We Tested Tons Of Workout Shorts—These Are Our 8 Favorites

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I'll be the first to tell you that working out in shorts (even compression shorts) has never been my thing. I'm more of a compression leggings type of gal. I admit that, until about a month ago, I had never really given shorts a fair chance—I worried that flowy shorts would make me feel too exposed, while biker shorts wouldn't be flattering. Because I lead such an active lifestyle, I thought it was time to give athletic shorts a chance and find the best options. Fast forward to today: I can officially say I'm now a fan of working out in shorts.

Best Workout Shorts For Women

Alongside WH assistant fashion editor Rose Lauture and WH executive fashion director Kristen Saladino, we tested more than 15 of the internet's most popular athletic shorts. We evaluated them based on coverage, moisture-wicking abilities, comfort, size range, and fit over the past month and a half. The result? A list of eight fantastic pairs that we recommend for all types of workouts, including running, HIIT training, yoga, Pilates, and more.

What to consider

Fabric

According to Saladino, it's best to steer clear from cotton when looking for athletic shorts, as it doesn't wick away moisture as well as materials like polyester and nylon. After all, you want to make sure you're staying totally dry in your workout shorts (because who wants sweat stains down there?). The Arcteryx Norvan Short is made out of 100 percent polyester, so it's one of the most moisture-wicking options on this list. Plus, it's awesome for runners.

Fit

Two things to look out for when shopping for athletic shorts? Rise and inseam length. Most shorts on this list are high-rise, which we found to have the most coverage and look the most flattering during our workouts, as they offer flattering tummy control. Many high-rise shorts also have a drawstring, which helps you customize the fit so it doesn't slip down or ride up while you're getting a sweat on. Some of the options we tried were low-rise, but we ended up ditching most of them because we didn't love the fit. However, the Arcteryx pair on this list is low-rise, and we actually love that it sits nicely on our hips and looks flattering.

Inseam length is the distance between the crotch area and the bottom of the short. There are some longer options on this list for those who prefer more leg coverage, like the Spanx The Get Moving 2-in-1 Short, and super short options on this list—hi, Lululemon Hotty Hot High-Rise Lined Short—if you like a lightweight mini short for running or walking. After testing, we prefer something right in the middle that makes us feel nimble but also provides coverage, like our favorite of the bunch, the Abercrombie YPB motionTEK High Rise Lined Workout Short.

Activity

After testing, we found that some shorts are better for specific activities. For example, the Spanx pair is great for deep squats and yoga because of its built-in shorts with a long inseam, providing more coverage. On the other hand, the Arcteryx pair is low-rise, super light, and has a snug fit, making it ideal for running since it feels weightless and doesn't slow us down.

How we tested

Over the past month, the team at Women’s Health has undertaken a comprehensive approach to curating the ultimate guide to the best workout shorts for women. We’ve put more than 15 shorts through their paces, testing them based on fit, rise, coverage, breathability, weight, and more.

The testing process was led by associate fashion & commerce editor Lily Wohlner, assistant fashion editor Rose Lauture, and executive fashion director Kristen Saladino. Our evaluation involved multiple phases, consulting workout fanatics on the Women's Health team, and most importantly, testing the shorts firsthand. We subjected each short to everything from running, to fast walks, to HIIT workouts, to Pilates and cycling. The narrowed-down list below includes the eight shorts we were most impressed by.

So, whether you're wanting to transition from leggings to shorts or you're just in need of a fresh pair for working out, look no further than this editor-tested list of the best workout shorts for women.

YPB motionTEK High Rise Lined Workout Short

Over the past few weeks, we've tested a wide range of athletic shorts, but the Abercrombie YPB High Rise Lined Workout Short topped our list for a few reasons: It feels super supportive, has built-in liner shorts, comes in many colors, keeps you dry, and has multiple pockets. I mean, can it get any better than that?

Let's start with the built-in short. It's just long enough to fully cover your backend, but short enough that it doesn't stick out too far under the flowy short. Plus, the compression short never feels restrictive or too tight—it has just enough give to support you thorough any workout, from running to HIIT and deep squatting. On that note, the workout short is totally squat-proof, meaning you don't have to worry about anything showing too much skin or being see-through in even your lowest squat. Whenever we wear this short, we feel super supported.

