Women's Shorts

Why Do Women’s Shorts Have a Liner?: A Crucial Piece For Women’s Workout Gear

a woman wearing shorts and a sports bra in a gym.  She has a white towel wrapped behind her neck

Workout shorts for women should be comfortable without the fear of spilling out of them, which makes a liner crucial!

One piece of athletic gear that many women workout with on a daily basis isn’t weights, a treadmill, or even a brace of sorts, but shorts. Workout shorts are an important piece of gear that is fit for any type of physical activity and they can be made out of a tight spandex, a sweat-wicking polyester, or even cotton.


No matter what type of workout you do, athletic shorts are great for everything from low-impact yoga sessions to high-intensity interval training or even running, and they have built-in liners in them too. Many often wonder what these liners are specifically made for and wonder what its purpose is for your workout.


Let’s discover just why liners in workout shorts are essential for the average athlete and gym-goer!

How Do Women’s Workout Shorts Vary?

With many types of workout shorts, it’s important to know which ones are ideal for a certain type of physical activity!

a woman doing a squat wearing a pair of gym shorts and a sports bra.  She has an exercise band around her legs just above the knees.
Workout shorts are crucial to ensure that you’re able to get your daily exercise routine with no restrictions or uncomfortableness. Image courtesy of GoalFive .

No matter what type of workout that you do, workout shorts are great to wear so you can get the job done without feeling confined in a pair of leggings or non-stretchy sweatpants. Women’s shorts come in all different types of materials and styles and certain ones could fit some workouts better than others.

Many Shorts Are Sweat-Wicking

There is nothing worse than feeling like a sweaty mess after a workout while you’re in the gym, or running on a hot day. It feels as if the sweat is just sticking to you and is soaking your clothes, which is why a pair of sweat-wicking shorts are a must-have. Sweat-wicking materials for women’s shorts can include polyester, nylon, and spandex , which are among the most popular for women. These materials are designed to help move the moisture away from your skin to make you more comfortable during your workout.

Some Have Liners and Some are Ultra Stretchy

Many other shorts have different purposes for how they will allow you to move through a workout. There are workout shorts that are made out of a four-way stretch material that include a liner , almost like a pair of built-in underwear, that can support you, prevent chafing, and keep moisture away. Other shorts, like 100% spandex ones are great for weight lifting, or running due to the compression material it is made out of, and help to keep you cool and freely move the way your workout intends you to do.

Specific Types of Shorts Are Great for Target Workouts

No matter if you’re a yogi, a gym rat who loves to lift weights, or you’re an everyday runner type of person, there are workout shorts that are made specifically for the type of activity you enjoy doing. For example, when you’re doing either yoga or pilates, having shorts that provide enough stretch is crucial, along with being made out of a sweat-wicking, lightweight, and breathable material.


Shorts that have a shorter in-seam are great for those who love to run, and for those who need to have a wide range of motion for weightlifting. Tighter shorts can also be a must when it comes to aerodynamics allowing runners to move faster and better, even on hot days.

Why Are There Liners in Some Workout Shorts?

The liners can feel like an extra pair of underwear, but there are multiple purposes behind this extra material in women’s workout shorts!

a woman wearing shorts and a sports bra juggling a soccer ball that is in midair
Liners in women’s workout shorts provide multiple purposes and ultimately come down to ensuring comfortability and breathability. Image courtesy of GoalFive .

There are many reasons to choose workout shorts with liners in them. Not only are they ultra comfortable, but they provide breathability throughout your workout, avoiding any sweat build-up that can feel heavy. It’s important to understand the multiple purposes of the liners in some workout shorts and how they benefit women during a tough workout.

Support and Total Coverage

For many women, there is nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable during a workout where you feel like you’re constantly tugging your shorts down to stay covered and protected . The main reason why so many people love to purchase workout shorts with liners built into them is for the support that they offer.


Liners offer total coverage to make sure that your bottom is covered, and it also helps to prevent them from riding up during your workout. This can allow women to focus more on their workouts than what they’re wearing and if their bottom is poking out of their shorts or not.

Use Sweat-Wicking Materials for Comfortability

Choosing the right shorts could also be crucial for someone who tends to sweat a lot during a workout. Opting for sweat-wicking materials, like nylon, spandex, polyester, and even some forms of cotton can make a workout more bearable.


Once you start a workout, the sweat that you produce will stick to the shorts, including the liner, and will absorb it to help keep you feeling cool and comfortable. It can also help to prevent chafing and irritation that you may be more susceptible to.

Help Protect You From the Weather

Working out during the hot summer months is something that many women do, whether it’s participating in a sport, running, or even doing yoga on your back patio. Workout shorts can also include liners in them that help to protect you from the harmful outdoor weather, including the sun’s rays that can cause damage to your skin overtime.


Many people love liners in workout shorts, no matter how short or long because they can feel like a second skin and protect you from the outdoor weather. Many liners in workout shorts are UPF 50+ , which only allow a certain amount of the sun’s rays to hit your actual skin, providing protection–on top of using sunscreen–on your already sensitive skin.

Hygienic Benefits and Chafing Protection

As stated before, a reason why liners are added into workout shorts is due to the fact that they can absorb sweat and prevent chafing. The extra layer in between your skin and the shorts can help prevent chafing , which can normally cause added friction and irritation. This can happen due to repetitive motions with skin-to-skin contact, most often occurring in those who tend to run a lot.


They can also help to keep your hygiene on point with absorbing the sweat that you produce, which can help to keep you dry and prevent common infections that can occur for women during a workout. Some of these common types of infections can include skin infections and even yeast infections that occur where there is too much moisture in the vaginal area.

The Best Gym Shorts With Liners

Choose the best shorts available for an efficient and comfortable gym session!

the fast & free workout short in black camo color from Goal Five
GoalFive’s Fast & Free Women’s Workout Shorts have a built-in liner that is perfect for any sport and allows flexibility and comfortability. Image courtesy of GoalFive .

When it comes down to choosing the best pair of shorts to wear for a workout, there is nothing better than being able to wear a pair that will keep you feeling like you can breathe throughout the course of your exercise. One of the best pairs of shorts to get to exercise in is GoalFive’s Fast & Free Women’s Workout Shorts because they are made out of a four-way stretch material that is woven to allow you free access to move no matter the workout.


It also features a built-in thin brief liner that is super-stretchy and will allow you to be able to breathe to avoid any infections, plus absorb the sweat that you produce. They also have a three-inch inseam, which allows your legs full access to move without feeling restricted on what types of workouts you can do, such as crossfit, running, weight lifting, and even yoga. There is also an interior pocket where you can put your keys, airpods, credit cards, ID, or even your phone to keep on your at all times.


Choosing the best pair of workout shorts is crucial, but ones that have a liner in them seem to have the upperhand for many women. There is no doubt that there are tons of benefits to choosing workout shorts that have a liner in them to keep you cool, calm, and collected throughout the duration of your workout.

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1 comment

Suzanne

Suzanne

Great info here. Before I started running I never understood the brief liner but as I got into running more frequently and especially longer distances that liner was a lifesaver. Wearing underwear just isn’t the same on long runs as having a sweat wicking breathable brief. The Fast & Free shorts are THE BEST for running!

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