Cory Smith has been a runner since 1992. He’s a full-time running coach who has been reviewing running gear since 2014. In addition to running shorts, he covers road running shoes and GPS watches, and he writes training articles for GearJunkie. So I asked a friend who works at a running specialty store what that 3 inches mean and found out that the length you see in the description of running shorts is the inseam length.

The length of your running shorts depends on your preference. However, If you are new to running and are looking to play it safe when it comes to choosing the length of your running shorts, I recommend going for 4 inches for the women and 5 inches for the men. Most versatile. Offers a decent range of motion and breathability while still modest to run in public.The 73% nylon and 27% spandex shell is remarkably light and airy with excellent mobility. Not once was the stretchy fabric confining. The shorts pretty much felt unnoticeable, and the brief-style liner was comfortable, offering a good amount of support without feeling restrictive.

Offered in a five-inch inseam only, we found the shorts offered outstanding mobility with no restriction. If you’re looking for a snug-fitting integrated brief, the liner offers the best support of any shorts we tested. Our fussy tester, who normally wears a separate brief for added support, found he could comfortably skip the added brief. The waistband is well-made and comfortable. The internal brief liner is one of the more supportive ones tested. While our lead tester typically wears a small, he opted for a medium and is glad he did, as it provided a more relaxed fit.The lightweight four-way stretch nylon and elastane blend shell is freaking amazing. Beyond running, these are the type of shorts ideal for lounging around the house in. As a bonus, they’re Polygiene anti-odor, antimicrobial treated.