'I ran 15 miles to see if these $40 shorts would ride up, and they didn’t move an inch'

As a fitness editor, I review some of the best workout gear for a living. As a marathon runner, I know exactly what I’m looking for when it comes to the perfect pair of shorts — they need to be comfortable and breathable, with enough pockets for my phone, keys, and running gels, and a wide waistband that doesn’t budge as I pick up the pace. I’m notoriously picky, and for good reason.

Yet one pair that surprised me lately was the $44 Gymshark 2-in-1 running shorts. I’m a newcomer to the brand, and was impressed with the design and fit of these affordable shorts. Read on to find out more.

Gymshark Running 2-in-1 shorts: was $48 now $38 at Gymshark US

Right now, the shorts are on sale in the ‘smoke blue’ colorway, making them $38. At the time of writing, there are still a few sizes left. I tested the shorts in the ‘camo brown’ colorway, which are $44 right now.

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I’m currently training for my sixth marathon, and I religiously stick to my go-to Lululemon fast and free shorts for my long runs — at $78, however, they’re nearly double the price of the Gymshark pair. I prefer to avoid using a running belt if I can, so I need my shorts to carry my phone, a few gels, and my house key, and these 2-in-1 shorts ticked those boxes.

The drop-in leg pocket was big enough to hold my iPhone 16, and the other pocket could easily fit two gels. There’s no zipped pocket for my key, so if you’re pulling your phone out a lot on the run, be mindful of this.

The large, wide waistband sat comfortably across my stomach, and despite the lack of a drawcord, it didn’t budge on the run. I was slightly nervous about the under shorts riding up, especially as it’s the last thing I wanted to focus on during a long run, but they stayed put as I clocked up the miles.

While I tend to stick to cycling shorts to minimize chafing, I liked the style and fit of these shorts. The outer short is loose and flattering, while the undershort has all the pockets you need and prevents chafing.

Whether they stand the washing machine test of time remains to be seen, but for $44, these shorts were a pleasant surprise.

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