These Cute, Affordable Running Shorts Help Prevent Chafing and Won't Ride Up

While feeling the warm sun and a cool breeze on your bare legs is welcome now more than ever, some may feel like running shorts can only bring one thing: thigh chafing. It's one of the most uncomfortable feelings ever due to skin-to-skin rubbing mixed with moisture—a.k.a. sweat.

Avid joggers and curvy ladies alike know this feeling all too well, experiencing thigh chafing on a normal basis, however, with the proper moisture-wicking running shorts, chafing won't have a fighting chance. Jenelle Deatherage, P.T., O.C.S., a former professional runner who competed in five Olympic trials and is now a sports medicine physical therapist at UW Health, tells Prevention that the right kind of running shorts are designed to prevent thigh chafing among other things.

What makes a good pair of running shorts?

Everything from absorbent fabric to material length plays a part in a comfortable running experience from the waist down. And the fit? Well, finding running shorts that suit your body type is extremely important, says Deatherage. As you're trying on different pairs, use the “march test” method. “Make the movements your body will be making when you run,” Deatherage says. “March up and down a bit to see if the shorts stay in place or if they ride up or bunch anywhere.”

If you're more interested in a loose fit versus compression-style running shorts, make a mental note of where the material touches your legs. “Ideally you want to avoid the shorts with material hitting the most narrow space between your thighs,” Deatherage says. “If the shorts hit lower or even higher, you will stand a better chance of avoiding uncomfortable rubbing and chafe.”

So, you ready to up your running game? We've gathered the best running shorts for women to try in 2022: