Material: Polyester and spandex | Lining options: Lined or unlined | Inseam length: 5 inches, 7 inches or 9 inches

These seven-inch-inseam Ten Thousand Interval shorts come as close as you can get to quiver-of-one gym shorts. In the four years that I’ve been testing the Intervals, I’ve worn them not only for workouts and runs, but also for summer hikes and beach trips, and they show no signs of wear. For those reasons — and the wide size range, from XS to XXL — I think the Intervals is among the best investments you can make when it comes to gym apparel.

Shorts with a seven-inch inseam are the most popular among the guys we spoke to, with eight telling us they exercise in this style, but the Intervals also come in two other inseam lengths: five- and nine-inch. (Five-inch shorts are the second-most-popular length with the guys we spoke to.) They come recommended by personal trainer Ariel Brill and multisport athlete Nik Karbelnikoff. Brill loves the lightweight stretch fabric of the Interval short, which he says would be great for any sort of heavy lifting at the gym. Karbelnikoff likes that these shorts are tough enough for CrossFit and gym workouts but also have the mobility and comfort needed for a six-mile run. “They are my go-to shorts, no matter what I’m training for. The liners never ride up, and I love having pockets for everyday use,” he says. But if you prefer to skip the built-in liner, they’re also available without it.

Material: Polyester and spandex | Lining options: Lined or unlined | Inseam length: 3 inches, 5 inches, 7 inches, or 9 inches

This pair of five-inch gym shorts has all the features of a premium pair of gym shorts (a stretchy fabric, supportive liner, and a small zippered back pocket) at a more affordable price. It comes recommended by personal trainer Andrew Flores, who says the shorts have been his “go-to for the last six months when I practice Muay Thai or boxing.” Describing the feel, Flores says they have a “great stretch to them, meaning you can perform exercises in all planes of motion without obstruction.” And from a fashion perspective, he says they also “go well with a long-sleeved tee for that post-workout run to the store.” Target also offers these in an unlined version with a seven-inch inseam.

Material: Polyester and elastane | Lining options: Lined or unlined | Inseam length: 5 inches, 7 inches, or 9 inches

The Pace Breaker short is a Strategist staff favorite, as well as a favorite among stylish men we’ve spoken with over the years. “These shorts have been my go-to for a long time,” says Ralph Lauren creative producer Yale Breslin. Like other Lululemon acolytes, he says the Vancouver-based brand has “mastered fit, simplicity, and technology” in creating this unlined pair, which he calls the ultimate gym shorts. Their five-inch inseam, according to him, is not too long and not too short, making these ideal for his at-home HIIT, yoga, and boot-camp workouts. A smaller detail he appreciates is that the shorts have minimal branding. Lululemon also offers the short in lined seven- or nine-inch lengths. Chris Keyloun, a senior CrossFit coach at CrossFit Union Square, likes the seven-inch version, noting how its zippered pocket comes in handy during workouts. “It will hold your phone securely in place whether you’re rowing a 6K or sprinting a 2K,” he says. Matt Jared, co-founder of the yoga-and-meditation nonprofit United We Om, is yet another Lululemon Pace Breaker fan, but he prefers the slightly longer nine-inch version. “I wear these shorts when I teach yoga because the fit is loose and relaxed, but they stay in place and don’t pinch no matter what shape I find myself in during class,” he says.

Material: Polyester | Lining options: Unlined | Inseam length: 5 inches

I throw on these simple Uniqlo shorts for pretty much every workout I do (except running), and they’ve been my most-used gym shorts in recent months.

What I like most is their material, which features Uniqlo’s Ultra Stretch fabric. They look more like a pair of cotton shorts, and you couldn’t tell they stretch just by looking at them. They hold their shape and don’t look loose or drape weirdly over my legs like other shorts made of a stretchy material. They felt supremely light and airy on a recent humid 80-degree day in North Carolina spent playing tennis and walking around town. Plus, they have two mesh pockets and a back zip-up pocket, and they’re simple enough to wear with other casual non-workout outfits. I like that they don’t have any glaring logos or branding.

For 30 bucks, they’re a steal. The only reason they’re not my pick for best less expensive overall gym short is because they’re only available in a five-inch inseam and unlined, whereas the Target and Lululemon pairs offer more options.

Material: Nylon, elastane, polyester, and spandex | Lining options: Lined | Inseam length: 5 inches or 7 inches

Boston-based running brand Tracksmith makes some of the most stylish and unfussy active apparel available today, and its Session shorts are no exception. The Session shorts feel most at home during runs, of course, but they work just as well for sweaty, aerobic gym sessions. I’ve been running in both the five- and seven-inch versions of the Session since 2019 for daily training. While these shorts have held up for countless miles, I also reach for them on rest days. The Session shorts have a buttery-soft texture and feel equally as good on the run as they do while relaxing. Drew Westphal, who works in digital marketing, says he has also worn these lined shorts to do yoga, Pilates, and “a lot of stretching at home to help my golf game.” While they’ve been comfortable for all of his workouts, Westphal says the real appeal of the shorts may be their lesser-known branding and interesting colors, which range from “espresso” (dark brown) to “forest” (dark green) to “wine” (dark red). They’re also available in a five-inch inseam.

