Most men don't think about gym shorts until the first deep squat where the inner seam tears, or the first burpee where the phone falls out of the back pocket. The wrong choice ruins sessions; the right choice disappears into the background, which is exactly the point.
For the gym, the decision comes down to four things: length, fabric, liner and pockets. The brand is secondary. A 38 € pair of Nike Pro and a 90 € pair of Lululemon Pace Breaker both do the job; the difference is in the feel of the fabric and the durability, not in whether they hold up under a squat.
This guide covers the four technical criteria with the granularity that brand catalogues lack, follows up with seven real picks for the PT market in 2026 (including two imports), and ends with the most common buying mistakes. At the end, a quick table with the best choice per category.
The criterion most people get wrong. Inseam is the distance from the inner crotch seam to the hem of the shorts. In inches, even in PT (the standard unit on labels):
5 inches (around 13 cm). HIIT, sprints, calisthenics. Maximum mobility and ventilation, but exposes a lot of thigh. For people who train legs seriously and want to show the work.
7 inches (around 18 cm). General use. Covers mid-thigh, a balance between mobility and coverage. The default recommendation for anyone training a bit of everything.
9 inches (around 23 cm). Heavy lifting, powerlifting, leg day with the barbell. Coverage reaches near the knee, gives a more formal look and offers protection on shared benches.
The simple rule: the more explosive the movement (jumps, change of direction), the shorter. The more static load (squats, deadlifts), the longer.
2. Fabric
Polyester with elastane is the standard. Check the label before buying:
Pure polyester. Breathes well but zero stretch. Fails on deep squats. Avoid.
Polyester plus 8 to 12% elastane (spandex). The minimum acceptable for 2026. Allows full mobility without seam blowouts.
Nylon ripstop (NOBULL Micro Ripstop, Ten Thousand Interval). Ultra-durable for rope climbs and box jumps; pricier but lasts twice as long.
Cotton and cotton blends. Avoid for any serious training. They soak up sweat, get heavy, dry slowly.
Finishes to look for in product descriptions: moisture-wicking (anti-sweat, pushes moisture to the outside), anti-stink (anti-bacterial, prevents smell after several washes), four-way stretch (stretches in every direction).
3. Liner
There are three schools, and the choice is more personal than technical:
Lined. Short integrated mesh inside, replaces underwear. Good for HIIT/cardio where sweat is constant (the mesh soaks it up before it reaches the outer short). Some people feel friction at the hip, especially on lunges and during long sessions.
Linerless. You wear your own technical underwear underneath. More versatile (the same shorts work going from the gym for a coffee), more hygienic (you just wash the underwear instead of the whole short). It's the dominant trend in 2026.
2-in-1. Loose outer short plus tight inner liner. The most protective against friction but the warmest. Better suited to outdoor running than to the gym.
Beginners who train in the morning can start with lined; those who train in the afternoon under extreme heat are better off linerless with technical underwear (merino or Coolmax) washed daily.
4. Pockets
Not an optional detail in 2026. Phone, keys, membership card have to go somewhere. Criteria:
At least one zip pocket. Without a zip, anything will fall out during a jumping session.
Side position, not back. Phone in the back pocket during a bench press is a universally bad idea.
Snug pocket, not loose. A phone slapping the thigh during burpees ruins the session. Look for pockets with an inner elastic lining.
A small inner pocket (optional, but useful) for a membership card or a small note. The Lululemon Pace Breaker and the Ten Thousand Interval both have one.
Top 7 men's gym shorts picks for 2026
The list combines what's available in Portugal today with international models worth importing. Prices in € for PT, USD for imports. Picks 1 to 3 and 6 cover 90% of cases; the rest optimise for specific scenarios.
1. Nike Pro Dri-FIT 7" (around 38 €), best overall PT
Inseam 7 inches, polyester with elastane, linerless. Covers general use, light strength, cardio. The best-selling model in PT.
PT price: 37.99 € at nike.com/pt. There's no technical reason to start with anything else if you want a solid baseline.
Against: linerless (you'll need your own technical underwear); the standard Dri-FIT fabric feels less premium than Lululemon's Swift.
Inseam 5 inches, polyester plus elastane, linerless. Built for strength and mobility; tapered cut that doesn't catch on a deep squat.
PT price: 69.99 € at nike.com/pt.
Against: Nike's most premium gym short, with a high price for the segment. Only worth it if you already know the regular Nike Pro runs short on the thigh for you.
3. adidas Designed 4 Training 7" (around 40 €), European alternative
Inseam 7 inches, polyester-spandex blend, usually linerless. Same segment as the Nike Pro but with a more discreet adidas aesthetic (fewer visible logos).
PT price: 35 to 50 € (adidas.pt and retailers such as Sport Zone).
Against: slightly wider cut on the thigh, which for some is an advantage (mobility) and for others a downside (look).
Inseam 7 inches (also available in 5 in and 9 in), proprietary Swift fabric (recycled polyester plus elastane), with an integrated 5 in liner. The most praised short in international reviews. The fabric hand-feel is clearly different from rivals.
