9 Pairs of Athletic Shorts That Actually Look Good

Sprinter Shorts The Adidas sprinter shorts are first in the athletic pantheon for one simple reason: They’re the best multisport shorts you can buy. They straddle a magic style line between contemporarily relevant and an ’80s Runner’s World ad. Think Tom Selleck on the beach without devolving to Magnum, P.I. soap opera. All of that is thanks to the scalloped, track-shorts-esque leg opening and the classic three stripes. A full suite of pockets (front two and a back wallet) make ’em life ready too, not just sport savvy. BLT Sweatshort Sweatshirt fleece feels like a stretch within the modern definition of athletic shorts, but if we look back to the invention of the sweatshirt itself—pioneered by Russell for college football players—it earns its right to sit within the sportswear category. Sweatpants and, by extension, sweat shorts are the original performance fabric, part of this whole lineage. I’ll never tire of referencing the photo of Muhammad Ali jogging through London, another black-and-white print hanging in my office.As for actual product recommendations, AYR makes a sweat short that feels like that Muhammad Ali photo, even if I’ve never boxed a day in my life and I’m making m...