Workout shorts got you down? Whether you’re biking, running, taking low-impact classes or walking around the park, the shorts you're wearing shouldn’t be the sole focus of your workout.
If it’s quite literally — as in they slip and slide — or figuratively, experts share some easy-to-fix factors that will help your shorts stay put during future workouts.
We spoke with fitness instructors, Shop TODAY editors and a workout short designer on how to find shorts best suited for you.
How should workout shorts fit? | How do brands make sure they don't ride up? | What fabrics are workout shorts made out of? | Editor- and expert-loved workout shorts | How we chose | Meet the experts
How should workout shorts fit so that they don't ride up?
Founder and designer Melissa Fehr notes that there are two reasons why your workout shorts might ride up: the fit and the fabric. If your shorts don't fit right in the first place, then they're going to ride up despite the fabric.
There are two types of athletic shorts that are primarily worn when working out that riding up can occur.
- Biker shorts: "Shifting hems are often down to the fabric being stretched too tightly, causing the fabric to shift to a smaller area of the thigh in an attempt to not be so overstretched."
- Loose, shorter running shorts: "The cause of the hems riding up is two-fold — the shorts being either too small to accommodate the forward motion of the leg while running or lunging, or the fabric not having enough stretch to allow the forward leg movement."
How do designers/brands ensure that all sizes have shorts that don't ride up?
Fehr notes that it's up to brands to create clothing for all body types and test samples on a wide range of sizes to ensure they're receiving the best fit possible.
"In addition to the usual issues of different body sizes and shapes, activewear patterns must also take into account different degrees of musculature, as well as all the different activities that could be undertaken in that garment," she says, as shorts designed for cycling should be different than those designed for bouldering, she notes.
Fehr notes that brands elect to either create a product that works for multiple activities or is available in multiple sizes.
Brands such as Alo and Nike offer a wide variety of shorts — from biker shorts, shorts with built-in spandex and traditional workout shorts — while also tailoring to a wide range of sizes, from XXS to 4X at times.
What is the most common fabric that athletic shorts are made out of? Does this fabric attribute to them riding up or not?
"Activewear tends to be made from a blend of either polyester or nylon, which a high percentage of elastane," says Fehr. She also adds that consumers have a tendency to be more concerned with moisture-wicking features, rather than be worried about if they'll ride up or not.
Nylon is a breathable fabric made with polymers that allows air to pass through it easily, whereas polyester is waterproof, working to repel moisture rather than letting it seep into the fabric when working out.
"Wicking properties are often added either as a chemical treatment, or as part of the mechanical structure of the fabric itself," she says, adding that "choosing a pair of shorts that fits well is more important for preventing them from riding up than the fabric itself."
Editor- and expert-loved workout shorts
Nike Tempo Running Shorts
- Fit true to size
- Super lightweight
- Not for yoga-like classes
Good for: Running, "boutique fitness classes" such as Barry's | Chafe? Yes (“I think that is less to do with the design of the shorts and more so that chafing is inevitable once you are running for four hours straight.”) | How long do they last? These have been by her side for "the last seven or so years." | Sizes: 0-22
These shorts have become ingrained into senior social media editor Kate McCarthy's workout routine. Having worn them for the past seven years, there's multiple reasons why they're still a staple part of her wardrobe.
It could be because they're affordable compared to other athletic shorts or because they're available in a wide variety of colors. But the fact that they're lightweight and breathable takes home the cake.
"They fit true to size and are super lightweight, so when I’m running, I never feel like I’m weighed down by them or that I have too much fabric anywhere," she says. "They stay put from the first step of my run to my last, which is truly all I care about."
The Giving Movement Softskin Biker Shorts
- Soft and stretchy fabric
- Fits true to size
- Limited sizes
Good for: Running, cycling classes | Chafe? No | How long do they last? Owned for around six months | Sizes: XS-XL
I received these biker shorts over the summer when I was actively training for a half marathon. They've proven to hold up well during long runs and cycling classes on days where I opted for cross-training.
Made with a recycled polyester and spandex blend that makes them feel buttery soft and stretchy, these biker shorts fit true to size.
Fabletics Sun Chaser 3" Shorts
- Super soft material
- Flattering fit
- Inclusive sizing
- Runs small, according to brand
Good for: Running | Chafe? | How long do they last? | Sizes: XXS-4X
"The shorts feel lightweight and breezy, but because of the fitted inner short, they won’t ride up," commerce editor Julie Ricevuto says. "I even wore this pair on a run with my local run club and got a ton of compliments — I highly recommend!"
They're made strictly out of polyester, which experts say is an optimal fabric to wear when exercising or when in warm weather, because it wicks sweat away rather than allowing it to seep into the fabric.
