Tracksmith Allston Shorts Review

These are my favorite biker short or short tight-style bottoms I’ve tried so far, and with a few minor improvements, they could be the perfect running short. As is the case with most Tracksmith gear, these shorts are high quality, built to last, and are classic and minimalistic in their overall design/style. Here are some reasons why I love these shorts and a few reasons why I subtracted a star from their rating:

What I love:

- Grippers on leg openings: There’s a ~0.5 inch band of silicone dots at each leg opening that does a fantastic job of keeping the shorts from riding up. I wore the Allston shorts for a much-hotter-than-usual Houston Half Marathon a couple of months ago, and even with Gatorade spilled everywhere and running down my legs, the grippers prevented the shorts from moving at all. Even after 50+ wears with my oldest pair, the grip is still incredibly strong and the shorts never ride up.

-Lightweight and quick-drying fabric: The Allston is my go-to short for most of the year, and especially in the heat of Texas summers. The fabric is so weightless that you almost forget it’s there. I also feel like the fabric dries quicker than other shorts of this type that I’ve tried.

-Compressive fit with a perfect inseam length: The overall fit of these shorts is very supportive and compressive; they certainly hold you in. This, along with the grippers, keep the shorts from moving at all, even when soaked in sweat. The 5” inseam length is the perfect happy medium between the 3” and 8” inseams that exist elsewhere. 

What I don’t love:

-Waistband is a little uncomfortable: While I love the compressive fit of the Allston, the waistband is a little too tight for my liking. The rise of the waist is also also a bit higher than other high-rise bottoms I own. The discomfort in the waistband area isn’t terrible by any means, but it’s always a relief to free my lower belly area when taking these off after a run😂.

-Sizing runs small, shorts stretch out over time: Like many Tracksmith bottoms, the Allston short runs a little small. I wouldn’t necessarily advise going up a size if you’re always one size, but if you’re between sizes based on the brand/item, I’d go with the larger size. The shorts tend to stretch out with heavy use (I notice it most in the waistband), and even with this small amount of stretching, I’m still glad I chose to size up.

-No external pockets: Perhaps my biggest issue with the Allston short is the lack of external pockets. There are no pockets on the hips or small zippered pocket on the back. There is, however, a pretty sizable internal pocket on the back of the waistband. I’ve found myself countless times on long runs or in races wishing that these had side pockets for gels!