The best cheap running shorts can be pretty hard to find. Mainly because you are depending on promotions/discounts.
Also, you can find some very good deals online, but there might also be a cheap local store near you.
In this article, I will mainly focus on shopping for cheap running shorts online.
If you don’t care too much about quality, you might want to take a look on amazon straight away. You can sort the relevant list from cheap to expensive. Keep in mind that prices may change depending on the color and the size that you select.
For convenience, I added a link that will bring you a filtered list on amazon: cheap running shorts. I can’t monitor all the discounts all the time. So the shorts that I will cover in this article are the ones that are already pretty budget-friendly without discounts.
However, keep in mind that the options that I will talk about will be a safer (but probably slightly more expensive option). As they are researched and reviewed, guaranteeing an -at least- decent quality for the price.
oyioyiyo women’s running shorts
Let’s start the list with one of my favorite options – although it is only for women. However, this is only for people who are looking for a flexible spandex running short.
The great thing is that it has a fixed and very low price, for all sizes and colors. On top of that, it’s simply decent quality, making it a very good bang for the buck.
They are the perfect balance between being light and breathable, but they are not see through. In the lighter colors, some people claim that they are a little see through. However, this is only when looking at the shorts in a clear light from a very close distance. So these remarks should not have too much impact on the rating of the shorts.
These shorts are perfect for running, but they can also be used for almost any other workout-like activity, or even everyday use.
Another handy feature, there is a little pocket where you can safely store your key. This is actually a feature that I miss on many -even on expensive- running shorts.
The bottom line, if you are looking for these type of running shorts, you should not hesitate. The price and the quality are simply too good to pass on.
The only thing that some people said was that they would recommend ordering a size up. So if you are usually in-between a medium and a large, make sure to get the large.
These shorts can be found on amazon: oyioyiyo running shorts for women
A Waterwang men’s running shorts
A waterwang running shorts are a more affordable running shorts, that are simply amazing for the price. Sadly, these are only available for men.
The material is a mix of cotton, spandex and polyester. Making it breathable and comfortable. However, it’s a bit different from the more traditional 100% polyester shorts.
That said, the blend seems to work really well for most runners. It wicks moisture pretty well and is comfortable.
These shorts also come with relatively deep pockets with a zipper. Again, this is great for storing small items like a key while you are running.
In terms of sizing, the A waterwang running shorts are pretty true to their size, so you can go ahead and order your usual size.
These shorts are another example of shorts that have great money to value ratio.
The only thing that you have to keep in mind, these shorts are relatively new, so reviews are based on a relatively short period. This means that we cannot guarantee the long term durability of this product just yet. That said, based on what we know so far, we have a pretty good feeling about the durability of these running shorts.
These short can be found on amazon: A Waterwang men’s running shorts. Prices might vary a bit, based on color and size, but even the most expensive combination is still very budget-friendly.
C9 Champion shorts
The next option on the list is a bit more expensive than the previous running shorts. These shorts are only available for men. However, there are many similar shorts for women made by C9 champion, I will make sure to include a link to those shorts as well.
However, these are shorts made by a well-known brand. C9 champion isn’t a brand that I would trust completely, however, their running shorts are actually really good.
These shorts are the more traditional running shorts made from 100% polyester. Once again, the shorts do what they are supposed to do, wick moisture, dry fast, plus being lightweight and comfortable while running.
The deep pockets make these shorts suitable for many activities like tennis, padel…
I guess you pay a bit more for a product where you know you are being a durable and solid product.
Is it worth the additional cost? It really depends from person to person (otherwise I would only have 1 suggestion on the entire list).
However, if you really like to keep things as budget friendly as possible, you should stick with the cheaper options on the list.
If you can score these shorts on a discount, however, I would highly recommend them.
These shorts are available on amazon for men: C9 champion shorts men
A very similar option for women: C9 champion shorts women
Baleaf shorts
The Baleaf shorts are available for both men and women. These shorts are not identical, but they are almost the same shorts.
These shorts are interesting because depending on the combination of color and size, you could get a really good deal.
An important piece of information for women, these shorts are see through in the marigold yellow or orange color.
They are somewhat comparable to the C9 champion shorts. However, they do contain some spandex in combination with polyester, making them a bit flexible.
On the other hand, they might not be as reliable as the champion C9 in the long term.
All in all, a very decent option. Definitely in certain sizes and colors.
These shorts are available for both men and women:
Conclusion
However, there are plenty of options to be found, whether it is online or in a local store.
The best options are usually when there is a discount. That said, in this list there are plenty of options that are cheap even when it’s not on discount.
Whatever you do, if you buy online, make sure that you try certain color and size combinations. Sometimes this can make a huge difference in price.
Looking for more budget-friendly running gear? I also wrote an article about the best cheap trail running shoes.