Best trail running shorts 2023: Salomon, The North Face & more

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Extra pockets guaranteed – these are our favourite trail shorts

If you’re heading off-road and hitting the trails, chances are you’ll need to wear kit that tailors to the demands of trickier terrain. Trail running shorts are designed slightly differently from your standard men’s or women’s running shorts, engineered to feel comfortable over longer distances and capable of withstanding changes in climate.

Our team of editors have been hitting the mountains, forests and coastlines of the UK and beyond to test all of the items in this guide. From the Gower Peninsula in Wales to the Annecy Mountains in France, these are the items we deemed the most sweat-wicking and comfortable for clocking up the miles away from the hustle and bustle.

If you’re heading out on a shorter trail run in your local park or woodland, any pair of running shorts will probably suffice. But if you’re covering a bigger distance, or taking on more challenging terrain or weather, choosing the right clothing is arguably just as important as the right trail running shoes.

Length: For road running and short trail runs, you can get away with lightly shorter shorts (4-5” inseam). But if you’re covering a longer distance, longer shorts (6-7” inseam) are often preferable because they provide better protection from the sun, or more warmth if the temperature drops. Not to mention, a longer short helps you avoid chafing, keeping you comfortable if you’re out all day.

Design: Some trail running shorts are more minimalist, while others will come with built-in liners or compression technology. It’s really down to preference here. No liner means the shorts can be super lightweight, and you can go for longer between washes. A liner can offer more support and protection (especially against chafe), but it can run warm.

Pockets: Chances are, if you’re heading out somewhere a bit more remote, you’re going to want to bring a couple of supplies with you. Most trail shorts come with handy pockets to store items like keys, a credit card, a phone or gels, but it’s important to look for ones that are integrated into the waistband or have a zip. On the trails, open pockets aren’t going to be secure enough for your belongings.

The other option is to use a running belt or a hydration vest, especially if you’re heading out for longer and want to carry water and more fuel.

These trail shorts from Decathlon are an absolute dream, combining the high waistband of a cycling short with the baggy fit of a box short, and no less than five (yes, five) pockets, including two with zips. The latter means you can carry your phone or keys without worrying about them falling out, while the others are perfect for storing gels and snack bars. Throw in the affordable price tag, and you’ve got a winning pair of shorts.

If you’re someone who prefers a baggier fit, you’ll love these trail shorts from Adidas Terrex. They’re available in a 3” or a 5” inseam – our 5’9” tester opted for the 5” pair and found they were the perfect length to avoid any unnecessary chafing. The high waistband is also super comfortable – though if you like that ‘tummy tucked’ feeling with a high waistband, you might be disappointed, as it’s pretty flimsy. That being said, it has enough storage for your mobile, a couple of gels and walking poles. The fabric also feels super lightweight, which adds to that freedom of movement. A word of warning though: these do run big, so we’d recommend sizing down.

Our ecommerce editor declared these Salomon shorts as love at first try. First off, they’re impossible soft, with a velvety texture that strikes the right balance of supportiveness and stretchiness, as well as having great moisture management. At 7”, they’re the perfect length for taller runners, and our tester rated the high waistband. There’s only one small hidden waistband pocket, though, so you will need to wear a running belt or hydration jacket if you want to take your phone with you.

These are the kind of shorts you can throw on for those slow, easy miles. They come with a built-in brief liner for added comfort, and an adjustable waistband to help you find the right fit. Although, while they may look baggy, they fit true to size, so if you’re after a slightly looser fit we’d recommend sizing up. Other benefits include a hidden, zipped pocket on the wasitband for your keys or a phone, and reflective details on the legs to help visability in lower light conditions.

While Arc’Teryx apparel doesn’t come cheap, it is extremely high quality and durable – and these Essent shorts are proof of that. We originally thought they were going to be too tight, with the fabric feeling sturdier and thicker than the likes of the Salomon Cross multi 7" shorts (above), but don’t let this fool you – they’re still highly breathable, and the added thickness means they don’t ride up or roll down. The waistband really tucks you in too.

