5 Best Yoga Shorts 2023
Yoga is a practice which is designed to relax and strengthen the mind and body. It’s a practice which requires a great amount of focus.
With that being said, the last thing you want is for your clothing to be the thing distracting you! Shorts are a commonly used article of clothing as there’s minimal fabric to fuss with.
After some in-depth research, we’ve compiled a guide with the 5 best yoga shorts currently on the market. Each product review includes the highlights, an overview, and what real consumers are saying about each model. Let’s take a look!
Our picks for the Best Yoga Shorts are listed here, in no particular order:
- BALEAF Women’s High Waist Yoga Shorts
- Oalka Women’s Yoga Shorts
- ODODOS Yoga Short
- 90 Degree by Reflex High Waist Yoga Shorts
- ALWAYS Women’s Workout Yoga Shorts
BALEAF Women’s High Waist Yoga Shorts
The BALEAF Women’s Yoga Shorts are an incredibly affordable, attractive option if you’re serious about your athleticism. While they may be easy on the budget, they’re known for being incredibly comfortable – even during hot yoga classes.
Comprised of 87% polyester and 13% spandex, they’re the perfect blend between tough and stretchy. Moreover, they’re also moisture-wicking and breathable to eliminate that muggy feeling that can cause chafing easily. On top of that, the seams are also ergonomically designed and chafe-free.
The full-coverage, high-rise design won’t cause any discomfort or cutting into the skin which can cause muffin top. Instead, these are made to offer a sleek and streamlined appearance.
A gusseted crotch will allow for a wide range of motion, which is crucial in yoga and just about any other sport. You’ll also find large side pockets, which are perfect for keeping your smartphone handy when you’re out of class.
What Users Say
What did reviewers have to say about the BALEAF Women’s High Waist Workout Yoga Shorts? Overall, our assessment was quite positive. Let’s take a look at some of their main raves and rants.
One of the most commonly mentioned pros was that the shorts came above the belly button, holding in any extra weight they may have. Even during more intense activities like running, the thick waistband keeps everything in and doesn’t slide down.
Adjustments were few and far between, which is important when you’re participating in any sport or physical activity. This is also partly due to the length, which seems to be a bit longer than the norm out there.
The material is matte instead of shiny, which seemed to be a point of contentment all across the board. Moreover, it was great for yoga, as the material is lightweight and stretchy, yet sturdy enough for long-term use. In addition, the hand pockets made it easy to carry along essentials like keys, cards, and a smartphone.
Oalka Women’s Yoga Shorts
The Oalka Women’s Yoga Shorts are similar in many ways to the previous model we covered. However, they are a bit more affordable, with some small differences as well.
Available colors are quite varied, though the majority of the options are made up of darker, neutral colors like Navy Blue, Army Green, and Black. However, you do get some more interesting colors like Space Dye Camo Blue, Mustard, and Pink, too.
Depending on if you opt for the Space Dye or Normal colors, you’ll either get a blend of Polyester/Spandex or Nylon/Spandex.
The nylon is a bit softer and more stretchy, though both are lightweight, breathable, and wick moisture away from the body. 4-way stretch fabric makes sure to move with your body instead of against it, so you don’t have to deal with any cutting into the skin or squeezing.
As they’re non-see-through and shrink-proof, you can count on them lasting a while, too.
The high-waist style is made for tummy control, great coverage, and extra support while working out. This is especially helpful while bending and stretching, which is prevalent in yoga. The gusseted crotch also allows for an excellent range of motion while keeping thighs from rubbing together which can be painful after a while.
Just like with the previous model, these best yoga shorts also come with a large side pocket to fit large smartphones, cards, IDs, keys, and more.
What Users Say
The full-coverage style was favored by reviewers as they required few adjustments, which made them more convenient to wear. While they were a bit long for some, most seemed pleased with the slightly longer legs as they didn’t ride up during yoga, biking, jogging, etc.
The waistband is also wide enough for most consumers, and it doesn’t roll or ride. In addition, the fabric feels high-quality and thick enough that you know you’ll be able to inflict regular wear-and-tear on them and they’ll still hold up.
