Best Athletic Shorts for Men of 2025
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Athletic Shorts are a must-have for active men seeking comfort and style during their workouts or casual outings. These versatile shorts are designed with breathable fabrics that wick away sweat, ensuring a dry and comfortable experience. With a wide range of designs and colors, men can choose from various lengths and fits that suit their personal preferences and activities. Whether it's for running, playing sports, or simply lounging, Athletic Shorts provide the perfect combination of functionality and fashion for the modern man on the move.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Athletic Shorts for Men
Amazon Essentials Men's Performance Tech Loose-Fit Shorts
These men's athletic shorts are made of lightweight and breathable active stretch fabric with a relaxed fit through the hip, thigh, and leg. They feature an elasticized waistband with an internal adjustable drawstring for a comfortable fit, as well as two side pockets. The moisture-wicking technology keeps you dry during your workout. An Amazon brand.
BOOJO 5 Pack Athletic Gym Men's Shorts
BOOJO Men's Gym Shorts are designed with your comfort in mind. The soft fabric ensures a cozy feel during your workouts, offering breathability and stretch. The elastic waistband with an inside drawstring provides a perfect fit that stays in place while running or training. With large pockets, you can conveniently carry essentials like your smartphone or wallet. These quick-drying shorts made of moisture-wicking fabric keep you dry and comfortable throughout your activities, whether it's exercising, lounging at home, or playing sports.
BALENNZ Athletic Shorts for Men
Upgrade your workout gear with BALENNZ Men's Athletic Shorts. These soft and stretchy shorts are designed to keep you comfortable during any kind of sports or workout activities. With a 10-inch inseam, they provide enough coverage and freedom of movement for all your gym, cycling, running, basketball, football, tennis, and more. The shorts feature pockets on both sides, allowing you to carry your essentials with ease. The breathable and quick-drying fabric wicks away moisture to keep you dry and comfortable. The encased elastic waistband and inner drawcord ensure a perfect fit every time, so you don't have to worry about the shorts sliding up or down.
BOOJO Quick Dry Men's Shorts
BOOJO Men's Athletic Shorts are crafted from premium polyester, ensuring they are soft, breathable, and stretchy for ultimate comfort. The quick-drying feature keeps you cool during workouts or casual outings, preventing discomfort from sweat. With deep, secure pockets, you can easily store your phone, keys, or wallet, allowing you to stay focused on your activities without worrying about your belongings. The elastic waistband and practical drawstring provide a snug fit, so you can move freely whether you're lounging at home or playing basketball. Enjoy flexibility and comfort with these versatile shorts for any occasion.
NY Threads Men's Athletic Shorts
The NY Threads Athletic Shorts are designed for your active lifestyle. Made from high-quality polyester, these shorts offer excellent stretch and breathability, ensuring you stay comfortable during workouts. Their lightweight design helps you perform at your best, whether you're indoors or outdoors. With two pockets, you can easily store your essentials, while the adjustable drawstring waistband provides a customized fit. This combination of comfort and functionality makes these shorts a great choice for any fitness enthusiast.
NORTHYARD Men's Athletic Hiking Shorts
NORTHYARD Men's Athletic Hiking Shorts are made with quality 4-way stretch/breathable and quick-drying fabric, complete with stylish breathable holes on both sides, soft elastic waistband, built-in adjustable drawstring, and flatlock seams to reduce chafe. They feature 3 zipper pockets for easy and secure storage and UPF 50+ sun protection.
Amazon Essentials Men's Performance Stretch Woven 7" Training Short
Amazon Training Shorts are designed with a polyester elastane blend for optimal mobility and a comfortable texture. These shorts cater to athletic builds, providing extra room in the seat and thigh with a tapered leg that sits at the waist. The 7-inch inseam offers a balanced length, while the concealed pocket on each side and single back pocket add practicality for storing essentials during workouts or runs.
COOFANDY Men's 2 Pack Quick Dry Gym Workout Shorts with Pockets
The COOFANDY Men's Gym Workout Shorts are made of high quality, lightweight, and 4-way elastic fabric with moisture-wicking, quick dry technology. Designed with a regular fit, elasticized waist with adjustable drawstring, and open flap design, these shorts are perfect for workout, gym, running, jogging, fitness, bodybuilding, basketball, squats, lunges, deadlifts, boxing wear, training, cycling, exercise, vacation, fishing, outdoor leisure, or trendy casual wear. The shorts come with 2 side pockets and 1 back zipper pocket to keep your phone, mp3 player, keys, and wallet secure. Machine washable for easy care.
adidas Men's Essentials Training Shorts
The adidas Training Shorts provide excellent moisture management to keep you dry during workouts. With a regular fit, these shorts offer a comfortable balance between loose and snug, allowing for freedom of movement. You will appreciate the AEROREADY technology that helps wick away sweat, ensuring you stay focused and comfortable. Additionally, the front zip pockets are perfect for securely storing small items like keys or cards, adding convenience to your training sessions. Plus, these shorts are made from 100% recycled materials, making them a responsible choice for eco-conscious consumers.