Price: 68 USD (around 65 €) at shop.lululemon.com with international shipping. No official retail in PT.
Against: the best feel and durability on the list, but the effective price (with shipping plus customs VAT) reaches 90 to 100 € per pair. Only worth it for those training four or more times a week who want the top of the range.
5. Vuori Kore Short 7.5" (around 65 €), best comfort
Inseam 7.5 inches, recycled polyester and elastane blend, with a soft liner. More casual-fit than pure performance; the choice for going from the gym to brunch without changing.
Price: 68 USD (around 65 €), via vuori.com with international shipping or resellers such as Equinox and Nordstrom.
Against: the most comfortable on the list for prolonged wear, but with less ventilation than the Pro/Flex Rep for intense sessions. Not the first choice for HIIT at peak summer.
Inseam roughly 7 inches, basic polyester with elastane, linerless. Works, doesn't last long. For beginners who don't yet know what training they'll end up doing.
Against: unbeatable on price, but the fabric goes see-through after 6 to 8 washes; the Domyos print on the upper leg divides opinions.
7. Gymshark Arrival 5" (around 30 €), popular with younger lifters
Inseam 5 inches, polyester plus elastane, linerless. The aesthetic choice for those following Instagram gym culture. It works technically; the style sells more than the performance.
PT price: 30 to 35 € via gymshark.com (EU shipping) or Ubuy.
Against: very tight cut, you have to try it on before buying several pairs. Anyone with big thighs (squat heavy) may find it restrictive.
Quick table (who wins what)
For anyone who got this far just looking for the best choice per category:
Category
Best choice
PT price
Best overall PT
Nike Pro Dri-FIT 7"
37.99 €
Premium Nike
Nike Flex Rep Dri-FIT 5"
69.99 €
European alternative
adidas Designed 4 Training
35 to 50 €
Imported premium
Lululemon Pace Breaker 7" lined
65 € + shipping
Prolonged comfort
Vuori Kore Short 7.5"
65 € + shipping
Local budget
Decathlon Domyos Essentials
7 to 15 €
Aesthetic and mobility
Gymshark Arrival 5"
30 to 35 €
The most common buying mistakes
The technical choice can be perfect and the purchase can still go wrong for four predictable reasons:
Buying for the look, not the training. Gymshark's aesthetic is tempting, but 5 inches doesn't cover enough for a max-weight squat on a shared bench. Decide based on the training you do most, not the training you imagine.
Ignoring the elastane percentage. Anything below 8% spandex will fail on mobility, even if the label says "stretch". If the label doesn't even list spandex, it's pure polyester in disguise.
Buying exact sizes. Training shorts shrink 3 to 5% on the first wash, especially if you wash at 40 degrees. Ask for half a size up if you're between two sizes.
Not testing pockets before the first session. Put the phone in the pocket, do 5 burpees at home. If the phone slaps the thigh or jumps out, return them. The best time to return is before you sweat in them.
Frequently Asked Questions
For HIIT and cardio, 5 inches (around 13 cm). For general use, 7 inches (around 18 cm). For heavy lifting and powerlifting, 9 inches (around 23 cm). The rule is mobility versus coverage. The more movement, the shorter.
Lined replaces underwear and cuts down on laundry, ideal for constant sweat. Linerless gives more versatility (same shorts for outside the gym) and better hygiene if you only wash the underwear. There's no universal answer; it depends on the climate and the training.
For three sessions a week, 35 to 50 € on a Nike Pro, adidas Training or similar model is the sweet spot. Above 60 € you're in premium territory (Lululemon, Vuori) with real but marginal differences. Below 20 € it's basically Decathlon Domyos for beginners.
Polyester with elastane (8 to 12% spandex). Cotton soaks up sweat, gets heavy and dries slowly; it's uncomfortable for any session longer than 20 minutes at moderate intensity.
For the treadmill or light cardio, yes. For barbell strength work, deadlifts or deep squats, no. Typical football shorts have an elastic waistband that slips and fabric without elastane that tears under extreme mobility.
For runners and people doing outdoor HIIT in the heat, yes. For indoor gym use, it's usually overkill. The tight inner liner heats up a lot without real benefit. Better to go linerless plus separate technical underwear.
12 to 24 months with three to four sessions a week, depending on the fabric. Signs to replace them: worn elastane at the waist (it slips), fabric becoming see-through, seams opening at the groin (the highest-stress area).
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TLDR: Key Points
Length (inseam) is the first decision. 5 inches for HIIT/cardio, 7 inches for general use, 9 inches for heavy lifting.
Fabric matters more than brand. Polyester with at least 8% elastane and a moisture-wicking finish is the technical minimum for 2026.
An inner liner saves you pants and reduces friction but limits hip mobility; many lifters prefer linerless versions with separate technical underwear.
Zip pockets are essential (phone, keys) but they shouldn't slap against your thigh during sets.
In PT, Nike Pro fitness shorts (37.99 €) are the best affordable option; Lululemon Pace Breaker (around 65 €) is the most praised imported premium pick.
Tomás Jorge