In fact, many users proclaimed that even after multiple goes in the washing machine, they still hold their shape nicely with no pilling or thinning!
They’ve reported that the 2 side pockets also hold some of the largest smartphones on the market, and due to the relatively compressed design of the yoga attire, they don’t easily fall out.
ODODOS Yoga Short
While there’s definitely quite a bit of appeal to longer yoga shorts, they’re not for everyone. If you’re someone who likes those that fall mid-thigh, then check out the ODODOS Yoga Short.
Though shorts are often known to be unforgiving, this model works to change that mindset. The fabric is made to contour and streamline the body, lifting and shaping to give you the best look possible. T
he compression helps with support and has even been known to boost circulation which helps with athletic performance and recovery. In addition, the high waist band provides further support and helps give the appearance of a flat stomach.
Depending on the color you choose (out of over 20+ options), your shorts will either be made of polyester/spandex or nylon/spandex. The former is a bit rougher yet will end up stretching a bit less over time.
The nylon is going to give a softer, smoother feel on the skin though has been known to stretch more with continued use.
Regardless, each short comes with 4-way stretch to move as your body does, even in the most difficult of yoga poses.
The non see-through fabric will allow you to feel 100% confident no matter where you are, also making it perfect for just about any type of sport.
Comfort is at the forefront of the design, moving moisture away from the skin to readily allow it to be evaporated. You never have to worry about feeling like you just took a dip in a swamp!
Two pockets are conveniently placed, with one on each side of the legs. These are perfect for keeping little necessities like your gym card, car keys, earbuds, and more.
What Users Say
Reviewers were overall pleased with these shorts, though we can’t claim they are perfect. The main issue here was that the fabric tends to show stains. Aside from that, the legs don’t bunch up, even during lunges, running, etc. The fabric maintains its integrity well as it doesn’t sag, even with the weight of a large smartphone in one of the pockets.
The elastic is form-fitting and snug, though not too tight, which ensures the shorts don’t ride up. However, a couple of reviewers complained that the seam right down the crotch was a bit of an annoyance at times.
The pockets are nice and spacious, though secure enough to keep your belongings safe even while exercising. Due to these features and more, the general consensus was that these were an excellent budget buy.
90 Degree High Waist Yoga Shorts by Reflex
Another one of the best yoga shorts out there are the 90 Degree by Reflex High Waist Yoga Shorts . Earning the esteemed title of one of “Amazon’s Choice” products, they have been proven time and time again to work well in all kinds of exercise settings.
While they only come in Black, the design works well with just about any other colors in your closet. They have a very sleek, minimal style that will jive with any existing tops you may have, too.
The yoga shorts are perfect for cycling, lifting, hiking, running, and most other sports out there without restriction. The fabric is comprised of a nylon/spandex blend which is incredibly stretchy yet still compresses to improve blood flow and recovery.
The 5.5-inch shorts not only encourage free movement but also wick moisture away from the body so you’re always cool and dry. The interlocked seams aid in this high level of comfort, minimizing the risk of rubbing or chafing. Similar to the others we’ve taken a look at so far, this model has a high-waisted elastic band for tummy control and extra support.
Instead of side pockets like the others have offered, these shorts have a hidden pocket in the waistband. While it’s not large enough to store a smartphone, it is great for hiding away keys, cards, hair ties, and other smaller items.
What Users Say
Users gave an impressive 4.5/5 stars on this model, though there were a couple of complaints. A couple of consumers stated that they felt they were a bit reminiscent of fitted mens’ boxer briefs, and that the legs did occasionally ride up. However, there weren’t many downsides aside from these statements.
Now, let’s move onto the upsides. First, many loved how well the waistband stayed in place and provided consistent support/tummy control. This made them a favorite to use on their own for sports, as well as under dresses and skirts to provide some extra contouring and slimming!
The material washes great without any fading, and don’t pill on the inner thighs like so many other options do. Overall, very few consumers had to adjust their shorts, even during high-intensity workout sessions.
ALWAYS Women’s Workout Yoga Shorts
If you’re on the hunt for some of the best yoga clothes out there, then give a look to ALWAYS. Their Women’s Workout Yoga Shorts are some of the top-rated on the market today, and there are plenty of reasons why.
