UKH

I've always worn Nike's 13cm flex stride running shorts and found them to be almost perfect, but every year they change them and now they've changed them to a particular fabric that I don't think I like the look of (it's one of their dri-fit fabrics and I have it on a vest and find it very clingy and sweaty). On top of this they're £45 a piece, even with discounts you're not going to get below £35 a pair.

Is this just what running shorts cost these days? 

Can anyone recommend any other (ideally inexpensive) brands I can look at for shorts? I'd want a zip key pocket and a normal pocket.

Same Q for vests. Again Nike have discontinued my favourite vest and their current running ones are £45-55!! Insane, surely!

In reply to elliot.baker:

Try Wiggle or sportsshoes.com. They have good ranges for considerbly less than £45. However, your need for a normal pocket is a bit of an outlier, so you have problems with that - sportsshoes.com have a filter for pockets which might help. 

In reply to elliot.baker:

More Mile Mens 5 inch Baggy Running Shorts have been kind to me. 

In reply to elliot.baker:

Karrimor at Sports Direct - cheap - if they're not right you won't have lost much.

In reply to elliot.baker:

Keep an eye on Facebook marketplace/ vinted/ eBay etc. People sell second hand kit all the time and it will cost much less and be better for the environment too!

In reply to elliot.baker:

Are you anywhere near a branch of Decathlon?  I have a couple of pairs of these and really like them in hot weather: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-dry-550-breathable-2-in-1-running-short...

In reply to elliot.baker:

With me, compression shorts (any will do) are essential to prevent chafe.  Any shorts can go over the top for modesty.

In reply to elliot.baker:

Patagonia running shorts are great and have all the pockets you need. They are not the cheapest but you can get them on sale for about £40. Well worth it for the comfort and carrying ability!

In reply to elliot.baker:

Ronhill running shorts always worked from me. From being chafed on every run to no chafing in 2 years. Any of their twin shorts will do. 

In reply to JanBella:

Echo that. Brilliant for hillwalking too.

In reply to elliot.baker:

I wear generic £8 adidas short for running. Mostly in the hills / fells races / the odd 50K. Is there a benefit to specific running shorts? 

In reply to JanBella:

by twin shorts do we mean the type that have tight undershorts that cover your upper thighs and crotch, rather than the "brief" type (or whatever they're called)?

I do have a pair of Nike twin shorts if that's what it means, but I find that on runs longer than 10k they do chafe, and also that they're a bit too hot for summer.

I'll check out some of these other brands and shops though thanks all.

In reply to raussmf:

Comfort, weight, chaffing.

I have a few pairs of cheap (£7) decathlon running shorts, which would great except if running more than a few miles, they tend to chafe. A short compression short underneath eliminates that, but this can be too warm and uncomfortable in the summer.

My preference these days are some Patagonia running shorts (Strider Pro 5”), which a really nice but we’re very expensive, some innov8 ones which were quite expensive, but not too bad in a sale and some Montane ones which are also quite expensive.

Its a part of my body that I am keen to look after.

In reply to elliot.baker:

Best ignore my suggestion then!  (Well - the specific shorts.  If you want cheap and good it might still well be worth checking out Decathlon's own-brand offerings.)

In reply to elliot.baker:

do you mean the 2-in-1 shorts? thats all i wear running, and never had a chafing issue with any distance/temp.

certainly the past year or two the undershorts are now of a thinner material that i don't like as much (not as supportive), but they are still fine to wear.

as for cost - i have never bought at full price. got some real bargains on ebay

In reply to elliot.baker:I can be outlier that's been chafed by 2 in 1 shorts, by Salomon

I've just bought a bunch of adidas agrivac which are a pretty basic short for 'not cold weather'.  I already have a couple pairs from Adi that have lasted 10 years (?) which is ridiculous so I think the new ones will outlive me.

I had a friend sponsored by Ron Hill and that stuff is NOT good quality. Don't kid yoursleves.

I would personally forget Patagonia,North Face, Rab and all the other new brands and go straight to Adidas

In reply to wbo2:

I like the Salomon ones, but they are definitely not cheap - but rather too hot for the summer, even the lighter weight ones. 

In reply to Sean Kelly:

Ditto, Ronhills. Never had an issue while wearing them, lightweight, cheap, and pretty durable. 

In reply to elliot.baker: if your profile location  is correct get yourself to the rab factory shop - I got a pair a couple of months ago for next to nowt , super lightweight, super cheap . Usual random sizes and a rather fetching snot green . Probably sold out now but I d hazard a guess it’s not what most people are going there to buy so maybe not ?