When you’re working out, things can heat up quickly, and while gym leggings are great, shorts will keep you cooler. A pair of the best women’s gym shorts will see you through a sweaty workout in comfort and style.
Some people like their shorts short, but others might want a pair that offers more coverage in the gym. Whichever style you prefer, you’ll want them to be breathable and squat-proof with minimal slippage—no-one wants to be readjusting their shorts throughout their workout. There’s also pocket space to consider. You may need a large pocket to hold your phone as you exercise, or perhaps a smaller pocket for essentials such as your keys.
So, a fair few boxes need to be ticked. Whatever you’re looking for, and whatever your budget, there’s a pair of women’s gym shorts to suit you. We’ve tried a variety of them and picked our favorites.
Keen to kit yourself out further? Why not pair your shorts with one of the best women’s gym tops, and then carry your spare gym stuff in one of our preferred women’s gym bags?
The Best Women’s Gym Shorts
It’s not often that I find a pair of gym shorts that has zero faults. But WIT’s incredibly comfortable High Rise Soft Cycling Shorts suit any workout, from the squat rack through to the track, and are top of my shorts pile at the moment as my new favorite.
They’re wonderfully soft, the length is great (short, but not too short), and they’re also flattering. They hug the butt nicely, don’t accentuate any lumps and bumps, and are easy to get on and off. Sometimes, shorts and leggings are so tight that it’s almost a workout to yank them on, but these just glide on. They also don’t display any camel toe, and they’re squat-proof. Fun fact: Each pair of shorts is made using, on average, 7.3 post-consumer plastic bottles—so they’re planet-friendly too.
This pair of Amplify Bonded shorts from Aussie brand Lorna Jane is highly streamlined with a lovely soft waistband that’s both comfortable and flattering, as well as a secret phone pocket in the back of the waistband.
These shorts have been designed to flatter the figure: The curved lines along the back give the appearance of a slimmer back, and the front waist has an attractive V shape. The fabric—as we’ve come to expect from Lorna Jane—is thick, soft and of excellent quality, while the side panels help to make the shorts even more comfortable. These are extremely versatile: They’ll suit weight training and HIIT workouts, but also running, cycling and walking.
So while the price of the shorts may be a turn-off, their quality and versatility makes them worth the investment.
You can very rarely go wrong with any gym kit from Lululemon and these shorts are no exception. They’re comfortable, supportive and easy to get on, the fabric is incredibly soft (as it always is with Lululemon), and they do not budge an inch when you’re wearing them.
The Wunder Train shorts suit all workouts: They stay up, are breathable and just feel really great when they’re on. It’s a bit like wearing a second skin, albeit a very tight one—I decided against wearing them after a big meal.
There’s added Lycra in this Lululemon fabric, which makes these shorts extra stretchy and flattering; they hug your figure and have a smoothing effect.
With lots of colors to choose from, you can pick the style that suits you most. There’s a hidden pocket in the waistband that’s useful for carrying your keys or earbuds.
The only real downer? Well, they’re not cheap—although they’re actually cheaper than many other shorts options on the market these days—but they’re an investment that should last you a long time.
Another great pair of shorts from Myprotein’s MP brand, which never disappoints. Most MP gear is designed for the weights room with practicality and functionality in mind, and one of the best things about it is that it’s always squat-proof.
These shorts look great (I love the purple tie-dye design in particular) and are super-comfortable thanks to a high waistband—and because they’re seamless there’s no chafing. I found the length just right, because they offered a good amount of coverage without coming too far down the leg and therefore being too warm to wear. The fabric has sweat-wicking properties, and it dries fast so no matter how intense your workout, you won’t stay sweaty for too long.
I love a pair of great-value shorts that still ticks all the boxes. These have come up on Coach’s list of best women’s gym shorts in the past, and for good reason. The high waist sits at a flattering point, and the fabric is super-soft and feels great against the skin. The shorts offer support but they don’t squeeze you too hard. The leg opening is on the tight side to prevent them riding up—some may find it uncomfortably tight, but this will depend on individual body shape.
