | Liner type: Two-in-one inner brief

Shop the Ultimate Direction Hydro Short

Most Stylish Running Shorts for Men: On Lightweight Shorts ($80)

Pros:

• Super luxurious fabric
• Great breathability
• Low weight

Cons:

• Drawstring is comfortable and mostly hidden, but it’s sewn together and doesn’t tie

Style is personal and highly subjective, but to us, the On Lightweight Shorts are the best looking in this buyer’s guide. On always emphasizes the aesthetic components of their products, and thus is appealing to the general fitness-focused public, not only runners. You see the brand being worn by celebrities and fashion icons — people far outside the core of the trail running community. Compared to the stalwart mountain and trail brands like Black Diamond or La Sportiva, On looks more at home in the athleisure category, similar to Lululemon or Fabletics.

Despite the sometimes negative connotation of athleisure, we’ll add that one of our testers wore these shorts for the Monte Rosa Sky Race in Italy and thought that they worked well for the conditions. Involved with the world of trail running, On is a supporter of phenomenal American mountain runners like Jeff Colt and Allie McLaughlin.

The Lightweight Shorts have a real “business up front/party in the back” vibe since the front, with its faux fly detail and luxurious-looking fabric, belies any visible tech. However, the back, with its black color contrast, is perforated and very breathable. It turns out the front fabric is highly technical as well, without being too flashy. The shorts have no zippers on the pockets or hard points, so when you’re on the ground stretching, there are no irritating points.

The elevated styling and feel of these shorts make them stand out, particularly at this price.

Inseam: 7 inches | Liner type: Brief

Shop the On Lightweight Shorts

Best Basic Running Shorts for Men: Patagonia Trailfarer Running Shorts – 6″ ($69)

Pros:

• Super lightweight and minimalist
• No liner, which some like
• Very comfortable and excellent at wicking sweat

Cons:

• Not a ton of storage

The Patagonia Trailfarer Running Shorts – 6″ are an excellent pair of minimalist shorts. What do we mean by minimalist? They don’t have a liner, have just one pocket, and are super lightweight. They’re also incredibly comfortable. The recycled polyester and spandex blend is excellent at wicking moisture and allowing breathability, and it’s also super soft. The four-way stretch of the fabric makes movement in these shorts a breeze.

The non-PFC durable water-repellent finish gives these shorts some weather resistance. An interesting feature of these shorts is they stuff into their own pocket and have a loop on the outside of that pocket, so you could easily stash them in a backpack, running vest, or running belt or attach them to the outside of something with a carabiner. We’re not exactly sure in what scenarios you’d use this, but it’s cool nonetheless.

These shorts definitely aren’t for everyone. If you prefer a liner instead of running underwear, they won’t work. Likewise, if you like to carry a lot of snacks, fuel, or other things with your shorts, they won’t work. But if you’re looking for a pair of super comfortable, versatile, and high-performing shorts for quicker workouts or shorter runs where you won’t need to carry much, they’re ideal. They’re also an excellent pick if you carry a vest or belt on runs and don’t need pockets in your shorts.

Inseam: 6 inches | Liner type: None

Shop the Patagonia Trailfarer Running Shorts - 6"

Best Value Running Shorts for Men: Path Projects Graves PX ($58)

Pros:

• High-quality and durable materials
• Affordable price
• Can be worn with or without liner

Cons:

• Need additional liner/undergarment to wear with them

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a pair of running shorts, the Path Project Graves PX are a great pair of shorts at only $58. While these are the least expensive trail running short in this buyer’s guide, they don’t skimp on material quality and innovation.

Path Projects is a brand unlike any other in this buyer’s guide for two reasons: the first is that they are a direct-to-consumer running apparel company, which enables it to sell its gear at much more aggressive prices. The second reason is their commitment to “independent suspension.”