Need to throw your AirPod case somewhere? DW, the short has multiple pockets, including a zip pocket that is big enough to fit a phone as well as a side pocket in the compression short. In our opinion, this short nails it with space maximization.

We tested this short through multiple different workouts, and we never felt like it needed to be adjusted throughout our sets. The high-waisted waistband has a drawstring that allows you to adjust the pant to your exact body type, so you never have to worry about it sliding, riding up, or feeling too loose. It's also moisture-wicking thanks to the polyester fabric, so it kept us nice and dry throughout higher intensity workouts.

One note we have is that the short definitely runs big, so we recommend opting for one size smaller than your usual size.

Read More: Best Leggings With Pockets

Match Point Short

In our experience, it's difficult to find flowy workout shorts that don't show too much skin down there, but this option from Alo shifts that paradigm. It's light and airy, but it doesn't have any open seams, so you don't have to worry about the wind catching it in the wrong way (IYKYK). Plus, it has a built-in brief, which is awesome for added protection.

We also love the thick elastic waistband, which not only adds a fun design element, but hits at the perfect height on our stomach to offer a nice contouring effect. There's also an invisible side pocket to store all your small essentials while on the go.

Our favorite part about this short? It's never clingy, so it doesn't ride up the thigh or need constant re-adjusting while you're working out. We tested it during a 45-minute strength and HIIT workout as well as an hour-long cross-training workout, and we never felt over-exposed or uncomfortable in it. It's roomy, but also holds you in. Plus, the fabric dries super fast, so you're in good hands if you get super sweaty.

It does run one size big, which you should note when adding-to-cart. However, if you like shorts that are roomier, we can confirm that this short still gets high marks even when it's a size too big. In our experience, it still felt full-coverage, airy, and lightweight.

Read more: Best Workout Clothes For Women

Spacedye High Waisted Biker Short

If you're looking for a buttery-soft workout fit, this biker short from Beyond Yoga will be your best friend. The brand itself is a favorite among our fashion editors, and that's because the fabrics are never tight and constricting, always smooth and soft (yet still contouring and flattering!).

Yes, the short is awesome for all sorts of workouts, but we also love it for running errands and, dare we say it, lounging, as it looks so cute with every outfit and feels so comfortable for all-day wear. Plus, it's moisture-wicking during sweaty workouts or super hot days. Speaking of sunny days, the shorts also have built-in UV protection, because we're all about staying protected from the sun here.

This short is also one of the longest option on this list, so it's a solid choice if you're looking for something with a bit more leg coverage.

The editors that tested this short often wear it to yoga, but they say that it's nice and tight (but not too tight!), so it doesn't move if you want to run or do higher intensity classes in it too. According to fashion director Kristen Saladino, the high-waisted fit makes you feel super tucked-in and secure without feeling constricted. And, if you need a larger size, this short goes all the way up to a 4x—let's get a round of applause for the size inclusivity!

We do wish that, like the Abercrombie pair, there were more colors to choose from. As of now, there are only four colors the brand offers in this short.

The Get Moving 2-in-1 Short

This workout short is the perfect mix between a biker short and a flowy workout short. And that's because it has both! It's designed with a sweat-wicking flowy outer short and the brand's iconic Booty Boost Short, which give the butt a nice lift and contour. The inner short features a large side pocket for your phone or wallet.

Similar to the Abercrombie option, this pair has the two-in-one style, but the booty short is much longer on this pair, which Saladino says offers a cool layered look. Plus, the longer compression short offers more coverage on the legs and butt, so you can bend over in a deadlift or downward dog and feel totally secure.

We love the high drawstring waistband and that the band sits totally flat on your stomach without adding any extra dimension to your waist. The drawcord allows us to really get that custom fit, which is a welcome plus. In terms of design, we really liked the mesh detailing at the bottom of the flowy short. Plus, the short has no center front seam, which means zero camel toe (wink, wink).

