20 Best Athletic Shorts For Thick Thighs (2023 Updated)

These shorts are amazing!! I bought one pair of the lululemon find your pace shorts a couple months ago and ever since have wanted a second pair. They are always annoyingly out of stock so I started looking elsewhere for comparable alternatives.

These did not disappoint!!! The quality of the material is incredible and you can’t beat the price! Did a 6 mile run in these shorts this morning and was so comfortable in them!! I highly recommend this brand and I will no longer be looking for a restock of those lululemon shorts!.

I like these shorts & am an avid runner. Great material & a side zip for a key. I debated size after reading many reviews & measured myself base on guideline. I’m 5’4” 120 lb 48 yrs old. Small in colors were too big.

Black ran smaller so we’re fine. Colors I should of ordered size XS. One thing important to note is body type. No one else mentioned. A lot say underpants too tight or thighs too tight. I measured a size medium on waist & my hips/thighs were not on scale as I measured much smaller than an XS.

I have no butt or thighs. I am more a guy build as I have no waist. That being said, my waistline fit fine in size small & would like an XS size in all colored shorts. They sit low so if you want them above or near your belly button, these are not for you! Very comfortable & I love the detail stitching around the bottom, it makes it appear as I have some bottom.

I own several pairs of these shorts and they are the best for working out. I recently ran a marathon in these and they were beyond comfortable. I love that I can keep my phone comfortable in my pocket even while running.

The zipper back pocket is nice as well. I use these for running, biking, and weightlifting. Basically everything. I’m a female and I wear the 5. 5” in medium. I’m 5’6” and 165 lbs.

These Secret Agent Compression Lined shirts instantly became my favorite clothing item. Workout? Check. Swimming? Check. Lounging? Check. Pajamas? Check. I love these so much I bought a second pair. Seriously, these things are the best!.

I was indifferent about the fit and material when I first tried them on but was willing to give them a shot so off came the “can’t return with out this label attached”. I ordered these after looking around for a new pair of workout/gym shorts and while they look cool (I’ll give it to the designers on that), was very under impressed with the function of the shorts while in the gym.

First is due to the size and placement of the pockets, it would not hold a moderate sized phone (Google Pixel XL, no case) securely during any seated exercise (in this example seated OHP) and would fall loose to the floor during reps.

The slickness of the pocket has some contributing factor to this issue also. Second while I do enjoy the American themed compression portion, the outer layer short kept riding up during moderate moments/exercise to the point after every set I was pulling them down.

Maybe its my body shape not agreeing with the shorts but annoying none the less to have to continuously dig at my gentlemens region. After a few repeated uses both running and in the gym, sadly I will retire these shorts after only a week of use.

I honestly did want to like these but in the end the function was not there. If you are looking for a serious gym short I would look else where.

I was looking for lightweight, quick drying, elastic waistband with drawstrings, and at least one zippered pocket. Everything was good EXCEPT the zippered pocket is so small that a cell phone or wallet will not fit.

Just keys and/or credit cards and driver’s license. If that is good enough for you, then you will probably like these shorts. Total 3 pockets, two are good sized, but the zippered one is so small.

I ordered these as I was looking around for a good pair of daily lifestyle as well as workout shorts. the fit and style of these shorts was exactly what i needed. the zipper pocket along the side as well is quite useful.

Definitely would recommend these shorts as they have become one of my favorite pairs.

So I love this brand and decided had to get something for the hubby to try. He lives these shorts for just chilling and being comfortable. Just ordered another pair!

Really good fit as they don’t roll up due to the rubbery texture at the leg seams. Fit true to size in my opinion and quickly became my new favorite! Absolutely love them!

I was nervous about getting shorts to wear to the gym. I am usually a leggings type of girl but decided to try these out. I was not let down. They stay in place (for the most part) and feel great! Would definitely recommend!!.

Look great, feel great, and full coverage – Love these shorts

These shorts are amazing! I immediately bought a second pair. As a girl with a very muscular butt and muscular legs, it is hard to find shorts that lay nicely, are comfortable, and don’t ride up! These hit all 3 marks! The material would also lay well on skinnier legs.

These will be my go to short for all summer workouts.

Love these shorts! I normally wear Nike running shorts but those don’t have big enough pockets to store nutrition for long runs on. I wore these BP shorts for my marathon because they had pockets in the waist that could fit my shot blocks and they were perfect with minimal chaffing.

I am 5’7” and weigh 155lbs and a large fit perfectly (I wear mediums in Nike shorts so I think these run a little small).

I love the color of these shorts. They are a little tight on me right now (thank you, pregnancy booty gainz), but they still feel comfortable enough to wear, and they aren’t tight on my belly. They have great stretch and feel high quality.

