Short shorts: Love ’em or hate ’em, barely there inseams have flooded the market in recent years. This week, we go deep into what brands carry which lengths. Plus, an ode to the softest material we’ve ever run in and the perfect mountain bike kit.
How brands talk about gear
We pulled product descriptions from seven major outdoor companies to map out the words brands commonly use to describe women’s gear.
My beef with short shorts
Since when are four- and five-inch inseams considered “long”?
By Ariella Gintzler, assistant gear editor
Last year, a friend gifted me a pair of running shorts for my birthday. The store had a regular version and a long version of the same model, and because I am 5'3", she opted for the regular length. Her logic was sound: I usually have to cuff my pants so they don’t drag on the floor.
Later that day, when I pulled on the shorts, I was dismayed. They barely covered my butt. I checked the tag for an inseam length and did a double take: 2.5 inches. A quick web search told me that the long version of the same shorts was four inches.
Curious if shorter inseams were a trend, I spent a few hours scrolling through the websites of more than a dozen major running and athletic apparel brands. It turns out that for women, there are far more short shorts available than long ones. Here’s a list of the major running apparel brands and the shorts they carry:
2 to 2.5 inches (total: 13 shorts)
Adidas (1)
Oiselle (1)
Lululemon (4)
New Balance (1)
Inov-8 (1)
Underarmour (1)
Patagonia (2)
Rabbit (2)
3 to 3.5 inches (total: 28 shorts)
Nike (7)
Adidas (1)
Brooks (2)
Oiselle (2)
Lululemon (3)
New Balance (1)
La Sportiva (1)
Under Armour (1)
Patagonia (1)
The North Face (5)
Salomon (2)
Asics (2)
4 inches (total: 22 shorts)
Nike (1)
Oiselle (5)
Lululemon (4)
New Balance (1)
La Sportiva (2)
Patagonia (1)
The North Face (1)
Salomon (3)
Mizuno (1)
Asics (2)
Rabbit (1)
5 inches (total: 12 shorts)
Nike (2)
Adidas (1)
Brooks (3)
Oiselle (1)
New Balance (1)
Saucony (1)
Under Armor (1)
Mizuno (1)
Rabbit (1)
6 inches (total: 8 shorts)
Adidas (1)
Oiselle (2)
Lululemon (1)
Inov-8 (1)
La Sportiva (1)
Salomon (1)
Rabbit (1)
7 inches (total: 2 shorts)
Brooks (1)
Asics (1)
The little things
An ode to the details
There’s lightweight, and then there’s the Brooks Stealth tank ($40). This running top is shockingly breathable, smoother than butter, and literally the weight of a tissue. I wish I had sheets made of this stuff. Perfect for training on hot days, the polyester material dries almost immediately. No matter how many miles I log in this tank, it never chafes or clings. It mostly feels like wearing nothing at all. May every woman feel comfortable running in just a sports bra, should she so choose. But if you, like me, aren’t quite there yet, the Stealth tank is the next best thing. —Abigail Wise, online managing editor
Problem solved
Every woman who’s ever bought anything has at one point been made to feel that there’s something wrong with her body: Her hips are too wide, her chest too small. But here’s the thing: Our bodies aren’t the problem—it’s the gear. Here at Outside, we have plenty of experience navigating those same fitting-room woes. Here’s the stuff our editors have found to fix them.
Expert: Molly Mirhashem, associate editor
Problem: Short legs. I’m barely over five feet tall.
Looking for: Running shorts that aren’t too long! I run pretty much every day, and right now I’m training for a marathon. While there are plenty of short women who prefer longer shorts, a five-inch short makes me feel like I’m drowning in extra fabric or playing dress-up.
4 solutions:
Nike Rival shorts ($45): These are my go-to shorts for a standard training run. The wide band sits nice and flat without bunching, and there’s a convenient back zipper pocket—that you can actually fit things in!
Brooks Chaser shorts ($30): These shorts feel like Brooks’ take on the Nike Rival, but they’re less expensive, they fit a bit shorter, and the pockets are less secure. I prefer these on hotter days and when I don’t need to carry much along with me.
Tracksmith Session shorts ($58): If you’re looking for style points, these Tracksmith shorts are the way to go. They perform just as well as the others here, but they come in nicer colors (think gem tones) and have a supersoft feel. They’re pricier, though, and the waistband is bunchy, rather than flat.
Nike Pro Training shorts ($19): I know spandex isn’t everyone’s thing, but I still find these the most comfortable option for races, really long marathon-training runs, and track workouts. They’re one habit from college that I haven’t grown out of yet.
Gear we love
Executive editor Axie Navas spent the weekend mountain biking on the badlands singletrack north of Santa Fe. Here's everything she took with her.
Giro Montara helmet ($150)
Evoc FR Enduro 161 pack ($180)
Genuine Innovations Air Chuck Elite CO2 and tire inflator ($25)
Shredly LaceCham chamois ($68)
Spot Rollick 607 mountain bike ($2,899)
An awesome gear discount
Stio is offering Dawn Patrol paid subscribers 15 percent off a single purchase through April 30. Sign up by end of day March 27, and we’ll email you the discount code (with details like restrictions) on March 28.
Woman of the week
Did you beat your PR, finally nail a 5.12, or recently log the most vertical miles you ever have in a season? Shoot us an email at dawnpatrol@outsidemag.com, naming your personal accomplishment, and a photo of the gear you used to get there for a chance to be featured in an issue of Dawn Patrol.