Best Running Shorts for Men 2026: 8 Lined & Linerless Picks

The Journey 7″ is built around distance running rather than general gym use. Brooks uses a flat waistband, stretch brief liner and lightweight four-way-stretch shell, while the storage is unusually good for a road short.

A zippered rear pocket handles a phone, four expandable hip pockets give you room for gels, and a separate key pocket keeps small items out of the way. Justin prefers this 7" version to the 5", which gives the top pick a real first-hand fit preference as well as strong current testing.

Patagonia still has the strongest independent consensus for trail and ultra use. The Strider Pro combines a very light shell with five pockets and bonded construction that keeps the short simple even when you are carrying fuel.

If you mostly run roads, I prefer the Brooks Journey as the all-around recommendation. If you spend hours on trail or want to carry more without a vest, the Strider Pro is the better specialist.

This is one of the picks I actually run in. The Road 5″ is simple, light and flexible, with side mesh panels, a flat waistband and practical storage. It does not try to turn the waistband into a full running belt.

ASICS also offers the Road 2N1 if you prefer a light compression-style inner short instead of the standard lined setup.

CRZ YOGA is the value play if you prefer a boxer-brief liner. The inner layer gives more thigh coverage than the brief liners in Brooks and Patagonia, which can feel better for runners who are prone to inner-thigh rubbing.

I also use these for gym sessions. The tradeoff is that the fabric does not feel as light or refined as the premium shorts above, especially when it gets soaked.

The current Fast and Free 5″ has a more running-specific setup than a general training short. The liner includes supportive shaping and phone sleeves, while hidden gel storage keeps the outer shell fairly clean.

It is expensive, so I would not call it the best value. It makes sense if fit, finish and carrying a phone close to the body are worth paying for.

Graves PX is the strongest dedicated linerless option in the main list. The shell uses four-way-stretch Primeflex fabric and gives you two side zip pockets, a rear no-bounce phone pocket and an internal key pocket.

Path Projects designs its shorts around a separate base-liner system, but you can pair them with running underwear you already know works for you.

The Nike Stride is the easier-to-buy alternative to Path Projects. It uses lightweight Dri-FIT fabric, a breathable back panel and familiar side-pocket storage with a secure rear pocket.

It does not have the specialised storage system of Graves PX, but that can be a positive if you just want a conventional linerless short from a widely available brand.

Trailfarer is the minimalist Patagonia option. It is linerless, light, quick drying and less storage-heavy than Strider Pro. The 6 inch length splits the difference between common 5 and 7 inch shorts.

Choose it when you want Patagonia fabric and a simple shell rather than the integrated liner and five-pocket system of the Strider Pro.