The 7 BEST lululemon Shorts (Size + Fit Guide)
The best lululemon shorts for women in 2025 – and a detailed guide to help you decide which is right for you. From running shorts that don’t dig in or ride up, to the most flattering and comfortable biker shorts for lounging, these are our top picks.
Shop shorts by style
- The best biker short for daily wear
- The best biker short for HIIT and strength training
- The best short for running (this used to be my favorite short, before lululemon changed the fit)
- The most popular lululemon shorts (personally my least favorite lululemon shorts)
- The best short for athletic quads
- The best training short with a flat, thick waistband
- The best high-waisted athletic shorts from lululemon (personally my new favorite lululemon shorts)
Trying to decide which pair of lululemon shorts is right for you? Our team put some of lululemon’s most popular pairs of shorts to the test to compare different styles, fabrics, compression levels, and inseam lengths.
A few reasons why we love shopping lululemon include:
- Free shipping and returns on every order (no minimum purchase)
- High quality products (everything I’ve purchased from lululemon has lasted me years)
Looking for more reviews? Check out our top lululemon scores in We Made Too Much, best lululemon leggings, best lululemon sports bras and best shorts to wear under dresses.
Best lululemon Shorts
Best lululemon Shorts
- Align High-Rise Shorts. Buttery soft and smooth – the best short for daily wear, also great for pregnancy and postpartum. 💜 NML Team Favorite
- Wunder Train Biker Shorts. The most compressive biker short, great for strength and HIIT.
- Fast and Free Shorts. These used to by my all-time favorite lululemon shorts; great for running. But lululemon recently changed the shape and fit of this short and I’m no longer a fan of how they fit.
- Hotty Hot Shorts. A classic lululemon staple, but personally my least favorite lululemon short.
- Track That Shorts. A great athletic mom-short, the 5 inch inseam offers solid coverage and they are made for athletic quads and thighs.
- Speed Up Shorts. A training short that many people love for the thick, flat waistband.
- Pace Rival High-Rise Shorts. A new find and currently my favorite lululemon short because I love the high-waist, roomy thighs, comfort and coverage. 💜 NML Team Favorite
1. Align High-Rise Short
Best For: yoga, pilates, athleisure, and pregnancy/postpartum.
This is the biker short that made biker shorts cool again. Made with the same super soft buttery Nulu fabric you’d find in the Align Pant, these are our top pick when it comes to comfort.
The Aligns are our team’s most worn shorts – they’re truly perfect for everything from lounging to working out. Lindsey also lived in these shorts during pregnancy and postpartum.
Sizing Notes: these run true to size, but have a good amount of stretch. If you’re between sizes, we recommend sizing down. The Align shorts come in various lengths (2″, 4″, 6″ and 8″ inseams). Megan is 5’5″ and typically wears a size 8 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size in the 6″ Align High-Rise Shorts.
2) Wunder Train Short
Best For: a compressive short for HIIT and strength training.
These shorts are made for your sweatiest workouts. The fast-drying Everlux fabric has the most “hug” or compression to stay up through training sessions. They were also designed with extra shape retention, which is great if you wear your shorts more than once before washing.
We also love that the Wunder Trains come in two fits: Classic and Contour Fit. The Contour Fit is more snug at the waist and has extra room through the hips and thighs – perfect for athletic or curvy builds.
Sizing Notes: these shorts run true to size, but are definitely the most compressive short we tried on. If you’re between sizes, we recommend sizing up. The Wunder Train shorts come in various lengths (2″, 4″, 6″ and 8″ inseams). Caroline is 5’6″ and typically wears a size 6 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size in the 6″ Wunder Train High-Rise Shorts.
3) Fast and Free High-Rise Short
Best For: running and cardio.
These shorts were specifically designed for runners and have extra room in the leg opening and hips for a long stride. The lightweight swift fabric has four-way stretch for moving in all planes of motion.
Note: These were my favorite shorts for running, strength training and HIIT workouts. However, the new version is more low-rise and shorter in the back (personally, not my favorite anymore).
Sizing Notes: These shorts run true to size. Lindsey is 5’8″ and typically wears a size 6 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size 6 in the Fast and Free High-Rise Short.
4) Hotty Hot Short
Best For: running and everyday wear.
The Hotty Hot short is a fan favorite and great for various types of training, including running.
