Yoga
Yoga Shorts: When Less Really Is More
Yoga shorts beat leggings for hot yoga, power flows, and warm climates. Here's what to look for and what to avoid.
Some people just run hotter. Others find that leggings feel restrictive in deep hip openers or fast-moving flows. If you’ve ever peeled off your pants mid-practice and finished class in your underwear — no judgment — yoga shorts might be your answer.
When Shorts Make More Sense
Hot yoga is the obvious case. When the room is 95°F and humid, less fabric is less misery. But shorts also shine in power yoga, Ashtanga, and any outdoor summer practice where airflow matters more than coverage.
For men, shorts are often the default — and short yoga pants designed specifically for men’s practice have improved significantly in fit and function over the past few years.
What to Look For
Inseam length matters more than you’d think. A 2–4 inch inseam gives full range of motion without riding up into your inner thigh during lunges or splits. Go shorter only if you’re comfortable with it during inversions.
Look for:
- Built-in liner — eliminates the need for separate underwear and keeps everything in place
- Four-way stretch fabric — moves with you in every direction
- Wide, secure waistband — should stay put through forward folds and handstands without rolling down
Types of Yoga Shorts
Biker-style shorts (typically 3–5” inseam) offer compression and coverage — popular for yoga shorts for women who want thigh coverage without full leggings.
Loose running-style shorts offer more airflow and are common in men’s practice and casual studio settings.
Board shorts work for men in beachside or outdoor yoga, though the fabric is less forgiving in deep stretches.
What to Avoid
Skip anything that rides up, gapes at the inner thigh, or has a waistband so thin it folds over. Cheap fabric without real stretch will restrict your movement — the opposite of what you came for.
Less Fabric, More Presence
The Zen of it is simple: when you’re not adjusting your clothes, you’re practicing. The best yoga shorts for hot yoga — or any yoga — are the ones you forget you’re wearing. Less distraction. More breath. More mat.
That’s the whole point.