This short was a top favorite for Saladino on this list. However, some editors found the layered design a bit hard to get used to, as it resembles two pants stacked together. Especially because the inner short is super long at eight inches, while the top layer is pretty short. After testing it out in the gym, we decided it's a fantastic option for full coverage when you don't feel like wearing leggings.

Hotty Hot High-Rise Lined Short

So many of our editors love this short from Lululemon, especially for running. "I hadn't bought a pair of running shorts in years, but given that I've taken up running as a hobby, I knew I needed some for moving in hot weather," says assistant love and life editor Addison Aloian. This extremely lightweight short stood out to her because it's light and airy and comes in a ton of colors. Plus, there's a little side pocket where you can store your keys while loggings miles.

She tested a pair with a four-inch inseam and appreciates how it prevents chafing. "The coverage is excellent," she says. She owns two pairs and wore one for her first race.

Assistant fashion editor Rose Lauture prefers the 2.5-inch inseam (this is actually the shortest option on this list) for its airy feel. The wide leg opening ensures the short doesn't ride up or feel constricting. Both shorts have a built-in liner for added coverage regardless of inseam length. Lauture finds them great for running, HIIT classes, or casual walks. Despite the shorter inseam, she never feels exposed, but opt for the longer pair if you want to feel more covered.

We also love how quickly these shorts dry. After our run, there were some sweaty spots, but they were completely dry by the time we were ready to shower.

High Waist Yoga Shorts

Not all shorts are the best for high-impact activity, and that's okay—you're allowed to have a pair perfect for yoga, pilates and other low-impact activities, too. If that's your thing, opt for this pair from Amazon, which has less compression than some of the other options on this list, but is still super soft and form-fitting. Similar to the Beyond Yoga shorts, this pair feels like literal butter on your skin.

Besides the fact that it's $18, we also love this short because it's equipped with side pockets that don't add any bulk to your leg, it has a four-way stretch fabric, and it's super lightweight, so it doesn't feel constricting (this is our biggest pet peeve when it comes to athletic shorts!). It does have a nice tummy contouring effect, which we appreciate in a short.

We also love that this short isn't see-through, so we felt totes comfortable wearing it during yoga. However, where things falter a bit is with its moisture-wicking properties. One of our testers wore this short to hot yoga and said the sweat stains were prominent.

Norvan Short

Lauture gives this fitted short the green check for feeling super light and airy, especially on long runs. It's made out of 100 percent polyester, so it's super light and breathable. And get this: The fabric keeps you super cool, as it allows moisture to escape and regulate your temperature.

Got loose keys or headphones? The short has a discreet zippered back pocket that holds everything you need, including gels, electrolyte pouches, and the list goes on. There's also a reflective logo on the short, which makes you more visible if your run extends into the night.

Another pro: There's a split side hem, which allows for a full range of movement. And, when your run is over, you don't have to worry about too much sweat or odors, as it has a built-in moisture-wicking brief that's made with anti-microbial treatment to manage odor.

We do wish it had a thicker waistband for a bit more tummy control, and it is definitely on the shorter side. It's also worth noting that this short is low-waisted, but Lauture didn't mind that as much as she thought she would. She actually said that it felt comfortable and didn't move.

Black Compressive Pocket Run Short

We like to be held in during our workouts, which is why we're obsessed with the Girlfriend Collective Compressive Run Short. It makes you feel so held-in and supported, however it's still super comfortable and easy to move in.

Aside from the compression, the biggest pro of this short is how deep the two side pockets are. They can easily fit your wallet, keys, and even an entire iPhone (!!). Lauture notes that the short provides enough compression to keep her items secure in the pockets without moving around.

Lauture wore this short to a Pilates and cycling class, and notes that it was so comfortable and easy to move in. She says she can easily see it being worn for runs and walks, too. Bonus: the waistband doesn't roll down during squats or quick movement.

Girlfriend is celebrated for its inclusive sizing, and this short is no exception. Available in sizes XXS to 6XL, you can rest assured it will fit you perfectly—a major plus in our eyes.

We did find that this short can tend to ride up during runs, but we found that opting for a size down makes the shorts a bit more snug and well-fitted.

Read More: Best Compression Shorts

Shop more athletic clothes we love

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