The length is great: They don’t flash too much flesh but they’re also not so long that you overheat. I felt like I could move comfortably and I didn’t get too hot while working out in these.
Pour Moi says these are perfect for running, spinning, HIIT and more, and I’d agree—they’re a great all-round pair of shorts.
Under Armour has done a great job with these printed shorts, which kept me comfortable as I sweated during a treadmill run. These were actually designed for playing soccer, but they’re well suited to the gym too thanks to their moisture-wicking properties and the fact they are super-light and allow for total freedom of movement. Mesh panels in these shorts make them even more breathable, so I didn't feel confined or too warm at any point.
If you do get sweaty (which is highly likely, let’s be honest), then the print design disguises sweat patches, unlike a block color which tends to really make sweat stand out.
I also like the placement of the waistband just below the bellybutton, and it’s secured with an internal drawcord—these shorts aren’t going anywhere in a hurry.
For a change from black, AKA the safest color, these camo-print shorts are a fun choice. They’re on the pricier side, but their quality is impressive and I found them really comfortable during a weights session and a HYROX training session. The thick waistband, which sits at a flattering height, doesn’t budge at all, and the fabric itself is a decent thickness.
These shorts feel as though they’re well made, which you’d expect for the price, and I found them a great fit. They aren’t too tight and the camo pattern hides unwanted sweat patches, while the fabric is made with FreshTek technology which Stance says helps to wick away moisture. Although there are many seams, which stand out with dark stitching, they don’t chafe at all and there’s no awkward bunching. There’s a tank to go with these shorts if you want to look matchy-matchy at the gym.
These are shorts that you’ll want to wear again and again—primarily to show off their beautiful ombre color scheme. Although they are extremely tight (it might be wise to go up a size), they really are gorgeous, plus the design means they’re great at disguising sweat.
I wore these for a weight training session and found them to be pretty squat-proof, with zero chafing and no itchy or annoying seams. The waistband didn’t slip down, and it sits at a flattering height, keeping everything tucked in.
Gym + Coffee impressed me recently with its leggings, and now it has impressed me with these bright coral shorts. The shorts offer great coverage, despite being pretty short, and the fabric is pleasant against the skin.
The built-in underwear means that there’s no chance of any flashing during a workout (hip thrusts, we’re looking at you) and the elastic pull cord in the waistband allows you to have them as tight or as loose as you wish. I found the waistband really comfortable, although there isn’t that much give, so pick your size accordingly.
There’s a pocket in the back of the waistband which held my phone and earbuds as I worked out, and despite the weight of these items, the shorts still stayed up. Best of all is the bright eye-catching colorways of these shorts—I was even complimented on the color while wearing them.
I love a pair of short shorts, especially when they fit well, don’t flap around the crotch and don’t fall down during workouts. Puma has nailed it with these shorts—they’re great both for gym workouts and for cardio. I did a treadmill run to check if they slipped down and they didn’t budge at all. Short shorts can get uncomfortable if the fabric rides up or gets stuck in the wrong places (ahem) but these were comfortable throughout my workout.
The leg pockets fit a phone perfectly. However, I didn’t actually do a workout with my phone in the pocket because the shorts are so short that the pocket takes up pretty much all of the side leg area. The price point of these is good for a solid pair of shorts that I’ve placed at the top of my gym wear pile.
If you like your shorts short and skin-tight, with a 3in inseam these Nike ones fit the bill. You could also use these under a baggier pair of shorts for extra comfort and coverage. The shorts are comfy and easy to move in—but they are extremely short.
The mid-rise neon Nike-branded waistband is comfortable and flattering, clinging nicely to the body without being unbearably tight. You can’t go wrong with Nike shorts usually, because they tend to be great at sweat-wicking and fast drying, so sweaty workouts won’t leave you feeling damp.