I just like that they can work for me now and after I lose the pregnancy weight. They are a super versatile short.

Very nice quality compression shorts, and made in America!! These seem even better than the other compression shorts which are the same price (which I also have). These have a drawstring in them and a little better contour fit.

All of Aero Tech’s products have been very good quality, I’m a repeat customer.

I just purchased a pair of these short for working out in the gym. When they arrived I had my doubt that they would not ride up due to not having gripper elastic around the leg openings. I was wrong.

Completed entire workout both upper and lower body, including squats and leg press, and they stayed exactly where they started when I put them on. The construction quality is superb and they are very comfortable to wear.

My waist is 33-34 and I ordered the medium. They fit almost perfect. The only issue I had was the rise from the crotch to the waist was about 1 inch too high putting them above my belly button. I rolled the waist band down once and they fit perfect.

These are a little lighter weight fabric than most cycling shorts, so not equivalent to cycling shorts without the pad. Probably not adequate as a single layer in most settings.

The color is PERFECT on these. Bright, fiery red. The new muse material has a fantastic feel to it. Soft. Buttery. Someone labeled it as a performance Align legging (from Lulu) and I was so excited!!! However, I would not label them as performance.

The material pills super easily and due to the slickness of the material, leave everything underneath very visible, from underwear lines to cellulite. I hope this color gets released in a different material that will be more durable and flattering.

So excited that fleo listened to the requests for salsa muse in an additional Style and cut! This one happens to be super flattering. Momma here and love the way I feel strong and Confident rocking these potting v waisted shorts! Stuck true to size, small for me, for reference 5 feet, 120lbs and Smalls in all other fleo shorts.

Muse fabric to me feels like it holds me in but isn’t too compressive and I like the additional length in this inseam other than the tho because those did roll on my legs (these do not seem to).

The feel of this fabric is divine. Soft, compressive, and sweat wicking. But it’s also delicate. The first time I wore them they ended up with rubbing and pilling and the fabric is damaged in one spot.

I did nothing more than what I normally would do in my Fleo shorts. This fabric is for not for me.

Really thin material. Sized smaller and tighter than usual. Length is weird. I’m 5’3, and they stopped just barely below the knee, not long enough. I would roll them up. Not good quality at all. Definitely not worth the price.

I absolutely LOVE these shorts. Brought them for quarantine yoga and they were perfect. Could lso be worn as underwear they are so comfy. I ordered 2X so im not small at all and i didnt have to worry about chafing or squeezing.

Im buying a 2nd set now.

Awesome shorts. Good material. Good fit. Washed well. Love em. Great price.

I received the Thermajane Yoga Compression Workout Shorts for Women from the Spark Reviewer program. I was surprised at how thin they were however they fit great. I got the xxs size and there were a perfect fit.

I like that you can wear them alone however, I will more than likely wear leggings or shorts over them. I like the wide waistband, it sits right below the waist and is very comfortable. The shorts are form fitting but do not feel tight.

I like the smooth feel of the material. The shorts help with keeping your muscles from tiring and hurting after a workout similar to compression socks. In a way, I wish they were a little thicker so I could wear them alone, but that this okay.

If you watch basketball, they are similar to the shorts the players wear under their shorts. I found the material to be very durable. I have only washed them once so I am not sure how they will hold up after several washings.

I do like how they feel and fit.

I ordered these shorts, athletic pants, and swim shorts for my son in the same size, “S-Tall,” but for some reason, the waist sizing of the athletic shorts is larger. Sizing should be consistent; it is not.

I had to return all of the shorts as they were too big. All of the S-tall pants and swim shorts fit perfectly.

Very comfortable material, seem really nice quality. Length was great and they weren’t too slim fitting. Could have got a small instead of medium but the fit of the medium is nice and the waist still stays up perfectly.

These shorts are perfect! I bought them for my bf for Father’s Day. He has two little ones. He wore them two days in a row! So soft and brilliantly made.

Last year I purchased two pair of these shorts for a vacation. They were good until I came home and washed them. The fabric became rough and uncomfortable. Not worth $45 and to make matters worse while out one evening the small right zipper pocket came unbonded, yes unbonded, as it is applied by a glue.

I placed my key in the pocket and it hit the floor. My friends had a good laugh. I was so disappointed that I went to the DSG in the area and immediately told the MOD. He understood and ordered me another pair while I stood in the store.

As of today, I am placing these shorts in the donation box, and I’ll probably never buy VRST shorts again. Besides they fade to a cheap looking cotton much like a Haynes brand you find in Walmart. Please make better quality shorts.

Seeing them at $14 is probably too high. I am very disappointed in this product because at $45 I expect good quality.

