Best Running Shorts of 2026

The two-in-one design is the whole argument for maamgic. A built-in liner turns a pair of running shorts into one less thing to think about, and this one has a phone pocket sewn into it, so your phone sits against your thigh instead of swinging from a waistband. If chafing is the reason you have been avoiding shorts, start here.

The 5-inch outer short keeps its shape without riding up, and the material has a little more substance than the thinnest shorts in this group. We like the patterned options because they look intentional rather than purely functional, and the back zip pocket handles keys or a card. It is the pair we reach for when a run includes a coffee stop afterward.

You pay for that extra construction. This is the priciest pick in our group, and the liner will not suit everyone, because some runners prefer their own underwear. But if you want one short that handles chafe-prone long runs and still looks good with a T-shirt, the maamgic is the one we point to. It is a specialist, not the default.

These are the shorts we reach for when the run is short and the rest of the day is long. The fabric is soft, light, and quick-drying, closer to a favorite pair of pajama shorts than a race-day kit, and the loose cut gives your legs room to move.

The value is obvious: you get a simple athletic short with hand pockets and an elastic waistband for less than most of the dedicated running picks here. It handles easy jogs, gym warm-ups, and errands without fuss, and the dark colors are the safer choice.

The trade-off is structure. It is not the short we recommend for fast intervals or long runs where a liner and secure pockets matter. But as a soft, cheap pair for low-key miles, it earns a place. We keep it in the bag for travel and recovery days, where comfort matters more than race-day snap.

Five inches is the sweet spot for a lot of runners, and MIER gets the basics right: a light, quick-dry short with zippered pockets and a cut that sits above the knee without ballooning at the hips. The fabric is light rather than substantial, which is what makes it pleasant in heat, and the shorts move without feeling fussy.

We kept coming back to these for tempo runs and gym sessions because the pockets are genuinely usable. The zips are secure enough for keys and a phone, and there is a small key compartment so the important stuff does not rattle around. Add the 5-inch length and a simple, stripped-back feel, and these are the pair we recommend to someone who wants a straightforward running short rather than a gadgety one.

They do not have the polish of the Northyard or the liner of the maamgic, but they nail the everyday training brief. For the runner who wants an honest, light, zip-pocket short at a fair price, this is an easy yes.

Three inches changes how a short feels. The G Gradual sits high on the thigh with almost no fabric to catch, and the light material makes it the closest thing here to wearing nothing. For fast sessions and hot afternoons, that freedom is the point.

The details hold up around that cut. Zippered hand pockets are deep enough for a phone, keys, or a card, and the waistband does not dig in. The fit is not constricting through the hips, so you get the short length without the squeezed feeling that ruins some racing shorts. It is a focused running short, not an all-day pair.

We also appreciate that it sits with the budget picks rather than the premium ones, and the simple colors make it easy to pair with the rest of a running wardrobe. If you have muscular thighs, check the size chart; the cut is trim even though it is not compressive.

The obvious limit is coverage. A 3-inch inseam leaves most of the thigh exposed, and that is exactly what some runners want and exactly what others do not. For speed work and warm weather, we like it a lot. For longer, cooler runs or anyone who wants mid-thigh coverage, it is the wrong tool.

The Dolphin short is the pared-back women's option here: a three-inch athletic short with a clean, simple silhouette. If you already know you want a short cut for warm-weather runs and do not need a wide waistband or a lot of storage, that minimalism is the appeal.

The 3-inch length is the shortest women's option in this guide, and the straightforward cut should suit runners who dislike extra fabric around the hips. It is a good match for speed work and hot days, not for someone who wants a high rise or a phone-sized pocket.

Before ordering, check the liner, pocket depth, and fabric weight on the product page. Those details decide whether a short this brief feels comfortable on a longer run, and they are worth confirming rather than assuming.

If you want the security of a wide waistband and a built-in liner, the BMJL is the better women's pick. If you want the cleanest short-short, this is the one we chose. It is a narrow tool, but it does that narrow job well.

We like the high waistband for a simple reason: it sits above the belly button, holds a wide band of fabric flat against the midsection, and pairs with a built-in liner so you are not adjusting two layers mid-run. For women who hate the low-rise slide, that combination is the reason to choose these over the CRZ YOGA option.

The 2.5-inch inseam is on the short side, but the longer back rise keeps coverage where it matters, and the thick waistband stays comfortable through walking, running, and CrossFit-style sessions. The colors are fun, the fabric dries fast, and the shorts look more polished than the price suggests.

On shorter runs and gym days, the high rise stays put and the liner does its job without bulk. It is not a do-everything short, because the cut is deliberately brief and the design favors hold over storage, but for the runner who wants a high-waisted option that does not slide, it is the best women's pick here.

Soothfeel does the thing budget running shorts often fail at: it gives you a choice of 5-, 7-, and 9-inch inseams, zippered pockets, and a light fabric without charging a premium. The material has a smooth, almost silky hand, and the cut stays put instead of riding up.

We like this as the pair for someone building a running wardrobe on a budget. The zippered pocket is large enough for a phone, the fabric dries quickly, and the shorts look cleaner than the price suggests. It is not as plush or as structured as the top pick, but it covers the basics with fewer compromises than most cheap shorts.

The leg opening is on the trim side, so if you have larger thighs, check the fit before committing. Otherwise, this is the pair we recommend when you want a second or third short without spending much. It will not replace a liner-first short for chafe-prone long runs, but it handles easy miles and gym days neatly.