Material: Polyester, nylon, and spandex | Lining options: Lined or unlined | Inseam length: 5 inches or 7 inches

This unlined Nike pair with a five-inch inseam can be used not only for running but for all types of sweat sessions. Given that the Flex Strides come in 14 different sizes (XS to 4XL Tall), a seven-inch inseam, and a lined version as well, we think they’re a worthy contender for your next go-to pair of workout shorts, especially for the price.

They came recommended to us by personal trainer Chris Legitime of LegitFitNYC and Jackson Howard, an editor at publishing house Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Even without a lining, Legitime says the shorts still feel secure around the hip, but the lack of a liner means they’re “not tight on the groin or quads, making them super-breathable and flexible for hip movements,” he explains. While Legitime says he’s not so interested in how shorts look, Howard adds that these lightweight shorts do have some aesthetic benefits too. “They make my butt look really good,” he says. He wears his pair — which he has had for more than two years — for running, yoga, or just hanging around the house. The shorts also have four pockets: one zippered back pocket, two on the side, and a liner drop-in pocket.

Material: Nylon, lycra | Lining options: Lined | Inseam length: 5 inches or 4 inches

I previously had written about the Ciele DLY as my favorite pair of running shorts with a long liner, but these five-inch-inseam shorts from Bandit are my new favorite after testing them for eight months. What sets them apart from other shorts is their fabric. I’m guilty of describing lots of tech fabrics as having a “silky” feel, and the Litewave certainly fits that description, but they’re much more breathable than other shorts that are similarly smooth.

Unlike most lined running shorts, which have a brief liner, the Litewave shorts have a longer, boxer-brief-style liner that doesn’t bunch up or give me a wedgie. These shorts have a zippered back pocket plus a hidden phone pocket on the thigh. The Litewave’s liner fits me a bit looser than a pair of running half-tights would, so keep that in mind if you like a more compressed feel — or want a more secure pocket for your phone (my phone still jostles around in the thigh pocket). They’re also available in a shorter, four-inch inseam.

Material: Nylon, elastane, and polyester | Lining options: Unlined | Inseam length: 6 inches

A pair of unlined running shorts might sound like an oxymoron, but if you like to run with a pair of compression briefs or tights, lined shorts on top of that layer will likely be too bulky and uncomfortable. I’ve long been a fan of Tracksmith’s Bislett pants, which have a stretchy, water-resistant fabric, and these shorts feature the same fabric and side-seam pocket for a phone or keys. I’ve been testing them for the past three months, and I like how tough they are, especially in inclement weather. Wearing them on top of running tights feels like wearing a soft shell jacket — it’s a light, protective layer for rain and sleet, which bead on the fabric.

Material: Nylon, elastane, polyester, and spandex | Lining options: Lined | Inseam length: 7 inches or 9 inches

Almost all of the gym shorts on this list are available lined, but I think Saxx offers the most supportive liner. (That support comes from the same technology used in the brand’s underwear and boxer briefs, both of which I’ve written about.) “These are my go-to training shorts whether I’m working out at the gym or at home,” says Sean Sewell, a personal trainer who runs the gear-review site Engearment and the online fitness program Mountain Fitness School. Sewell owns “three or four pairs” of the Kinetic Train shorts from Saxx, which have since been discontinued — but these newer Gainmakers offer the same compression and fit as their predecessors. “They’re more expensive, but you’re getting a semi-compression short and a high-quality Lululemon-type gym short,” he explains. Sewell’s favorite part of Saxx shorts is the signature “Ballpark Pouch” liner, which he says “keeps everything in place and provides support.” Saxx also makes a seven-inch version, which some may prefer, but he thinks the nine-inch length “is really comfortable for most men, especially taller men.” If a comfortable, supportive liner is your first priority in gym shorts, then you should consider this pair.

Material: Polyester and elastane | Lining options: Lined | Inseam length: 7.5 inches

I like the Kore shorts’ impressive stretch, which makes them ideal for activities like yoga and climbing. “Vuori makes some of the most comfortable and durable gym shorts,” according to Brill, who likes the versatility of this pair (which is lined) and says it would be great for any “sport or outdoor activity.” Tim Senesi of the popular YouTube channel Yoga With Tim is also a fan of Vuori and told us its shorts are among his favorites for yoga. “I love anything that fits comfortably and is not too loud of flashy,” says Senesi. The Kore’s liner is less compressive than those of other pairs on this list, so we recommend it for more relaxed workouts.

Material: Nylon | Lining options: Lined | Inseam length: 5 inches or 7 inches

Baggies are a perennial favorite at the Strategist. Besides all the other scenarios that we’ve described them as being perfect for — lounging, swimming, or everyday wear — these shorts feel right at home at the climbing gym. I’ve been climbing in Baggies since 2015, and they’ve been one of my most-used pairs of outdoor bottoms since. When wearing a harness, I prefer climbing in my seven-inch-inseam pair; I’ve found that the five-inch-inseam version is prone to bunching up near the groin. They’re made from a durable nylon that stands up to the random bursts of movement one does while climbing: scrapes against the wall, weird stretches in awkward positions, and falls on the mat. That burly construction makes it easy to brush off chalk, too, unlike a knit fabric or a fabric with a looser weave.