Best Sweat Shorts for Men 2024

When you're looking for comfort, reach for a pair of sweat shorts. They're soft and comfortable enough for sleeping and lounging, but they can also be worn to the gym, jogging, or playing pickleball. And while the sweat shorts of yesteryear were pretty shapeless, today's best men's sweat shorts, including our top picks, Ponto lined shorts and the Lululemon Soft Jersey Shortsare stylish and fitted enough to wear around town. (You can even swim in determined pairs(in fact.) Below, we've rounded up the most comfortable, coolest, and most versatile sweat shorts to wear right now.

Editor's Picks at a Glance

Shop all the best men's sweat shorts

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Why trust Forbes Vetted

We thoroughly research, test, and review the products we recommend, including the best sweat shorts for men.

• This article was edited by Associate Editor Kari Molvar, who has been writing and editing lifestyle content, including health and fitness articles, for over 20 years.
• This article was written by contributing fashion editor Lesley Rotchford, who has been writing about women's and men's fashion for almost 25 years.
• To ensure our reviews match customer feedback, we review reviews and consider buyer experiences before recommending clothing or shoes.

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How to Choose the Best Sweat Shorts for Men

Material

Many men wear athletic shorts to lounge around, but they're also often worn for sports. For this reason, look for cotton-polyester blends with a bit of spandex for comfort and flexibility. Moisture-wicking and quick-drying features are also key. (Cotton-polyester blends are also less likely to shrink and hold their shape better after washing than other materials.) French terry cotton is a popular fabric for athletic shorts because it's especially soft and comfortable.

Length

Inseams are a matter of preference. Younger men tend to like shorter inseams (around 5 inches), but longer lengths that skim the knees (7 inches or more) can look clean and neat, especially when paired with a matching sweatshirt. If you plan on wearing your athletic shorts to exercise, shorter versions will offer more flexibility and won't get in the way of your workout. Lululemon And Chubbies make options with shorter inside seams.

Adjust

Most of the sweat shorts on this list have a relaxed fit, which makes sense since sweat shorts are typically worn for lounging. But some styles, like the Ponto lined shortsAthletic shorts are a little more fitted, which makes them look more dressy and less sporty, so you can wear them around town. But you don't want them to be too tight; athletic shorts should still be comfortable and look good.

Color

Back then, sweat shorts were almost always gray or black, but some brands, notably Buck Masoncreate sweat shorts in chic, muted neutrals that give them a more polished, sleek look. Look for shades like beige, taupe, cream, olive, and light blue.

Pockets

Sweat shorts typically have side slit pockets and sometimes a patch pocket on the back (which is there more for style than function). However, a few styles on this list have zippered pockets that are useful for storing your phone or wallet and keeping them safe so you don't have to worry about them falling out while you're working out or walking. Lululemon Soft Jersey Shorts even has specially designed mesh inserts to hold your phone and coins.

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Why wear sweat shorts?

Athletic shorts have many of the same performance features as regular athletic shorts, like moisture-wicking fabrics and flexible elastic drawstring waistbands. But they're a lot more comfortable. You won't necessarily curl up for a nap in your athletic shorts or pull them on after getting out of the shower, but athletic shorts offer a pajama-like comfort that makes them ideal for lounging around.

How to wash sweat shorts?

Wash athletic shorts in cold water on a delicate cycle, as hot water and excessive spinning can damage the fibers. Then, tumble dry them on low heat or lay flat to dry. Most of the shorts on the list contain polyester, which helps protect them from shrinking.

Are sweat shorts good for summer?

Sweat shorts tend to be a bit thicker and heavier than nylon workout shorts, but you can still wear them during the summer. In fact, some styles are quite lightweight and designed for warmer weather, like the James Perse Garment Dyed Cotton Jersey Drawstring Shorts.

How to wear sweat shorts?

Slim-fitting, streamlined sweat shorts have become a street style staple. To make them look a little more dressed up and polished, pair them with a sweatshirt or tee in the same color for a sleek, monochrome look. (For inspiration, check out the H&M (pair, above.) As for shoes, trendy white sneakers are always perfect, or try Birkenstocks.

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