A pair of shorts built for a five-mile run and a pair built for a job site solve completely different problems, even though both get sold under the same word. This guide breaks down 24 shorts styles by construction, fabric, and actual use, organized by the situation they’re built for rather than one long undifferentiated list — whether you’re buying one pair for yourself or outfitting a whole team roster.
The 24 types covered: mesh/athletic shorts, basketball shorts, compression shorts, running shorts, track shorts, board shorts, swim trunks, biker/cycling shorts, cargo shorts, chino shorts, bermuda shorts, denim shorts, linen shorts, golf shorts, hiking shorts, classic cotton gym shorts, fleece/sweat shorts, flannel/pajama shorts, reversible shorts, workwear/flat-front shorts, fashion/garment-dyed shorts, youth performance shorts, knicker shorts, and skorts.
How This Guide Is Organized
Shorts get chosen for pretty different reasons depending on who’s buying and why — a gym-goer, a hiker, and a warehouse crew all want something different from the word “shorts.” Rather than list all 24 alphabetically, this guide groups them by situation: athletic performance, outdoor and water use, everyday casual wear, comfort and lounging, specialty and workwear needs, and youth-specific styles.
Shorts Comparison at a Glance
| Style | Best For | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Mesh/athletic | Gym, general workouts | Ventilated, moisture-managing |
| Basketball | Court sports | Wider leg, contrast panels |
| Compression | Muscle support during activity | Tight, second-skin fit |
| Running | Distance running | Lightweight, minimal chafe points |
| Track | Track and field, training | Elastic waist, split-leg options |
| Board | Surfing, beach | Fixed/drawstring waist, longer length |
| Swim trunks | Pool, casual swimming | Elastic waist, mesh liner |
| Biker/cycling | Cycling, high-intensity workouts | Compressive, thigh-length |
| Cargo | Utility, industrial work | Side leg pockets |
| Chino | Smart-casual | Cotton twill, tailored |
| Bermuda | Business casual, warm climates | Longer inseam, tailored |
| Denim | Casual everyday wear | Rugged cotton denim |
| Linen | Hot-weather dress-casual | Lightweight flax weave |
| Golf | Golf course wear | Stretch, swing mobility |
| Hiking | Trail and outdoor use | Ripstop nylon, durable |
| Classic cotton gym | General everyday athletic use | Simple cotton knit |
| Fleece/sweat | Loungewear, cool-weather casual | Soft brushed knit |
| Flannel/pajama | Sleepwear, home lounging | Soft cotton flannel |
| Reversible | Team practice, two-color needs | Wearable both sides |
| Workwear/flat-front | Uniforms, industrial settings | Flat front, durable twill |
| Fashion/garment-dyed | Retail, streetwear | Faded, lived-in finish |
| Youth performance | Kids’ sports and activity | Youth-specific proportions |
| Knicker | Baseball, retro team styling | Below-the-knee length |
| Skort | Sports needing skirt coverage | Skirt overlay, shorts underneath |
Athletic and Performance Shorts
Mesh/Athletic Shorts
Open-weave mesh fabric moves air across the skin better than a solid knit, which is why it’s the default choice for general gym and training use. The Sport-Tek ST510 PosiCharge Classic Mesh Short and its longer counterpart, the ST511, cover standard and extended lengths, while the ST355 Competitor Short adds color-locking technology that resists fading through repeated washing. Youth versions exist too — the Sport-Tek YST510 and YST355 mirror the adult builds at a scaled size.
Basketball Shorts
A basketball short runs wider through the leg than a standard athletic short, prioritizing unrestricted movement during lateral cuts and jumps over a fitted look. The Augusta 224377 Retro Basketball Shorts and Augusta 6890 Youth Match-Up Basketball Shorts both use this looser cut, often paired with contrast side panels as a design signature carried over from classic team uniforms.
Compression Shorts
Tight, second-skin compression fabric applies steady pressure to the muscles, which some athletes find reduces fatigue and muscle vibration during activity. The Badger 4629 Pro-Compression Short and Augusta 221338 PR Max Compression Short are both built this way, and compression shorts frequently double as an under-layer beneath a looser basketball or mesh short rather than a standalone garment.
Running Shorts
Distance running punishes any fabric that bunches or chafes over repeated strides, so running shorts trim down to minimal seams and lightweight builds. The TriDri TD049 Women’s Running Shorts reflects that stripped-down approach, prioritizing weight and airflow over pockets or extra structure.
