Wellbeing-guide

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Shape / Brian Kopinski

Bike shorts that feel like sausage casings. Fabric that gets gobbled up by your thighs. Hemlines that feel equally revealing and unflattering for anyone out of high school. There’s no denying it: For many women, athletic shorts can be a tough — even slightly traumatizing–category to shop.

Luckily, the tides are changing. Brands are expanding their range of fit models, and genuinely listening to real women’s feedback. Take Lululemon: From sports bras to leggings, devotees are endlessly raving about the brand’s increasing range. And shorts are no exception. Whether you’re looking for sleek and fitted or roomy and relaxed, these top styles have you covered.

Our Top PicksBest Lululemon Shorts Overall:lululemon Align Short 6" at Lululemon ($64) Jump to ReviewBest for Sweaty Workouts:lululemon Wunder Train Short 4” at Lululemon ($64) Jump to ReviewBest Lululemon Shorts for Thick Thighs:lululemon Track That Lined Short 5” at Lululemon ($68) Jump to ReviewBest Short Shorts:lululemon Low-Rise Lined Short 2.5" at Lululemon ($68) Jump to ReviewBest Lululemon Shorts for Running:lululemon Speed Up High-Rise Lined Short 4" at Lululemon ($68) Jump to ReviewBest Lululemon Shorts for Everyday Wear:lululemon Cinchable Waist High-Rise Woven Short 3.5" at Lululemon (See Price) Jump to ReviewBest Pockets:lululemon License to Train High-Rise Short 4" at Lululemon (See Price) Jump to ReviewBest for Recovery Days:lululemon Scuba High-Rise Short 5" at Lululemon (See Price) Jump to ReviewBest for Travel:lululemon Relaxed-Fit Super-High-Rise Cargo Short 4" at Lululemon (See Price) Jump to ReviewBest Lululemon Shorts for Men:lululemon Pace Breaker Linerless Short at Lululemon ($68) Jump to Review

Best Lululemon Shorts Overall

lululemon Align Short 6"

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lululemon

$64 at

Why We Like It: Sleek, stylish, and oh-so comfortable, these go everywhere we go.

It’s Worth Noting: White and light shades are double-lined with a slightly thicker feel.

Sizes: 0–20 | Colors: 12 | Material: 81% Nylon, 19% Lycra elastane

The holy grail of biker shorts. “Truly they fit and flatter and are forgiving in all the right ways,” says former Peloton instructor Kendall Toole. “This is by far Lululemon’s softest and most functional fabric for lower impact and comfortable movement. I love these for yoga, Pilates, day-to-day athleisure, and hikes on stunning days.” Toole’s clutch styling tip: Wear them in black with Sambas, crew socks, and a white button-down for a chic, street-style look — then rock with a sports bra matching set for class. And have no fear, while the lighter shades are lined (so you don’t have to stress about see-through-ness), they don’t detract from the soft, cozy fit.

Best for Sweaty Workouts

lululemon Wunder Train Short 4”

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Lululemon

$64 at

Why We Like It: It doesn’t matter how hard you go, these babies will never show sweat.

It's Worth Noting: We tend to size up in these (they’re more compressive than the Align).

Sizes: 0–14 | Colors: 3 | Material: 77% Nylon, 23% Lycra elastane

She means business. The Everlux fabric is the brand’s fastest-drying material, ready for you to turn up the intensity without ever revealing your hard-earned sweat stains. “They are perfect for those days you want the peach to be popping for leg day,” says Toole. “You know the look — oversized shirt tucked into the back waistband, AirPods blasting Sabrina Carpenter while you crush those hip thrusts and cable kickbacks.” The high-rise waistband and slightly compressive fit keeps your core and legs supported, and bounce back wash after wash.

Best Lululemon Shorts for Thick Thighs

lululemon Track That Lined Short 5”

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Lululemon

$68 at

Why We Like It: Ideal coverage for women who aren’t fans of short shorts.

It's Worth Noting: You’ll need to order these online, as they don’t have the 5” inseam available in stores.

Sizes: 0–22 | Colors: 5 | Material: 86% Polyester, 14% Lycra elastane

Sometimes shorts just feel, well, too short. But when it comes to the Track That Short, women of all shapes and sizes rave about its Goldilocks fit. “These are my favorite [Lululemon] shorts,” says New York City-based personal trainer and new mom Charlee Atkins. “I wore them before, after, and during my pregnancy. They are super lightweight and the longer inseam is a luxury!” The only downside? These babies sell out fast and often — and are only available online — so you’ll need to act fast to score a pair.

Best Short Shorts

lululemon Low-Rise Lined Short 2.5"

PHOTO:

lululemon

$68 at

Why We Like It: These shorties hug your body in the best way.

It's Worth Noting: The lightweight liner has improved in recent models.

Sizes: 0–14 | Colors: 11 | Material: 86% Recycled polyester, 14% Elastane

These are giving cute 70’s dolphin short style meets the fabric and fit of your early 2000s Soffe short, says Toole. The curved hemline and wide leg openings help to maximize movement during high-energy workouts, while the lightweight Swift fabric dries fast. “I love these for higher-impact workouts like when it’s particularly hot in the boxing gym or during a HIIT class,” she says. “These also make great adventure shorts if you are going to the beach or pool — they won’t wrinkle, dry quickly, and have little pockets for things like your keys.”

Best Lululemon Shorts for Running

lululemon Speed Up High-Rise Lined Short 4"

PHOTO:

lululemon

$68 at

Why We Like It: The intentional design includes a back pocket that actually fits your phone.

It's Worth Noting: Testers were conflicted on sizing, so prepare to try on a few to find your favorite fit.

Sizes: 0–20 | Colors: 10 | Material: 86% Recycled polyester, 14% Elastane

Whether you’re busting out a long run or extra-spicy intervals, these shorts will keep up. Part of their genius is the dual-material construction. Like the Hotty Hot, these tap the brand’s Swift fabric for a lightweight and fast-drying build through the legs; but they switch it up for the wide and high waistband, utilizing a nylon blend for an extra soft (and flush) feel across your stomach. Just be sure to try them on first: Those two materials, when paired with a straight silhouette, can fit differently depending on your body type. Some testers said sizing up is a must, while others felt they were true to size or even a bit big.

Best Lululemon Shorts for Everyday Wear

lululemon Cinchable Waist High-Rise Woven Short 3.5"

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lululemon

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Why We Like It: A crisp, tailored look with activewear function.

It's Worth Noting: Lighter colors are slightly see through, but you’ll be fine with nude seamless underwear.

Sizes: XXXS–XL | Colors: 5 | Material: 86% Recycled polyester, 14% Elastane

Struggle with your thighs gobbling your shorts? Yep, been there. Thankfully, these shorts were made for us. “I’ve worn them on long walks, to run errands, and as a beach cover-up with no riding-up issues thanks to cut-outs that make the thigh area extra roomy,” says Associate Editorial Director Shannon Bauer. The soft, lightweight fabric sits at the junction of active but not blatantly workout, making them a perfect all-day companion. The highest form of praise? “They’ve been in the laundry every week since I got them.”

Best Pockets

lululemon License to Train High-Rise Short 4"

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Why We Like It: We love a mid-thigh, linerless option.

It's Worth Noting: The waistband is a little tighter than other athletic shorts on this list.

Sizes: 0–20 | Colors: 3 | Material: 85% Recycled nylon, 15% Elastane

For starters, deep, zippered side pockets and lack of liners are a rare commodity in athletic shorts for women. But I love having both features in my rotation, so these were already winning big points for me. The roomy fit through the glutes and thighs, plus the quick-dry material, quickly made these shorts the ones I’m reaching for to play some pickleball or head out for a hike. (As a runner, the material had a bit more texture than I like, but adding a pair of sleek compression shorts under would help defend against any potential chafing.) The waistband, with an adjustable drawcord that you can wear inside or outside, has a bit less give than other shorts on the list, and if you’ve got hips like me you might feel the struggle pulling them up; but when you find the right sizing, I love how it gave a tailored, stay-put cinch to my waistline.

Best for Recovery Days

lululemon Scuba High-Rise Short 5"

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lululemon

View on Lululemon

Why We Like It: The comfort of oh-so-cozy sweats, built for summer temps.

It's Worth Noting: You can create a super cute matching set by combining with the Scuba Oversized Half-Zip Hoodie.

