The best lululemon shorts for women in 2024 – 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.
This guide is brought to you in partnership with lululemon. All words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Nourish Move Love and all the content you see on this blog possible.
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)
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 Nulufabric 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). Caroline is 5’5″ and typically wears a size 4 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size in the 8″ Align High-Rise Shorts.
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). Rachel is 5’8″ and typically wears a size 6 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size in the 6″ Wunder Train High-Rise Shorts.
Although these were designed specifically for runners, we love these shorts for strength training and HIIT as well. The lightweight, sweat-wicking Nulux fabric is fast-drying, breathable and made with four-way stretch to move with you through every stride.
These shorts come in two styles: biker shorts and classic-fit shorts. Our team prefers the biker short version – we found the leg opening on the classic-fit shorts to be a little wide for our personal comfort.
We especially loved how many pocket options you have with these – three waistband pockets and two side drop-in pockets for all your essentials. They also feature a “grip” fabric rather than hard seams at the leg opening. This prevents them from rolling up during runs, and helps avoid chafing.
Sizing Notes: these shorts run true to size, and come in a 3″ inseam (classic-fit) and 6″ inseam (bikers). Lindsey is 5’8″ and typically wears a size 6 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size in the 6″ Fast and Free High-Rise Biker Shorts.
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). Megan is 5’5″ and typically wears a size 8 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size in the 4″ Hotty Hot High-Rise Lined 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″). Rachel 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.
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″). Lindsey 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.
Best For: on-the-go casual wear, and for dressing up/down.
These are our go-to travel shorts. The Stretch French Terry fabric is a cotton-blend that’s so soft and naturally breathable, making these comfy shorts perfect for hot summer days.
We love how versatile these shorts are – they’re equally cute dressed up for dinner, or pulled on over swimsuit bottoms as a cover-up.
The wide, soft waistband doesn’t dig in at all, and can be customized with drawcord ties. I find these comfortable enough to use as sleep shorts as well.
Sizing Notes:these shorts run true to size. The Inner Glow shorts currently only come in one length – a high-rise, 3″ inseam. Lindsey is 5’8″ and typically wears a size 6 in bottoms. She is pictured wearing her typical size in the Inner Glow Shorts.
Best lululemon Shorts 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 Speed Up Short 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 Inner Glow Short and Softstreme Short which are both designed to be a more casual or everyday 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.
Pin This Post: The Best lululemon Shorts Review (lululemon Biker Shorts and Athletic Shorts)
This post includes affiliate links. I do earn a commission for products purchased using these links (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for supporting Nourish Move Love, making the content you see on this blog possible.
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!
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!