Best Men's Gym Shorts for Every Workout in 2026: Lifting, Running, and CrossFit

Choose men’s gym shorts by inseam, liner fit and pocket security. The newly selected CRZ 7-inch lined short is a listing-based alternative to Ten Thousand Interval, while WOLACO and the retained options below address different training needs. CRZ and HYLETE replacements have no inherited wear-test ranking.

Selected-variant update — October 19, 2026: CRZ YOGA Men's 2-in-1 Running Shorts — 7-inch is listing-based and untested by us. Earlier wear-test results apply only to the original tested models, not these replacements. The listing notes identify the selected size, seller and model differences.

The original tested selection went through at least 10 workouts covering heavy lifting, treadmill and outdoor running, CrossFit-style metcons and ordinary gym sessions, and was washed repeatedly to check durability. The selected HYLETE Regular was not part of those tests.

How We Tested

These procedures describe the original tested selection, not the replacement HYLETE Regular.

• Fabric and breathability: a 45-minute lifting session and a 30-minute run in a warm gym, noting how fast each short soaked through and dried afterward.
• Mobility: deep barbell squats, walking lunges, sprints and wall balls, watching for binding at the thigh, hem ride-up or the waistband pulling.
• Liners: a 5K in each lined short to check chafing and support. Unlined shorts went over a compression short, and we judged how the outer layer moved over it.
• Pockets: a large phone, ten box jumps and ten burpees. A phone that shifted or fell out was a fail.
• Durability: at least 10 cold washes, hung to dry, then a check for pilling, stretched waistbands and loose pocket stitching.

Our Picks at a Glance

The four we kept

CRZ YOGA Men's 2-in-1 Running Shorts — 7-inch — selected alternative

The CRZ YOGA Men's 2-in-1 Running Shorts — 7-inch is the selected alternative to Ten Thousand Interval Short. Selected variant: men's Black, Large, 7-inch inseam, lined. What changes: CRZ YOGA replaces Vuori Kore or Ten Thousand Interval in general buying guides. This selection is a 7-inch lined short; it is not Vuori’s 7.5-inch Kore cut or a verified Ten Thousand liner construction. No original drying, odor-control or inversion test result transfers.

The listing confirms a liner phone pocket, two side pockets, a right zip pocket and a drawstring waist. It does not establish silver-ion treatment, a boxer-brief liner length or security in yoga inversions. Test the liner and range of motion for your workout.

Offer check — October 19, 2026: CRZ YOGA; stock applies only to the selected variant. We have not wear-tested this replacement.

2. WOLACO North Moore Short: best for carrying a phone

WOLACO's selling point is a sweatproof phone pocket sewn into the compression liner, on the thigh where it doesn't bounce. It works: we ran, skipped and did burpees with a large phone in it, and it never moved. A second liner pocket on the other thigh takes keys or a card. The outer short is a four-way-stretch woven with a slightly tailored look that passes for casual wear.

The compression liner is the most supportive here, which lifters and runners with sensitive inner thighs liked. It is also why the North Moore runs warm: in a hot gym or on a summer run, two layers plus a phone strapped to your thigh hold heat, and our testers noticed. Our compression wear guide covers when that support is worth the extra warmth.

WOLACO’s tested pocket layout remains its main distinction in this guide. The new CRZ selection also lists a liner phone pocket, but we have not compared phone bounce, pocket security or the current prices between them.

Best for: Anyone who trains with a phone and needs it secure and dry.

HYLETE Fuse Short Regular: specifications-based option

The selected HYLETE Fuse is Heather Black, XX-Large, Regular. The current listing confirms four-way stretch and a stretch-woven gusset. It does not verify a 7-inch inseam or liner construction. We have not tested this selected variant; check the length chart and support you need before ordering.

Best for: CrossFit, HIIT and anyone who needs zip pockets and free movement.

4. Under Armour Vanish Woven 8-inch Shorts: best value for lifting

Buy the Vanish Woven if you mostly lift, want a longer inseam and don't want to spend much. The 8-inch length covered us on the leg press and bench without looking baggy, and mesh side panels let heat out in a warm gym. The light, slightly stretchy woven moved fine in squats and lunges and dried quickly.

It is unlined with open hand pockets, so it isn't a running short; a phone bounced out in our burpee test. Over a compression short it made a very comfortable lifting short, and it costs less than any of our other tested picks.

After 10 washes there was no pilling and the waistband had kept its stretch. If you want the same style with a liner, Under Armour's Launch line does that; our Nike vs Under Armour comparison covers both brands' shorts.

Best for: Lifters and casual gym-goers who want a longer, breathable short for less.

Three More Shorts You Can Buy Today

The selected CRZ replaces the unresolved Ten Thousand model search. CRZ and HYLETE had selected-variant offers at the October 19 check. Other cards carry their own dated notes; check every size, seller and return policy. The October 17 follow-up did not verify a current offer for the Nike Form child. The Nike, adidas and Under Armour Tech Mesh alternatives here were selected from listing details rather than wear testing.

For an unlined cut, the Nike Form 7-inch listing describes a woven fabric, gusset and flat waistband, but its current child offer needs checking. The adidas Designed for Training 7-inch lists front zip pockets and AEROREADY. Under Armour Tech Mesh is a longer 9-inch option with open pockets; secure your phone elsewhere for impact work.

