Compression Shorts for Women: 3 Runner-Tested Picks

Looking for compression shorts for women that keep you chafe-free and comfy mile after mile?
.
If you have ever felt the sting of chafing mid-run, you know how quickly it can ruin a workout.
.
The shorts you wear, especially for long runs, can make a big difference. 

• I love the traditional running shorts with a liner, like the Women’s Janji 3” AFO Middle Shorts.
• But I began to notice that the movement of the flowy fabric and the liner caused a little bit of chafing on sweaty runs lasting 20 miles or more.

So I went on a mission to find a no-chafe short.
.
The solution: ditch the inner liner and flowy fabric and go for a single layer of light compression.
.
Here's what I found...

1. Janji 5" Pace Shorts (two pairs!)
2. Oiselle Pocket Jogger Shorts 5.25"
3. Rabbit Speed Leggy 4"

In addition to compression, they all boast pockets. I’m not sure what I did without so many pockets for the past three decades of running.
.
What was life like before pockets?!
.
Following are examples of the combinations of items I fit into these multi-pocket shorts at one time:
.
Fun fact: Even a 20-ounce handheld can slide into the deep side pockets! I don’t do this frequently but it’s worked when I’ve needed it to. 

To test compression shorts for women, my spring training looked like this:
.
From the beginning of April to mid-June, I ran approximately:

• 40-52 miles per week
• Five times per week
• Four of those runs were on trails
• One of those weekly runs was on a mix of paved and gravel roads

Weekly long runs consisted of the following distances, in the following order. I wore the Janji Pace Short for all of my long runs (because they are my favorite):

• 14
• 16.8
• 18
• 11.6 (cutback week)
• 20
• 22
• 24
• 21
• 18
• 10 (cutback week)
• 22.8

Even though I always wear a hydration pack on my long runs, it’s nice to have extra pockets in the shorts.
.
Additionally, I did double-digit runs midweek ranging from 10 to 13 miles, for which I wore all of the shorts reviewed in this article. 

Currently, I’m running 20-25 miles per week to get a feel for how the shorts perform in the summer heat.
.
Where I live, summertime temperatures range from about 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit with 60 to 100 percent humidity.

Features:

• Three pockets
• Deep side pockets that fit my iPhone 16 Pro with waterproof Otterbox case
• Pass-through back pocket that fits a long sleeve shirt or windbreaker 
• No bounce when running with pockets full of gels, phone, gummies and extras like a hat, buff, bug balm or knife
• Lightweight, silky smooth material - good for hot temperatures
• Light compression
• Secure key hook 
• Stay- put silicone grips on hem mean no ride-up 
• Gusseted crotch
• 5” inseam
• Internal adjustable drawstring (I don’t like external drawstrings) 
• Mid-rise (I don’t like high rise)

Sizing: 

• Size small fits perfectly for an almost 5’4” tall and 125-ish pound female

What I Love:

• The silky smooth feel of the material sets the Janji 5" Pace Shorts apart from the rest of the field. 
• The 68 percent nylon, 32 percent Spandex shorts are thin yet durable and weigh just 4.4 ounces. 
• No chafing

Brynn Cunningham

I love these so much that I started out with one pair in black and quickly got a second in blue. On top of that, I found a pair of the full-length tights version on Poshmark and got a pair!

What I Don’t Love:
.
Honestly, I love everything about them. But since we’re talking downsides...

• The silicone grips on the hemlines don’t seem totally necessary for my body type. 
• I don’t usually have an issue with shorts riding up, especially with these having a five-inch inseam. 
• The grips don’t get in the way, either, so it’s not really a complaint, just not a personally desired feature. 

Features:

• Five pockets
• Two deep side pockets that fit my iPhone 16 Pro with waterproof Otterbox case
• Two mesh hip pockets above the deep side pockets
• One back zip pocket with ample space
• No bounce when running with pockets full of gels, phone, gummies and extras like a hat, buff, bug balm or knife
• The longer 5.25” length and thicker material makes these suitable for mountain bike rides
• Gusseted crotch
• Internal adjustable infinity drawstring (I don’t like external drawstrings) 
• Mid-rise (I don’t like high rise)

Sizing:

• Size two fits perfectly for an almost 5’4” tall and 125-ish pound female

What I Love:

• Five pockets! They offer the most storage. 
• These are nice for keeping chapstick separate, or stowing empty gel wrappers away from unused ones. 
• No chafing

Brynn Cunningham

I especially love the mesh pockets that sit above the deep hip pockets.

What I Don’t Love: 

• Again, just because this is a review, I’ll point out this one minor thing about the material: I wouldn’t call the material thick, but it is thicker than the others and a teeny bit rough. 
• I prefer super, over-the-top, silky smooth softness in my clothes, and these ones just don’t have that. 
• Still, they are a staple, a classic for any runner's closet, and I gush to all my friends about them. 
• The thicker fabric isn’t my favorite in hot weather, but they are completely fine for runs less than an hour long. 
• Bonus: because of the material, they double nicely for short mountain bike rides. 

Like I said, because of the 5.25” length and material, these work well for short mountain bike rides, so I don’t want to complain. For running, though, I find myself pulling up the legs to cover less skin. 

Features:

• Three pockets
• One small back zip pocket for key
• Lightweight, silky smooth material
• Light compression
• 4” inseam - my favorite length, especially in the heat 
• Gusseted crotch
• Mid-rise 
• No chafing

Brynn Cunningham

These shorts have two deep side pockets that fit my iPhone 16 Pro with waterproof Otterbox case.

Sizing: 

• Size small fits perfectly for an almost 5’4” tall and 125-ish pound female

What I Love:

• The four-inch inseam - it’s my favorite length. 
• Everything - I love these so much that I bought two pairs of the full-length tights version on Poshmark!

What I Don’t Love: 

• Not much. They don’t stow as much as the other shorts, but I don’t really need them to, since I have the others on rotation. 

I highly recommend these to any woman seeking mid-length, midrise, lightly compressive shorts with lots of pockets. 
.
Speaking of...Once you go pockets, you never go back! 
.
At least that’s how I feel after bringing these shorts into my life. 

• It’s only been a several-month testing period so far.
• I’m curious how they will hold up after maxing out the pockets with as much as I can year after year. 
• How will the material and seams hold up? Will they begin to sag and fray?

I’ll keep you posted! In the meantime, happy running!
.
P.S. If you run in these shorts, let us know what you think in the comments, or Create a WeeView and tell us more about your favorite compression shorts for women.