Curveball!: What Makes A Great Pair of Gym Shorts

I generally write about pretty heady, and often quite abstract, topics.  So I thought I’d change-up it up with a bit simpler post: what makes a pair of gym shorts great.

People don’t seem to know how to recognize a great pair of shorts.  They don’t know what they’re missing out on, so I thought this would be my one chance to enlighten.

This post is a compilation of 10 years of formal basketball experience, 7 years of basketball, 7 years of soccer, and 3 years of Track & Field. I know my athletic wear.

Here’s the best pair of versatile, all-purpose shorts I’ve ever worn.  They were bought for me by Michael Fitzgerald as a gift for a fraternity tradition:

100% polyester. Double-layered. The fabric is also thicker than most mesh shorts.  Greatness comes from getting all the details right.

They have  a thick elastic waistband, and a thicker drawstring.  This keeps them from stretching out, and also makes it less likely that the drawstring breaks (which seems to happen all the time with most shorts.)

Her’s something that most people really miss out on.  The manufacturer’s are finally getting it right (at least Under Armour is):  they’re putting pockets on gym shorts.  This is huge.

And lastly, of course, they’ve got great style.

I regularly use these for running, lifting weights, basketball, and about anything else.  They truly are the ideal athletic shorts.

Next time you are buying gym shorts, keep these qualities in mind. It’ll change your whole sportswear experience.

I challenge and invite anyone to find a better pair of shorts, or point out what these are missing.

-Kevin
3.26.2010