How to choose

Inseam

Inseam decides how a short looks and moves more than anything else. It is measured from the crotch seam to the hem.

• 5 inches: the most mobility and the coolest. Popular for running and CrossFit, and it shows a lot of thigh.
• 7 inches: hits mid-thigh on most men between 5'8" and 6'2", moves freely in a squat and looks right in the gym or on the street. If you're buying one pair, buy 7.
• 9 inches: close to the knee. Good for basketball, leg-press days and anyone who wants more coverage, but it can bunch at the top of a deep squat.

Height changes this. On our 5'7" tester, the 7-inch looked like the 9-inch did on our 6'2" tester. Taller men often prefer 7 or 9; shorter men usually look best in 5 or 7.

Liner or no liner

A liner can provide coverage, but its shape and support differ by model. The selected CRZ lists a liner with a phone pocket; its exact length and support are not established here. WOLACO uses a different compression liner. Check movement and friction rather than assuming all lined shorts replace the same support layer.

Unlined shorts let you wear what you like underneath. Most lifters and CrossFit athletes prefer a separate compression short they can pick for length and fit and replace on its own, and unlined shorts are cooler in summer. If you go that way, you'll want two or three good compression shorts; our compression wear guide has picks.

Some men find liners chafe on long runs. If that's you, a compression liner or an unlined short over your own base layer usually fixes it.

Lifting or cardio

For lifting, you want a slightly longer inseam, a flat waistband that sits under a belt without rolling, and fabric that doesn't bind at the bottom of a squat. Pockets matter less because your phone can sit on the floor. Here that means the Vanish Woven or the Hylete Fuse.

For cardio, prioritize a liner or separate support layer, an inseam you can move in and secure storage. The selected CRZ lists a 7-inch cut and liner phone pocket, while WOLACO is the earlier tested pocket-focused option. We have not ranked CRZ for running comfort.

If you split your week, the Interval in a 7-inch inseam covers both.

Pockets

For impact work, choose secure storage and test it with your own phone. The CRZ listing includes a right zip pocket and liner phone pocket; we have not tested either against WOLACO. Open hand pockets can let a phone move or fall during jumps.

Fabric

Stretch woven polyester or nylon is the standard: light, quick-drying and quiet. Four-way stretch is worth paying for, because two-way stretch binds in a deep squat. Knit polyester is softer and drapes like sweat shorts; it's good for casual gym use and warm-ups but heavier when wet. The fibre label tells you which you are getting, because the FTC's textile labeling rules require every fibre to be listed by percentage of weight. Cotton soaks up sweat, gets heavy and dries slowly, so skip it for training; our gym joggers guide covers where cotton blends make sense.

The selected CRZ listing does not establish an antimicrobial liner. Wash according to the care label and dry fully; do not transfer the former Ten Thousand silver-ion claim. See our sweat-smell removal guide for fabric-appropriate care.

Mistakes to avoid

Don't buy 5-inch shorts for the leg press; coverage disappears at depth. Lifters should stick to 7 or 8 inches.

Don't run in an unlined short over regular underwear. That's how chafing starts. Use a liner or a compression short.

Don't trust open pockets in a metcon. The phone will come out.

Don't wash on hot or use fabric softener; both ruin stretch and wicking. Cold water, no softener, hang dry, and follow any warning on the care label, which the FTC's Care Labeling Rule requires for procedures that would damage the garment.

Don't buy on brand. The cheaper Under Armour beat pricier shorts in our lifting test.

Frequently Asked Questions

What inseam should I get for gym shorts?

Seven inches suits the widest range of heights and workouts. Choose 5 inches if you mainly run or do CrossFit, and 9 inches for knee-length coverage for basketball or leg day. Under 5'8", 5 or 7 inches usually looks best; over 6'1", 7 or 9.

Are lined gym shorts better than unlined?

Neither; they suit different people. Lined shorts are convenient and best for running, because the liner supports and prevents chafing. Unlined shorts let you pick your own compression short and run cooler, which is why lifters and CrossFit athletes usually prefer them.

Can I lift in running shorts?

Yes, if the inseam, liner and waistband work for both movements. The selected CRZ is 7 inches with a liner, but you should test leg-press coverage and running friction yourself. Longer cuts may suit lifting better; a single inseam does not guarantee all-workout comfort.

How do I stop gym shorts from smelling?

Wash them after every session in cold water without fabric softener, and hang them to dry. Antimicrobial liners help between washes. If odor has set in, soak them for 30 minutes in water with a cup of white vinegar before washing.

How many pairs of gym shorts do I need?

Three pairs cover a five-day training week if you do laundry every few days. If you lift and run, get two lined 7-inch shorts for cardio and general use and one longer unlined short for lifting days.

Which pair to buy

Compare the selected CRZ 7-inch lined option with WOLACO if pocket layout matters most. HYLETE Fuse Regular remains an unrated alternative whose inseam and liner need confirmation. Under Armour Vanish Woven is another option for lifting. Choose your own fit and coverage rather than treating the new CRZ as an overall tested winner.