Used for 8 indoor exercise events over the past month. 4 times for cardio/running, 2 full body workout, 2 for soccer. The 4 cardio/running events these shorts were comfortable with good breathability.

The interior lining had good flexibility and had minimal run-up on legs over time. The pocket is big enough for 2 pairs of socks, pretty large and you may even be able to fit a small phone. This is a great standard for running gear performance.

However, like any running short, your performance in other sports is not as great. I would not use with full body workouts or soccer. The movements are much different and the extremes are reached on the interior lining of the shorts.

Regardless, i recommend these for the running warriors and walking Hero’s.

For reference I’m 5-9, 175lbs and athletic with muscular quads from squatting. These shorts have a very unflattering, baggy appearance and have huge leg openings, almost like how shorts looked in the early 2000s.

They fit like parachutes. Why not mimic the modern fit of other athletic brands? These things look ridiculous.

My husband fell in love with the first pair I bought him after he wore them just once. They are incredibly lightweight and the perfect length. I ended up ordering all the other colors and will likely buy any other colors that come out, as these are now his favorite pair of exercise shorts.

I purchased these unlined run shorts (7-inch inseam) in both the high-viz-yellow and the more earthy-green color. Both are strong contenders for “most comfortable workout shorts” I own. However, the bright yellow pair, while very eye-catching, are quite translucent, especially when damp with sweat.

For this reason, I give them four stars, but otherwise they’re as advertised.

I have gone for two 5-mile runs in these shorts and have genuinely enjoyed them. My big requirements for running shorts is a back pocket that keeps smaller items in place allowing for me to bring my keys on my runs.

The liner is a full length liner, which is not my preference because I feel that they are a bit tight, but these shorts do it better than most shorts but still not perfect (they ride up a some as you run).

The fit is also really good, not too tight around the thigh, which I was very worried about when I first felt them because they are not very stretchy. Overall, I would highly recommend these shorts, especially for the cost.

Hard to beat the price when anything close to this quality would cost more than double the cost.

These are my favorite bombshell shorts! I am only 5. 2” 110lbs, and have very short legs, so most bombshell shorts are too long for me. The fact that the length on these is adjustable is perfect for short girls! However, I do have to warn you, these are VERY SHORT.

If you’re taller than 5. 3” maybe the Tiny Waist Shorts would be a better fit for you. Those are great too! They ****** your waist, accentuate your bum nicely, and are very sexy without over doing it.

Customer service with Bombshell is ALWAYS top-notch. The fabric on these shorts is amazing & everything stays in place for the majority of my workout. The best part is the little crossover waistband.

seriously makes me feel tiny!!! I wear a L in Bombshell legging, but size up for every pair of shorts, so I guess they run a tiny bit small in comparison, altho I’m typically an XL in the majority of other brands.

I have these in grey & mint & I’m waiting for some new colors to drop (other than purple :)).

Really love these shorts. The material, style, and fit is great! This is by far the softest and most high quality workout fabric I have ever felt. My only critique is that these shorts do roll up on me quite a bit.

I do have very muscular thighs, so this may not be an issue for everyone, but I found myself pulling them down quite often. Other than that, so cute and comfortable!.

I bought a true navy one via the HK website in a size 6 and had to exchange for a size 8 at the Singapore store. Subsequently, I love this shorts enough to decide to want to get it on black. Thinking it should be the exact same size as the True Navy one, I bought online the size 8 and when it arrived, it’s much larger than the True Navy.

The label indicated it as ‘Tall’ but nothing on the website said it is a Tall sizing. So I had to bring it in to the Singapore store to exchange and all the salesperson wasn’t even aware that all the black Hottie Hot in the store were Tall sizing until I pointed it out.

Finally I have to just settle for the Camouflage Hottie Hot and the final straw was when I went home to measure the size 8 Camouflage against my True Navy size 8, the Camouflage was slightly larger even with the exact same sizing and label of 170/74A.

At a price point of HKD 480 / SGD 92, it is honestly a very BAD experience. Get the sizing right!.

I own 12+ pairs of hotty hot shorts and recently ordered two more to get ready for the summer run season. I was incredibly disappointed to discover that Lululemon has made some changes to the fit that negatively impact my absolutely favorite short.

The first change, is that the waist band is now 1/8th of an inch less wide. This makes the overall short a little shorter and the waist band less comfortable. Additionally, the inseam on these shorts is no longer a full 2.

5 inches, but in fact 2 and a quarter inches. The loss of height on the waist band and the slight reduction in inseam makes a short short a little too short. They’re less comfortable for running and offer less coverage around town.

The second change is an overall reduction in fabric usage. My other HHS2. 5s have lots of ribbing at the back and front of the short to create a classic, flowy, running short look. The new versions have reduced the amount of fabric across the bum, making for a tighter short.

