The Best Gym Shorts in Australia (2026)

Why do gym shorts feel like such a gamble?

Because two pairs that look identical in a product photo behave completely differently under a barbell. The shorts that ruin a session are never the ugly ones. They are the pair where the phone slaps your thigh on every stride, where the liner rides up during lunges, where the waistband slides down under a loaded bar, or where the fabric goes see-through in a deep squat. This guide covers men's training shorts; women's styles sit in our women's shorts guide.

Gym shorts are also one of the few purchases where the cheap option is genuinely fine. The gap between the cheapest pair here and the dearest is usually the liner, the fabric hand-feel and the pocket engineering, not durability. The real question is not how much to spend, but which combination of inseam, liner and pocket suits the training you do.

This guide covers training and running shorts: quick-dry shells, compression liners, zip pockets, drawcord waistbands. It is not about chino or casual shorts, which live in our guide to men's shorts, and not about board or bike shorts. Everything below was checked live on Amazon Australia.

What are the best gym shorts in Australia?

For most people the answer is a 2-in-1 short with a compression liner and a zip pocket, and the CRZ YOGA 2 in 1 Running Shorts 7 inch is the one we would buy first. It pairs an 88% polyester and 12% spandex shell with a liner carrying its own phone pocket, so your phone sits flat against the thigh rather than swinging. Its 4.6 star rating ties with our multipack pick for the highest of our seven picks.

If you mix lifting and running and want an unlined short with proper hand pockets, the MIER Men's 5 Inch Running Gym Shorts is the better shape: 5 inches of inseam, side splits at the hem, 4-way stretch, three pockets.

And if you only need shorts that hold a phone and dry fast, the gratulatio Men's Gym Shorts with Zippered Pockets gives you two zipped side pockets and an encased elastic waistband with an inner drawcord. It is the cheapest of our seven picks.

How do the seven picks compare at a glance?

Every price is a from-price for the base colour and size, and Amazon moves them daily.

How did we choose these gym shorts?

NestPath does not run a lab. We research the Australian market, read what the listings claim, and cross-check every number before it reaches this page.

• Stock, buy-box price and brand pulled live from Amazon Australia, so nothing here is a dead listing or reseller markup.
• Star ratings and review counts taken from the live Australian product pages, not overseas storefronts.
• Specs quoted only where the listing states them, which is why one entry says a figure is not published.
• A spread of inseams, liners and pocket types, covering sprint work, squat racks and everything between.

The best gym shorts overall: CRZ YOGA 2 in 1 Running Shorts 7 inch

This is the pair we would put in most gym bags, because it solves the two problems that ruin sessions: the phone and the chafe. It is a genuine 2-in-1, an outer shell over a bonded compression liner, and the liner carries its own phone pocket so your handset sits flat and high on the thigh instead of swinging.

The shell is what CRZ YOGA calls a Feathery-Fit fabric, listed as 88% polyester and 12% spandex, with the short weighing 242 grams. That is a light, fast-drying blend with enough elastane to move with a hip hinge. The inseam is 7 inches, the safest single length if you buy one pair: long enough that a deep squat does not become a public event, short enough not to flap on a treadmill.

Pocketing is the strong point. Two open side pockets take keys and a gym card, a zip pocket sits on the right hip, and the liner pocket takes the phone. The waistband is elastic with a drawstring: tight for lifting, slack for running. Care is machine wash.

At 4.6 stars it ties with the BOOJO multipack for the highest rating of our seven picks, off 531 ratings. That is a smaller review pool than some cheaper options here, but the brand has a long run of activewear on the Australian store rather than a single listing. It is the dearest pick here, and still the one to buy if you buy only one.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The closure is listed as pull-on with a drawstring, so there is no internal cinch belt for very heavy lifting, and the liner runs warm on humid mornings. It is a single pair rather than a multipack, so it does not solve laundry frequency. The Aolesy and MOVEUP picks use the same 2-in-1 layout, so check those rows in the table if the outlay is the deciding factor.

