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One of the reasons I love running so much is that you can start without really having to break the bank. All you usually need is a pair of running shoes and some basic running clothing like a T-shirt and shorts. That being the case, there is a lot of running apparel that can be pretty expensive. So today I found myself wondering, how much should running shorts cost?
Running shorts generally cost anywhere from $20 – $100. The price of the running shorts can often be down to factors such as brand, quality and design. Although runners can spend a lot of money on running shorts, there are also high-quality affordable options.
You don’t need to just take my word for it. To get an honest idea of how much runners think their running shorts should cost, I headed to an online forum and asked a group of runners how much they thought their running shorts should cost. The results are in.
What Runners Think
| Choice | Votes (%) |
| $10-$20 | 58 (27.4%) |
| $20-$50 | 125 (59%) |
| $50+ | 29 (13.7%) |
It seems that out of everyone who voted, the majority of runners believe that running shorts should cost around $20 – $50.
With this in mind, we need to dig a little deeper into the different factors that can have an impact on running shorts and price.
Factors That Affect Running Shorts Price
Quality
Stitching
Running shorts go through a lot of wear and tear. So making sure the stitching of the garment is high quality can help prevent your running shorts from easily falling apart. Typically, the more time and effort that’s gone into the stitching of the running shorts, the more they will cost.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that running shorts can be stitched in different ways depending on the type of shorts. For example, whilst V-Notch running shorts are sewn down the seam into a v- shape, split leg shorts have no seam and appear to overlap. You can read more about the different kinds of running shorts in this article I wrote.
When it comes to stitching, runners should pay special attention to areas of the shorts which are most likely to tear. Examples include around the pockets and below the groin where the stitching tends to meet.
Materials
The higher the quality of the material the more likely the running shorts will cost a little extra. Running shorts that are made from water-resistant materials that repel sweat and reduce chafing have had a lot more time and effort go into their features than a pair of basic sweatpants. That being said, if you want to learn more about running in sweatpants, check out this article.
Examples of high-quality materials used for running shorts include spandex, nylon, bamboo, polyester and polypropylene. All these different materials can come at different price points. For example, Bamboo is produced less than polyester and the process takes longer to create it. So it costs more. Manmade materials like polypropylene are generally the cheapest.
Waterproof
Running shorts that repel sweat are usually more expensive than those that don’t because of the effort that’s gone into making sure that the running shorts can wick away sweat and keep you dry. Fortunately, many of the high-quality materials mentioned above are typically waterproof or can at least keep the runner a little dry.
Design
Type Of Shorts
I’ve actually written about the three main types of running shorts and which kind runners prefer the most. You can find it here. Spoiler alert, more than 48% of runners prefer compression shorts.
Different styles of running shorts can come at different price points. Compression shorts are made with technology in mind and will typically cost a little more than V-Notch or Split-leg shorts. Typically V-Notch is the most popular type of shorts for runners and are generally the most available. So it’s likely you’ll be able to find them at the cheapest price.
Reflective
Reflective material is often put into running shorts to make them easily visible. This comes in useful for runners who plan on running on the road. You can learn more about the rules of running on the road here. If you’re looking for some reflective running shorts that will help increase your chances of being seen and decrease your chances of getting into an accident, I would reccomend a pair of these Nike 7’’ shorts.
Pockets
Running shorts designed with pockets can often cost a little more than running shorts that come without pockets because they are generally seen as an additional selling point of running shorts. Check out these by Tenjoy for example, which Amazon boasts as coming equipped with a zipper pocket.
Lining
The built-in mesh lining of running shorts (more commonly known as built-in underwear) is perfect for reducing chafing and offering comfort to runners. I would say that it’s more essential than a luxury, especially if you plan on running long distances where running shorts can continuously rub over time.
If you’d like to learn more about the lining of running shorts you can find out all about their pros and cons by checking out this article I wrote. A lot more time and effort go into running shorts that have built-in underwear. So there’s a good chance you’d be paying more for this design.
Brand
Typically, official running brands often care a lot more about the quality of their running shorts than lesser known brands. For example, Walmart are a lot less likely to worry about the quality of their running shorts when compared to the likes of Brooks or Nike.
On the other hand, it’s important not to get sucked in by designer brands that are of low quality. Just because a pair of running shorts have a well-known brand on the front of them doesn’t mean that they are the best quality. You should still check out the specs.
With this in mind, if you’re looking for a pair of running shorts that are of high quality, a great brand and have a brilliant design I would recommend going for a pair of Reebok Running Shorts. Reebok offer a great range of split-leg, V-Notch and compression shorts that boast lots of cool features. Examples include this pair for women which are designed for steep hill runs and this pair for men which comes with a built-in compression layer.
Reebok Women’s Running Printed Shorts in Black Size S – Running Clothing
Reebok Men’s Running Two-in-One Shorts in Vector Blue Size S – Running Clothing
Want to learn more about running shorts? Click here!
