My Search of the Ideal Yoga Shorts.
I won’t lie–I was not that kind of a person who liked working out in shorts. Being a person who spends his/her days, thinking about style and living an active lifestyle, I always have been a serious wearer of leggings. I believed flowy shorts made me feel too thin, whereas compression shorts never felt good on my body. However, because of journalistic rigor (and because summer heat waves are inhospitable), I figured it was finally time to give yoga shorts a fair, committed test.
I have been testing over 20 different pairs over the last one year, and I have tried them in everything, including HIIT and sun salutations. I am now a complete convert and I am here to show you the pairs that are worth your money. It is not just a roundup, but this is my own case study on the front lines of activewear testing.
My Yoga Shorts Testing.
In order to transform this list into more than a list of opinions, I created a detailed testing procedure with the help of stylists Rose Lauture and Kristen Saladino. During more than a year and a half, we tested all the pairs of yoga shorts according to a stringent set of requirements during a variety of workouts. We did not merely wear them, but we put them through all kinds of activities including hard vinyasa flows and Pilates classes, running, and cycling. Our evaluation focused on:
Coverage: Are they riding up or are they staying in position during downward dog?
Comfort: What was the feeling of the waistband? Was it smooth fabric or was it scratching?
Moisture-Wicking Properties: Have they succeeded in holding us dry throughout a sweaty practice?
Fit: How did they fit the various body shapes of our testing group?
Size Range: Does the brand have its size holes?
A combination of all this sweating, stretching and analysis has led to a list of six great pairs that I would heartily recommend to your own practice.
Best Yoga Shorts, Editors Tested and Approved.
Some definite winners came out of all that testing. These are the yoga shorts which have made a permanent place in my workout drawer.
The High Waist shorts at Jock: Our all round winner.
And the popular duo of the highest performance is, surprisingly enough, an Amazon one. This is because these yoga shorts were the right balance between coverage, comfort, and value to us. High-rise waist is comfortable and does not restrict the tummy, but rather it provides a very flattering fit.
We also discovered the inseam length to be just right–not so long that we feel covered when doing burpees or squats but not so short that we feel free and agile. These are polyester and spandex blends that are therefore light in weight, strong and can effectively wick moisture. The quality is unbelievable at the price.
Beyond Yoga So High Short: Best in Top Level Comfort.
When comfort is your chief concern, and you want buttery-soft comfort, then look no farther. The Beyond Yoga shorts are designed of their exclusive spacedye material, which is amazing on the skin. Their stretch is of the highest grade, and they are most suitable in deep stretches, and the poses of pigeon or crow where the main point is flexibility. They run with you and not panhandling you. Although they qualify as an investment, the fancy feel and the durability with which they are constructed makes them worth the daily wear.
Arc’teryx Essent Short: Ideal in running and hot yoga.
The Arc’teryx short was the first one we had doubts about, being a low-rise one, but the duo convinced us. They are very light and they fit snug and supportive and do not feel like they are carrying any weight. This allows them to be ideal when engaging in high-heat workouts such as a hot yoga or running when you want to feel uninhibited. The cloth wicks evaporate nearly immediately, keeping you cool and concentrated. They fit very well on the hips and are surprisingly slimming despite all being a low-rise garment.
Summary of Top Yoga Shorts
Fabric is Everything
Your shorts can make or break your practice depending on the material of your shorts. Stylist Kristen Saladino recommends avoiding cotton because it will soak up moisture, and you will feel clammy and uncomfortable. In their place, search the following performance fabrics:
Polyester This is an active wear workhorse. It is not heavy, sturdy and not shrinkage resistant. Most importantly, it pulls the moisture off your body keeping you dry.
Spandex (Elastane): This gives your yoga shorts the much needed stretch. It gives the opportunity to move freely without any kind of restriction, and thus you can transition between poses without any trouble.
The Golden Rules of Fit: Rise and Inseam.
Fit is not only your dimension. The two that should be considered the most are the rise and the inseam.
Rise: This is the distance between the crotch and the top of the waist band. The shorts that we are fond of are mostly high-rise, as we found high-rise to be the most flattering and has the best coverage. The high rise is usually accompanied by a drawstring, which enables you to make the shorts fit in such a way that they do not fall down during inversions or other vigorous movement.
Inseam: This is the crotch to bottom of leg distance. We tried the shortest biker pants and the Bermuda length pants. We have discovered that a mid-length inseam (usually 3-5 inches) is the best inseam that maintains coverage without losing the freedom of movement.
Practice to Your Shorts.
Not every yoga short is the same in each activity. Based on our testing:
In the case of Yoga and Pilates, you will be in need of the utmost stretch and tenderness, which means the Beyond Yoga shorts would be a perfect fit.
In the case of HIIT or Running a secure, moisture-wicking short such as the Arc’teryx pair will prove to be more suitable.
In case of everyday exercises, The Gym People shorts is a great fit as it fits everywhere and does not cost you an arm and a leg.
My Final Decision about Yoga Shorts.
It was an enlightening experience as I became a devotee of leggings to yoga shorts. The appropriate pair may truly improve the performance by comforting, letting you be free and be confident. The Gym People High Waist Shorts are good enough to buy the pair of shorts.
They are the unquestioned all-rounder, they have high-quality features at an unreasonable expense. The Beyond Yoga shorts are worth the indulgence of those who appreciate the luxury and softness of the shorts. Whichever right you decide make sure you do it with the appropriate fabric and fit that will make your experience special, like it did to me.
Asked Questions
What do I do to prevent my yoga shorts slipping up?
This was among our main anxieties in testing! Search in the type of yoga shorts that have an elastic or silicone lining that grips along the inner hem of the leg. This no-slip type of technology is used to fix the shorts. In addition, it is important to take notice of the inseam and identify a length that fits your leg shape.
So what is the most complimentary length of yoga shorts?
Flattery depends on the person, although in our experiment mid length inseam (approximately 4-5 inches) was the most flattering to everyone. It is loose enough to do squats and lunges and it even gives your legs a lengthy appearance. It is also a high-waisted style that will facilitate making a flattering shape.
Am I allowed to use yoga shorts in non yoga activities?
Absolutely! The finest yoga shorts are very versatile. We have tried our best selections to run, cycle, work out and even as cozy lounge wear. Their moisture-wicking and stretch features make them the appropriate fit in virtually any activity.
How should yoga shorts fit?
You should have tight, yet not tight, yoga shorts. You should have the ability of moving freely, stretching to great lengths and breathing without the waist band digging in. They must remain in position when they are moving without necessarily having to re-position them.
Should yoga shorts be compressed?
This is a matter of individual taste. The light to medium compression has the ability to offer muscle support and a secure feel, which is very desirable in high-intensity exercises. To get a more restorative or traditional yoga experience, you may want a less compressive, more flexible short to be able to breathe and move freely.
I wish this step-by-step guide will assist you in the process of locating the ideal pair of yoga shorts! You can contact me in case you have any additional questions.