I practice three to five days a week. Hot power on Mondays. Slow yin on Thursdays. A quick home flow on Saturday when the dog naps. I live in Austin, so yeah, it’s warm. I’ve tried a lot of men’s yoga shorts that looked cool but failed the mat test. Some bunched. Some got swampy. One pair flashed the whole front row during headstand. Not my best moment.
Here’s what stuck, what didn’t, and the stuff I wish I knew before I bought my first pair. If you want a deeper dive into how different fabrics perform on the mat, this breakdown on It’s All About Yoga is a solid starting point. For an even nerdier comparison chart, scroll through the sweat-tested roundup of men’s yoga shorts I actually sweat in—specs, inseams, and stretch percentages included. I also found this detailed Yogi Review comparing men’s yoga shorts helpful when narrowing down choices.
My fit and what I look for
I’m 5'9", 180 lbs, thick thighs, 33" waist. I like a 7" to 8" inseam, so the leg doesn’t ride up in warrior two. I’m fine with a liner if it’s soft and not too tight. I also want:
- Stretch in all directions
- A wide waistband that doesn’t roll
- Flat seams (so no rub)
- Pockets that don’t flop during down dog
You know what? Pockets sound small. But a phone slapping your leg in chair pose is a no from me.
The four pairs I keep reaching for
Lululemon In Mind Short 8" (linerless)
My go-to for hot classes. The fabric feels smooth, not shiny. It stretches without that snap-back bite. In a 95°F flow, the waistband stayed put when I folded. No rolling, no pinching. The side pockets lay flat, and there’s a small key sleeve that doesn’t poke me in supine twist.
One night at a crowded class, I went from crow to tripod to headstand. Nothing rode up. No show. After class, I walked two blocks for tacos. The shorts dried fast enough that I didn’t feel soggy on the stool. Small gripe: dust and chalk from the studio floor cling a bit, so I brush them off after.
- I wear a Medium in these.
Vuori Kore Short 7" (with liner)
This is my “wear all day and maybe hit a class” short. The liner is soft, more like a brief than tight spandex. On a slow yin night, it’s perfect. No chafe. On a 75-minute hot power class, though, the liner felt a little swampy by minute 60. It didn’t smell, just felt damp.
I once did a long pigeon hold, then rolled into a twist. The leg opening stayed in place. No bunching in the hip crease. Great for post-class coffee too—looks like normal shorts.
- I wear a Medium; sits just above the knee on me.
Yoga Crow Swerve Short (with liner)
These are made for yoga, and it shows. The fabric is matte and a bit thicker. The inner short keeps everything covered during inversions. I did tuck jumps and a headstand at a workshop, and these didn’t budge. Zero see-through. Confidence boost.
Downside: after hot class, they feel heavy. They also take longer to dry on a hanger. On cool nights, they’re great.
- I wear a Medium; they run true.
Nike Dri-FIT Yoga Shorts 7"
Lightweight and breezy. On a 6 a.m. hot vinyasa, sweat didn’t pool. The back panel breathes well. The drawcord sits flat, so it didn’t dig into my belly during boat pose (that’s rare).
But when I stepped wide for triangle, the hem crept up more than I like. Also, in very bright light, the lighter colors can look a little thin. I stick to black or navy.
- I size up to a Large for a looser leg.
If you’ve ever worried about “are these bottoms see-through?” territory, you’ll appreciate this candid month-long test of white yoga pants and the real tea—the opacity lessons translate to shorts, too.
The budget pair that surprised me
BALEAF Men’s 7" Running/Yoga Shorts (with liner)
Under $30 and better than I expected. Stretch is solid. The liner is fine for short or medium classes. In a 45-minute home flow, no rub. After six months, some threads near the hem started to fuzz, and the liner got a bit rough. Still a good backup pair, and I don’t baby them on laundry day. If you prefer natural fibers, you can snag something like the Decathlon Men’s Organic Cotton Gentle Yoga Shorts for a similar price.
- I wear a Medium.
Real class notes (the stuff that matters)
- Hot power, 95°F: Lululemon In Mind stayed dry the fastest. Nike felt the lightest.
- Yin + long holds: Vuori Kore felt cozy; liner didn’t pinch in hip openers.
- Inversions: Yoga Crow Swerve gave the most cover and didn’t ride up.
- Commute + coffee after: Vuori looked the most “normal” outside the studio.
- Floor work: I liked shorts without hard zips; nothing presses into my hip bone.
Small but real thing: keys. A bouncy pocket key feels 10x bigger in chair pose. I use the tiny key sleeve in the Lulu pair or tie my key to the drawcord.
Sizing cheat sheet from my closet
- Lululemon In Mind 8" — Medium
- Vuori Kore 7" — Medium
- Yoga Crow Swerve — Medium
- Nike Dri-FIT Yoga — Large
- BALEAF 7" — Medium
If you’re between sizes, I size up when fabric is very light (Nike) and stick true on thicker fabric (Yoga Crow).
Fabric and features that actually help
- Inseam: 7" to 8" keeps the leg from creeping in warrior two.
- Liner: great for modesty; look for soft seams. Too tight = chafe.
- Gusset: that diamond panel in the crotch. It lets you squat without pulling.
- Waistband: wide and soft is king. No rolling when you fold.
- Pockets: flat, deep, and no hard zips for floor work.
- Weight: light for hot rooms, thicker for cool studios.
I know that sounds picky. But small things add up when you’re holding chair for eight breaths.
Care tips that saved my shorts
- Wash cold, hang dry. Heat kills stretch.
- Skip fabric softener. It locks in stink.
- For hot yoga funk: a splash of white vinegar or a sports wash like HEX or Rockin’ Green.
- Turn them inside out. Seams dry faster.
I learned the hard way. One trip in a hot dryer, and my favorite waistband got wavy.
My quick picks
- Best all-around: Lululemon In Mind 8" (linerless; I wear light compression briefs under them)
- Best for hot class: Nike Dri-FIT Yoga (go dark colors)
- Best for inversions and cover: Yoga Crow Swerve
- Best for all-day wear + class: Vuori Kore 7"
- Best budget: BALEAF 7" with liner
If you’re shopping for a yogi friend as well, pair any of these shorts with something from this list of yoga gift ideas I’ve actually used and loved—they’re clutch for birthdays or teacher-training grads.
If you like a liner, go Vuori or Yoga Crow. If you like freedom, go linerless Lulu and add your own briefs. Simple.
Final word from the mat
The right shorts help me focus on breath, not on tugging a hem or hiding a weird seam. I’ve had pairs that looked sharp in the mirror and then failed in the first sun salute. The five above passed real sweat, real bends, and a few not-so-graceful falls.
Feeling comfortable and confident on the mat often spills over into life outside the studio—maybe you leave class ready to meet new people or spark fresh connections. Si ese subidón de confianza te anima a explorar planes más allá de la esterilla, échale un vistazo a este análisis de Fuego de Vida donde encontrarás una revisión completa de la plataforma y consejos para aprovecharla de forma segura y efectiva si buscas encuentros con personas afines.
If your post-practice journey takes you to Greece and you’d like to channel that zen mindset into meeting new companions in the capital, the curated directory at Adult Search Athens