All the Gear: Running shorts
Five pairs of running shorts I recommend for all budgets.
Running shorts are a bit of a trigger for some women. You’ve probably seen the Sweaty Betty ‘Wear the damn shorts’ campaign. While I do agree with the sentiment that shorts are for everyone no matter their body shape or size, I know that a few adverts and influencers sharing posts aren’t going to erase the self-consciousness that some women feel overnight.
If you want to wear leggings, do that. If you want to wear shorts, here’s some of my suggestions. For reference, I’m a size 10 and generally wear a small. I can’t personally testify to how these work for bodies other than my own.
What makes a good running short?
Before I even pick up a pair of shorts, here’s a few things I look for:
Storage - we need pockets, not just for races but for everyday runs. I need to be able to carry my phone and keys minimum.
Comfort - goes without saying really but there should be no seams or zips that rub, and the fabric should feel good.
Confidence - I want to feel confident that my shorts are going to stay in place and not ride up of fall down.
Look - whether you’re a fan of jazzy patterns or plain old black, I think we all want to look in the mirror and like what we see.
My favourite running shorts from £40 to £135…
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Asics 3.5” Short (£40) - I have these in two colours and ran the London Marathon in a pair this year. They are great for warm weather and have plenty of storage. They’re the only loose fit short that hold my phone without any issue.
Weasie The Marathon Short (£48) - As pictured on me above, Weasie is a new brand of running shorts specifically for women. They have plenty of pockets for gels and your phone fits in the zip pocket on the back. But they currently only go up to size 14.
*Janji 7” Pace Shorts* (£60) - Good amount of grippers round the leg hem to keep them in place. Fabric isn’t thick but neither is it see-through. Good size pockets, but would like the waist a little higher.
*Sweat Betty Power Cycling Shorts* (£60) - I have three pairs of these - one pair were gifted, the other two I bought. They are the most size inclusive of the brands here, going from XXS to 4XL. But they have the least pockets. Because they change up the design so often, you can sometimes get them on sale (currently £24 for some colours).
Soar Marathon Speed Shorts* (£135) - These are really good shorts - the fabric is really light and feels like you’re not wearing anything. I wore them for a 20-mile race in the rain last year and had plenty of space for gels. However, personally I wouldn’t pay £135 for any pair of shorts - but if you would, these would be the ones to buy.
