The Quest for the perfect pair of running shorts...isn't going well.

[Serendipity]

Like some others here, I have come to love running in skorts. Have a few and my current favourite is from Skirt Sports through TE site. Light grippers so didn't ride up, I like the back pocket (ipod and/or cell phone) and they look good, too. Not compression though.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSK_1021_0.html

[hulagirl]

I started running in skorts - really loved it. But they are a bit hot for Hawaii actually and I find I'm more comfortable in just the skin tight shorts. Plus the compression shorts usually have a longer inseam than the skorts and I like that as well.

[colby]

What did you end up in for NWM?

I am +1 on the tri shorts. I like 5-6" inseam. I bike to work in them, I run in them, I swim OWS in them, I race in them. Me and tri shorts are like peanut butter and jelly, until I rub the seams through, then we're like peanut butter and jelly with sandpaper. I like Zoots the best, but am mixed on the new gripper-less legs. I have some 2xus but the seam down the middle looks like it's giving me camel toe so generally they stay in the gym/bike.

I'm going to have to check out the aforementioned Brooks, though. I bought some New Balance ones that looked like they might work, but I will chicken out of wearing them until I lose a little weight in my inner thighs and belly.

[roadie gal]

Take a look at RaceReady. They have compression shorts with a choice of no pockets or all of the little pockets on the outside. The crotch is gusseted. The only problem is they might have a bit higher rise than you want. I love mine.

[OakLeaf]

Bump. I just got two new pairs of shorts that meet all the OP's criteria. Haven't run in them yet, just tried them on and threw them in the wash. Both have a non-binding waistband with a drawstring; a mid-thigh leg that, on me, ends below the belly of the adductor muscle which is why shorter shorts will ride up on me; and a rise that's perfectly fine on short-waisted me. Both have, I don't know if it's technically a gusset, but instead of a center seam up the inner thigh, they have a wide band of fabric that runs up each inner thigh and across the crotch. (About 3.5" wide on the Zoots, about 2.5" on the PIs.) I prefer a real gusset, but we'll see...

One pair is Zoot Run Biowrap. They have a compression band around the thighs, the upper part is looser fitting. There's a pocket in the small of the back, a clever design where the waistband folds over and closes the pocket.

The other pair is PI Fly Short Tights. They have stretch pockets on the sides of each thigh. There's a silicone band around the bottom of the legs, but in the package, the leg is folded up so the silicone is on the outside, and without having run in them yet, it seems like they would work fine that way. Not compressive in terms of performance, but form fitting.

I'd recommend sizing down if you try these. I ordered both in Medium - which was my size the last time I bought PI shorts, granted it's been several years ago, but I'm still a Medium according to their size chart - and Zoot's size chart had me on the small end of Medium - but both were too big for me, I exchanged them for Smalls which fit nicely.

If anyone's interested I'll post a fuller review once I've run in them.

[hulagirl]

Bump. I just got two new pairs of shorts that meet all the OP's criteria. Haven't run in them yet, just tried them on and threw them in the wash. Both have a non-binding waistband with a drawstring; a mid-thigh leg that, on me, ends below the belly of the adductor muscle which is why shorter shorts will ride up on me; and a rise that's perfectly fine on short-waisted me. Both have, I don't know if it's technically a gusset, but instead of a center seam up the inner thigh, they have a wide band of fabric that runs up each inner thigh and across the crotch. (About 3.5" wide on the Zoots, about 2.5" on the PIs.) I prefer a real gusset, but we'll see...

One pair is Zoot Run Biowrap. They have a compression band around the thighs, the upper part is looser fitting. There's a pocket in the small of the back, a clever design where the waistband folds over and closes the pocket.

The other pair is PI Fly Short Tights. They have stretch pockets on the sides of each thigh. There's a silicone band around the bottom of the legs, but in the package, the leg is folded up so the silicone is on the outside, and without having run in them yet, it seems like they would work fine that way. Not compressive in terms of performance, but form fitting.

