Women's Activewear Shorts and Exercise Shorts

Lorna Jane women's activewear shorts run the full spread, from compression bike shorts that stay put through a high intensity session to relaxed casual shorts you'll wear all weekend. Sure, there's heaps of amazing styles and cuts, but the biggest difference is in the material. The more technical fabrics are perfect for working out, while the cotton and denim pairs are made for everything you do out of the gym. Lengths go from short right through to 3/4, and most of them have pockets. Bike shorts, two-in-ones, comfy loungewear and denim, it's all in here.

Women's Workout Shorts: Fabric That Handles Sweat

Take the Run Around 2-in-1 Shorts. They're cut in LJ Active, a lightweight polyester and elastane blend with two-way stretch that breathes properly. Across our nylon and polyester performance fabrics you get a moisture-wicking finish, which pulls sweat off your skin rather than letting it sit there, and they dry fast. Opacity is a separate question, and that's what Nothing 2 See Here is for: a light-blocking interlock knit that comes with four-way stretch and strong compression. Cotton works the other way round. It soaks moisture up instead of moving it, so it can feel damp once you're properly sweating, which makes it better for warm-ups and everything you do after training. For anything heavy, our gym shorts are the place to start.

Should Gym Shorts Be Loose or Fitted?

Gym shorts come in fitted, loose and two-in-one cuts, and the best choice depends on the session. Fitted compression shorts sit close to the leg and cut down rubbing during running and heavy lifting. Loose gym shorts sit away from the thigh for airflow, which suits weights and lower-impact classes.

Length matters just as much. Our cheeky shorts are the shortest we do, which is what you want for floor work and stretching, while mid and longer lengths cover more thigh and save you the skin-on-skin rub on a long session. The Run Around 2-in-1 Shorts land in between, with a compressive lining inside the outer short to help minimise chafe and side splits so you're not restricted. At the other end, the Off Duty Vintage Wash Denim Shorts run a 3/4 length and the Luxe Athletic Relaxed Shorts sit relaxed through the leg. For Joggers, theres no shortage of options in our running shorts.

How to Style Women's Sports Shorts

Pick the fit first and the top follows. If you're looking to stretch your budget across a few pairs its worth a scroll through the shorts on sale while you're here.

• Gym and weights: High-rise compression with a crop or a sports bra. The higher the rise, the more you're covered when you're bent over a bar.
• Pilates and studio: Mid-length compression, and a top that isn't going anywhere. Loose shorts ride up in bridges and inversions.
• Running and cardio: A two-in-one with a light singlet. The Run Around pair have a reflective logo for the dark and a side pocket hidden in the lining, and there's more of the same in running and cardio shorts.
• Tennis and golf: If a skirt's more your thing, our skorts have the shorts built in underneath, so you're covered on a serve.
• Off duty: The Off Duty Washed Denim Shorts pull straight on, no zip, in a soft touch lyocell blend rather than cotton denim. The Vintage Wash pair are the traditional version, zip fly and five pockets. Both cut relaxed, so a tee or an oversized shirt works over either.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do Lorna Jane shorts have pockets?

Loads of Lorna Jane shorts have pockets, though it depends on the style. Side and hand pockets are all over the cotton and casual pairs. The denim ones have either five pockets or hand pockets with a patch on the back, and the Run Around 2-in-1 hides one inside the lining. There's a whole phone pocket collection in the bike shorts as well, back and side. The product page will tell you what each pair has.

Q: Are activewear shorts see through?

Opacity is about the knit, not the colour. Nothing 2 See Here is built on light-blocking interlock, which is where the name comes from. Thinner fabrics and pale colours show more, and anything will show more once you've stretched it past where it's meant to sit.

Q: What's the difference between bike shorts and loose gym shorts?

Bike shorts are long and close to the leg, so the fabric stays put and there's less rubbing through a run, a ride or heavy leg day. Loose gym shorts sit off the leg, which feels cooler, but they'll ride up in a deep squat. Length does the same job, with short cuts freeing you up for floor work and longer cuts covering more thigh on a long session. Two-in-ones give you a compressive lining under a looser outer if you can't choose.

Q: Can you wear activewear shorts casually?

Heaps of the shorts range is made for casual wear. The cotton jersey pairs have an elasticated waist and a drawcord, so you set the fit yourself. On the denim side, the Off Duty Washed pair pull straight on with an elasticated waist and a fake fly, while the Vintage Wash pair go proper denim with a zip fly and button, same as your jeans.

Q: How do you wash activewear shorts?

Cold gentle machine wash with like colours, then hang them out of direct sun. Skip the fabric softener, it coats the fibres and dulls the moisture-wicking finish. No dryer either, heat and stretch fabric don't get on. To keep your activewear looking its best, always check the individual garment's care label for specific washing instructions.