This is Path Project’s self-described method of pairing an unlined trail running short with a separate base liner short, or, runners wear two independent pieces that have the freedom to move and be adjusted without one affecting the other. The system is not a gimmick. We’ve been running in these shorts for more than a year now, and we like the versatility.

This is the only short here with two side zippered pockets and one large enough in the rear center to carry a plus-sized iPhone. It is capable of carrying a lot of gear and weight without being attached to an inner liner, and the fit is much more stable than other shorts when weighted similarly.

The real charmer with this short is the main body fabric. It’s a technology called Toray Prime Flex, a new, partially corn-based material that uses much less water for production. It’s also very breathable and soft against the skin. Toray Prime Flex is notable for durability, which one of our testers, unfortunately, tested when he tripped and “superman-ed” around a switchback, landing directly on his hip against a slab of rock. He was bloodied and bruised under his shorts, but remarkably the shorts were not damaged at all.

Inseam: 5 inches | Liner type: None, as it’s recommended to pair these with a Path Projects base liner sold separately

Shop the Path Projects Graves PX

Most Comfortable Running Shorts for Men: Tracksmith Session Shorts ($75)

Pros:

• Incredibly comfortable fabric, high-quality finish
• Super soft and comfortable liner that is also quick-drying

Cons:

• Very basic shorts
• Only one key-sized pocket

Nothing is more comfortable against the skin than a well-aged cotton T-shirt, and the Tracksmith Session Shorts mimics that feeling for your legs but without the cotton part. Cotton is disastrous at managing moisture and standing up to odors and staining, but the feel of it can’t be beaten. Since its inception, Tracksmith has resolved to bring back the simplicity of early cotton running apparel with more modern touches.

Though the Session Shorts are the most basic of all running shorts in this buyer’s guide, they are the most comfortable. Unlike simple cotton athletic shorts, the shorts are made by an Italian factory in a blend they call “Veloce,” which means “rapid” in Italian. This Veloce fabric blend is 86% nylon and 14% elastane and is incredibly soft. It wicks moisture well and provides UV protection.

These shorts have a heather finish and a five-inch inseam with only one small pocket on the rear center. These are the shorts to use when you want to leave the phone at home and just escape into the rhythm of running with nothing but some shoes and shorts.

Inseam: 5 inches | Liner type: Brief

Shop the Tracksmith Session Shorts

Best Half-Tights for Running: rabbit Shredsters ($70)

Pros:

• The waistband pocket is a major hit
• Super comfortable and good stretch
• Excellent moisture wicking

Cons:

• Can slip a little bit, especially at faster paces

The rabbit Shredsters are currently our favorite half-tights for men. They combine popular features from two of rabbit’s most popular half-tights to create a near-perfect pair. Rabbit designed these half-tights for trail racing, but we love them for workouts and everyday runs as well. The polyester and spandex blend is incredibly comfortable, wicks moisture well, and is surprisingly stretchy, giving us a full range of motion. We also liked the low-rise waist quite a bit.

These half-tights can also haul an impressive amount of fuel and other items, making a running vest or belt unnecessary for most situations. The entire waistband is a pocket, and there are additional pockets on the sides.

We highly recommend these if you prefer tights over shorts or are looking for a way to ditch the running vest or belt during races. Our only slight nitpick was some slippage at the waist, especially when the waistband pockets were at max capacity and we were trying to move quickly.

Inseam: 9 inches | Liner type: No liner

Shop the rabbit Shredsters

Comparing the Best Men’s Running Shorts

SHORTS	PRICE	INSEAM	MATERIALS	POCKETS
Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5”	$85	5 inches	Recycled polyester	Yes
Ultimate Direction Jason Schlarb Short	$80	4 inches	Polyester, spandex	Yes
Rabbit Fuel n’ Fly 3″ Shorts	$75	3 inches	Recycled polyester, spandex	Yes
Ultimate Direction Hydro Short	$100	4 inches	Polyester, spandex	Yes
On Lightweight Shorts	$80	9 inches	Polyamide, elastane	Yes
Patagonia Trailfarer Running Shorts – 6″	$69	6 inches	Recycled polyester, spandex	Yes
Path Projects Graves PX	$58	5 inches	Polyester	Yes
Tracksmith Session Shorts	$75	5 inches	Polyamide, elastane	Yes
rabbit Shredsters	$70	9 inches	Polyester, spandex	Yes

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Running Shorts for Men

Running is a fabulously low-tech and relatively low-cost sport compared to other endurance activities. (Hello, cycling!) And while it’s true that all you really need to go for a run is a pair of shoes, the next most important piece of gear is running shorts.

