Illustration by Chandler Bondurant
Running shorts may sound like a trivial item—after all, with inseams ranging from around three to five inches, there’s precious little fabric in them to begin with. However, finding the right running short will still pay great dividends in both performance and style.
The running short itself is a relatively new commodity, having emerged after WWII thanks to the birth of modern technical fabrics and the popularization of running as a dedicated hobby. And if you yourself are a participant, thank your lucky stars for being born in the right era, as the earliest, pre-war shorts were made from wool or cotton that were quick to soak from sweat and slow to dry.
There’s no shortage of quality makers today, working with breathable, lightweight fabrics that also feature superior moisture-wicking qualities. Other features, like built-in liners or dedicated phone pockets further enhance their utility.
With brands likes Bandit, Salomon and Ron Dorff in the running, we’ve edited a list of seven-sprint worthy shorts for your late-summer running below.
Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Grand Shorts
Image Credit: Tracksmith 
Tracksmith’s Van Cortlandt Grand Shorts work as a neat encapsulation of the Boston-based running brand, at once deeply nostalgic and engineered for present-day performance. The 4-inch shorts with contrast binding are modeled after a pair worn by American runner George Dole when he competed against Roger Bannister during the latter’s infamous 1954 sub-4-minute mile run, and are made from lightweight, moisture-wicking mesh.
Satisfy Rippy™ Layered 5″ Running Shorts
Image Credit: Satisfy Satisy’s Ripper shorts are essentially a two-in-one, composed of a reinforced Cordura upper with cargo-style pockets and a breathable, moisture-wicking liner. Designed to be abrasion and tear-resistant, these are shorts made for the long haul.
District Vision Straight-Leg Logo-Print 5″ Stretch-Jersey Running Shorts
Image Credit: District Vision LA-based District Vision may be best known for its Japanese-made sunglasses engineered specifically for running, but the cult label is also a full-body outfitter. Case in point: its straight-fit, stretch-jersey shorts made with Japanese-woven drawstrings.
Bandit Men’s Vento Net Gen 3″ Split Short
Image Credit: Bandit Brooklyn’s Bandit is one brand that’s not afraid to go short, as its 3” Next Gen split shorts demonstrate. Made from thermo-regulating four-way stretch, it also benefits from an anti-chafe brief and a waterproof phone pocket.
Jacques Movement Compression Short
Image Credit: Jacques Minimalist-chic sportswear brand Jacques is responsible for these compression shorts made from 4-way stretch with a dual-layer shell liner. Made in New York, the shorts also feature hidden zipper pockets and an expandable phone pocket at the left leg.
Salomon Sense Areo Stow 5″
Image Credit: Salomon Cut at a moderate five-inch length, Salomon’s Sense shorts are cut from polyester GridFlow fabric chosen for its light weight, breathability and extremely short drying time. A zippered phone pocket and built-in storage system designed for the minimum amount of bounce rounds out its broad appeal.
Ron Dorff Marathon Exerciser Shorts
Image Credit: Ron Dorff Franco-Swedish sportswear brand Ron Dorff took a healthy dollop of ‘80s inspiration to design its Exerciser shorts, which feature a short length with rounded slide slits. Its other features include a micro-mesh lining, an adjustable drawstring waist, and two side pockets.
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