I'm one who prefers the longer length. I'm 5'6", and most shorts tend to hit right where my thighs are the "meatiest", thus causing a really nasty case of sausage legs...sigh. Shorts that fall about an inch above my knee, seem to have a more "smoothing" effect and don't look quite as bad. With all that said, I have "chubby" knees with lots of flab in that area...so there really isn't one short (that I've found yet) that will ever make my legs look sleek and strong.