The best unlined gym shorts: MIER Men's 5 Inch Running Gym Shorts

If liners annoy you, this is the pair to buy. MIER makes a plain, well-cut 5 inch training short with no compression layer, so you wear your own base layer and never think about it again. It also has a well-judged pocket layout for an unlined short.

The fabric is listed as 90% polyester and 10% spandex with 4-way stretch, spliced with what MIER calls micro air mesh. The listing states a 5 inch inseam, an elastic waistband with a built-in drawstring, and side splits at the hem so the leg opening does not bind when you sprint or step up. Quick-dry is the claim and the fabric weight class is lightweight.

Three pockets: two deep slash pockets and one internal drop-in pocket at the waist for keys, coins or a card. Read that layout carefully, because there is no zip anywhere on this short. A phone in a side pocket will bounce, so if you run with one, buy a lined pick and keep this for lifting and classes.

It sits at 4.5 stars from 3,711 ratings, the second largest review pool of our seven picks, on a long-running listing rather than a new drop. MIER claims it will not warp easily after washing. For most people this is the pair you buy two of.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

No zip pocket is the obvious one, and the 5 inch cut reads short if you are used to basketball lengths. The drop-in pocket takes a key and a card and not much more. And with no liner you solve chafe yourself, fine for a 5km and less fine for a 15km.

The best budget gym shorts: gratulatio Men's Gym Shorts with Zippered Pockets

This is the cheapest pick in the guide and it still gives you two zipped side pockets, the single feature most people are actually shopping for. If your requirement is simply that a phone and keys cannot fall out during a set, this is the shortest path to it.

The fabric is listed as 95% polyester and 5% spandex, rated high stretch and lightweight, with a stated item weight of 170 grams. Both side pockets zip, and the listing makes a point of them being deep enough that contents do not work their way out. Sizing runs S to XXL.

The waistband is the part worth noting: encased elastic with an inner drawcord, so the elastic is fully wrapped in fabric rather than exposed. That construction stops a waistband rolling over on itself when you bend, and it is unusual at this price. gratulatio claims the shorts stay put without sliding whether you run or train.

It sits at 4.3 stars from 214 ratings, the smallest review pool of the three headline picks, so treat it as the value bet rather than the safe bet. The listing does not publish an inseam figure, so check the size chart images if length matters. As a second or third pair to rotate through the wash, it is hard to argue with.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

No stated inseam, no liner, and no published fabric weight beyond the lightweight class label. The review pool is modest next to the multipacks here. And white is one of the colourways, the colour you least want for squats on a lightweight polyester. Order black or navy.

The best way to stock a drawer: BOOJO 5 Pack Athletic Gym Mens Shorts

Buying five pairs at once is the most underrated move in gym clothing, because the real cost of shorts is laundry frequency, not purchase price. This is the only five-pack among our seven picks, which is why it is here.

These are longer, basketball-cut shorts: the listing states a 9 inch inseam and 100% polyester fabric, rated high stretch and lightweight, with moisture-wicking claimed. Nine inches sits at or just below the knee on most builds, the length to choose if you play court sports or if everything shorter simply feels wrong.

Pockets are two open side pockets sized for a phone or wallet, with BOOJO calling out upgraded stitching and reinforced seams. There is no zip anywhere, so treat these as gym-floor and court shorts rather than run shorts. The waistband is elastic with an inside drawstring, the right call for a multipack that has to fit a range of bodies.

The numbers are the reason it is here. At 4.6 stars it ties with our top pick for the highest rating of our seven picks, and its 7,237 ratings make it the most reviewed pick in this guide. If you train four or more times a week and hate midweek laundry, this is the most sensible order here.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

All five pairs are black, so there is no variety and no easy way to tell a clean pair from a worn one in a dark drawer. There is no zip pocket and no liner. And 9 inches is genuinely long, so if you like a 5 or 7 inch cut this feels like a different garment. Check the size chart, because one sizing mistake is multiplied by five.

