9 Gym Shorts Materials For Specific Workouts

Feeling that your current shorts aren’t quite up to the task when you hit the gym? Nothing derails your fitness focus faster than shorts that creep up during squats or become uncomfortably saturated with sweat during intense cardio. It’s high time to select your ultimate champion—the perfect pair of gym shorts tailored for every single workout.

Whether your routine involves pounding the treadmill, lifting heavy weights, or finding your flow in yoga, the material composition of your shorts is a critical factor for peak performance.

Ready to revolutionize your gym wardrobe? Continue reading to explore the 9 best gym short fabric types optimized for specific activities and discover your new must-have shorts. If you’re looking to launch your own line, understanding these material differences is key. Learn more about working with a top-tier clothing manufacturer.

To determine the answer to the question, “What kind of material is used for gym shorts?” always check the label or description sewn into the seam or tag. This label contains all the essential information you need to guide your choice of athletic shorts materials:

Cotton performance fabric for gym shorts is an excellent selection for low-impact, casual workouts such as walking, light jogging, or cycling. As a natural fiber, cotton is renowned for its excellent breathability and incredibly soft comfort against the skin.

However, the significant drawback is that once cotton becomes saturated with sweat, it remains wet. For sports or high-intensity interval training (HIIT), cotton is generally not the optimal choice as it fails to effectively keep you dry and can lead to discomfort.

• For the best fit, seek mid-thigh to knee-length cotton shorts featuring an elastic waistband. This ensures flexibility and prevents slippage during activity.
• Loose-fitting cotton shorts enhance airflow and provide a greater range of motion, keeping you cooler.
• If you prefer a more tailored look, opt for cotton-spandex blend gym shorts. The spandex introduces necessary stretch and a snug fit while maintaining cotton’s breathability. A cotton blend is often more affordable—just ensure any synthetic components are also breathable.

Whether you’re visiting the gym casually or enjoying a relaxed neighborhood stroll, comfortable cotton gym shorts are a must-have staple in your fitness wardrobe. They are perfect for feeling relaxed and cool during your favorite easygoing exercises.

Mesh gym shorts are the ultimate choice for high-intensity training sessions where staying cool and comfortable is paramount. This material excels in three key areas:

For high-intensity training where performance and comfort are your top priorities, mesh fabric for athletic shorts is an undeniable winning choice. Stay cool, dry, and unrestricted—mesh will quickly become your trusted partner for all hardcore workouts. For businesses, consider partnering with an expert clothing manufacturer like Ludyway for high-quality mesh production.

Moisture-wicking cotton blends are a highly popular gym short material, particularly suited for cardio and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Shorts made from a cotton-polyester blend are lightweight and exceptionally breathable, helping to keep you comfortable during intense sweat sessions.

The synthetic polyester fibers work actively to wick moisture away from your skin, while the cotton component contributes desirable softness. These versatile and budget-friendly shorts represent a superb, all-around option for the majority of workout types.

Poly-Dri fabric is specifically designed and ideal for circuit training and HIIT. This lightweight, breathable mesh material effectively wicks moisture away from your body, ensuring you remain cool and dry. The flexible and loose fit of the fabric guarantees that your movement is never impeded during explosive exercises.

Poly-Dri shorts are also known for being exceptionally durable and long-lasting. The polyester blend handles repeated washing cycles well without losing its original shape. For maximum comfort, look for shorts featuring a tagless waistband and a seamless construction. Features like a reinforced gusseted crotch and flatlock seams are vital for preventing chafing when you are working up a significant sweat.

Choosing shorts in Poly-Dri or a similar poly-mesh fabric is an excellent decision for your high-energy, calorie-crushing workouts.

Spandex is the key material when your workout demands extensive, dynamic movement. Also known as Lycra or elastane, this synthetic microfiber gym short material possesses remarkable elasticity. This form-fitting material stretches with your body, enabling you to perform exercises using your full range of motion.

• Shorts made predominantly of spandex move seamlessly with your body, providing unparalleled flexibility and comfort during high-intensity interval training or kickboxing.
• Spandex blends effectively with other fibers like nylon or polyester, which helps the shorts to maintain their structural shape over time.
• To guarantee maximum mobility and stretch, look for shorts with a high spandex content, ideally between 80%–95%.

Since spandex can occasionally feel hot, features such as open sides, mesh panels, or moisture-wicking fabrics are beneficial for enhancing breathability. If you prefer a looser fit but still need stretch, choose shorts with spandex integrated into the side panels and waistband. For workouts where constant movement is a factor, spandex shorts are the ultimate champion. Learn how to source high-quality spandex shorts from a clothing manufacturer specializing in stretch fabric.

Nylon gym shorts are specifically designed for high-intensity workouts that cause you to sweat profusely. Nylon is a synthetic, hydrophobic material that excels at wicking moisture away from your skin, keeping you dry and comfortable. The fabric is both breathable and lightweight, which facilitates optimal flexibility and a full range of motion. Clothing manufacturer Ludyway focuses on this versatile fabric.

Nylon gym shorts are ideally suited for activities such as:

• Running (long distance and sprints)
• HIIT (High-intensity interval training)
• Crossfit and Bootcamp

While nylon might not provide sufficient coverage for certain poses in Pilates or hot yoga, for cardio, HIIT, and other sweat-inducing exercises, nylon gym shorts will keep you feeling cool, unrestricted, and ready to perform.

For demanding, high-intensity workouts like long-distance running, cycling, and HIIT, compression fabric is your undeniable best friend. Compression shorts are inherently form-fitting and are engineered to deliver targeted support to your hamstrings, glutes, and quadriceps muscles.

This support is crucial as it improves circulation, significantly reducing muscle fatigue and soreness. This allows you to push harder and further during your workout sessions. They are both incredibly breathable and moisture-wicking, keeping you perfectly dry and snug.

The compressive fit is especially beneficial for long bike rides and runs because it dramatically reduces friction and chafing. Compression shorts can also serve a dual purpose as a foundational base layer worn underneath looser gym shorts.

Compression gym shorts will leave you feeling supported, energized, and ready to consistently smash your personal records.

Polyester is a highly popular, lightweight, and breathable synthetic material frequently used for gym shorts. For swimming and all water-based sports, polyester workout shorts are an excellent, preferred option because they dry exceptionally fast and possess a natural resistance to damage from both chlorine and saltwater.

• Comfort and Practicality: They are light, flexible, and designed for active movement, ensuring comfort during intense aquatic workouts. The synthetic nature of the fabric also makes it incredibly durable and long-lasting.
• Moisture-Wicking: Polyester excels at drawing water and perspiration away from your skin and transferring it to the fabric’s outer surface for rapid evaporation. This breathability is critical for comfort, even during aerobic exercise in the water where you still generate perspiration.
• Chemical Resistance: As a synthetic material, polyester holds up remarkably well against exposure to pool chemicals and salt in seawater. The fabric will not stretch out, fade, or break down even after consistent use and frequent washing.

Polyester gym shorts deliver durability, practicality, and comfort for water aerobics, surfing, swimming, or any active water sport. They will effectively keep pace with your most intense aquatic activities while wicking away moisture and standing strong against chlorinated or saltwater conditions. For water-based exercise, polyester simply cannot be beaten.

Denim shorts are an unexpectedly stylish yet incredibly functional choice for weight or strength training. Denim is a robust, durable, and naturally odor-resistant gym shorts fabric capable of handling everything from heavy deadlifts to deep squats without tearing or immediate fraying.

The inherent thickness of the denim fabric provides a certain level of compression, which can help support your hamstrings, glutes, and quadriceps during demanding lifts. Denim gym shorts also frequently feature extra reinforcement, such as double-stitching at critical stress points, allowing them to endure repetitive, intense movements.

• For a more relaxed fit, denim shorts offer ample flexibility and a full range of motion for exercises like calf raises, lunges, and step-ups.
• If you prefer a closer fit, contoured denim gym shorts move with your body while still ensuring you can move freely.

Look for denim gym shorts that incorporate moisture-wicking liners, ventilation holes, or mesh panels for additional airflow, as denim itself is a heavier fabric. Whether you select a classic blue jean wash or a modern, stylish black pair, denim gym shorts are a high-performance, fashionable option for strength training that provides a great nostalgic appeal and the motivation to push through those extra sets.

Polyester is a synthetic material that is extremely popular for sports shorts, and for good reason. Polyester shorts are lightweight, highly breathable, and are designed to effectively remove moisture caused by perspiration away from the body. This combination makes them perfectly suited for intense gym workouts where remaining dry is a top priority.

Polyester shorts are an excellent option for a wide array of gym activities, including weighted strength training, cardio workouts, and interval training. They allow a full range of motion, moving comfortably with your body. Furthermore, polyester is known for its durability and wrinkle-resistance, ensuring your shorts maintain their integrity through countless workouts and wash cycles.

While polyester is ideal for most gym scenarios, for certain practices like Pilates or yoga, you might prefer a softer, more flexible fabric with a touch of spandex, such as nylon. For hot-weather outdoor runs, shorts blended with polyester-spandex will provide better overall ventilation. If you seek a reliable, all-around, and affordable pair of gym shorts capable of handling everything from free weights to cardio equipment, polyester is an outstanding choice that will be a trusty workout partner for years.

When selecting your gym shorts, or choosing a custom shorts manufacturer like Ludyway, always consider the specific workout you will be performing and the level of breathability, flexibility, and durability that you require.

Ultimately, the best gym shorts for you will perfectly match your workout’s needs to the right material features and personal comfort preferences.

You are now equipped with the essential knowledge for selecting the ideal gym shorts material for virtually any form of exercise. The type of sports fabric you choose plays a significant role in both your comfort level and overall productivity during a workout. Now that you have the understanding and resources, go out and achieve your fitness success!

And always remember to choose shorts that keep you feeling confident and cool during your workout so you can focus entirely on reaching your fitness goals.