Track Shorts
Track shorts share DNA with running shorts but usually add an elastic waistband and sometimes a split-leg design for sprint-specific movement. The Augusta 221236 Boys Youth PR Max Track Shorts and its adult counterpart, the 221336, both use this construction, built for meets and structured training rather than casual wear.
Outdoor and Water Shorts
Board Shorts
Board shorts typically use a fixed or drawstring waist and are generally longer, closer to knee-length, which reduces friction against a surfboard compared to a shorter swim style.
Swim Trunks
Swim trunks more often use an elastic or elastic-and-drawstring waist with a built-in mesh liner, making them the more common choice for pool use and casual beach days rather than surfing specifically.
Biker/Cycling Shorts
Biker shorts use a compressive, second-skin fit similar to compression shorts, but they’re specifically cut short through the thigh to reduce fabric bunching against a bike seat. The District DT7509 Women’s Flex High-Waist Bike Short and TriDri TD535 Performance Micro Shorts both fit this category, and both have crossed well beyond cycling into general athleisure wear.
Hiking Shorts
Built from tougher ripstop or nylon-blend fabric than a typical athletic short, hiking shorts are meant to survive contact with brush, rock, and repeated trail wear without tearing. Reinforced stitching at stress points and a slightly looser fit for scrambling over uneven terrain are standard features.
Everyday Casual Shorts
Cargo Shorts
Cargo shorts add oversized pockets along the thigh, originally a military-workwear feature that crossed into general casual and industrial use. The Dickies LR42 Premium 11-Inch Industrial Cargo Shorts and Red Kap PC86 Cargo Shorts both carry this construction, and the Dickies WP90 Functional Cargo Shorts takes the utility angle further with genuine job-site durability rather than a fashion-first cargo look.
Chino Shorts
Chino shorts use a mid-weight cotton twill for a cleaner, more tailored look than a casual cotton short, splitting the difference between dressy and relaxed. They’re a common choice for smart-casual settings where jeans feel too casual but slacks feel like overkill.
Bermuda Shorts
Running longer than most casual shorts, typically hitting just above or at the knee, bermuda shorts read more tailored and business-casual than a standard short cut. They’re a common pick for warm-climate office dress codes that still expect a degree of polish.
Denim Shorts
Cut from the same rugged cotton denim as a pair of jeans, denim shorts (often called jorts) trade some breathability for genuine durability. They range from factory-finished hems to a distressed, cut-off look, and they work over nearly anything from a plain tee to a button-down.
Linen Shorts
Woven from flax fiber rather than cotton, linen shorts are noticeably more breathable in genuinely hot weather, though the fabric wrinkles easily and needs more careful care than a cotton or poly blend. They lean dressier than a standard casual short, often showing up in resort and warm-climate business-casual settings.
Classic Cotton Gym Shorts
The simplest style on this list, a classic cotton gym short uses a basic knit construction without mesh venting or performance treatments. The Champion 8187 6 oz. Cotton Gym Short is a long-running example — not built for serious athletic performance, but reliable for everyday casual and light activity use.
Comfort and Lounge Shorts
Fleece/Sweat Shorts
Brushed fleece fabric gives this category its soft, insulated feel. The District DT1309 Women’s Perfect Tri Fleece Short and J America 8855 Triblend Fleece Short both use this construction, and the softer triblend versions in particular have become popular well beyond the gym bag, showing up as much in errands-and-coffee-run wardrobes as in actual workout rotations.
Flannel/Pajama Shorts
Distinct from a lightweight pajama fabric, genuine flannel shorts use a brushed cotton weave dense enough to hold real warmth, typically in a plaid pattern. The Boxercraft BW6501 Ladies’ Flannel Short is a straightforward example — a bedroom and couch staple, not something meant for the gym.
Specialty and Workwear Shorts
Golf Shorts
Golf shorts are built around one priority: swing mobility. A stretch poly-blend fabric moves cleanly through a full shoulder turn without restricting the hips — the Swannies Golf SWS700 Sully Short takes this approach.
Reversible Shorts
A reversible short is constructed so both sides can be worn outward, effectively giving a team two color options from one garment. The Sport-Tek T565 Mesh Reversible Spliced Short and Augusta 5R6DLX Undivided Single Ply Reversible Shorts both use this build, which matters most for programs scrimmaging in-house and needing two team colors without buying two sets of shorts.
Workwear/Flat-Front Shorts
Built without the pleats or embellishments common to casual shorts, workwear shorts use a flat front and durable twill construction meant to survive daily industrial wear. The Dickies FR22 Women’s Flat Front Shorts and Red Kap PT27 Plain Front Shorts both reflect this no-frills, durability-first approach.
