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Men's shorts

The inseam decides almost everything here. A 3 inch short is a running short and nothing else. An 11 inch short reads as normal clothing off the court.

34 pieces$14.81 to $32.9935,821 reviews behind them

Narrow it down

Everything here

All 34 men's shorts

How this section is put together

G Gradual sells the same short in several lengths, which is why the store looks bigger than it is. Sort by inseam first and the 34 shorts collapse into four or five real decisions: how long, whether the pockets zip, whether there is a liner.

Pocket depth is the second thing to check. Basketball shorts at 11 inches take a phone in an open side pocket without it swinging. At 5 inches and below you want the zip, or the phone rides in your hand.

Running lengths

The 3 and 5 inch shorts have a built-in liner, so you skip the extra layer.

Court lengths

The 9 and 11 inch pairs sit at or past the knee and hold a phone flat.

Washing and wear

Wash cold, hang dry

Polyester and spandex blends keep their stretch longest out of the dryer. Heat is what turns a snug waistband into a loose one by the second summer.