Consumer Reports

The Rabbit Dirt Pounders 2.0 took the cake as the best running shorts for daily wear. This company was started by long-time runners and you can tell. The material of these shorts is an extremely lightweight and quick-drying knit that remains remarkably soft, even when soaked in sweat. The length is ideal to protect against chafing, and the material does not cling or bunch while it wicks away sweat. They have a wide elastic waistband for all-day comfort, lined with the same knit material as the liner, providing a secure fit with excellent moisture-wicking qualities. We barely noticed the waistband, liner, and drawstring on long, hot, and humid runs. The standard key or card internal waistband pockets are functional and keep your essentials from bouncing around. We also love the unique long pockets on the legs for storing energy bar wrappers or lightweight snacks. 
These shorts nearly do it all, but we do have a couple of notes worth mentioning. The back phone zip pocket is a little small for slightly larger phones, making it hard to access your phone while on the go. Like several other options, we also wish that the drawstring was on the outside of the waistband. We did not experience any chafing from the drawstring on the inside, but having it on the outside would eliminate this possibility. The Dirt Pounders also are on the higher end of the price spectrum. But overall, we love these shorts for short days to long, arduous trail runs and found ourselves reaching for them over and over again, finding that their soft, lightweight construction just can't be beat. 

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Rabbit Trail Collection Review - Ultra Running Magazine

Light and airy, the Patagonia Nine Trails is a prime choice for trail runs and long hikes. They come with an interior 'compression shorts' liner that provides the support and comfort we want on the move all day. Elastic in the waist and a drawstring keep these shorts in place. The liner uses an odor control treatment, which is especially useful if worn repeatedly without the opportunity &#40;or energy&#41; to wash them.
They are great for hiking and other physical activity, but the style limits their versatility. They look like a classic pair of running shorts, so that we wouldn't go with them from the trail into town. We love this pair and grab them on our warm-weather endurance adventures.
Read more: Patagonia Nine Trails review

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