Fashion/Garment-Dyed Shorts
Garment-dyed shorts are dyed after construction rather than before, which gives each piece a slightly uneven, lived-in color variation rather than a flat, uniform tone. The Bella+Canvas BC6824GD Heavyweight Garment-Dyed Short uses this process, built on a heavyweight cotton base that holds the garment-dye finish without turning flimsy over repeated washing.
Knicker Shorts
Sitting between a short and a full pant, knicker shorts run below the knee, historically associated with baseball uniforms and retro team styling. The Badger 655W Women’s Crush Knicker Pants brings this length into a modern athletic construction.
Youth Shorts and Skorts
Youth Performance Shorts
Youth performance shorts aren’t simply about sizing down an adult style — many are designed with youth proportions, mobility, and activity in mind. The Badger 2146 Boys B-Core Youth 4-Inch Pocketed Shorts reflects this scaled-down performance build, while the AllPro 48SH0Y Youth Pro-Lock Performance 7″ Shorts adds a pocketed design suited to active play rather than a purely decorative feature.
Skorts
A skort combines a skirt’s outer appearance with shorts built in underneath, solving the coverage problem a skirt alone creates during athletic movement. The Holloway 222884 Girls Coolcore Skort and Augusta 2421 Femfit Skort both use this construction, common in tennis, cheer, and other sports where a skirt silhouette is part of the uniform standard.
Fabric and Material Guide
| Fabric | Best For | Main Advantage | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Casual, gym | Soft, breathable | Holds moisture |
| Polyester/mesh | Athletic performance | Fast-drying, ventilated | Less natural feel |
| Cotton-poly blends | General everyday use | Durable, dries faster than cotton | Less soft than pure cotton |
| Nylon/ripstop | Hiking, outdoor | Abrasion-resistant | Less soft against skin |
| Linen | Hot-weather dress-casual | Extremely breathable | Wrinkles easily |
| Fleece | Lounge, cool-weather casual | Warm, soft | Too warm for hot weather |
| Spandex blends | Compression, biker shorts | Close, supportive stretch fit | Less breathable than mesh |
Decorating Shorts — Embroidery and Screen Printing
Embroidery holds up well on woven fabrics like twill, cargo cotton, and denim, taking a clean logo on the hip or leg without distortion. Mesh and performance polyester fabrics are trickier for embroidery since dense stitching can pucker a thinner knit, so screen printing or heat transfer often works better on athletic and mesh styles specifically. A 6-piece minimum applies to custom decoration orders at GotApparel, mixable across styles.
Brand Comparison for Shorts
| Brand | Known For | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Sport-Tek | Mesh, reversible, performance builds | Team athletics, general gym use |
| Augusta | Basketball, track, youth and girls’ styles | School and league sports programs |
| Badger | Compression, B-Core youth line, knicker styles | Performance-focused team programs |
| Dickies | Cargo and workwear flat-front shorts | Industrial and uniform programs |
| Red Kap | Cargo and flat-front workwear | Job-site and uniform durability |
| District | Fleece and biker shorts | Lounge and lifestyle-leaning programs |
| Bella+Canvas | Garment-dyed fashion shorts | Retail and streetwear-leaning brands |
| Holloway | Coolcore skorts | Sports requiring skirt-based uniforms |
| Champion | Classic cotton gym shorts | Everyday, general-purpose use |
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between board shorts and swim trunks?
Board shorts typically use a fixed or drawstring waist and run longer, closer to the knee, while swim trunks more often use an elastic waist with a mesh liner, making them better suited to casual pool and beach wear.
What are the different types of shorts for women?
Women’s shorts span the same broad categories as men’s — athletic, casual, workwear, and specialty — but styles like biker shorts, skorts, and fleece shorts see particularly strong demand in women’s-specific cuts.
What’s the difference between cargo shorts and workwear shorts?
Cargo shorts add oversized thigh pockets and can lean casual or industrial, while workwear shorts specifically use a flat front and durable twill built for daily job-site wear rather than everyday casual use.
How long should shorts be?
Length is largely personal preference, but athletic shorts typically run shorter for mobility, while bermuda, chino, and knicker styles run longer for a more tailored, dressier look.
Whether it’s one pair of running shorts or a full team order spanning youth to adult sizes, the right style comes down to matching the construction to the actual activity — not just picking whatever looks right on the rack. Need shorts for a team, business, school, event, or retail program? GotApparel offers blank shorts with no minimum order, while custom decoration is available with a 6-piece minimum per design. Reach our support team at support@gotapparel.com or 1-866-847-8678, or the decoration team at decoration@gotapparel.com 1-866-217-1729.