These workout shorts were designed for runners, with extra room in the leg opening and hips for a long stride. The lightweight Swift fabric has four way stretch for moving in all planes of motion and subtle mesh panels for ventilation.
Sizing Notes: these shorts run small – we recommend ordering one size up, especially if you have athletic quads. The Hotty Hot shorts come in two rises (low-rise and high-rise) and various lengths (2″, 4″, 6″ and 8″ inseams). Allison is 5’8″ and typically wears a size 6 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size in the 4″ Hotty Hot High-Rise Lined Short.
5) Track That Short
Best For: athletic quads and more room through the thighs.
The Track That short was specifically designed with athletic quads in mind. The ‘split short’ design on the sides provides extra room in the leg opening and hip area.
This short felt more lightweight and “flowy” to us compared to other lululemon shorts. Made out of the same Swift fabric as the Hotty Hots, these are great shorts for sweating in. This short also has a small side zipper pocket that securely holds a credit card or key during runs.
Sizing Notes: these shorts run true to size. The Track That shorts come in two rise options (mid-rise or high-rise) and two lengths (3″ or 5″). Lindsey is 5’8″ and typically wears a size 6 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size in the High-Rise 3″ Track That Short.
6) Speed Up Short
Best For: an athletic short with additional coverage and length.
The Speed Up shorts have a wide, flat waistband that is all about keeping you comfortable on long runs and training sessions. The stretchy waistband is also great for pregnancy and postpartum.
This lined short felt like it offered more coverage through the thighs and butt compared to other styles. The sweat-wicking Swift fabric is lightweight without being clingy.
Sizing Notes: these shorts run true to size. The Speed Up shorts come in various rises (low-rise, mid-rise, and high-rise) and inseam lengths (2.5″ and 4″). Rachel is 5’8″ and typically wears a size 6 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size in the High-Rise 4″ Speed Up Short.
7) Pace Rival High-Rise Shorts
Best For: training and running.
These shorts were specifically designed for runners and have extra room in the leg opening and hips for a long stride. The lightweight Swift fabric has four-way stretch for moving in all planes of motion.
The Pace Rival shorts are longer in length compared to the Fast and Free High-Rise Short offering more coverage mid-stride. I personally prefer these for running and training, and they’ve quickly become my new favorite lululemon shorts.
Sizing Notes: these shorts run true to size. Lindsey is 5’8″ and typically wears a size 6 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size in the Pace Rival High-Rise Short 3″.
FAQs
What Are The Best lululemon Shorts?
The Hotty Hot Shorts are a lululemon classic, and one of the most popular shorts purchased online. These are loved by reviewers both as a running short and for casual wear. Our team loves the buttery soft Align Shorts for everyday wear and lounging.
Are lululemon Shorts For Working Out?
lululemon makes some of the best shorts for working out. Each style is tailored to different needs and athletic activities. For example, the Pace Rival Shorts and Fast and Free Shorts are great for runners. Whereas the Align Shorts are great for yoga and low impact lifting.
Do All lululemon Shorts Have A Liner?
Most of lululemon’s athletic shorts for women have a built-in liner for additional coverage. If you prefer linerless shorts, lululemon offers the Softstreme Short which is designed to be a more casual short.
What Are The Best lululemon Shorts to Squat In?
The Track That athletic short and Fast and Free biker short are our personal favorites for squatting in. The Track That shorts have a built in liner and four way stretch fabric for coverage and comfort through the full range of motion of a squat. If you prefer a biker short, the Fast and Free biker shorts are sweat wicking and super stretchy, with extra coverage thanks to the longer length.
More Reviews
lululemon ReviewsPin This Best lululemon Shorts Review (lululemon Biker Shorts and Athletic Shorts)
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Love these reviews. They are way more helpful than trying to decipher anything on the website. I wasn’t sure where to start and I’m nowhere near a Lululemon store. Thank you for using different body types and including their height and usual sizes.
Hi Dani! I’m so glad you find these reviews helpful — always nice to see these items on ‘real people’ with sizing details too! Thanks for reading! -Lindsey
Love posts like this! It is so much more helpful than just reading clothing reviews on the company website. I’ve been looking for some new running/workout shorts as the weather warms up, now I know where to look. Thanks, NML!
Emma! So glad you are loving our clothing reviews and find them helpful! Keep coming back for more!