A short version of the Fabletics PureLuxe leggings, these cycling-style shorts are comfortable, flattering and fit for purpose. When tested in both strength sessions and on treadmill runs, these shorts proved their worth. They’re squat-proof, and on a speed session the thigh part did not roll up and the high waist band did not roll down—result! And let’s not forget the pockets: two large ones run along the outside of the thigh, perfect for storing your phone or whatever else you need to carry with you.
Fabletics works on a “VIP” subscription model that charges members $59.95/£54.99 a month, which can be used against any outfit worth up to £80. Members benefit from lower prices on items, too. There is the option to skip the payment each month, which also skips your option to buy for the member price.—Lois MacKenzie
These shorts are made from the popular Fabletics Powerhold material. This is a super-flattering and comfortable material that is slightly thicker than most. It is designed with maximum compression to support you during your activity and the thick material is great for colder days too. The shorts have two large pockets along the thighs, big enough to fit your phone and a few energy gels. I tried the shorts in white, and as you’d expect with white items of clothing, the fabric was a little see-through. However, the shorts performed well and didn’t budge even when tested on a treadmill run.
Fabletics works on a “VIP” subscription model that charges members $59.95/£54.99 a month, which can be used against any outfit worth up to £80. There is the option to skip the payment each month, and your option to buy for this price will also be skipped. Members benefit from lower prices on items, too.
The price is quite steep, but you’re essentially getting two pairs of shorts in one. The tight inner pair can be unfastened from the baggier pair on top by simply undoing two buttons, and then the shorts can be worn together or separately. The tighter pair have a flattering high waistband, and sit fairly high on the leg (if you want something that offers more leg coverage, these might not be for you).
The tight shorts sit comfortably without the need to be tugged up during a workout, and they have phone pockets on the side of the leg. The baggier pair of shorts are very breathable making them perfect for gym cardio sessions. I loved the back mesh pocket on the outer shorts—handy for stashing an extra layer of clothing. Stance has finished these shorts with FEEL360/FreshTek, which is an antimicrobial wash that also wicks away moisture. They’re expensive, yes, but serious gym-goers may want to invest.
Although they can be worn for all gym workouts, these soft and stretchy second-skin shorts were particularly comfortable for cardio sessions on the treadmill, bike or rower. They move really comfortably with the body and despite not being too tight, they really don’t budge at all when they’re on. The New Balance DRYx technology helps to wick away moisture so I felt cool throughout my workout, although sweat does show in the bright orange shade I tried.
The shorts include drop-in and zippered pockets for nutrition and valuables, with a storage tunnel at the back of the waistband through which you can thread extra layers for a hands-free workout. I found this tunnel pocket useful for my phone and it made a change from just having leg pockets. There are also large mesh pockets on the legs, which proved practical for storing jewelry.
The thick elasticated waistband emblazoned with the NB logo on these shorts is what first caught my eye. It not only looks good, but it also ensured these shorts stayed put throughout my workouts. These are mid-rise, sitting just below the waist, and while many will be fine with this design, if you prefer shorts that keeps your tummy tucked in you should look elsewhere.
We love that these shorts have tighter inner shorts so no matter what exercise you’re doing, you can feel safe in the knowledge that you’re covered up. There’s also a pocket in the back waistband to stash away essentials. Overall these are comfortable and classic.
These Pour Moi shorts might not be the most technical ones around, but they won’t break the bank and are more than up to the job. The sparkly waistband adds a girly detail and the colour options are great—I tried the rose gold colourway. One downside was they did show the sweat, so perhaps avoid these if you plan on an intensely sweaty session.
Pour Moi describe these as mid-rise, yet I found they came up quite high, which I prefer. The waistband isn’t too tight and there’s no digging in across the tummy—I could breathe comfortably throughout all my exercises. The baggy fit makes movement easy, and although the lack of inner shorts might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I'm a big fan of this pair—they’re basic yet seriously comfy.
