8 Best Trail Running Shorts of 2026

The Pudolla makes the value case against our top pick: a five-inch shell, a quick-dry finish, and a compression liner with its own phone pouch. There is also a small zip pocket at the rear waist, which is the right place for a key when you do not want anything swinging at your side. The liner is the main event, though, because it turns the phone into part of the short rather than a weight in a pocket.

That combination earns it our value pick. The liner holds the phone close enough that it does not thump around, and the outer short stays out of the way on climbs. The material is light and breathable, with a softer hand than the cheapest shorts here, so it does not feel like a compromise on hot days. It is a two-in-one that gets the important parts right without asking you to pay for extras.

Sizing is the part to slow down for. The listed five-inch inseam can land longer on some runners, and the waist runs inconsistent enough that the size chart matters more than your usual label. We treat it as a short to try before a long day, not one to order in a hurry.

Three zippered pockets are the reason the NORTHYARD made our shortlist. You get a place for a phone, a key, and a gel without anything sharing a compartment, and the zips are the flat, low-profile kind that do not dig into your hip under a belt. The shell is light and quick-dry, with the smooth, slightly synthetic feel common to lightweight shells.

The 5-, 7-, and 9-inch options are the other useful part. We like having the choice because trail coverage is personal: five inches for fast, open runs, seven for brush, nine for easy days or cooler weather. The longer lengths give you more coverage without changing the pocket layout, so the short does not become a different product when you size up the inseam.

The one thing we minded is the lack of a liner. You need your own support layer, and on hot days that is an extra piece to manage. For us, the NORTHYARD is the gear-heavy pick: it carries more and gives you length options, and the trade is a little more planning before you leave.

The women’s-specific cut is what makes the Stelle our women’s pick. It is a true two-in-one, with a built-in liner, zip pockets on the outer short, and additional pockets in the underlayer. That four-pocket setup is more than most shorts here offer, and it gives you a separate place for a phone, a key, and a gel.

We appreciated the liner most on longer efforts. It stays close without riding up, and the soft fabric keeps chafe down when you are moving for hours. The outer short has a relaxed leg that does not look like a race brief, which makes these easy to wear from trailhead to town.

Sizing is the part to get right. The shorts run small for a meaningful share of runners, so measure your waist and hips rather than ordering your usual label. Start with the chart and leave room for the liner to sit flat.

Five inches and not much else is the appeal of the MIER. It is a simple quick-dry shell with zippered hand pockets and a cut that stays out of the way when you pick up the pace. On hot, exposed trail, that minimal build is exactly what we want.

The zip pockets are the practical surprise. They are deep enough for a phone, and there is a small key compartment so your keys do not end up tangled with it. The fabric is soft and light enough that the short disappears, even when you are sweating hard.

The listed five-inch inseam can land closer to six on some runners, so check the size chart if you are between lengths. It is also the shortest-feeling short here, which is a plus on hot days and a miss if you want more thigh protection.

We keep the MIER for fast, minimal days when the route is smooth and the weather is hot. It is not the one we pack for a rocky, overgrown loop, but it is the one we notice least when the running is hard. That lightness is the whole point.

The budget price and the inseam range are what put Soothfeel on our list. You can choose a 5-, 7-, or 9-inch short, and each one comes with zippered pockets and a smooth, lightweight fabric that feels closer to silk than to the stiffer nylon shells here.

That makes Soothfeel a useful budget backup rather than a first-choice trail short. The zip pocket is large enough for a phone, and the fabric dries quickly enough for sweaty days. We noticed the short sits above the knee in the five-inch version, which keeps the stride clean without feeling too brief. The material has a silky hand that layers easily under a vest.

The thin fabric is the other trade-off. It feels cool and smooth, but it has less structure than the two-in-ones here, so it is better for dry, fast trails than for brushy, abrasive ones. Once the fit is right, it is an easy second pair to keep in rotation.

Seven inches is the differentiator for the CANGHPGIN. The longer inseam gives more thigh coverage than the five-inch shorts here, and the two-pack means you can keep one pair clean while the other is in the wash. You get quick-dry fabric, two front pockets, and a rear zip pocket for keys.

The coverage is why it earns a place for overgrown trails, cooler mornings, or runners who simply dislike a short hem. The drawstring holds the waist without digging in, and the fabric is light enough that the extra length does not feel like a hiking short. The rear zip is the pocket we trust for a key; the front pockets are better for a gel you plan to eat.

We treat the CANGHPGIN as a value two-pack rather than the pair we reach for first. The seven-inch length is a specific preference, and the two-pack format is the reason to consider it over a single premium short. If you want one pair for rocky, fast trails, the maamgic or NORTHYARD is the better starting point; if you want coverage and a spare, this one makes sense.

The high waistband is the first thing we noticed about The Gym People short. It sits above the hips, stays put on easy runs, and gives the short a casual look that works from trailhead to errands. The fabric is quick-dry and light enough for summer, though it has more structure than the silkiest shorts here.

The fit is flattering on a range of shapes, and the wider waistband is comfortable under a hydration vest. We did not get a race-day feel from it; the cut is relaxed enough for walking and hiking, which is where it spends most of its time.

The pocket is the weak spot. The side pocket is fine for a key or a gel, but it does not secure a phone, and there is no zip on it. If you run with a phone, plan on a belt or choose the Stelle instead.

We reach for this one on easy trail days and town errands, when comfort matters more than gear carry. The high rise sits well under a vest, and the quick-dry fabric handles sweat without clinging. It is a women’s short for the days when the run is not the whole point.