The best cheap 2-in-1 gym shorts: Aolesy Men's 2 in 1 Running Shorts

This is the lined short for people who want the 2-in-1 format without the top-end pick. It runs the same idea, a quick-dry shell over a stretch compression liner, and adds a back zip pocket the CRZ YOGA does not have.

The listing states 90% polyester and 10% spandex, a 5 inch inseam, drawstring closure, machine wash, and a lightweight weight class with medium stretch. Five inches with a liner is the classic running-short geometry: the shell moves freely because the liner holds everything in place, so you get range of motion without the shell riding up.

The pocket count is the standout. There is a back zippered pocket, two side pockets deep enough to be useful, and a phone pocket inside the compression lining. Aolesy also fits a towel ring at the back, which matters in a busy gym. The liner supports the thigh muscles without friction, and the listing notes you can wear it visible or tucked away.

At 4.4 stars from 2,663 ratings it has the third largest review pool of our seven picks, which for a cheap 2-in-1 is reassuring. The elastic waistband with drawstring is described as easy to adjust and firm enough not to shift. To try the 2-in-1 format without spending at the top of the band, start here.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The shell feels less refined than the CRZ YOGA, which is what you would expect. Liner sizing is the usual complaint on cheap 2-in-1 shorts, so if you are between sizes go up. And a back zip is awkward to reach mid-set, so it suits stashing a key for a run.

The best longer 2-in-1 gym shorts: MOVEUP 2 in 1 Gym Running Shorts 7 inch

If you want a liner but 5 inches feels too short, this is the middle path. MOVEUP runs the same two-layer construction at a 7 inch inseam with a mesh inner short rather than a dense compression layer, making it the cooler-wearing of the lined picks here.

The listing gives a material composition of 94% polyester and 6% spandex for the shell, a 7 inch inseam, drawstring closure and machine wash care, in a lightweight weight class with medium stretch. MOVEUP describes the outer layer as dry-fast and the built-in short as mesh that supports the thigh muscles. That is the useful distinction: mesh liners breathe better, dense compression liners hold better.

Storage is well thought out. A phone pocket sits in the liner, shaped so the phone does not slip out, a back zipper pocket takes keys and cards, and there is a towel hanging loop. The waistband is a half-back elastic design with a drawstring, so the elastic runs across the back only and the front sits flatter under a shirt.

It sits at 4.1 stars from 830 ratings, the lowest rating of our seven picks, and the listing itself flags sizing, advising a size up if you like a looser fit. Read that as written. As a cheap, long, breathable lined short with a towel loop, it does a job none of the other picks quite does.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The rating is the weakest here and sizing is the theme behind it, so measure your waist and use the chart rather than ordering your usual size. The listing quotes fabric composition in two slightly different places, untidy even if both describe a polyester and spandex shell. And a mesh liner gives less compression than the CRZ YOGA.

The best gym shorts for pure lifting: ZENWILL Mens Gym Running Shorts

Some people simply do not like polyester against skin under a barbell, and this is the pick for them. ZENWILL builds this short from a cotton-majority blend, the only one of our seven picks with a cotton-majority fabric, and it wears more like a favourite pair of everyday shorts than performance kit.

The listing states 65% cotton and 35% polyester, a 7.48 inch inseam, an elasticated waistband with drawstring, and machine or hand wash care, in a lightweight weight class with high stretch. The trade-off is honest: cotton feels better, but it absorbs sweat rather than moving it, so it dries slower than every other pick here.

Four pockets is generous, and the one that matters is the hidden zip pocket on the right side, described as deep enough to hold a phone. That is the layout you want for lifting, where the phone lives in a pocket through rest periods and needs to be reachable without unzipping something behind you. The rest are open pockets.