Sizes: 0–14 | Colors: 6 | Material: 70% Cotton, 30% Polyester

Sweat shorts for summer? Yes, please. Thick without being heavy, warm without causing a sweat storm, these cotton-blend fleece shorts are ideal for unwinding. They are honestly so soft and cozy, we want to wear them for just about everything — whether that’s lazy days lounging around the house or waist-down comfort during work Zoom calls. While they are made with a relaxed fit through the booty and thighs, curvy and athletic-build ladies will likely want to size up to get that baggy, oversized fit.

Best for Travel

lululemon Relaxed-Fit Super-High-Rise Cargo Short 4"

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lululemon

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Why We Like It: A funky, fun twist on cargos that can easily go from day to night.

It's Worth Noting: The plastic button closure system is unique (it slides into the closure instead of a hook).

Sizes: 0–14 | Colors: 1 | Material: 56% Nylon, 34% Recycled nylon, 10% Elastane

Okay, I’m not going to lie: You’re either going to love these or loathe them. But they make the cut because for those they work for, well, they work for. The side cargo pockets are intentionally huge, and when paired with the extra wide legs and tailored waist you get an A-line silhouette that’s sort of surprising for a pair of shorts. The fabric manages to be both luxe and athletic — a stiff but stretchy canvas-like feel that doesn’t wrinkle, doesn’t lose its shape, repels water, and dries super fast. They look equally in place when you rock them at a backyard barbecue with a faded crop top and sandals as they do out for late-night drinks with a chic sweater and wedges. They’re basically giving Laura Dern in Jurassic Park — if Jurassic Park was set in modern-day New York City.

Best Lululemon Shorts for Men

lululemon Pace Breaker Linerless Short

PHOTO:

Lululemon

$68 at

Why We Like It: Merging clean style with top-notch performance.

It's Worth Noting: There are so many options–lined or unlined; 5”, 7”, and 9” inseams–to choose from.

Sizes: XS–XXXL | Colors: 18 | Material: 86% Recycled Polyester, 14% Elastane

With a high-energy husband who packs lifting, running, sand volleyball, and pick-up basketball into his weekly routine, he needs a super versatile short that can keep up. Like the ladies’ Hotty Hot and Speed Up shorts, these best-sellers utilize Lululemon’s Swift fabric for lightweight, unrestricted movement. But unlike Pace Breakers of the past, these have been redeveloped with more room around the hips and thighs (so much nicer for our big-leg guys), plus sleek, low-bounce pockets that don’t take you out of the game.

What to Know About Lululemon Shorts

• Material: Lululemon has a range of technical fabrics, each of which delivers a different fit, feel, and function.
  Nulu fabric: ​​Low support. Buttery soft and weightless; feels almost like you're wearing nothing at all. 81% Nylon, 19% Lycra elastane.
  Swift fabric: Medium support. 86% Polyester, 14% Lycra elastane
  Everlux fabric: High support. The brand’s fastest-drying fabric. Added Lycra fiber for stretch and shape retention; 77% Nylon, 23% Lycra elastane
• Inseam: The length of your shorts is a matter of personal preference. Most of the brand’s shorts are offered in a range of inseams, so you’ll want to pay attention when shopping to find the right length for you.
  2”: Align, Wunder Train
  2.5”: Hotty Hot, Speed Up
  3”: Track That
  3.5”: Cinchable Waist High-Rise Woven, Utilitech Relaxed-Fit
  4”: Hotty Hot, Align, Wunder Train, License to Train, Speed Up
  5”: Track That, Scuba High-Rise
  6”: Align, Wunder Train
  8”: Align, Wunder Train

Why Trust Shape

As a health and fitness editor who has been regularly testing all categories of activewear since 2009, Jen Ator has nearly 15 years of pinpointing the highs and lows of athletic shorts. In fact, as a certified trainer and on-air expert, she regularly appeared in spandex for workout videos and national TV segments — so she knows what styles and materials perform the best. She also has completed five marathons and an Ironman, putting countless miles on a wide range of shorts during training and competition. For this piece, Jen leaned into her own real-world testing of Lululemon styles plus tapped top trainers who regularly wear the brand for added insights to determine our winners for best Lululemon shorts across a variety of categories.

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