There’s also a deep pocket on either side of the legs for you to store gels and a smaller waistband pocket for your keys. The black colour is probably safer if you’re sweat-prone though – we tested the purple pair which did create some unwanted marks!

It’s all about the details when it comes to a quality pair of trail shorts, and this pair from Lululemon have it all: a zippered pocket, clever waistband tabs that allow you to stash a layer on the move, reflective detailing for safety, superior comfort and a flattering design. Tick, tick, tick.

If you like your shorts short, breathable and so lightweight you instantly (and somewhat unnervingly) forget you are wearing them, look no further. With a 2-inch inseam, these trail-ready Merrells certainly aren’t for those who prefer more coverage, but they do pack a surprising amount of storage regardless, with a zip stash pocket at the back and two envelope-style pockets alongside. There’s an internal mesh brief built-in, and, with polyester-spandex fabric, a lovely amount of stretch - perfect for leaping elegantly over those trail obstacles.

These performed really well on and off-road. A feather-light outer layer stretches brilliantly to ensure the slightly longer inseam doesn’t cause any restriction on movement, while the inner ‘pant’ is soft and supportive where needed. Two storage pockets at the hip are well placed and deep enough for gels or even a (smallish) phone, but the front pockets are a bit shallow and none are zipped, which is a drawback if you’re carrying anything you want to keep secure.

There are a few key things that a pair of trail running shorts must get right. A fit that allows for a full range of motion. A zipped pocket, preferably at the back. And a length that is neither baggy nor liable to have its wearer arrested for indecent exposure. The Saucony Outpace 5" short ticks all these boxes. Our tester found them “a joy to run in”, calling them “a short for all seasons – one you could wear in training and on race day”. Other plus points include reflective logos to make you better seen in low light and an inner brief that means you can wear them without underwear. This is all simple stuff, but it’s done with panache, and the result is a short that runners of all abilities are likely to love.

Solid but unspectacular, these are lightweight and cut shorter at the front with a diagonal side-cut to help you move freely, though you can feel the lack of stretch in the fabric if you really pick up the pace. No inner short or liner means you’ll want to wear something underneath to spare unwanted movement and potential embarrassment. A good-sized central rear pocket will take a gel or valuables but anything of substance in the single side-to-front pocket is going bounce against your quad on the run.

US brand Merrell is better known for its off-road shoes than its T-shirts and shorts. That makes this excellent pair a nice surprise. Well-made, friction-free and perfect for training or racing, the unimaginatively titled Merrell Trail Running Short is as good as anything we’ve tried. It comes with three pockets – one of which is zipped – and an internal mesh breath. The four-way stretch creates a super comfortable feeling across a variety of paces – from easy runs to intervals – and the reflective details help you stay visible in low light. An understated but undeniably great pair of shorts.

Attempting to answer the question ‘How many pockets is too many pockets?’ when it comes to running shorts, these Lululemon road-to-trail shorts offer up numerous stash points or gels, keys, clothing and whatever else you might want to carry. They fit well and the long liner brings an extra degree of comfort (and pockets), and they do handle being loaded up well, but the waistband felt a little narrow and the two main rear pockets could be more structured.

It’s fair to say that the Norvan short is slightly on the roomy side. Our tester, wearing a medium size, resembled a less talented Courtney Dauwalter testing these on the trails. But if you like a longer short, there’s lots to recommend here. A high-quality build (you’d expect no less from Arc-Teryx) and a supremely comfortable, friction-free running experience. However, the Norvan loses points for getting the details wrong: its pockets are towards the side, rather than directly on the back, so your items bounce around more; and the lack of an inner brief means they have to be worn with underwear. To us, they feel more like a multi-activity shorts that could be used for running, rather than something tailor-made for the sport.

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