When buying running shorts it is easy to go for a quality brand that look good. Unfortunately you can’t go for a run in them before you decide to buy! Choose a few pairs of brooks running shorts that you like the look of and go and try them on in the shop. Run up and down until you are confident they won’t ride up at the back and create an uncomfortable position for your bottom! A lot of shorts do this and I see many runners at the gym pulling their shorts out from where they shouldn’t be! We can joke about this of course, but if you are embarking on a long run or training hard for a competition this irritation will eventually become forefront in your mind and will blight your run.
Another thing you need to look for in brooks running shorts are the internal knicker or lack of. If you are a lady you will probably be wearing your own pair of knickers so another pair that is integral to the shorts are just going to make you hot. Of course, if you prefer to go commando then you may prefer some coverage.
Men may like the internal coverage as if the shorts are very short you will not have to worry about underwear but will get your support all the same.
It depends what the temperature is like when you run, but generally ladies prefer to wear their own knickers without the internal layer provided.
Now, it is very difficult to buy running shorts without the integral knicker so you will have to look around. Good places to look are discount sports stores who may stock some of the more old-fashioned shorts and ebay. Don’t worry if your shorts are second hand, they will be washed and you are only going to sweat in them anyway. Contemporary shorts sold in specialist running shops are only likely to sell the newer version of short with the integral knicker, so look around before you buy, ladies.
Brooks as yet have little in the way of technical compression shorts that compare with the top brands of Skins and Orca. Don’t worry about this though, as most compression shorts are made of nylon and create a lot of heat whilst running. Tight nylon running shorts may create less heat than their full tight counterparts but they may still make you uncomfortable in the gym on the treadmill. Outside they will perform better and if you really need to prevent injury and keep your muscles warmer than normal they may be for you. Unfortunately they are very expensive and some people just cannot get on with them and will waste their money.
Better to go for pair which are made from a polyester and lycra/spandex mix, which will still keep you warm but will allow perspiration to wick away allowing your body to breathe. While technical nylon running shorts will set you back a fair bit, traditional fabric mixes are much more reasonable.