The Best Running Shorts: Staff Picks

"The AFO remind me of something I would've raced in when I was younger but with a little more coverage, which I like!" says one staffer who's taken to wearing Janji's AFO Middle shorts on recovery days, too. Credit the airy, recycled polyester-and-spandex outer shell for this perfect combo of comfort and performance. "The fabric on these is truly stellar," says one customer reviewer. "It's so light, it's almost like not wearing shorts at all."

An internal drawstring cinches the snug waistband, but you probably won't need it; Janji intentionally designed a secure short to minimize bouncing. (Pro tip: If you're in between sizes, size up.) The slightly dropped back hem adds the bonus rear coverage, and a single back zippered pocket is large enough to fit a phone. Buy here.

Note: The AFO Middle Shorts are also available in a men's style with a 5" inseam.

Our happiest running moments happen in a flow state—when we focus on the strike of our shoes against the pavement and forget about the number of miles left in the workout. These Brooks Sherpa Shorts don't make workouts easier, but they do make them a tad more comfortable. "Nothing bounces, so I don't even think about these shorts," says one co-op employee. "The less I think about my shorts, the happier I am!" The moisture-wicking poly-spandex fabric blend feels lighter than a feather, and staff appreciate the soft liner and stretchy waistband that ups the comfort factor even more.

The storage on the Sherpa Shorts also shines: Two oversize hip pockets stash essentials and one center-back zip pocket holds down a phone—literally. "It's surprisingly hard to find running shorts with a decent pocket for modern smartphones, but the rear zip pocket fits [mine] perfectly and holds it with minimal bounce," says one customer reviewer. "There are also open mesh pockets on either side to hold gels or other small items, making these great for long runs without the need for an additional storage belt." Buy here.

If we had it our way, all shorts would come in a wide range of sizes and inseams. The REI Co-op Active Pursuits Shorts, which come in sizes XS - XL and 1X - 3X, check that box. Co-op members and staff rave about the Active Pursuits' supremely comfortable fit ("Not even a hotspot!") thanks to four-way stretch fabric and flat seams that help minimize chafing.

An extra-wide elastic waistband with a drawcord sits comfortably on the midsection, ensuring a secure fit without any slippage. "These shorts are exactly what I've been searching for my entire adult life," says one customer reviewer. They "have an internal drawstring, so I can tighten them up, and they stay in place." The waistband features a single stash pocket—nothing bigger or zippered—but we still think these shorts are a screaming deal. Buy here.

True to their name, the On Lightweight Shorts are incredibly light (read: less than 4 ounces) and dry in a flash, leading our staff to reach for them for daily mileage. The flat waistband stays put and helps prevent chafing, and the polyamide-elastane fabric blend moves freely—so freely one co-op member declared the Lightweight Shorts his "favorite of all time."

Storage is minimal: a single, zipperless back-center pocket stashes essentials. Considering both their limited storage and longer inseam, we think the Lightweight shorts are best for runs lasting less than an hour. As one customer reviewer noted: "Pocket holds a phone but is really meant only for a key and a gel or two. These are great for short runs or races, or hot runs in summer … I wouldn't take them for a marathon where I might have gels, phone, subway ticket, etc." We concur. Buy here.

Finding the right chafe-free long-run short comes down to knowing your own body. But one seemingly universal solution is the beloved bike short: not too skimpy, not too lengthy and not so loose that they'll bunch up moments into your run. The Janji Groundwork Pace Shorts live up to the promise with a 6-inch inseam that hits the sweet spot for coverage, ergonomic seaming you gladly won't notice and smooth, lightly compressive fabric that wicks moisture away. There's plenty of storage, too, with two deep side-pockets, an internal waistband pocket for keys and cards, and a nifty back pocket with dual entry that allows you to pass a shirt through or securely store your bars and gels.

The game changer, however, is a pair of silicone grippers around the hem that keep the shorts in place mile after mile. "I love hiking and running in hot weather and never felt comfortable doing so in shorts until now," writes one customer reviewer. "Between thigh rub and ride up, shorts made me feel so 'ugh' once I took a few steps out of the door. These short tights not only stay in place ... they're ultra-comfortable in the waist with the high, wide waistband, and they look great on me." You, too, can run in shorts. Buy here.

For runners not interested in baring it all in half tights, there's always another route. Janji offers the best of both worlds with the AFO-Vent-2-in-1 Multi Shorts, perfect for those long, hot, gritty summer runs and races. The light inner compression shorts prevent chafing while the breathable outer shorts offer an extra layer of protection without packing the heat. And there are 7 pockets for your storage needs, plus an elastic key loop and Nite Ize S-Biner MicroLock® to secure any items.

These shorts are so secure, you won't even feel your smartphone clunking around. One customer reviewer attests, "I've worn a lot of different running shorts, and this is the first pair with a decent phone pocket." By all accounts, the AFO-Vent-2-in-1s are the swiss-army-knife of running shorts. Buy here.

Sometimes we walk, sometimes we run and sometimes we hike the hills. When a workout calls for all three, our staff reaches for the Clementine shorts. Vuori hits the mark with this updated version of their lightweight shorts that are as breathable as they are comfortable. And if you like a shorter short, there's the Vuori Clementine 2.0 - Women's 2.5" inseam. (Find the original Clementine 2.5" Inseam short, here.)

One customer reviewer noted their durability: "I have put SO many hiking/paddling/traveling miles on these shorts and they still look and feel new." The stretch fabric and forward-slanting side seam are also great features. And mobility on the Clementine shorts receives high marks from both hikers and runners who want to hit the trail. Buy here.

Trail runners need two things from their apparel: storage and weather resistance for unexpected mountain squalls. The Patagonia Multi Trails shorts hit that sweet spot. Two zippered front pockets and one back snap pocket provide ample storage for energy gels and car keys. And, if it does rain when you're a few hours from the car, the PFC-free DWR (durable water repellent) treatment causes moisture to bead up and glide off the fabric. Sure, the Multi Trails will eventually wet out if you're stuck in the rain for more than 30 minutes, but here's another bonus: The liner—made of recycled polyester sourced from plastic waste recovered from at-risk coastal communities and certified by OceanCycle—probably dries faster than you can run. Buy here.

Runners looking to go far, go fast and stay light will love the minimalistic design of the Strider short. Patagonia saves weight by trimming the inseam and dialing back storage to a single zippered center-back pocket large enough to hold cash, credit cards, lip balm or car keys. "I call these my almost-naked shorts," says one co-op member. "I don't feel 'em but they definitely do what I need them to do."

Users report that the Strider also holds up over time. "They hold up through washing," says one customer reviewer. "They don't bunch or become uncomfortable anywhere, even when wearing a running belt over them." Another perk: Ultralight, 100% polyester micro-dobby (a type of weave) coated with a DWR finish means rain beads up and rolls off the Strider shorts when the skies open up. Buy here.