When it comes to choosing the best running shorts for men, we have seemingly endless options: shorts that are very short or very baggy, shorts with lots of storage or none at all, shorts with brief liners or boxer liners, and all with patterns and colors to suit every individual’s style.

Brands that manufacture men’s shorts for trail running and ultrarunning specifically, though, seem to have settled among a few consistent criteria: shorts that are five to seven inches in length, are always lined (either with a brief or a two-in-one inner brief), include at least one pocket big enough to carry a phone, and, often come in earthy tones like navy blue, dark green, or, most often, plain-old black.

Outside of this criteria, which we found the Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5″ pretty much nailed, if your preference falls to three-inch split shorts with a cheetah print, you won’t find much from brands that have traditionally catered to trail runners and ultrarunners.

Style

Trail running and ultrarunning shorts styles have seen some outliers over the years. From Courtney Dauwalter and François D’haene’s long, baggy Salomon shorts to Kilian Jornet’s bright white spandex shorts from the Western States 100 back in the day, the pendulum swings in our sports.

However, our picks for the best running shorts for men for this guide do not venture too far from the middle. Our favorites, the Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5″, have been our top choice for many, many years.

Our testing did not include specific spandex or compression shorts, pocketless shorts, or super light three-inch shorts more common to road running. Pockets in running shorts are a tradition, but they’ve grown and expanded since the old days when a single pocket for a key was the norm.

Particularly for trail running and ultrarunning, pockets have proliferated for everything, including bottles, food, large cellphones, and trekking poles. The Ultimate Direction Jason Schlarb Short and rabbit Shredsters takes pockets to the extreme and makes running belts obsolete.

Material

Along with quick-drying and moisture-wicking fabrics, the best running shorts for men are often made from technical outer fabrics that resist abrasion. And many of them stand up incredibly well to hard falls on dirt or rock or from snagging against bushes and trees. This combination of durable textiles that also are breathable is what makes trail running shorts more expensive than their road counterparts.

Fabrics made of blends of polyester and elastane and Tencil, many of them with four-way stretch, DWR coatings for weather resistance, and anti-microbial treatments for odor resistance, are not mandatory but preferred materials. Some shorts also provide paneling in sensitive areas to block wind or cold, or they have perforations in specific high-heat zones for added breathability.

Every pair of shorts on our list was chosen for its high-quality material and breathability, though the Tracksmith Session Shorts rose to the top for comfort due to their quick-drying cotton-like material.

Length

It used to be that trail runners were noticeable by their shorts being longer than their road-running counterparts, signaling a more casual and outdoorsy approach to their sport. Nowadays, trail running shorts are most commonly in the five- to seven-inch range.

However, there are many people out there who still love the three-inch split shorts for road and trail running alike. So while we included a few of those, most of our top picks for best men’s running shorts have four- or five-inch inseams.

Waistband

To support the loads carried in modern trail running and ultrarunning, including phones, food, water, and other gadgets, waistbands of modern running shorts need to be secure. A poorly constructed waistband means the difference between the loads in your pockets bouncing and your shorts sagging or a nice and tight fit around the waist with everything staying firmly in place.

Waistbands are a point of friction between the shorts and your skin, which, over time, can become irritating or painful. Some brands we tested here have opted for outer rather than inner drawstrings, like the Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5“, or even magnetic-closure buckles like those found on the Ultimate Direction Hydro Short. But for most shorts, you still find a very simple, practical, and old-school drawstring that can be cinched, knotted, and tucked inside the shorts.

