The Best Gym Shorts for Men: Three Well-Rated Pairs
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Our picks at a glance
- Best OverallUnder Armour Men's Tech Graphic 10" ShortsCheck price on Amazon
- Most Rated Relaxed-Fit PickAmazon Essentials Men's Athletic Basketball Gym ShortsCheck price on Amazon
- Best for PocketsBALENNZ Men's Athletic Shorts with PocketsCheck price on Amazon
Gym shorts mostly differ in three things a listing can tell you: inseam, fabric and pockets. These three each have tens of thousands of ratings on Amazon, and between them they cover a stretch blend, a relaxed basketball cut and a pair with hand pockets on both sides.
How we picked
We searched Amazon for men's gym shorts, set aside sponsored results and unbranded multi-packs, and kept listings rated 4.3 or higher across at least 200 ratings. Then we saved each finalist's fabric, inseam, waistband details, seller and return terms.
For the rest of a training kit, see the best crew socks for men, and for wet-weather runs, the best rain jackets for men.
Best Overall: Under Armour Men's Tech Graphic 10" Shorts
The highest rating of the three across more than 73,000 ratings. It is the only pick with elastane in the blend, at 84% polyester and 16% elastane. The listing describes a relaxed, loose fit, a 10-inch inseam, an encased elastic waistband with an internal drawcord and mesh hand pockets. Under Armour says the fabric is quick-drying and wicks sweat.
What the listing says
- 84% polyester, 16% elastane
- 10-inch inseam; relaxed fit
- Encased elastic waistband with internal drawcord
- Mesh hand pockets
Most Rated Relaxed-Fit Pick: Amazon Essentials Men's Athletic Basketball Gym Shorts
The most-rated shorts in our search, and Amazon's own label calls this its most generous fit, relaxed through the hip, thigh and leg. The listing gives an 8-inch inseam on a US Medium, 100% polyester with quick-dry and moisture-wicking finishes, and an adjustable elasticated waistband with a drawcord. The bullets we captured do not mention pockets, so check the listing if you need them.
What the listing says
- 100% polyester with quick-dry and moisture-wicking finishes (per listing)
- 8-inch inseam on a US Medium
- Relaxed fit through the hip, thigh and leg
- Adjustable elasticated waistband with drawcord
Best for Pockets: BALENNZ Men's Athletic Shorts with Pockets
If you carry a phone and wallet, BALENNZ makes pockets on both sides its headline feature. The listing gives a 10-inch inseam and an encased elastic waistband with an inner drawcord. One thing to note: the bullets describe the fabric as having stretchiness, while the fabric type field lists 100% polyester with no elastane.
What the listing says
- Hand pockets on both sides
- 10-inch inseam
- 100% polyester (fabric type field)
- Encased elastic waistband with inner drawcord
Side by side
| Shorts | Inseam (as listed) | Fabric (as listed) | Seller |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under Armour Men's Tech Graphic 10" Shorts | 10 inches | 84% polyester, 16% elastane | Amazon.com |
| Amazon Essentials Men's Athletic Basketball Gym Shorts | 8 inches (US Medium) | 100% polyester | Amazon.com |
| BALENNZ Men's Athletic Shorts with Pockets | 10 inches | 100% polyester | HOMEPAL |
What to look for
Inseam
An 8-inch inseam sits higher on the leg than a 10-inch one. Listings state the inseam, sometimes only for one size.
Stretch
Check the fabric type field for elastane or spandex. A listing can describe stretch even when the fabric type lists none.
Pockets
Not every gym short has them. If you need pockets, confirm the listing mentions them.
Waistband
An elastic waistband with a drawcord is standard on all three; the drawcord lets you adjust the fit.
The bottom line
- Best Overall: Under Armour Tech Graphic, the highest rated and the only stretch blend here.
- Most Rated Relaxed-Fit Pick: Amazon Essentials, with the most ratings and an 8-inch inseam.
- Best for Pockets: BALENNZ, with hand pockets on both sides and a 10-inch inseam.
Frequently asked questions
Which of these has stretch fabric?
Only the Under Armour Tech Graphic lists elastane, at 16%. The other two list 100% polyester.
Do the Amazon Essentials shorts have pockets?
The bullets we captured do not mention pockets. Check the current listing if pockets matter to you.
What inseam do these have?
Under Armour and BALENNZ list a 10-inch inseam; Amazon Essentials lists 8 inches on a US Medium.
Who sells these?
Under Armour and Amazon Essentials were shipped and sold by Amazon.com when we checked; BALENNZ was sold by HOMEPAL.
Why are the ratings different from what I see on Amazon?
Ratings change over time. The figures here are what each listing showed on the date at the top of this page.
Ratings and listing details were checked on Amazon on the date shown at the top of this page. We have not worn these; everything above is from their Amazon listings.
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