Lululemon Hotty Hot High-Rise Lined Shorts
- Comfortable
- Liner doesn't cause issues
- None to note at this time
Good for: Running or strength training classes | Chafe? No | How long do they last? Le has owned them for a year and a half | Sizes: 0-14
These shorts from Lululemon rank No. 1 in photo editor Vivian Le's book. An elastic waistband, back zipper pocket and breathable lining make it easy to see why.
Available in a wide range of sizes, Le's favorite aspect is the lining because it's "much more comfy than other lined shorts."
These have also become a personal favorite of mine, thanks to the elastic waistband that helps them stay put no matter the activity.
Alo 7" High-Waist Biker Short
- High-waisted
- Stay in place
- Limited colors and sizes
Good for: Hot yoga | Chafe? No | How long do they last? Only owned for a couple of weeks but after several washes, no deterioration so far | Sizes: 00-14
I impulse bought these biker shorts during a rare Alo sale on Black Friday when they were 30% off. Immediately drawn to the length, as that is usually a factor in whether something will cause chafing or not, these 7" shorts are also available in a 5" option.
Made with Alo's branded Airbrush fabric that consists of nylon and elastane, these bikers shorts feel like cotton but offer a stretchier feel.
Lululemon Speed Up High-Rise Lined Shorts
- Super lightweight
- Sweat-wicking
- Super short
Good for: Running or hiking | Chafe? Yes ("I chafed in them while on a long run while training for a marathon around mile 8") | How long do they last? "A few years" | Sizes: 0-14
Ricevuto primarily wears these while running or hiking, noting that the fabric and material is flexible, allowing for a wide range of motion. Another perk to these shorts is that if they happen to get wet, they'll dry "pretty instantly," according to Ricevuto.
One of the additions to these shorts that help them stand out amongst the rest to Ricevuto is the zippered pocket that sits above your tailbone, allowing you to remain hands-free.
Available in sizes 0 through 14, these shorts are also available in 2.5- or 4-inch length options. The length of the shorts does play into the con of chafing, however, but Ricevuto carries a chafe stick now to resolve those problems.
Tracksmith Women's Session Shorts
- Lightweight
- Don't bunch up
- Limited sizing
Good for: | Chafe? How long do they last? | Sizes: XS-L
Deals editor Rebecca Brown has qualms with running shorts, specifically the ones that have liners within them, which she personally finds is most often the culprit when a pair that rides up.
The lining in these shorts have a "barely-there" feeling, that Brown enjoys, adding that the shorts themselves feel light, stretchy and not bulky.
Reprise Aspen Shorts
- Inclusive sizing
- Long inseam
- Extremely cooling
- Have to hang dry after washing
- Slight pilling near thighs
Good for: Cycling | Chafe? No | How long do they last? One of our editors has been wearing them for a little under two months with no quality issues | Sizes: XS-6X
Senior editor Jess Bender praises the fabrics these biker shorts are made out of, a blend of TENCEL fibers and Spandex, that keep them from riding up during cycling classes.
"I know bike shorts are notorious for riding up due to how they’re constructed, but these are the exception to that rule," she says. "Ever since I received this through a PR contact, I’ve ridden hundreds of miles on Peloton wearing these high-rise shorts and not once did they bunch up during resistance-loaded climbs or cadence-driven sprints."
They're also cooling, helping Bender brave the recent heat waves in New York City.
Frequently Asked Questions
"There is nothing inherent in athletic fabrics that makes them ride up," says Fehr. "You could make the same pair of shorts in a wide variety of non-athletic fabrics and they will ride up every single time if the fit isn't right."
"A very important role, the last thing needed in physical activity are any distractions due to ill fitted or poorly supported workout shorts," says London. "Fitness is as much mental as it is physical and maintaining one’s focus and intentions are essential for achieving set goals."
"Sweat naturally wears down the longevity of fabrics," says London. "Therefore proper laundry care is key, which includes freshly washed garments to hang/air dry and minimize high temperatures when drying. Proper care extends the longevity for months to years."
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. From interviewing expert sources that have backgrounds and experience in personal training, to designers who work with this type of clothing everyday, the curation of items included in this article are based in part of their responses.
The Shop TODAY editorial staff never shy away from a workout, no matter how difficult it is. Whether it’s running the New York City marathon to attending a local pilates class, this team has experience with workout shorts in a variety of environments and activities.
Meet the experts
- Melissa Fehr is the founder and designer at FehrTrade, a brand dedicated to sewing activewear. Whether it’s via lessons or crafting clothes herself, Fehr combined passions of sewing and running into the brand that FehrTrade is today.
- Khaleah London is a certified fitness instructor at Equinox, based in New York. London teaches a wide variety of classes at the gym, including pilates, barre, HIIT, sculpt, treadmill workouts and more. She is also a former professor of dance at Long Island University and guest dancer at Yale.
- Stephanie Mansour is a fitness contributor for the TODAY Show, and the host of fitness show, Step It Up With Steph.
