Many people opt for workout shorts with zipper pockets because it helps to add a sense of security. Being able to freely go on a run without losing your house and car keys, or having a place to put your phone while at the gym can help avoid unnecessary placements of your belongings to avoid losing or damaging them by keeping them securely in your pocket.

For many activities–such as running, walking, hiking, and typical gym sessions–zippered pockets can be ideal for secure storage, but not so much for other types of workouts. Intense training sessions like crossfit, practice for sports, dance, or even yoga can be too bulky with your personal belongings on you where placing them in a locker can be much more efficient.

There are a number of different places that zipper pockets can be located on workout shorts. Typically, they are seen along the sides of the shorts, but there can also be back pocket zippers, ones in the inner liner, and even some built into the waistband depending on what activity you’re wearing them for.

Workout shorts provide many options with zippers where they are typically found in running, training, or hiking shorts. Zippers are common to see along the sides or back pockets of these types of shorts, and many others come with compression shorts underneath where there can be easy access zipper pockets available as well.

The biggest downside to zipper pockets in workout shorts is that they can be simply too bulky to efficiently get a good workout in and can potentially hinder your performance. Sometimes zippers can also increase chafing and irritation mid-workout, or they can get stuck and break easily if they snag on the fabric.