First off, these shorts come in some of the cutest colors we’ve seen, and there are a bunch to choose from – just about any color you can imagine! Some even come with white accented hems which give it a kind of retro sporty look.
Made of polyester and spandex, they feature the perfect combo of durability and stretchiness. They’re just soft enough so that they won’t cause chafing, but won’t wear down quickly either. They’re super lightweight and stretchy to make sure they never restrain you, even while doing difficult poses, cardio, etc.
In addition, they won’t ever become see-through, even when they’re stretched, so you can feel confident when you have them on.
Made to absorb sweat and dry quickly, they’re perfect for hot summer days, intense exercise, and just lounging around. The slimming effect instantly makes you look and feel great, while offering gentle compression to the midsection.
What Users Say
The ALWAYS Women Yoga Shorts receives consistently positive reviews. We had a few complaints here and there, though nothing major.
First, reviewers recommended that you purchase a size up and they do run a bit small. While they do stretch well, going a size up just makes everything feel less restrictive and allows you to move better.
Quite possibly the most mentioned plus was how buttery soft and smooth the material felt. They also reported how the fit and compression lifted the booty and offered more definition. This makes them great to wear alone, or even wear under a pair of sweatpants, dress, or skirt, if you’d like. As the waistband is so flexible, you don’t have to worry about any discomfort.
How to Choose the Right Shorts
With so many excellent options on this guide, it may be difficult to narrow down your options to just one. That’s why we’ve decided to go ahead and write up the comprehensive buying guide below, which will take you through each step of the selection process!
Length
First, we recommend deciding which length of shorts you want. Do you prefer those that are a bit longer and reach towards the knee, genuine booty shorts, or somewhere in the middle? Once you do this, you’ve already narrowed down your options quite a bit.
Longer shorts are great for cycling, running, and other exercises where you’re often lifting your legs up high. This is because longer models are less likely to ride up. They may also make those who don’t often wear shorts feel a bit more comfortable.
Mid-length shorts are what most users tend to go for, and still stay in place very well.
Short shorts offer the least amount of restriction and let you feel completely free while you’re doing yoga or other sports. However, these don’t often let you carry your smartphone or many other important items with you as they’re not big enough for pockets which would accommodate them.
Fabric
The fabric is also important, and here you’ll find either a polyester/spandex blend or a nylon/spandex blend. There is no “better” option – it’s all down to personal preference.
Polyester – Polyester is known for being a bit unforgiving in terms of stretch, and is also a bit stiff at times. However, it increases durability well so you can count on them lasting a long time and not fading. It’s often combined with spandex as spandex adds the extra stretch you need. The fabric works great for compression and tummy control purposes, too.
Nylon – Nylon isn’t as durable, but it’s ultra-soft and stretchy so if you don’t want to feel constrained at all, you may want to give it a go.
The best yoga brands will make products that are durable regardless.
Pockets
Pockets can be a handy feature to have, especially if you don’t like carrying backpacks or purses with you to yoga class. Pockets will often be found on the side of each leg, and most on our guide are big enough to accommodate a smartphone, keys, and other necessities.
The shorter models will often have a little hidden pocket somewhere in the waistband that can hold keys, hair ties, etc.
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga is one of the most popular practices out there, and for good reason. It’s only gotten increasingly popular in recent years, too.
Yoga offers benefits to both the body and mind. The mind and the muscles become loosened up and more pliable, at times becoming very similar to meditation on its own. The mind/body connection becomes strengthened as holding some of the poses requires just as much mental strength as physical.
As far as physical benefits go, you’ll be able to increase your flexibility, muscular strength, and tone which is often why people join yoga classes in the first place. However, you’ll also be able to improve your respiration, energy, vitality, and even metabolism!
Now that you know just about everything you could ever want to about the best yoga shorts, which pair are the perfect ones for you? While it all comes down to personal preference, the good thing is that no matter which ones you choose, you’ll be getting one of the most high-quality, best-rated models out there.
Thanks for staying tuned and we’ll see you again soon. Happy yoga-ing!
