An Athlete’s Guide to Compression Shorts
- Compression Athlete
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Get the most out of your compression shorts with these helpful tips.
Athletes turn to compression shorts as the ideal base layer for both training and competition thanks to their stretchy feel, comfortable layering fit, and performance boosting benefits.
No matter your sport or skill level, any athlete can utilize compression shorts to improve their overall athletic performance and muscle recovery.
And a little compression shorts knowledge goes a long way.
By understanding the intended design of compression shorts and how to best derive their benefits, you can elevate your athletic performance, nurture your hard-working muscles, and enjoy a more comfortable, distraction-free fit.
Here’s what we cover in this guide:
Here’s how to put on your compression shorts correctly to ensure performance benefits.
Of course, this isn’t rocket science.
The basics of putting on a pair of compression shorts are the same as putting on any pair of shorts.
But compression shorts do require a bit more care and attention due to their unique construction.
So, we’ve put together a few pro tips to ensure you receive a comfortable fit, peak athletic performance, and a long lifespan from your compression shorts.
Tip 1: Start by bunching the shorts together so that the waistband and the leg hem meet, allowing you to easily pass your feet through the leg openings.
Tip 2: Fit one portion of your leg at time (thighs then glutes), smoothing and position the fabric as you go.
Tip 3: The waistband is a common spot of breakdown for compression shorts when handled too aggressively, so avoid any garment-stressing pulls at the top.
Tip 4: Smooth out and adjust any areas that feel restrictive to your natural range of motion prior to the start of your activity to boost your performance and avoid distraction.
Final Note: Bunching your compression shorts (rather than simply pulling from the top) not only helps to avoid undo stress on the garment but also helps you avoid unfortunate injuries that can occur from losing your balance or awkwardly straining a muscle.
Make sure your compression shorts fit and feel like a second skin.
Even as designs continue to grow and evolve, there remain a few key characteristics that you’ll always want to have in a pair of compression shorts.
For starters, compression shorts are designed to fit snuggly against your skin.
You should feel their compressive pressure throughout the entire garment, from the waistband to the leg hemline at the thigh.
This pressure should be firm but not restrictive.
If your shorts are uncomfortable to wear or restricting your movements in any way, then the pressure is too firm.
Athletes commonly choose compression shorts to layer underneath their uniform or training gear thanks to their smooth, stretchy, and sweat-wicking characteristics.
During play, you can see how important it is that the shorts fit snugly while allowing a full range of motion, wearing like a second skin.
This fit allows the uniform to fit comfortably over the top of the compression shorts without causing any bunching, friction, or restriction.
Here’s how to tell if your compression shorts are designed as a base layer or outerwear.
Compression shorts are unique in that they can be worn as both underwear and outerwear, and athletes commonly utilize both styles.
Choosing to wear your compression shorts as underwear or outerwear could depend on any number of factors: personal preference, style of compression short, the sport or activity you’re wearing them for and so on.
In certain sports, it’s common to wear compression shorts as underwear, i.e. under the uniform.
Examples of these sports include basketball, baseball, football, tennis, soccer, and more.
While in other sports, such as volleyball, track and field, and others, we see compression shorts worn as outerwear (i.e. as part of the uniform).
So, it’s often best to look at the common practice of your given sport when making this decision.
If you’re wearing compression shorts outside the context of a sporting event, such as to the gym or training outdoors, there are tell-tale design features and details that can clue you in on whether they’re intended to be worn as a base layer or as outerwear.
For example, compression tights that utilize thicker fabric or have features like a pocket to hold your phone or a loop to hold a t-shirt are typically worn as outerwear.
Whereas compression tights that utilize thinner fabric (possibly semi-transparent) or have airflow perforations for layering breathability, these are typically worn as a base layer.
Keep this in mind if you’re wearing compression shorts for extended periods.
Some athletes like the fit and feel of compression shorts so much that they wear the shorts outside of athletic training and competition.
It makes perfect sense.
Compression shorts are comfortable, layer like a dream, don’t bunch or ride up, and keep you cool and dry.
There are a few things to keep in mind, however, if you’d like to wear compression shorts for extended periods or as everyday underwear.
The vast majority of compression shorts that you purchase from established activewear brands are fine for everyday wear.
These shorts feature a normal (or standard) level of compression that is safe to wear for extended periods.
But moderation is always your friend.
Giving your muscles a break from compression will help maintain the overall benefits of the shorts in the long term.
If you’re looking for a great everyday wear compression shorts option, check out our top picks for the best compression boxer briefs.
This hybrid option (a mix between compression shorts and boxer briefs) provides a slightly more relaxed fit while still offering many of the benefits of compression shorts, such as the stretchy fit, breathability, and sweat-wicking capabilities.
For more helpful tips on compression gear, check out our dedicated compression page.