It sits at 4.5 stars from 2,301 ratings, so the review pool is substantial. Stock is currently low on some size and colour combinations, so if your size shows as available it is worth acting rather than saving the tab. ZENWILL describes the construction as reinforced and aimed at gym and squat use.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Cotton is heavier when wet and slower to dry, ruling this out for hot yoga, HIIT in an unairconditioned garage, or two sessions in a day. Stock is thinner than the other picks. And there is no liner, so it is a lifting and everyday short rather than a running short.

Which gym shorts should you buy?

Match your training to the row, then check the card.

What should you look for in gym shorts?

Six things, in the order they affect your training: inseam, liner, pockets, fabric, waistband and opacity. Get those right and brand barely matters.

How long should the inseam be?

Inseam decides how a short feels more than any other measurement. Five inches sits mid-thigh, the running and sprinting length: maximum range of motion, minimum fabric. Seven inches sits just above the knee, the safest all-rounder, clearing squats and deadlifts without flapping on a run. Nine inches sits at or below the knee, the traditional court length. Some brands sell 3 inch shorts, a racing choice rather than a gym short. Of our picks, MIER and Aolesy run 5 inches, CRZ YOGA and MOVEUP run 7, ZENWILL just under 7.5 and BOOJO 9.

Do you want a liner or not?

A 2-in-1 short bonds a compression liner inside the shell, so the liner holds everything in place and the shell moves freely. Three of our seven picks work this way: CRZ YOGA, Aolesy and MOVEUP. The upside is no chafe on longer efforts and usually a liner phone pocket. The downsides are heat and sizing, because a badly fitting liner is worse than none. Unlined shorts run cooler and wash faster.

Zip pockets or open pockets?

This is where cheap shorts most often let you down. Open side pockets are fine for keys at a squat rack and useless the moment you run, because a phone in one bounces out or slaps your leg. Zip pockets solve it, and position matters: a hip zip is reachable mid-session, a back zip is better for a run. MIER and BOOJO are the only two of our seven picks with no zip pocket at all, worth knowing before you order. A liner phone pocket is the most comfortable way to run with a phone.

What fabric should gym shorts be?

Polyester with a few percent of spandex is the default for good reason. It absorbs very little moisture, so sweat moves through and evaporates instead of sitting in the fabric, and the spandex gives the stretch you need for a deep hinge. Our picks run from 88% to 100% polyester, except ZENWILL at 65% cotton and 35% polyester. Cotton feels better in dry heat but soaks up sweat and dries slowly, so it belongs on lifting days. If a listing claims quick-dry but states no composition, treat that as a gap rather than a claim.

Does the waistband matter?

More than you would think. An elastic waistband with an internal drawcord is the standard: cinch it for lifting, loosen it for running. An encased waistband, where the elastic is wrapped in fabric like the gratulatio pick, resists rolling over when you bend. A half-back band like the MOVEUP puts the stretch across the back only, so the front sits flatter under a shirt. Avoid a wide exposed elastic band with no drawcord, which migrates down under a loaded barbell.

How do you check opacity and get the size right?

Lightweight polyester in light colours is the risk combination. Put the shorts on, stand in bright light in front of a mirror and sit into a deep bodyweight squat. If you can see skin tone through the seat, they are gym-adjacent rather than gym shorts. Black or navy removes most of the risk, and sizing down makes opacity worse. On sizing, measure your waist where the band will sit and read the brand's own chart, because Amazon listings often use overseas sizing. Size up on lined shorts if you are between sizes. For the beach, board shorts are cut completely differently.

How do you wash gym shorts so they last?

Cold wash, inside out, no fabric softener, line dry. That is the whole method, and it is the difference between shorts that last three years and shorts that smell permanently after four months.

All seven picks are listed as machine washable, ZENWILL as machine or hand wash. Wash cold on a shorter cycle, because heat breaks down the elastane. Turn them inside out first, since the inside carries the sweat, and zip every zip so the teeth do not catch.