Storage

The types of storage offered in trail running and ultrarunning shorts are diverse but generally plentiful since we might need access to everything from hydration, food, a phone, a hat, gloves, and more on the fly, and not everyone wants to take off their running vest to reach for essential gear.

Pocket sizes range from a small key pocket to a phone-specific pocket. Most shorts have a zippered pocket for secure storage. Some brands have really innovated in their storage designs, as we see with the Ultimate Direction Hydro Short and the waistband that comfortably holds two small water bottles, while others contain hidden pockets on the thigh/hip portion of the shorts or along the waistband.

Liner Versus No Liner

Nearly all men’s trail running and ultrarunning shorts include a liner, so it boils down more to which type of liner you prefer. There are shorts with a liner brief (like underwear) or two-in-one shorts with an inner liner that is more like a boxer brief.

The Path Project Graves PX uses an independent system of boxer briefs and shorts, which is subtly innovative because both components move independently from each other. The Patagonia Trailfarer Running Shorts – 6″ also don’t include a liner with the shorts, giving you the freedom to choose the type of underwear you want to use with them.

Comfort comes down to how the liner moves moisture, how well it locks in male anatomy, and if there’s any chafing. Two-in-one shorts are often a little heavier and don’t move moisture as well, but their benefit comes from not having potentially irritating seams around the leg openings like a brief and offer a little more coverage for modest trail runners.

Chafing around the thighs can be minimized with two-in-one shorts’ inner briefs. When constructed well, trail running shorts’ brief liners are very airy and lightweight. Some runners with sensitive skin or while trail running in conditions that go from wet to dry may find an anti-chafe cream or balm helpful to combat skin irritation.

Reflectivity

Reflectivity has become a near requirement on road running shorts as a simple way to be seen by traffic at dark. Because trail running happens in the pedestrian-friendly confines of nature, reflectivity is a rare detail on our shorts.

On some shorts we tested, like the Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5″, very subtle reflectivity is included on the logo but you shouldn’t count on any of these shorts to keep you seen in a more urban setting.

Price

Shorts for trail running and ultrarunning don’t have to be just ones that claim they are for the job. Many trail runners break the mold by wearing spandex tights of the kind more often seen in track and field or one- to three-inch shorts lacking liners and pockets, like a road marathoner.

The nice thing about buying a pair of running shorts from a manufacturer who really understands the sport is the thoughtful touches, better materials, and more humane manufacturing. These factors add cost, and nearly all of the shorts we tested fall between $70 and $100, and all within $30 of each other. That said, our top choice for value is the Path Projects Graves PX, though you will have to buy a pair of liners to use with it if you don’t already have them.

While upward of $70 may sound like a lot of money compared to shorts from Amazon ($20), Target ($24), or BOA’s 1” Elite Split Shorts ($29), you gain storage for carrying the essentials that trail running and ultrarunning demand and the toughness that shorts made for harsh conditions provide.

Why You Should Trust Us

To compile the initial version of this buyer’s guide, we researched a wide variety of running shorts and tested 15 pairs in total. We reviewed shorts from known brands in trail running and ultrarunning, along with recognizable companies in men’s fitness. All the shorts were tested on trails and roads in Colorado and California. Five testers from iRunFar’s review team contributed to this guide and almost all shorts tested were men’s medium or large.

Since the initial publication of this guide, we have continued to test many pairs of men’s running shorts and update the guide with updated models of our favorite shorts or new offerings on the market that really stand out.

Our testers regularly run on roads and trails and put at least 100 miles on a pair of shorts before forming an opinion, including at least one up-tempo run or workout and at least one long run. We tested every pair currently listed in this guide for at least a year and continue to use them, because, after all, they are our favorites.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Running Shorts for Men

What are the best running shorts for men?

