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11 best women's running shorts: Light and breathable designs for summer jogs

Keep cool during the warmer months with comfortable gear that wicks away sweat

Lisa Buckingham
Monday 20 July 2020 14:30 BST
Decide between cycling-style options or designs with phone pockets  
Decide between cycling-style options or designs with phone pockets  

When it comes to running shorts, it’s really about what works for you and makes you feel comfortable rather than one style being better than another.

You will often see women race in traditional brief, loose-fitting running shorts as they’re lightweight and provide great ventilation and freedom of movement.

But they don’t work for everyone and some people feel self-conscious wearing them. Many brands have made a compromise by offering traditional designs with lighter cycling style shorts underneath so that more thigh is covered and skin isn’t rubbing on skin between the thighs. Or you may prefer to just go for a cycling-style short with nothing over the top.

The below are all made from breathable technical fabrics that wick away sweat and are quick drying.

Many provide pockets big enough for phones but we don’t necessarily see it as a negative if they don’t, as bulky phones can pull down on shorts or bounce around, particularly in those with a looser fit – we prefer a running belt or armband to solve that problem.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

The verdict: Women's running shorts

We couldn’t find fault with the Under Armour shorts on performance and looks. They feel durable, kept us cool and comfortable, look good and we liked the held-in feeling of the compression fit. If you prefer a traditional, loose short, the Lululemon speed up short long 4” was the best of the bunch – the quality, fit and performance was excellent and the brand does shorter lengths if you don’t like longer inseams.

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