Skip fabric softener entirely. It leaves a waxy coating on fibres, the opposite of what you want on moisture-wicking polyester: it clogs the fabric so sweat sits on the surface. That is the real cause of gym clothes with a permanent smell. If yours have reached that point, soak them in cold water with a cup of white vinegar for an hour before a normal wash.

Do not tumble dry. A hanger and some airflow will have most of these dry in a couple of hours indoors, and tumble drying cooks the elastane and warps the waistband faster than anything else. Do not leave a damp pair balled up in a gym bag overnight either, because that is where odour bacteria multiply.

What else do you need for the gym?

Shorts are one part of a kit that fails as a system. These companion buys make the biggest difference.

• Kuston Sports Gym Bag with Shoes Compartment and Wet Pocket keeps damp shorts away from clean clothes, the single best fix for the smell problem.
• CACATUA Gym Workout Towel with Zippered Pocket is a 118 by 48 cm microfibre towel with a built-in zip pocket, so your phone has somewhere to go even in shorts without a zip.
• BlenderBottle Classic V2 Shaker Bottle, 28 ounce is the default shaker for a reason, and the wire whisk ball clears the lumps.
• Wernies No Show Socks for Men stops the ankle rub that low trainers create.
• Runhit Men's Compression Shorts with Pockets, 3 pack is the base layer to wear under any unlined pick above if you want compression without a 2-in-1.

What else did we consider?

Three groups came close and did not make the list.

Zoofly sells a three pack of 7 inch quick-dry shorts with zip pockets. We left it out because the BOOJO pack gives five pairs rather than three, and because gratulatio already covers the zip-pocket brief on a single pair.

Compression base-layer shorts turn up constantly in gym shorts searches, and they are a different garment: a tight spandex layer worn under shorts rather than shorts you wear alone. We listed one above as a companion buy instead of a pick. A padded riding short is a different category again and lives in our bike shorts guide.

We also passed on the very cheap listings under $18. That end of the pool is dominated by tiny review counts, size charts that do not match Australian bodies, and stock on a made-to-order lead time. For anything you would wear to the pub rather than the squat rack, our guide to men's shorts is the better start, and women's shorts covers women's non-training styles.

Gym shorts questions, answered

What Australians ask most before buying training shorts.

What length gym shorts should you buy?

A 7 inch inseam is the safest choice if you are only buying one pair, because it clears a deep squat without flapping on a run. Choose 5 inches if you mostly run or sprint and want maximum range of motion, and 9 inches if you play court sports or want more coverage. Inseam is measured from the crotch seam to the hem.

Are 2-in-1 gym shorts worth it?

They are worth it if you run, and optional if you only lift. The bonded compression liner stops chafe on longer efforts and usually adds a phone pocket that holds your handset flat against the thigh instead of swinging. If you only lift, an unlined short with your own base layer is cooler, cheaper and faster to wash.

Are polyester gym shorts squat proof?

Dark polyester usually is, light polyester often is not. Opacity depends on colour and fabric weight far more than on price, so a black or navy pair in a stated polyester and spandex blend is the low-risk order. Check any new pair at home by squatting deep in bright light in front of a mirror.

How many pairs of gym shorts do you need?

Match the number of pairs to your sessions per week plus one. If you train three times a week, four pairs means you never rush a wash, and at five or six sessions a multipack is the cheaper route. Rotating pairs also extends the life of each one, because elastane recovers between wears.

What else should you sort out?

Shorts are usually the first thing people replace when they get serious about training.

• Best gym bags in Australia for a bag with a wet pocket, so damp shorts stay away from everything else.
• Best gym gloves in Australia if the bar is starting to shred your hands.
• Best protein powder in Australia for what to put in the shaker.
• Best men's shorts in Australia for everywhere that is not the gym.
• Home gym setup guide if you are building a garage gym rather than paying a membership.
• Best treadmills in Australia for running at home through a wet winter.

About the author

Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first-home-buyer process himself. NestPath focuses on Australian first-home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au