Strike a Pose with the Best Yoga Shorts

Not too tight. Downright comfortable. A slew of colorways and inseams to choose from. What more could you want from the always-impressive Kore Short from Vuori? We found no snags across our yoga sessions in these shorts, and always appreciated the soft, lightweight coziness of the boxer-brief liner. These shorts even have convenient side pockets for storage in-between flows, but they are a little deep and can even poke out of the bottom hems if weighed down with a smartphone.

Sweat marks be damned with these linerless beauties from Lululemon. We tested the 6-inch Balancer Short in a handful of hot yoga sessions and were surprised at how easily the Everlux fabric wicks away moisture yet still retains that cool interior feel. Plus, the elastic-free waistband laid cozily across our midsection, taking that bulky, bunched up fit out of the equation. If you can stomach paying over $80 for yoga shorts, you’ll be hard pressed to find a bottom that’s more comfortable and flexible than these ready-to-flow shorts.

Premium yoga apparel doesn’t need to cloud your mind with expensive price tags. Designed specifically for yoga practices, the Solstice Short from Anthem Athletics features a Spandex profile that moves easily with you as you transition into your favorite pose. We like that the Solstice is available in either 5- or 7-inch inseams for added variety, as well. While some might find the thicker waistband to be a distraction, these cost-effective bottoms are worth a test-run, or three.

If you’ve already have a go-to pair of shorts, one of the best investments is a quality liner. We favor the Quest Quick Dry Mesh Long Boxer Brief from Saxx because of the lightweight profile and more than suitable leg coverage. Plus, the brand’s BallPark Pouch and Flat Out Seams give these briefs that supportive, comfortable fit you’d want down yonder. If you’re one to let your style speak through your attire, however, you may find the available patterns and colorways a little lacking.

Editor’s Note: For those wanting a little more compression in their liner, Saxx also offers a Kinetic Light-Compression Mesh Liner that’s just the right amount of snug for yoga disciplines.

If you want a versatile yoga short that fits in on the mat or on the couch, this is the perfect choice. We can’t hype the softness of the Recharge’s Performance Fleece Fabric enough, and the cut gently hugs the thigh so you don’t have to worry about ride-up, either — although we’d still recommend pairing these shorts with a liner. Naturally, however, fleece may not be the best choice for warmer flows, so we’d say to save these for light morning sessions before you tackle your day or unwind accordingly.

As the brand states, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill yoga shorts. The Swerve Short from Yoga Crow boasts a unique Nylon and Polyester Performance Blend that works with your sessions and moves effortlessly with each stretch. We also like the added antimicrobial treatment to the boxer-brief liner, allowing these shorts to be worn multiple times before a required wash. While they can begin to collect sweat, and thus weight, during more intense sessions, we never lost focus when in the flow state thanks to these ultra-flexible bottoms.

The Traction Short's interlocking waffle construction helps it win both style and feel points, but it also provides a high degree of breathability. The uptick in airflow was a welcome perk when practicing in these bottoms, along with the interior drawstring to achieve that ideal fit around the waist. At just under $100, however, they are a bit of an investment. If breathability is a top concern for you, these are the ones — but expect to only afford one pair.

While many of the included yoga shorts in this list feature a lined silhouette, there’s still something to be said about linerless options, and in our opinion, the best of the bunch is Rhone’s 7-Inch Mako Tech Short. We particularly enjoyed these shorts in outdoor yoga sessions, in part due to the DWR Finish that promotes water resistance. Convenient storage features like a mesh media pocket on the right leg and zippered stash pocket on the left also allowed us to easily tote our small essentials around in-between routines. Just be mindful of that previously-mentioned DWR Finish. It can be great for keeping moisture out, but isn’t the most breathable feature.

For maximum short coverage, you want to look at longer inseams that sit just above or directly at the knee. The Super Mojo IIs from Prana feature a whopping 10-inch inseam that provides plenty of lightweight, durable coverage, albeit in a linerless silhouette. The recycled Polyester blend is plenty comfortable, but the real calling card is the Super Mojo II’s drawcord-free, elastic melange waistband. This support system sits plush against the skin and practically disappears when in a flow. Is a long short for everyone? No, but if this is your desired style, look no further.

There are plenty of athletes out there that follow multiple disciplines, so having a short that fares well on the mat, in the gym or on the road is a must. Ten Thousand emphasizes versatility above all else in the Interval Short, and these bottoms can do pretty much anything. We’ve been big fans of the exterior shell that easily wicks away moisture while remaining durable enough to withstand some aggressive training. One thing to note, though, is that the built-in liner is closer to a traditional compression short than others on this list, meaning you may find the material less breathable in hotter conditions.