Amazon Essentials Performance Tech Shorts
The Amazon Essentials Shorts are designed to provide maximum comfort and flexibility for your active lifestyle. The relaxed fit allows for easy movement, making them ideal for workouts or casual wear. Crafted from ultra-lightweight and breathable fabric, these shorts keep you cool and dry, even during intense activities. The quick-dry and moisture-wicking properties enhance your comfort, while the 4-way stretch fabric ensures you can move freely. With an adjustable waistband and drawcord, you can achieve a secure fit, giving you peace of mind while you jog or play basketball.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What length shorts for athletic men?
For athletic men between 5'5" and 6'1" in height, shorts with a 5 to 7-inch inseam are recommended. The most common inseam length for men's athletic shorts is 7 inches, falling above the knee. This length offers a preppy look and is popular among slim or athletic men.
2. What is the difference between 5 and 7 athletic shorts?
The difference between 5 and 7-inch athletic shorts is the length. A 3-inch short will finish on the upper thigh, a 5-inch short will reach the mid-thigh area, and a 7-inch short will finish just above the knee.
3. What do men wear under athletic shorts?
Men can wear briefs or boxer briefs under athletic shorts, depending on their preference for support and comfort. Briefs provide more support and prevent unwanted movement, while boxer briefs offer a more comfortable fit.
4. What size shorts should a 5'11 man wear?
For a 5'11" man, shorts with a 5 to 7-inch inseam are recommended. A 5-inch inseam will fall to the mid-thigh, while a 7-inch inseam is the universal length for men's shorts.
5. What size shorts should a 5'9 man wear?
For men under 5'9", the best length for shorts is 7 inches. Anything longer may be too long, although 9-inch shorts can work if you prefer a slightly longer length. For those under 5'5" or who want to show more thigh, 5-inch shorts are recommended.
6. Why are athletic shorts so short?
Athletic shorts are designed to be short to avoid chafing during physical activities like running. Less cloth means less friction, especially when running with a higher cadence, longer stride length, and in warmer temperatures. Shorter shorts help reduce friction and improve comfort for athletes.
7. Are 5 inch or 7 inch shorts better?
The universal length for men's shorts is 7 inches, which falls above the knee. Both 5 and 7-inch inseam shorts are suitable for a preppy look, especially on slim or athletic men.
8. Why do guys wear spandex under shorts?
Some men wear spandex or compression shorts under their athletic shorts for comfort and support during workouts. These compression shorts provide a layer of modesty and help prevent unwanted movement during physical activities.
9. Why do athletes wear shorts over leggings?
Athletes sometimes wear shorts over leggings for added warmth and protection. The shorts can help break the wind, cold, and snow, providing an extra layer of insulation during extreme temperatures.
During our athletic shorts for men research, we found 50 athletic shorts for men products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 800,770 customer reviews through our big data system to write the athletic shorts for men list. We found that most customers choose athletic shorts for men with an average price of $21.22.
The athletic shorts for men are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of athletic shorts for men, including BOOJO, BALENNZ, NY Threads, NORTHYARD, COOFANDY. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
William Weston was born in America and is currently a fashion industry designer. He's always been fascinated with the idea of taking something old and making it new again, so he decided to go into fashion design. William loves working on his designs and creating clothing that will make people look good while feeling comfortable at the same time.
Athletic Shorts for Men Comparison Table
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| Brand | Amazon Essentials | BOOJO | BALENNZ | BOOJO | NY Threads | NORTHYARD | Amazon Essentials | COOFANDY | adidas | Amazon Essentials |
| Department | mens | mens | mens | mens | mens | mens | mens | mens | mens | mens |
| Fabric type | 100% Polyester | 100% Polyester | 100% Polyester | 100% Polyester | 100% Polyester | 90% Polyester, 10% Spandex | 90% Polyester, 10% Elastane | 90% Nylon, 10% Spandex | 100% Polyester | 100% Polyester |
| Origin | Imported | Imported | Imported | Imported | Imported | Imported | Imported | Imported | Imported | Imported |
| Closure type | Drawstring | Drawstring | Drawstring | Drawstring | Drawstring | Drawstring | Elasticated | Drawstring | Pull On | Drawstring |
| Care instructions | Machine Wash Cold, Tumble Dry | Machine Wash | Machine Wash | - | Machine Wash | Machine Wash | Machine Wash Warm, Tumble Dry | Machine Wash | Machine Wash | Machine Wash Cold, Tumble Dry |
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