Men's Bottoms Buying Guide: How to Choose Shorts and Pants for Training

Quick answer

Choose bottoms by the session, not by the label. Pick lined shorts at mid-thigh for lifting and gym work, unlined shorts for running and hot conditions, and tapered training pants for warm-ups and cooler sessions. Buy one pair that fits your most frequent workout first, then add a second pair for the opposite condition.

Most men buy training bottoms the same way: they grab whatever is on sale, wear them for a month, and then notice the waistband rolls, the fabric clings, or the length is wrong for squats. The fix is not a bigger budget. It is matching three variables to how you actually train.

This guide walks through the decisions that matter: length, lining, fabric feel, waistband, and fit through the thigh. It also shows how a few real andar men's bottoms fit into those choices, so you can compare concrete options instead of guessing from photos.

Start with the session, not the style

Your most frequent workout should decide your first pair. If you lift three times a week and run once, buy for lifting. Gym work involves squatting, hinging, and sitting on benches, so you want fabric that moves without pulling and a waistband that stays put under a belt or lifting belt. Running rewards lighter fabric and a shorter, unlined cut that will not bunch.

Write down your last five sessions before you shop. If four were in a gym and one was outdoors, your primary pair is a training short or pant, and your secondary pair can be a lighter short for hot days. This single step prevents the common mistake of buying a running short and then wearing it to lift, where it rides up and offers no structure.

• Count your last five sessions and buy for the majority first.
• Treat your second pair as a condition-specific purchase, not a duplicate.

Length: the decision most men get wrong

Length changes how a short behaves more than any other feature. A 5-inch inseam sits high on the thigh and gives maximum range for squats and lunges, but it can feel exposed if you are self-conscious or if your gym requires longer coverage. A 7-inch inseam is the middle ground most men can wear for both lifting and casual errands. A 9-inch inseam reads as a training short and works well for taller frames or anyone who dislikes thigh exposure.

For pants, check the ankle break. A tapered training pant that stacks heavily at the shoe will catch during sprints and look sloppy outside the gym. If you are between lengths, size up in length rather than down; you can always cuff a longer short, but you cannot add fabric to a short one.

• 5-inch: lifting and hot weather; 7-inch: all-round; 9-inch: coverage and taller frames.
• For pants, aim for a clean ankle break with no heavy stacking.

Lining, fabric feel, and breathability

Lined shorts include a built-in brief, which replaces underwear and reduces chafing during lifting and machine work. The trade-off is that liners hold heat and can feel restrictive on long runs. Unlined shorts are lighter and drier for cardio, but you will need to choose your underwear carefully to avoid friction.

Breathable men's shorts rely on fabric weight and knit structure, not on a single buzzword. Look for fabric that feels light in the hand and springs back when stretched. If a short feels heavy or plastic-like, it will trap heat. When a product page does not list fabric composition or weight, treat that as a limitation: you cannot compare breathability on paper, so buy from a store with easy returns and test it in a real session.

• Lined for lifting and gym work; unlined for running and hot conditions.
• If fabric details are missing, rely on return policy and a test workout.

Fit through the waist, seat, and thigh

A good training bottom stays put at the waist and glides over the thigh. If the waistband digs in when you sit, the size is too small. If the fabric bunches at the crotch when you squat, the rise is too long or the cut is too loose. If the short rides up your thigh with every step, the leg opening is too narrow for your build.

Try the squat test and the lunge test before you commit. Squat to depth and check that the waistband has not rolled and the fabric has not pulled tight across the hips. Then lunge forward and back to see whether the hem catches. A pair that passes both tests will handle almost any gym session.

• Squat test: waistband stays flat, no crotch bunching.
• Lunge test: hem does not catch or ride up.

How many pairs do you actually need

Two pairs cover most training schedules: one structured short or pant for gym work and one lighter short for hot or cardio sessions. Three pairs let you stop doing laundry mid-week. Beyond that, you are collecting, not solving a problem.

If you train in a climate with real seasons, treat summer and winter as separate kits. A breathable short and a tapered pant are not interchangeable, and trying to make one pair do both usually means being uncomfortable for half the year.

• Two pairs solve most schedules; three ends mid-week laundry.
• Separate hot-weather and cool-weather kits if your seasons swing.

Decision rules for buying men's training bottoms

• If you lift more than you run: Choose a lined short at 5 to 7 inches, or a tapered training pant in cooler months. Prioritize a flat, wide waistband and fabric that springs back rather than stretches out. Lifting rewards structure and coverage; skip featherweight running shorts.
• If you run or train hot: Choose an unlined short at 5 to 7 inches in the lightest fabric you can find. Accept that you will need to pick underwear deliberately to avoid chafing. Breathability beats pockets for cardio sessions.
• If you train in both conditions: Buy two pairs instead of one compromise pair. One structured short or pant for the gym, one light short for heat and cardio. Two purpose-built pairs cost less over time than replacing one wrong pair.
• If the product page is missing fabric details: Do not guess. Buy from a store with a clear return window, then run the squat and lunge tests in a real session before you decide. Missing specs are a limitation, not a reason to assume quality.

Real andar options to compare

• Airywin Signature Leggings: Catalog price USD 44.50, comparison price USD 89.00; available in Colour, Size, and Length options. The Length option is the useful detail here: it lets you dial in the ankle break that training pants usually get wrong. The listed comparison price also makes it a reasonable first structured bottom if you are testing the category.
• Airst 2 Way Cargo Pants: Catalog price USD 59.50, comparison price USD 119.00; available in Colour, Size, and Length options. Cargo styling usually means more pockets and a looser silhouette, which suits warm-ups, travel, and gym-to-street days better than a tight session. The Length option matters because a cargo cut that stacks at the ankle will catch during movement.
• [OUTLET] Airy Fit Slim Fit Short Sleeve: Catalog price USD 29.00, comparison price USD 58.00; available in Colour and Size options. This is a top rather than a bottom, but it shows how the outlet pricing works at andar. If you are building a full training kit, pairing an outlet top with one structured bottom keeps the total cost down without changing your fit decisions.

Who these bottoms are for

Best for

• Men who train in a gym most days and want structure and coverage
• Lifters and hybrid athletes who squat, hinge, and carry
• Anyone building a two-pair kit for hot and cool conditions

Not for

• Runners who want the lightest possible unlined short
• Anyone who needs compression-level support from a short alone
• Shoppers who will not test fit before removing tags

Buy for your most frequent session first, then add a second pair for the opposite condition. Check length, lining, and waistband behavior before anything else, and use the squat and lunge tests before you commit. Get those three right and the rest of the decision is easy.