Overall, my guess is that all these changes were made to reduce material use and increase margins on this product (I work in apparel design, so this makes the most sense to me). That’s great for lulu, but a HUGE bummer for fans of the HHS2.

5. I’d happily pay $5 more to get the better short back.

I have two pairs of the find your pace shorts, a pair of the Crinkle Dust Reflective that I purchased for myself, and a pair of the navy that I received as a gift. I was really excited to get a second pair of these as the crinkle dust became some of my very favorite shorts.

With the Navy, I figured out why so many folks were having fraying problems. The crinkle dust reflective shorts had an actual seam and not a naked edge like the navy (and I’m assuming the rest of the solid colors).

The crinkle dust, although sold out, are amazing – they have held up really well even with a reflective fabric. I have cyclist quads and butt (read big) and these are the absolute perfect shorts to deal with that without getting inner thigh chafing.

On the other hand, the Navy shorts do have an unhemmed edge and have started fraying after an initial wash. I’m so disappointed and hope that Lulu comes out with additional hemmed versions. They should all have a true hem on them to avoid this.

I will not be repurchasing unless I can confirm the hem is present.

Love these shorts. Perfect length, nice material, and they look cool. I have a pair in every color now and have been wearing them to the gym and even outside the gym. now they dont make me lift better or run faster or anything like the other reviews say.

BUT they look cool af and they make me feel cool af when km wearing them. These shorts have stretch material in ALL the right places. These are what all shorts should be based off in my opinion. My gripe is that i want them in more/all colors and 3in inseams as well.

id buy every color and length yall put out. i did give 4 stars only because i feel like everything in life can be improved on. and. if u wear the white shorts MAKE SURE YOU WEAR UNDERWEAR! LOL. it was sorta hilarious but the white ones are a bit see thru on thier own but when u start sweating u can really SEE ALL OF IT! 😵😭 Sooo maybe some extra material on the white shorts but other then that a perfect product BUY these u will not regret your purchase i can promise u that.

PUT OUT MORE COLORS Gym Reapers!!! i need to spend my money on more of these shorts!!!!!!!.

The material of these shorts are great, soft and warm. For many people these shorts may be the perfect relax/recover shorts. I could not get past the way they fit on my body. Was tight in the hip to crotch area making movement not the most fluid.

Just never felt comfortable for me. Pockets are also not very deep.

This short is true to its word. Relaxation & Reclination go hand in hand and so does this style of Hylete short. So comfortable. So money. So perfect.

Hylete does it again. Great shorts and I really like having two front pockets and still having the side pocket for my phone. I’m 5’9” 200lbs athletic build. 34” waist. I got the Large above the knee.

Love these shorts. Great for training and cross training. The length is perfect as is the stretch. I don’t worry about showing too much when I bend over or squat. I do wish it had a pocket in the front of the waistband in addition to the one in the back.

This new brand -made for women, by women- is a godsend for my athletic body! The four-way stretch makes such a huge difference in comfort: no binding/pulling when I lift my knees up high. And the high quality fabric and stitching are super soft–no chaffing on my inner thighs! Now, I need to buy a bunch of colors!.

Got my wife a pair for futsal. She ended up running in them, going to the gym, basically wearing them all weekend. A top quality premium product at a very fair price point. Definitely can tell they were designed by women for women.

Like no other shorts we’ve found.

When Ten Thousand first launched their recover line I was a bit skeptical, when they released these shorts I was even more skeptical. Then my work situation changed and I suddenly went from going into work everyday to working from home everyday.

I needed shorts that were comfortable, fit well, but that I could still do things in. I ended up buying two pairs of these and now they’re all I wear! They’re so comfortable, durable, and look good. I can wear them around the house, walking the dogs, running errands, and while doing mobility work.

The pockets are perfect for my cell phone and wallet and I’m again blown away by the overall quality. Ten Thousand has done it again!.

the design and fit is amazing but the material is not. I was really happy wearing the shorts for the first time I used it after going to the gym in the morning. the fabric was soft and very comfortable to wear but apparently very prone to pilling.

the bottom of the shorts developed extensive fabric pilling when all i did was sit in the couch for the rest of the day and sleep in my bed after my work out. I would not have complained about this if it happened after a week or so but the pilling happened overnight.

Im disappointed about its quality.

This short was everything I was searching for and more. I’m about 175, 5’10, athletic build. Usually wear a size 29/30 waist, and these shorts fit PERFECTLY. The material as well as the fit was amazing overall.

The only complaint I have is that the elastic band around the waist gets jumbled up fairly badly after the first couple washes. Doesn’t affect the shorts at all, just doesn’t look the best nor feel the best if you’re doing any lower body movements.