I'd recommend sizing down if you try these. I ordered both in Medium - which was my size the last time I bought PI shorts, granted it's been several years ago, but I'm still a Medium according to their size chart - and Zoot's size chart had me on the small end of Medium - but both were too big for me, I exchanged them for Smalls which fit nicely.

If anyone's interested I'll post a fuller review once I've run in them.

thanks OakLeaf! I'm very interested in a full review!

I have a question on the gusset on the PI shorts - is there one? And I'm curious on how each one stacks up in hot and humid running weather? Let me know what you think!

In about a month I'm going to start ramping up my running for my Ironman training. So I'll be ready to get into a good pair of running shorts - plus looking for a pair for the race that will keep me sane and not piss me off! Thanks for posting!

Denise

[hulagirl]

Well I just re-read your post and see that the gusset is the same on both pairs. Sorry to be a dork with that question.

On the Zoots - does the pocket function if you DON'T roll down the waistband? (Rolled waist bands never stay put for me)

[OakLeaf]

Okay, I did 8.5 in the Zoots today, pretty hot day for as much as I'm acclimated this early in the year - 86°F, 67% humidity.

They didn't ride up, didn't bunch up in the crotch or give me any discomfort there. I would say the rise is a little bit higher than I'd like, but they come just below my natural waist where my belt rides that I carry my phone etc. in, so as long as they aren't above that line I'm okay with it.

They breathe reasonably well. They didn't get sloshy-sweaty the way some shorts can get (yuk). I didn't notice them being super hot in the sun.

As far as the thigh compression ... I'm skeptical about the benefits of compression for shorter runs, but I will say that I noticed the muscle support on steeper hills. I'm not sure that's a good thing, really, since it kind of encouraged me to keep on overusing my quads. I'm pretty sure the tighter band is what kept the shorts from riding up, but when I really want compression for the benefits of compression, I'll stick with my CW-X shorts that have support for the lower abs and glutes too.

I didn't use the pocket, very rarely do, so I can't comment on that.

Overall - I like them. They'll go at or near the top of the stack, at least when I'm planning to run under three hours.


As far as the PI shorts with their Coldblack fabric, I haven't worn them yet, but I figured an objective temperature test is the best. While they were on the clothesline this morning in full sun I stuck a probe thermometer inside the shorts, up against the fabric, on these and several other pairs of shorts. Short answer - don't spend extra for Coldblack fabric. The overstock price at DepartmentofGoods.com isn't too far out of line for "regular" shorts, so if they work well otherwise I won't be disappointed, but both these pairs were within a couple of degrees, and the main difference seemed to be between shiny black shorts (hotter in the sun) and looser matte finish knits (5-10° cooler in the sun, though possibly not as good for wicking sweat).


Both pairs dried super fast. In fact, I was planning on running in a different pair of shorts this morning, but when these two were already dry by the time I got my act together, I figured I'd try the Zoot shorts, and leave the PI's on the line so I could do a temperature test after my other shorts dried.

[colby]

thanks OakLeaf! I'm very interested in a full review!

I have a question on the gusset on the PI shorts - is there one? And I'm curious on how each one stacks up in hot and humid running weather? Let me know what you think!

In about a month I'm going to start ramping up my running for my Ironman training. So I'll be ready to get into a good pair of running shorts - plus looking for a pair for the race that will keep me sane and not piss me off! Thanks for posting!

Denise

I have the Zoot Ultra shorts which appear to have a very similar leg hem. I have worn them for 2 Ironmans now. They roll/fold a little on the bike, but stay put pretty well on the run, interestingly. I don't have any interior girl zone chafing from them (though I bodyglide excessively) from either the bike or run, and thigh chafing is pretty minimal though I bodyglide there too. I feel like they are better in the heat than my 2xus, but those are discount shorts that I just bought for getting me to work. I don't wear the Zoots very much for daily training, though, they were too spendy to wear every day.

I have some Zoots with the side of leg pockets which I am kind of 'meh' on. They work well for gels in packets, but not as well for other stuff. I definitely can't put a flask in them. I have some Brooks shorts with the small-of-back pocket that works pretty well, though in those shorts the seams got eaten surprisingly quickly from rubbing.

Thanks for the reviews, Oak. Very helpful.