Trail running shorts are, for the most part, only different from road running shorts in two ways: volume of storage (pockets) and liner type. For example, the three-inch split shorts are most commonly associated with speedy roadies looking for “barely there” comfort with no pockets — or, at most, a small hidden key pocket — and optional inner shorts or briefs.

Often, that barely-there sentiment isn’t just a metaphor for “lightweight” — it’s a preference. While we tested one pair of road running shorts for this buyer’s guide, which we did not include above, we only tested a single liner-free short, the Patagonia Trailfarer Running Shorts – 6″, and it was difficult to find a company that offered one.

Trail running shorts liners tend to come in equal variety between brief and liner, with the latter sometimes offering compression. Since trail runners often run long distances while exposed to the elements, trail running shorts also include fabric technology unnecessary in their road running counterparts. This includes water-repellant tech, ripstop or other durable fabric, and heavy-duty waistbands and drawstrings to keep loaded-down shorts from bouncing.

Quick-drying material is also featured to help mitigate the effect of chafing and odors. When it comes to shorts that can carry enough gear that they replace a running belt, we loved the Ultimate Direction Jason Schlarb Short.

Reflective elements are also rarer with trail running shorts compared to their road running counterparts.

Are certain shorts best for ultrarunning?

The sport of trail running is diverse. Different runners like steep, short trails, while others prefer less vert and more distance. Some like to mix it all. Since ultrarunning combines all of these aspects, the best shorts for trail running require long-term comfort, the right amount of storage — especially if you’re not carrying a pack or belt — and, potentially, rare features like trekking pole holders or shirt loops.

We found that the Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5″ check all our boxes for ultrarunning and are overwhelmingly voted the best running shorts for men at iRunFar. However, it’s worth noting that several brands in this buyer’s guide included special venting zones and extra perforations for quick-drying performance and maximum breathability, which is essential in running shorts that will be worn for many hours on trail. While length isn’t a crucial factor when selecting ultrarunning shorts, we factor in storage and durability as additional priorities.

Should I wear running shorts with a liner?

You’d be hard-pressed to find trail running shorts without a liner, and wearing underwear beneath running shorts is a quick way to chafe (don’t do it!). Fortunately, the liners of trail running and ultrarunning shorts are made for moisture management, heat transfer, and providing support in the groin. We especially liked the updated liner of the Ultimate Direction Hydro Short.

A supportive liner is essential since we’re often leaping or jumping onto rocks or over tree limbs and running steep downhills with lots of bouncing. The liner is meant to cradle the midsection and prevent discomfort. We tested both brief-style liners and two-in-one inner shorts liners.

We also tested the Patagonia Trailfarer Running Shorts – 6″, which didn’t come with a liner. The benefit of a brief is moisture management and minimal fabric to reduce overall weight while offering better comfort in hot conditions because of less material.

Tight-fitting and sometimes extending beyond the outer running short, liner briefs can offer mild leg compression, added support, and warmth during colder runs. Also, liner briefs are sometimes used to help reinforce shorts with a lot of pockets and, thus, a lot of weight to carry. Liner briefs reinforce the harness to create stability under load.

What can I do to prevent chafing?

Sizing your trail running shorts correctly is the single most effective way to prevent chafing. All modern trail short liners use synthetic or wool fabrics, which are exceptional at moisture transfer and drying. Brief and two-in-one liners are both adept at preventing chafing, though some runners will prefer longer inner shorts to avoid any rubbing around the inner thigh where the leg seams are on briefs.

When fit correctly, chafing should be minimal. Too small or too big, and you will find that the bulk of extra fabric or the tight cinch of fabric can lead to rubbing, chafing, and discomfort, especially when it becomes wet. Shorts with outer drawstrings on the outside, like the Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts 5″, are also effective at reducing discomfort from rubbing at the waist, and this should be considered before purchasing trail running shorts.

Call for Comments

• What are your favorite men’s running shorts?
• Leave a comment to share yours so we can consider them for a future edition of this article.

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