ON TESTKIT TEST
R ng
Sh r ts
H&F sub-editor
Emma Lewis
puts the latest
styles to the testLULULEMON
RUN TIMES
SHORT II 4”
£48; lululemon.co.uk
‘These shorts are amazingly
comfy in a barely-there way,
with a supersoft, deep
waistband that helps prevent
rubbing when you run with a
backpack on. The inner briefs
up the comfort stakes, too.
There are two discreet pockets,
without fastenings, for gels,
that sit inside the front of the
waistband, plus a secure
zippered pocket big enough for
my ageing but compact iPhone
SE, a bank card or some cash. It
holds my phone in place well, so
it doesn’t jiggle around too much
when I run. The stretchy inner
drawcord doesn’t use a bulky
bow to keep it tight – pull on
the loop and it stays put pretty
well. They’re low-rise, have a 4”
inseam, are really streamlined
and surprisingly flattering. They
also use 86 per cent recycled
polyester in the body and come
in a choice of colours.’STYLE:●●●●●
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LIGHT SHORTS
£44.99; gorewear.com
‘These are super comfy and a little
lighter and a tad looser fitting in the leg
than the Lululemon ones. They’re also
a touch longer, so I wasn’t at all worried
about flashing too much flesh. There’s
side mesh ventilation and a small
zipped back pocket – just big enough
to squeeze in my quite compact phone.
There are no gel pockets and no
drawstring, but the stretchy, deep
waistband is super comfy and I didn’t
need to adjust the waist – in fact, I like
the simplicity of these shorts. I also
love the energising colour and pattern,
but these do come in other colourways
too, including black and grey.’
CRAFT
NANOWEIGHT SHORTS
£40; craftsportswear.co.uk
‘These, the shortest running shorts on
test, boast a super-light, stretchy top
layer with large splits up the sides and
super-stretchy mesh inner shorts that
come down below the top layer to help
preserve your modesty. The perforated
elastic waistband has a tie drawstring
and there’s a small zipped back pocket
(big enough for a bank card). This pair
gives a slick, speedy look for those who
like shorter styles, and the inner shorts
allow you to concentrate on running- fast. There are five colours.’
NEW BALANCE 5 INCH
IMPACT SHORT
£35; newbalance.co.uk
‘Great for those who like more coverage
and a looser fit, or those who are taller,
these longer-length shorts are good
value. The moisture-wicking fabric and
side mesh panels help keep you cool,
while the stretchiness and side splits
mean you never feel restricted. These
shorts were quite tight to get over my
hips but, once in place, they fitted well
and I didn’t need the drawcord. The
comfy, mesh internal briefs stayed in
place well. The back zipped pocket just
squeezed in my phone, plus there are
two unzippered gel pockets inside the
waistband at the sides. These shorts
also come in shorter lengths.’
ASICS LITE-SHOW
3.5 INCH SHORT
£40; asics.com
‘Flatteringly, these are longer at the
back than the front, and are very
lightweight, with big splits up the sides
so you don’t feel restricted. They have
built-in mesh briefs, plus a small, zipped
pocket (bank-card size ) on the back
of the comfy, deep waistband with
drawcord. Laser-cut holes on the back
waistband help with ventilation. The
quick-drying, breathable fabric works
well to keep you cool. Reflective lines
allow you to be seen from all angles in
the dark. The seams on the inner briefs
were a little scratchy, though.’STYLE:●●●●●
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